Calvin Synod Herald, 2001 (102. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2001-07-01 / 7-8. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Letter to the Editor I was greatly saddened to read the Rev. Albert W. Kovács, Assistant Editor’s article on the death of the Right Rev. Dr. Tibor Dömötör, Bishop of the Free Hungarian Reformed Church, and builder of the Lorantffy Care Center in Akron, Ohio. I hope Rev. Kovács is not representing the opinion of Calvin Synod, and certainly not representing me. Bishop Domotor was a highly controversial person, and as such he probably made many mistakes, and certainly many enemies. However, who am I to judge a deceased person, and who is the Calvin Synod to judge a minister who was not even a member of our Synod? I often disagreed with the Bishop’s style, and often with the content of his ideas Humbly, politely and privately I let him know where I stood. I have served as his neighbor pastor for ten years, never too close, but always mutually respecting each other, and working with each other as the occasions arose. In many areas, the Bishop was an outstanding person and an example to us fellow pastors. Not many, if any, worked as hard and as diligently as he did - boldly planning, always persuading, ever mobilizing others - for the most part worthy endeavors and for Hungarian causes. He was highly talented and one of the best impromptu speakers - even if I often would argue with the content - but he was a fascinating, interesting, exciting speaker, never boring, never uncommitted. I wish many of us pastors would learn from him. He built the Lorantffy Care Center in Akron, Ohio. If you have never seen it, please go. It’s worth your time. It is a beautiful, up to date, Hungarian old-aged home. Even today, most of the guests, the personnel, the food, and the program are Hungarian. Many of my church members have been cared for there. For the most part, they considered themselves very fortunate. Now, I could criticize the good Bishop for many things, but I have never built anything close in stature of the Lorantffy. So instead of being jealous, I admire him. One more thing. Bishop Domotor always richly supported the Hungarian causes which came to his attention. Almost any visitor from the old country whom we took there for a tour: artist, writers, students, pastors, etc., always received a sizable monetary gift. He supported local artists, visiting choirs, ran a radio program, published a weekly newspaper, was head of numerous organizations, etc. One might say he was vain and he wanted to be in the center of everything. That’s between him and God. I’m sure that among any foolish or negative actions, he also did lots of good. Let God be his judge. Fortunately, God is a thousand times more merciful than many of us. As a former member of the Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home, I know that genuine attempts were made to build bridges to Bishop Domotor, and the progress was quite promising. The Bishop of Calvin Synod, and most of the Calvin Synod ministers from Ohio attended the Bishop’s funeral, and all of us said a few words of consolation. That would have been the appropriate end to a somewhat chaotic period where human ambitions flamed up high on all sides. In his final years, the Bishop’s fire mellowed a lot. With his death, he buried the hatched. It’s a shame that we, of all people, can’t put it to rest. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36). I would appreciate if this letter would appear in the next issue of the Calvin Synod Herald as a letter to the Editor. Blessings and Peace in His name! Respectfully, Rev. Szabolcs Soby Kalman Cleveland West Side Editor’s Comment Co-Ed: The letter above does not refute the factual content of the editorial about Mr. Domotor, but a personal sentiment. However, further information about the man’s deleterious influence came to light during the Hungarian Reformed meeting in Hungary in July, where it was revealed that he had been a seriously divisive factor among the diaspora churches in Australia, visited by Bishop Lorant Hegedűs. - Toward getting the ecclesiastical house in order, it remains to be seen whether the Rev. Szilagyi (UCC) will surrender his improper claim to be the self-styled “Acting Bishop”, and join in the fellowship of Hungarian Reformed ministers at Ligonier this year. - Finally, will the unaffiliated groups in Akron and Chicago unite with the recognized Hungarian Reformed churches of the Calvin Synod and HRCA ? - awk Living Echoes (Continued from page 7) upon to echo the words of life for the salvation of those for whom Christ died, arose and raises up, beginning at home with our families and neighbors, and then to the whole world to the greater glory of God. Ours today is the call to “tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.” Ours too is the prayer: “Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of Thy tone.” Rev. Albert W. Kovács (Isaiah 45:20-25 Matthew 5:14-20) / \ ORDERBLANK - MEGRENDELŐLAP Rev. Albert W. Kovács 94 N. 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