Calvin Synod Herald, 2009 (110. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2009-03-01 / 3-4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 9 The Churches’ Role in HRFA The history of HRFA since 1896 has been closely connected with Hungarian churches. Those who played a leading role in building the Hungarian churches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania also played a leading role in creating the Federation. These persons were Hungarian Protestant ministers and Hungarian Calvinist laymen. These outstanding individuals gathered in Trenton, New Jersey on July 4-5,1896, to organize the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. Their purpose was to preserve the common bond among the widely dispersed Hungarians in America. They found ways to form congregations and worship centers in order to assist Hungarian immigrants to practice their faith and to form a fraternal society to support the financial needs of its members and their families in case of death and also to grant mortgages for the churches that were being built. Without this mutual support, neither the Hungarian churches nor the Federation would have been able to exist throughout its long history. To quote the Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop, our valued advisor and Calvin Synod leader, in his last message in the Jan.-Feb. issue of the Calvin Synod Herald, in his article entitled “Christianity Comes Alive in Fraternal Organizations,” p. 8, “HRFA took a lead role in the establishment of the Bethlen Home orphanage and the Old People’s Home in Ligonier, PA and has been actively involved in its development and ongoing life since 1921.” HRFA is especially proud of the active role ministers take in the success of both these entities. Without the direct involvement of Rev. Bertalan, Rev. Posta, Rev. Nitsch, and Rev. Komjáthy and the pastors that serve on the Bethlen Home’s Board of Directors, this marriage between service and spiritual development would not have been as sacred and as blessed in its continued success. The aim of the Federation at the outset was to give material and moral support to the Hungarian Calvinist missions in America and to pay death benefits and funeral expenses to the named beneficiaries of its life insurance policies. The original group belonging to the Federation was less than 500. But they strongly believed that the Federation, closely tied to churches, would survive through the practice of Christian faith. These original members came from the northeastern region of basher or antinómián. The verse “an eye for an eye” was originally uttered in passages like Leviticus 24:20 was only uttered to LIMIT violence and establish the limits of retaliation. It produced in the West what we call “the rule of Law”. In other words, it arrived as “Good News” in a violent world. By Jesus’ day, the text is used as a motto or license to justify as much revenge as possible, the exact OPPOSITE of its’ original intention. Recommended Resources: Clinton Arnold, Gen. Editor. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (New Testament). 4 Volumes. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002. G.K. Beale and Don Carson, Editors. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007. Rev. Chuck Huckaby (c) 2008 Hungary where the Hungarian Reformed Churches flourished. This close association of the churches and the Federation was evident between 1900 and 1931 when the official publication of the Federation was Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja. After that time, the Federation decided to have its own publication which in 1940 was named Testveriség-Fraternity and retains this name to this day. The 1956 Quadrennial Convention of the Federation made this publication bilingual. Over the years, the Federation continued its financial support to the churches in the form of mortgages, church camp subsidies, church suppers and similar activities. The Federation operates through its branches located in several states. These branches are closely aligned with the churches, and the required meetings and elections are conducted in neighboring Hungarian churches. In fact, many of the 10,000 Federation members are active church leaders and laymen. Out of the nine Board of Directors of the Federation who are the policy-making body, four are members of the clergy and the remaining are active church members. The original purpose of the Federation remains the same as it was in 1896. As is stated in the By-Laws, the role of the Federation is to maintain and support the social and fraternal culture, heritage, language and religious traditions of Hungarians in America. The Federation and the churches are mutually dependent on each other, working for the same purpose - in the “same boat” with their members “paddling together” for the “same shore.” For more information, please visit us at www.hrfa. org. Or call us toll free: 1-888-KOSSUTH. Leslie László Megyeri, President, HRFA CONFESSION of SINS The Calvin Prayer At my church, The First Hungarian Reformed Church of Los Angeles, as in many Hungarian Reformed Churches around the world, the Congregation near the start of the Worship says a Prayer of Confession of Sins in unison. At our church we call this prayer simply THE Calvin Prayer. In reality, John Calvin wrote many prayers during his 54 years of life. While at our church we say The Calvin Prayer in Hungarian, below is a version of this prayer in English. John Calvin wrote this prayer when he was 34 years old. Lord God, eternal and almighty Father: We acknowledge before your holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate your holy commandments. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true sorrow asking that your grace will relieve our distress. Have compassion on us, most gracious God, Father of mercies, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ our Lord. And in removing our guilt, also grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit, and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in your sight: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - Adapted from John Calvin’s Geneva Liturgy of 1543, from www.reformedworship. com submitted by Tünde Garai
