Calvin Synod Herald, 2005 (106. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-01-01 / 1-2. szám
10 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD detest the error of the Donatists who esteem the doctrine and administration of the sacraments to be either effectual or not effectual, according to the good or evil life of the ministers. For we know that the voice of Christ is to be heard, though it be out of the mouths of evil ministers; because the Lord himself said: Practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do (Matt. 23:3). We know that the sacraments are sanctified by the institution and the word of Christ, and that they are effectual to the godly, although they be administered by unworthy ministers. Concerning this matter, Augustine, the blessed servant of God, many times argued from the Scriptures against the Donatists. Synods. Nevertheless, there ought to be proper discipline among ministers. In synods the doctrine and life of ministers is to be carefully examined. Offenders who can be cured are to be rebuked by the elders and restored to the right way, and if they are incurable, they are to be deposed, and like wolves driven away from the flock of the Lord by the true shepherds. For, if they be false teachers, they are not to be tolerated at all. Neither do we disapprove of ecumenical councils, if they are convened according to the example of the apostles, for the welfare of the Church and not for its destruction. The Worker Is Worthy of His Reward. All faithful ministers, as good workmen, are also worthy of their reward, and do not sin when they receive a stipend, and all things that be necessary for themselves and their family. For the apostle shows in I Cor., ch. 9, and in I Tim., ch. 5, and elsewhere that these things may rightly be given by the Church and received by ministers. The Anabaptists, who condemn and defame ministers who live from their ministry are also refuted by the apostolic teaching. 1. Ordinarunt pastores, atque doctores. Dr. Chuck Baynard Clover EPC - Clover, SC www. cloverepc. org TRAC Update Dear Friends of TRAC: Following our trip to Romania this summer, we have had several interesting return visitors. From the middle of July through the middle of August, Dr. Katalin Bakos, the doctor who works with us in the villages, was in Detroit to visit her son. She took the opportunity to give several presentations in churches here in Michigan and Illinois, and to meet with some of the supporters of her program. The doctor is a very gracious lady and dedicated to working with her people in Transylvania. Under Communism, she suffered greatly and has a deep empathy for the people in the hills who continue to bear the burden of their losses, ministering not only to their physical needs, but to their psychological and spiritual needs as well. Then, no sooner had Dr. Bakos left, but Krisztián Barticel, the student in charge of the Mezoseg program, arrived. We had hoped that Zsolt Farkas, the student who supervises the homeless Krisztián Barticel, the student in charge of the farm program in Mezőség, and Rev. Bernard Woudenberg of TRAC visited Dr. Edwin Elliott and the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Manassas, Virginia, during Krisztián visit to the U.S. this summer mission, would be here as well, but in spite of repeated efforts and for reasons we could never understand, he was unable to get the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest to grant him a visa. This was a disappointment; but Krisztián’s visit was very profitable nonetheless. Perhaps the primary reason for Krisztián’s coming was to have him observe how small farmers in our area grow and market their own produce, because he oversees the farm program in Mezoseg. He spent a good deal of time both working on these farms and helping sell their produce at various local markets. This, however, was only the beginning of his activity among us. He also gave a number of presentations concerning the work of TRAC in various churches and met with a number of our supporters. We also traveled with him into Virginia to worship and give presentations to several churches and to meet with the pastors from Hungarian Reformed Churches in America at their annual meeting in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. There are few things more basic and encouraging than the commitment and conviction we find in these students who carry out this work of Christ among the suffering churches in Transylvania. In turn, encouraging to us was the answer Krisztián gave to several members of our committee after his return home. They were visiting Transylvania with Dr. Vogel, the head of the Luke Society, an association of medical doctors who help Christian physicians around the world. They have expressed interest in helping our medical program as well. While there, they asked Krisztián what his most important impression was of his visit to America; and he answered, in effect, that it was the importance of the Refonned faith to the members of the churches he visited. This was more important than the things they possessed and not what he had expected to see. And his expressed goal was to work toward the restoration of such commitment to the Hungarian Reformed Churches in Transylvania in the context of the historical tradition of their past. And so we are seeking to move ahead with a very active program in this direction. At the beginning December a group of us will be going over
