Magyar Egyház, 1957 (36. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1957-11-01 / 11. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 13 NEWS OF HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCHES AROUND HUNGARY “The Reformed and Presbyterian World,” official quarterly organ of the World Presbyterian Alliance and edited by the Rev. Marcel Pradervand, Geneva, has a column for “News of the Churches” containing the latest information on all Churches belonging to the Reformed family. In the September issue of the quarterly news appeared about the Reformed Churches of Yugoslavia, the Reformed Church of Slovakia and the Reformed Church in the Sub-Carpathian Ukraine. As it is known these Churches are in their overwhelming majority Hungarian speaking Churches. Reformed Church in Yugoslavia At the last Ministers’ Conference a plan was submitted for a new Seminary, to be established in the central building of the Church in Belgrade. The plan envisages the Seminary as fulfilling a three-fold function: in the education of theological students; in the training of church workers; and as a center for conferences and retreats. As far as the education of theological students is concerned, there would be a oneyear course when students would receive a basic training in theology. During this year they would live in the family of the Minister in charge of the Seminary, having common meals, taking part in the devotions of the house, and generally experiencing something of the Christian community. At the end of the year they would receive an examination in theology, and then be sent out to one of the Churche’s pastoral charges. Their further training in theology would be controlled by external examinations. It would then be one of the duties of the Minister in charge of the Seminary to visit them and exercise a general oversight in regard to them. The courses for church workers are seen as covering a very wide field. At present five different groupings are suggested: a course for Sunday School teachers and those interested in more advanced Religious Education; a course on parish mission, emphasizing the part played by the people as a whole in this work; a course for organists and singers; a course for deacons in which emphasis would be laid on the care of the sick and the poor of the Church: and a course for the eldership which would stress the Biblical basis and the great worth of the office. The conferences and retreats, which would last a whole week, would be directed to the needs of various segments of the Church’s life. These proposals were submitted to the Synodical Council of the Church at its meeting at Feketic.* They were adopted in principle, and the Church now works for their realization. r*Bácsfeketehegy The Reformed Church of Slovakia Seniors of the Slovak Reformed Church held a conference which was presided over by Dr. Imrich Varga, Bishop of the Church. At the conference there were lectures by seniors Végh and Contonfalsky on the subject: “Our doctrine of the Sacraments and our Practice.” Those attending the conference discussed in detail both the theological and the practicaleccleciastical aspect of the entire question. The conference asked the Synodal Council to put this topic on the programme of the next conferences of elders as well. It was stated that the Church must constantly stand guard over correct Reformation principles and over the purity of Biblical doctrine, for only in this way is it possible to present the penetration of a non-Biblical element into church life. Reformed Church in the Sub-Carpathian Ukraine Klavinske Hlasy, a paper published in Bratislava* by the Reformed Church of Slovakia, gives the following information from ‘Lelkipásztor’, a publication of the Reformed Church of Hungary. Their informant is Pastor Andrew Gádor of the Reformed Church in the Sub-Carpathian Ukraine, U.S.S.R. Pastor Gádor begins by reminding his readers that the district of Sub-Carpathia was originally a part of the Kingdom of Hungary, that by the Treaty of Trianon it was ceded in 1919 to the new Republic Wof Czechoslovakia, that after Munich is was returned to Hungary, and that at the end of the Second World War it again became a part of Czechoslovakia for a few months before it was handed over to the U.S.S.R. It has a population of around 600,000. According to Pastor Gádor there must be about 120,000 members of the Reformed Church in the province. These members are persons listed as such on their own request. They must be over 18 years of age, and they must have signed the Church’s Confession of Faith. They have also given an undertaking to help maintain the Church, which has some 91 parishes, served by 67 pastors. Since it is not possible to train the pastors needed by the Church, it is hoped that it will be possible in the future to send theological students to complete their studies in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. By far the largest part of the Church is Hungarian speaking and of Hungarian background. The Church’s affairs are directed by the Senior V. Paul Gencsi, of Surty,** who exercises the functions of a bishop, and who is assisted by Pastor Sigismund Ruska, of Uzhorod.*** It is estimated that about 90 per cent of the Church’s membership attends worship regularly. The article end’s with a word of praise for the generosity of the Church, and points out that it has every right to expect our prayers as the largest, if not the only, Reformed Church in the U.S.S.R. #Pozsony **Szürte ***Ungvár Megjelent olcsó kiadásban a UN - JELENTÉS az Egyesült Nemzetek Szövetségének a magyar felkelésről kiadott hivatalos jelentése kondenzálva, 65 oldalon, képekkel. SZÁZADUNK LEGHATÁSOSABB LEGFONTOSABB MAGYAR OKMÁNYA Beszerezhető szerkesztőségünk utján 1 DOLLÁRÉRT Adjuk ajándékba sponsorainknak! Adjuk a kezébe minden gondolkodó Amerikainak! Megrendelhető a Szerkesztőségen keresztül.
