Calvin Synod Herald, 1998 (98. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1998-07-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD •4 AMERIKAI MAOTAR REPORHáTOIWmiryi Cultivating friendship with Jesus By Timothy J. Gibbons News-Herald Religion Editor Lake Co. (OH) Marybeth Joeright/Ncws Herald Our New Bishop An excellent portrait of our new leader When Louis Medgyesi disembarked on the shores of the United States, he knew only two words of English. In a strange land and unfamiliar with the language, 10-year old Louis had one source of refuge. "The only friend I had in these United States when I was 10 years old was Jesus," Medgyesi said. "I gravitated to the church." That embrace of the Hungarian Reformed Church started a lifelong relationship that recently culminated with Medgyesi being named bishop of the synod. Medgyesi and his family emigrated from Hungary in 1956, fleeing in the aftermath of a national revolt against the Communist overlords. It was a hard time for Louis, but it was time in which he grew closer to God. "I felt a call," he said, remembering his childhood days. "I had to mature into it." The maturation process included a stint in the army, college training to be a highschool teacher and time spent as a boiler operator. In 1980, Medgyesi enrolled in seminary. 'The Lord waited for me," he said. Medgyesi graduated in 1983, moving into the pastorate at the Hungarian Reformed Church in Fairport Harbor six month later. "I'm getting to be an institution" at the 260- member church, he said jokingly. Medgyesi also got involved in denominational affairs, serving as treasurer and auxiliary bishop for the synod, a subdivision of the United Church of Christ denomination. Now he's leading whafs known as the Calvin Synod, composed of the 32 Hungarian Reformed churches in the denomination. "Its mainly an administrative role. You are merely first among equals," he said. The United Church of Christ denomination was formed from the merger of four other churches, each of which contained other churches that previously merged. The Hungarian reformed Church was part of the Reformed Church in the United States, which merged in 1934 in Cleveland with the Evangelical Church. This combined body joined with two other bodies to form the United Church of Christin 1957. Most of the churches in the body are formed into geographical synods, but the Hungarian churches comprise their own synod, which stretches across the country. Like Medgyesi's Fairport Harbor church, most of the churches worship in Magyar and English, reaching out to recent immigrants and the children of those who came before. "They want to praise the Lord in the language they grew up in," he said. "We have third- and fourth-generation worshippers." As bishop, Medgyesi would like to see the churches open themselves even further and lose their reluctance to admit outsiders. "We must see ourselves as part of the grand mosaic of Christianity," he said. "I would like to see the Hungarian Reformed Church become more evangelical. I would like to see us share the unique liturgy that we have." Medgyesi also wants the churches to reach out in more charitable ways. "The denomination must become more socially aware," he said. "Not simply for what we can do as Hungarians, but what we can do for the world as Christians." Bishop Medgyesi's solemn Ordination will be held on October 11, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. in the Fairport, Ohio church to be followed by a Banquet at 6:00 p.m. at the La Malta Party Center. □QQ New Star on the Egis of our Synodical life Rev. Szabolcs Kálmán, the pastor of our West Side Church at Cleveland (OH) received the “Doctor of Ministry* degree from the Ashland Seminary on May 30, 1998. The title of his thesis was: "Problem or Opportunity? A proposal for a Model for Bilingual Ethnic Ministry". It took him 6 years of hard work with admirable help of his congregation. More details in the Hungarian Section of our present Issue. All our congregations join with our Synod to express heartiest congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Szabolcs Kálmán and his exemplary congregation! The Traditional • Around Labor Day Ligonier Conference of 1998 The 52nd Annual Conference of the American Hungarian Reformed Presbyters' Association will be held at the Bethlen Home Conference Room in Ligonier, Pennsylvania on Sunday, September 6, and Monday, September 7, 1998. All Chief Elders, Church Council Presidents, Elders, members of the consistory, Presbytery or Church Council and their families are cordially invited to attend. This year, our main topic of discussion will be a presentation and discussion regarding the development of a Master Plan for the Bethlen Home. The Bethlen Home Strategic Planning Committee is developing a Master Plan document which will address all issues and lay out a plan for the future. The committee will have reached a critical decision-making point by September, and we will be seeking your help in discussing and finalizing the Master Flan. It is the committee's desire to have the Bethlen Home remain an active center of our Hungarian Reformed culture. Leslie E. Martin, President Phone: 609-419-9444 e-mail: lesmartin@juno.com The Ministers's Association will have its annual meeting on Sept. 7 and 8. Rev. Stephen Török will be presiding. Rt. Rev. Dr. Gusztáv Bölcskei will be the guest speaker from Hungary, the presiding bishop of our Mother-Church. He will be accompanied by Bertalan Tamás and Lenke Nagy. Rev. Judith Mayer (South- Norwalk, CT) will also give a lecture on Ministry.
