Magyar Egyház, 1969 (48. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-04-01 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 13 salaries are less than the median salaries in other denominations (e.g. the United Presbyterian Church). “It seems that the humorous remark of a British author fits our situation: poverty is demanded from the pastors as a proof of saintliness.” The Assembly acted upon a number of recommendations submitted by the Assembly committees. Among others • the Assembly expressed its joy and satisfaction over the progress in the Miami Church and over the peace and cooperation among Pastor, church council and people in that congregation; • the annual classis-dues from the congregations were raised from 50 cents per church member to $1 in order to enable the Classis to carry out a more vigorous missions program; • the Assembly authorized the Executive Committee of the Classis to enter into preliminary talks with any congregation desiring a dual membership in the Classis. In regard to this question the constitution of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America has no provisions. “Time has come, however,” — Dr. Harsanyi said — “when one (or maybe more) congregations of Hungarian Reformed background now belonging to another sister denomination would wish to enter into closer and official affiliation with us without breaking their present denominational ties... I think it is very important to have a positive approach to this problem. Offering—from our part—such dual membership may help the joining Church strengthen its Hungarian Reformed witness; it would also widen our fellowship and it would greatly contribute to the peace among the denominations.” The Nominating Committee, also acting as a committee opening the ballots of the congregations in regard to the offices of dean and chief elder whose term had expired, announced that the congregations re-elected Dr. Andrew Harsanyi for dean (one vote against, two abstentions) and John Nemish for chief elder (no vote against, two abstentions). The Assembly elected the following other officers for 1968: the Rev. Kálmán Göndöcz and Frank Vérségi secretaries, Stephen Varga treasurer, the Rev. Barnabas Rőczey, the Rev. Stephen Kovács, Albert St. Miklossy and Anthony Beke members of the Judicial Commission, the Rev. Stephen Szőke and John Waros, Sr. commissioners to the General Assembly. (The Rev. Rőczey declined, resp. resigned). Dr. Harsanyi and Mr. Nemish were sworn in by Bishop Ábrahám, the other officers by Dean Dr. Harsanyi. The ladies of the Bethlehem Church extended their warm hospitality to all present. The next annual meeting will take place in Trenton, N. J., April 19, 1970. DR. BÉKY RECEIVES GEORGE WASHINGTON AWARD Dr. Zoltán Béky, bishop emeritus of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America and at present president of The Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, was among the recipients of the George Washington Award annually presented by the American Hungarian Studies Foundation for outstanding contributions to research, human knowledge, and the arts. Presentation was made at the Foundation’s ninth annual awards dinner on April 16 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Honored with Dr. Béky were conductor Antal Doráti, Dr. John Lotz linguist and motion picture producer Joseph Pasternak. Bishop Dezső Ábrahám presented the award to Dr. Béky. THE SECOND HELVETIC CONFESSION In Questions and Answers SECTION XXI The Holy Supper of the Lord 1. IVhy do we call the Lord's Supper a “supper?” Because the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus at the last supper with his disciples, and because in the Lord’s Supper the believers are nourished with spiritual food and drink. 2. Why did Jesus institute the Lord’s Supper? a. ) With the Lord’s Supper, our Lord keeps in our remembrance that with the sacrifice of his body and blood, He obtained for us the forgiveness of our sins and our eternal life. b. ) In the Lord’s Supper Jesus wants to nourish us with his body and blood, which we receive spiritually by our faith. c. ) By the Lord’s Supper Jesus wants to strengthen our faith that He truly sacrificed himself for us. 3. What happens in the Lord’s Supper outwardly and visibly? Visibly, the minister gives the bread, repeating the words of Jesus “take, eat, this is my body”, and the wine “drink you all of this, this is my blood”. 4. What happens in the Lords Supper spiritually? When the believers take the bread and wine from the minister, at the same time, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they partake in the real body and blood of Jesus, but spiritually hy faith. 5. What does it mean to take the body and blood of Jesus, spiritually by faith? a. ) It means that by the Holy Spirit we are united with Jesus, He is in us and we are in Him. b. ) The Holy Spirit communicates with us the blessings of the sacrifice of Jesus, that is, the forgiveness of our sins and our eternal life. 6. What is the basis of our teaching that in the Lord’s Supper we eat and drink the true body and blood of Jesus spiritually by faith? The basis of this teaching is the very own words of Jesus who said: “My flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:55, 56). 7. Does this kind of eating and drinking of the body and blood of Jesus occur only in the Lords Supper?
