Magyar Egyház, 1959 (38. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1959-05-01 / 5. szám
10 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR CHURCH Welcome To Our Detroit Brethren In behalf of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America I wish to welcome the Hungarian Reformed Church of Detroit under the spiritual leadership of the Reverend Tibor Toth on the occasion of their unanimous decision to unite with the fellowship of our denomination. The Hungarian Reformed Church in Detroit is one of the greatest and largest Hungarian Reformed congregations in this country. Her pastor, the Reverend Tibor Toth is one of the most distinguished members of the Hungarian fjohn Calvin 1559 marks the 450th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, one of the most influential among the great reformers of the XVIth century. Today more than 40,000,000 Christians adhering to the Reformed faith and to the presbyterian system of church government follow Calvin’s interpretation of Christian faith and life. This year is also the 400th anniversary of the final edition of the “Institutes of the Christian Religion”, Calvin’s theological masterpiece and the epoch making book of the Reformation. Three great ideas which Calvin emphasized in the Institutes and which have influenced the development of democracy are the sovereignty of God, man’s responsibility to God, and the infinite worth of the individual in the eyes of God. “To omit Calvin”, said the British political writer Lord John Morley, “from the forces of Western Evolution is to read history with one eye shut”. The Calvin celebrations have already begun. Their center is Geneva, Calvin’s city. But thousands of Reformed and Presbyterian congregations all over the world will remember him locally. The motive of these celebrations is not the glorification of a man. Such would be untrue to Calvin who sought never his own but only God’s glory. Calvin was God’s gift to His Church when it needed a leader humble and uncompromising at the same time. Our Calvin celebration therefore should be a reaffirmation of his interpretation of the Christian religion: God’s sovereignty, man’s responsibility, and the worth of the individual. It should also prompt us to gratitude to Almighty God for giving mankind light after darkness — “Post Tenebras Lux” as the Reformation Monument Reformed clergy, dearly beloved by his people who have experienced many hardships for the sake of our common Hungarian Reformed faith and heritage. These brethren came home when they decided to enter into union with us. With thanksgiving to Almingthy God we convey the fraternal greetings of our entire denomination to the Reverend Pastor, Board of Elders and all brethren in our new Detroit Hungarian Reformed Church. The two Hungarian Reformed Churches will officially unite on May 31st. May God bless this union and help us in our united struggle for the unity of all the brethren now divided. Bishop Zoltán Beky in Geneva proclaims. Finally, it should give us faith that God will not forsake His people in any generation. We, Reformed people of Hungarian background, wholeheartedly join the Calvin jubilee. Our Reformed faith stems from his interpretation; we firmly believe that our faith is Godinspired, to Him alone we render thanks therefore; and who if not Hungarians need the assurance of God’s unfailing mercy and love that we may trust: after darkness there will be light. Andrew Harsanyi THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN PROTESTANTISM Religious life in our United States has always seemed to follow definite trends. The unprecedented revival that has marked the postwar period seems to have come to a halt. Membership gains are almost entirely concentrated in the growing suburban areas. Indeed, during the past year church membership has barely kept pace with the general population growth. It is always difficult to predict the future, but if past experience is a guide, we may look forward to the following changes in the next decade: I. Protestantism will continue to lose ground in the great urban areas. While historic “downtown cathedrals” of Protestantism will continue their labors with little change, many hundreds of small congregations within the urban centers will become weaker and weaker. Tremendous inmigrations of peoples of non-white backgrounds will mean the growth of Protestant work among the newcomers, but of necessity much of this
