Calvin Synod Herald, 2002 (103. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2002-09-01 / 9-10. szám
10 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD HISTORY OF OUR NAME Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ At our May Synod Meeting, there was a motion made to drop the word Conference from our name. The motion was defeated. But were we prepared to make such an important decision without some background knowledge of how our name evolved? It prompted many of us to wonder just how our name came about. With some research, here is how we became “Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ. ” With the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Churches, the formation of the new bylaws stated that the “Hungarian congregations may constitute a Hungarian Synod.” Prior to this, our Hungarian Congregations, spread over eleven states in America, were under the jurisdiction of the four of the many geographical synods of the Reformed Church in the United States. Our Hungarian Congregations, made up of the Eastern and Western Classis, joined to form the “Magyar Synod” in 1939. This name stayed in place until the merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church with the Congregational Christian Churches. The new church, to be called the United Church of Christ, came about with lengthy discussions and negotiations between all involved. The Basis of Union spelled out the guidelines that were to be followed in bringing the churches to one. Article IV Section E states that “the General Synod shall promote the reorganization of Conferences, Associations, and Synods into Conferences and Associations which shall be constituted on a territorial basis and enjoy a status similar to that of the former Conferences, Associations, and Synods.” Article V states “Until, according to Article IV Section E, it is otherwise determined, the Conferences, Associations, and Synods shall continue, and each shall conduct its business in its own way.” Would this mean the end of Magyar Synod? How could we continue in this new United Church? The answer came in July 1963 at the Fourth General Synod in Denver, Colorado. Our Synod leadership argued for a Hungarian Synod to be allowed as was in the E & R Bylaws, while others argued that all congregations should be reorganized on a territorial basis. Three ongoing issues helped the Magyar Synod’s position. 1. ) The civil rights movement under way at that time. The country was being pressed by the Black Power Movement to allow the rights of ethnic groups to exist and be recognized. The movement pushed away from the melting pot concept, to pride and strength in one’s ethnic background and the preserving of heritage. 2. ) The Hungarian Churches were also negotiating with the Free Magyar Churches and the Hungarian Presbyterian Churches to join together as a united Hungarian Church under the Presbyterian Church. There was a threat to leave the newly formed UCC, but these negotiations never came to a formal union. 3.) The influence of the Congregational Christian Churches pushing the concept of autonomy. Magyar Synod embraced this concept and argued that they should have an autonomous Synod of Hungarian Congregations in the new church. All or this led the General Synod to declare Article VI: “Pending their reorganization on a territorial basis, Synods, Conferences, Conventions, and Associations in existence at the time this Constitution is declared to be in force may act as Conferences and Associations of the United Church of Christ and may perform the functions thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Constitutions and By-laws of the United Church of Christ...” Thus Magyar Synod was granted conference status for now and began the formation of its own Constitution and By-laws, and a new name. The new name did not come until the 1964 Annual Meeting, by the action of our own Synod. Prior to the final adoption, many other names were proposed. The first proposed Constitution and By-laws called for the name to be “Magyar Reformed Synod.” The committee formed next suggested “Hungarian Reformed Synod, Conference of the United Church of Christ” or “American Hungarian Reformed Synod, Conference of the UCC.” At the Synod Meeting, the first motion was that the new name be “The Calvin Conference of the United Church of Christ.” This failed. A second motion was that the name be “The Hungarian Reformed Synod, Conference of the U.C.C.” It also failed. By a secret ballot and a vote of 23 yes to 22 no, the following name was adopted: “The Calvin Synod, Conference of the United Church of Christ. ” This name stayed intact until the 1985 Annual Meeting with the major revision of the Constitution and By-laws. At this meeting, it was adopted to revise the name by dropping the “the” and deleting the comma after the word Synod. Thus our new and present name, “Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ. ” It was a clear indication that this body, by its own actions, made moves to solidify its status as the only non-geographical Conference in the United Church of Christ. The name of our Calvin Synod did not come lightly. There was a historical process of evolution that was hotly debated to adopt our present name. It is clear that our past leaders not only fought to keep Magyar Synod alive, but also to be recognized as a full conference in the newly formed Church. We should examine the historical facts and look at the full context before we make rash decisions of importance. There is no question that by our own action, we are “Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ. ” Submitted by the Conference Council cm I
