Magyar Egyház, 1967 (46. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1967-08-01 / 8-9. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 7 MAGYAR CHURCH American Hungarian Ministers Discuss the 'Instruction’ of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary The analysis of the “Instruction” issued by the General Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary and adopted by its anniversary session in Debrecen last May was the main topic of the Annual Meeting of the American Hungarian Reformed Ministers’ Association. After listening to six papers on the Instruction and a lively discussion, the meeting adopted the following statement: The American Hungarian Reformed, Ministers’ Association at its annual national convention held in Ligonier, Pa., September 5-6, 1967, discussed the Instruction of the Synod of the Reformed Church adopted on May 19, 1967 on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the constitutional synod of Debrecen. The Ministerial Association felt itself moved to express the faith-inspired view of its members. This Instruction shows us the 400 year old past and the present of the Reformed Church in Hungary. We understand that this Instruction was born under circumstances of life different from ours. While we rejoice in the fact that the Hungarian Reformed Synod expressed its faith in the form of a document, it is with loving concern we see the Instruction view the social and recent historical aspects of the redemptive work of the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ solely in the ideology represented by the Soviet Union. We welcome the endeavour of the Reformed Church in Hungary of having a dialogue with Marxism and we hope that an atmosphere will soon develop in which this dialogue can be conducted openly, freely, and with mutual respect. We feel that as a result of this the prophetical message God sent His Church to proclaim and of which He will demand an account will be heard more clearly. The Ligonier meeting was attended by close to 60 Reformed ministers from the U.S.A. and Canada. The Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi presided. At the close of the meeting a new slate of officers was elected for a term of two years: the Rev. Stephen Csutoros (Cleveland, Ohio) president, the Rev. Andrew Harto (Toledo, Ohio) vicepresident, the Rev. Miklós Novak (Welland, Ont., Canada) secretary, the Rev. Zoltán Király (Manville, N. J.) recording secretary, and the Rev. Kalman Adorján (Youngstown, Ohio) treasurer. You are cordially invited to attend THE CONVOCATION Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of the acceptance by the Reformed Church in Hungary of the SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION. Sponsored by the Princeton Theological Seminary and the Hungarian Churches in the United States of America to be held on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1967 in the Miller Chapel on the Seminary Campus, Princeton, New Jersey. The day’s program will begin at 10:00 A.M. with a worship service conducted by Dr. John Butosi, President, Calvin Synod, United Church of Christ; Stephen Csutoros, President, Hungarian Conference, The United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.; Bishop Louis Nagy, Hungarian Reformed Church in America. The joint choirs of the Magyar Reformed Church, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Commemorative Address will be given at 11:00 A.M. by Dr. Sándor Czegledy, Professor, Theological Seminary, Debrecen, Hungary. Lunch will be served at 12:30. Musical Program by the Princeton Chamber Orchestra will be presented at 2:00 P.M., conducted by Dr. Nicholas Harsanyi. Commemorative Address will be given at 3:00 P.M. by Dr. James I. McCord, President, Princeton Theological Seminary. The Convocation will be dismissed at 4:00 P.M. The Committee of Arrangements: James E. Andrews, Imre Bertalan, John Butosi, Stephen Csutoros, Andrew Hamza, Andrew Harsanyi, James I. McCord. (The language of the Worship Service and of all Addresses will be English.) Encyclical on Celibacy Draws Critical Response In the U.S.A. the National Association for Pastoral Renewal has indicated that it will continue to work for a change in the church’s law. A statement issued by the group’s 10-man advisory board said the association fully accepts the discipline as it now stands, but “we wish to continue to work for a reconsideration of the law . . . because we feel the new situation of modern man demands it.” (EPS, Geneva)
