Calvin Synod Herald, 2008 (109. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2008-09-01 / 9-10. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HÉRÁI,D 11 West Side Hungarian Reformed Church On Friday evening, National Gathering participants car pooled to West Cleveland, where a Calvin Synod congregation hosted our dinner and provided a program. Rev. Zoltán Kelemen, pastor of West Side Hungarian Reformed Church, coordinated the evening, which included generous portions of traditional Hungarian dishes, served family style. Then Rev. Kelemen shared a historical overview of the journey of Hungarian Reformed Christians from their homeland to America in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Hungarian Reformed story is told in the stained glass windows of the church. Bishop Emeritus Louis Medgyesi and Bishop Koloman K. Ludwig, both of whom are members of and attended the Biannual Gathering, also shared with the delegates how Calvin Synod became part of the United Church of Christ, maintaining its Reformed distinctiveness as a separate Conference of the UCC, something the ECOT congregations very much value. Business Session. The Saturday morning business session allowed delegates to the National Gathering to help prioritize FWC’s work in the next two years. Delegates first brainstormed possible priorities, then cast their votes for what’s most important. Here are the top priorities commended to FWC’s board from now through 2010, our next National Gathering. • Recruit ECOT seminarians for UCC ministry from both UCC and non-UCC seminaries • Plan for an active FWC presence at General Synod XXVII in Grand Rapids, MI • Open a dialogue with national UCC office and conferences about finding ways FWC and other ECOT congregations can designate their giving to ECOT-friendly projects • Assist churches looking for ECOT pastors • Publish a regional or national FWC newsletter Summary The number one question: “How did it go?” For the most part, those who ask the question don’t have time for the report above, so here’s my short answer in two parts: • First, our goal for meeting in Cleveland was to connect with UCC leaders, build trust, and continue to work on leveling the playing field for ECOT concerns in the UCC. We achieved all of that and more as we both listened to our leaders and shared our perspectives. • Second, what I personally did not expect was a sense of renewed energy, passion, and vision for the future. A focus on recruiting, training, and placing ECOT pastors in UCC churches that want them is an achievable goal that can give focus to our organization moving forward. Pray with us and for us! Bob Thompson, FWC President INTRODUCING. ..www.Reformatus.us The 70th Annual meeting of the Calvin Synod called upon those working to produce the Calvin Synod Herald to explore putting information from the Herald on the Internet and report back to the Synod on its progress. In light of that mandate, an experimental website was created so that mistakes and changes could be made without affecting the Synod’s long standing site www.Calvinsynod.org Here are some questions you might be asking about the new site, www.Reformatus.us: 1) How did you arrive at the name? The website of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Hungary is www. Reformatus.hu. We discovered that www.Reformatus.us was available and appropriate for the purpose of serving the interests of the Hungarian Reformed Church in the United States and the Diaspora while connecting us with the church in Hungary. 2) What will the website be about? The website is an attempt to fulfill the mandate of an “experimental” website for communicating who we are on the Internet. To date, there have been postings about camp, the Calvin celebration, and an article reprint regarding the Galley Slaves. Also, articles designed to describe the faith and practice of the Hungarian Reformed Church for English readers is being implemented. 3) Who provides the information? You do! When news items are put on the Calvin Synod email list, I attempt to post them as quickly as my schedule allows. Some have submitted articles for review which I will attend to as quickly as possible. I am also building pages regarding the faith and practice of the Hungarian Reformed Church to explain the church to English readers should others choose to investigate our faith and align themselves with it. I attempt to quote printed sources, Synod leaders, and other resources available, but if I’ve said something in error, please contact me at 931- 629-3516 so I can make a correction. Or feel free to contact me at chuck. huckabv@gmail.com with suggestions. 4) Will there be articles appearing in Hungarian? Yes - if others provide them! That is part of the long term plan for the website. 5) What else is planned? Good question - We’re not sure! After all, this is an experiment and we are seeing what will transpire. 6) Will other features be added soon such as improved graphics, forums, or an electronic newsletter? That can happen to the degree we obtain funds for development of the Synod’s internet operation. The committee appointed to oversee this experimental site - www.Reformatus.us - is pursuing possible grant options that may allow further development. Rev. Chuck Huckaby, First Presbyterian Church, Lawrenceburg, TN
