Magyar Egyház, 1963 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1963-10-01 / 10. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 7 ACTIONS OF THE BISHOP S COUNCIL UNION - PENSION FUND - DUAL MEMBERSHIP - MERGER OF CHURCH PAPERS In the Hungarian section of the September issue of Magyar Egyház we gave a detailed report on the actions taken by the Bishop’s Council at its July meeting. The text of the Council’s resolution concerning the Reformed Church in Hungary was printed also in English. Complying with several requests, in the following we shall print an English digest of the entire report. The regular annual meeting of the Bishop’s Council of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America was held in Perth Amboy, N. J. on July 15th. Bishop Dr. Zoltán Béky presided at the meeting which was attended by the following members of the Council: the Rev. Louis Nagy f McKeesport), stated clerk of the diocese, Deans Dezső Ábrahám, Gábor Csordás and Tibor Tóth, the Rev. Stephen Szőke, chairman of the Missions Committee, Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, editor of Magyar Egyház, Dr. Aladár Komjáthy, secretary to the Bishop; also Mr. John Darnay, curator of the diocese, Mr. Albert St. Miklossy and Mr. Charles Kiss, curators of the Eastern and Western classes. The Council received the Bishop’s detailed report covering all phases and concerns of our Church’s life. Among the resolutions passed by the Council the following are of major importance: • Concerning Union. The Hungarian Reformed Church in America welcomed the re-opening of negotiations for a union of all Hungarian Reformed churches in the U.S.A. and the April 12, 1962 meeting of the Bishop’s Council fully approved the Plan of Union drawn up by the so called Committee of Six. Unfortunately, the Magyar Synod of the United Church of Christ — at its annual meeting on May 10, 1962 — rejected this Plan. We still favor union and shall never cease to pray for it. Yet, instead of continuing to be engaged in fruitless negotiations we intend to work for union by strengthening our own denomination the fellowship of which is open to all Hungarian Reformed congregations. • Concerning Pensions. The establishment of a Pension Fund for retired ministers and comissioned church workers was ordered. • Concerning Dual Membership. It was ordered to draw up a plan by which Hungarian Reformed congregations and pastors can participate in the work and service of our denomination on the basis of dual membership. • Concerning Church Magazine Merger. Initiated by the Reformátusok Lapja (monthly magazine of the United Church of Christ published for its Hungarian constituents) negotiations were conducted with the purpose of merging Reformátusok Lapja, Testvériség (Fraternity, monthly of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America) and our Magyar Egyház into one church paper. Although we consider it essential for the service of our Church to have our own official magazine we would be willing to participate in a joint publication if we had the assurance 1. that the Magyar Synod is willing to become independent, 2. that the Magyar Synod is willing to work for organized union of Hungarian Reformed congregations in America, 3. that the interests of our denomination are safeguarded in the joint publication, 4. that members of the Editorial Board delegated from our denomination will be controlled by their own church authorities alone, 5. that articles of denominational interest will be published without limitations. • Concerning the Persecution of Hungarians in Transylvania by the Roumanians. Telegrams of protest were sent to the President of the United States, to the General Secretary of the United Nations and to Ambassador Adlai Stevenson. MISSION SUNDAY TO ALL CONGREGATIONS Dear Brethren: November 10th will mark our Sixth Annual Mission Sunday in the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. Mission work is the lifegiving center of all church work and service. The unity, the holiness, and the apostolic character of the Church Universal can be summarized in one sentence: bringing the joyful gospel of our Lord to a hopeless generation and a fearful world not really knowing that message. This means more intensified mission work than ever. The deans of the three classes have arranged pulpit exchanges — wherever practicable — for this Sunday, November 10th as it has become traditional by now. An envelope to he used on this Sunday can be found in this issue of “Magyar Egyház”. Kindly give this envelope with your donation for our mission work to your church, or if it is impossible or inconvenient send it to the treasurer of the Mission Fund, Mr. Albert St. Miklossy, 23 Evergreen Avenue, Fords, New Jersey (his name and address appears printed on the envelope). We ask all our elders, every Church Council as well as the Women Guilds to give special consideration to the needs of our mission work. We prayerfully recommend it to your Christian concern and generosity. Stephen Szőke Chairman, Mission Board John Darnay Dr. Zoltán Beky Chief Elder Bishop OUR AKRON (OHIO) CONGREGATION commemorated the 30th anniversary of its foundation at a Thanksgiving Service on October 20. Bishop Dr. Zoltán Béky preached at the service and spoke at the anniversary banquet. We shall bring more on this event in our next issue.
