Calvin Synod Herald, 2002 (103. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2002-05-01 / 5-6. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Synod Reaffirms “Historic Continuity” In Constitution Constitutional Amendment “Calvin Synod, consistent with ‘The Basis of Union and The Interpretations’ that brought the United Church of Christ into being, which declared ‘Synods, conferences, associations and churches are to retain their present status until they are united by their own action and when mutually agreeable’, declares that Calvin Synod will continue as a Synod, under the polity and principles of presbyterial forms and usages, and without break in historic and doctrinal continuity.” Passed: 2001 and 2002 Annual Meetings The formation of the United Church of Christ in 1957 was made possible by a document called the Basis of Union with The Interpretations, the latter added prior to the merger primarily to respond to fears in the almost anarchial Congregational churches that the new Church would be too authoritarian, with creedal, confessional or administrative restrictions impinging on their freedom. They were especially fearful of being swallowed up in such places as Pennsylvania, where there were about 900 Evangelical and Reformed churches and only about 100 of the Congregational, and the reverse elsewhere. As Synods and Conferences merged by states, several in one state or covering several states, pressure arose to compel territorial unions, with some seeing it as a means to compel southern conferences to be racially inclusive. However, to appear to be consistent, Magyar (Calvin) Synod would have to be compelled to go along, without allowance for diversity - all sausages would be the same. There had been attempts in the E&R Church to force the assimilation of the Hungarian churches, and it was renewed in the new UCC. Greater pressure was put on in 1963 when a new Constitution was presented to the Fourth General Synod, which tried to downgrade the unmerged bodies like the Magyar Synod, until they reorganized on a territorial basis, which by permission of the UCC may act as Conferences and Associations and also may perform the Functions thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution... ” The leadership of the Synod never yielded to this usurpation of the Synod’s rights under the original contract, as the Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Szabó has often refreshed our communal memory. Magyar Synod later changed its name to Calvin Synod, but retained its historic identity for theological reasons, emphasizing its confessional stance. It never consented to the term “Acting Conference” because it is still a Synod and needs no consent to carry on in its mission reflecting Calvinist perspectives and its unique Hungarian Reformed faith heritage. Since the UCC is, supposedly, built from the Local Churches upward, next to the Associations, then to the Conferences (and Synod), and lastly to the General Synod - and not from the top down - the former do not need the permission of the latter to exist. This is underlined in the UCC’s Constitution which asserts in the Preamble’s Sec. 3: “The provisions herein define and regulate the General Synod ...and describe the free and voluntary relationships which the Local Churches, Associations, Conferences and ministers sustain with the General Synod and each other. ” The use of the word “Conference” was added at one time, a witness to the Synod’s efforts to show good faith and fellowship to the rest of the UCC. However, it was not good enough for those who hung the moniker Acting Conference upon it, and others who impatiently await its demise. The Bishop, remarking upon the loss of a congregation to a regional Conference, which knew of Calvin Synod’s opposition to its reception there, said: “The Conference Council regards the move illegal and in violation of the covenantal relationship among UCC Conferences... There were similar actions by other Associations is the Midwest where two of our congregations were illegally absorbed without consulting the Calvin Synod or even extending the courtesy of dialogue and a ‘by-your-leave’. It seems our churches are fair game for absorption by the entrenched establishment, but we are not afforded the same opportunities for growth when other UCC (BWF) churches desire organic union with us. One can only surmise whether this intentional double standard is based on the ultimate goal for ending the existence of Calvin Synod.” There is a movement in the Synod now to drop the word Conference entirely, to simply call it Calvin Synod, and to reaffirm its own faith traditions alongside the others in the UCC and American scene. The 2002 Annual Meeting ratified the action of the previous year in adopting this amendment to the Constitution. It also went a step further, requesting the Conference Council to initiate the necessary changes in the Synod’s organizational and legal instruments, and to prepare the appropriate rewording of the Bylaws and the Constitution. Rev. Albert W. Kovács, Co-Editor Heidelberg Catechism - Thou shalt not commit adultery. Q. 108 - What does the seventh commandment teach us? Ans. That all unchastity is accursed of God, and that we should therefore loathe it from the heart and live chastely and modestly whether in holy wedlock or single life. Q. 109 - Does God in this commandment forbid nothing more than adultery and such like gross sins? Ans. Since our body and soul are both temples of the Holy Ghost, it is His will that we keep both pure and holy, for which reason He forbids all unchaste actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and whatever may entice thereto.
