Magyar Egyház, 1970 (49. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-04-01 / 4. szám
12 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ tant, that fine spirit which enabled you to plan, build and pay off the mortgage of this magnificent building is your legacy from the ages. Nurture it! Cherish it! Pass it on proudly to your sons and daughters. Only then will your spirit never die. But that part of you will live on and on and on into the ages. This address was delivered at the mortgage burning ceremony of the Duquesne, Pa. Hungarian Reformed Church last October. Dr. Joseph S. Nemeth, a “son” of that church is at present Professor of Education and Director of The Reading Center, Bowling Green, state University, Bowling Green, O. LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Dear Sir: Probably some of my fellow elders will think I am an odd ball or something when they read these few lines. Why? Because I am a hundred percent “pro-minister ’ elder. In all our congregations the ministers, when they make a report for the past year, very properly thank God for all the blessings and achievements the congregations can show forth at the end of a year. Also, our ministers heap all praises and appreciation upon us elders and all church members for our loyalty, work and generosity toward our churches. I, as an individual elder, knowing very well what I did and what I didn’t do for my church, feel a little uncomfortable for being so glorified by my minister. Rather, I would like to hear once in a while a few tvords about the vital importance of the role of ministers in our congregations. W/e should be aware of the simple truth that there is no church without a minister. Leave the position of the minister unfilled even for one year, you will see the congregation falling apart. Without a minister there is no church attendance. You can put brilliant laymen in the pulpit, for a while it might be an interesting experience for the congregation, but still, a congregation wants a minister to preach the Word of God. Without a minister there is no income for the church. People plainly don’t contribute to their church if they don’t have a minister to preach, to administer the Lord’s Supper, to baptize the children, to confirm the youth, to marry the young couples and to bury the dead. Why am I a “pro-minister” elder? Simply because I as an elder cannot do anything without my minister. The minister holds the congregation together, the minister brings in the money into the church treasury, and without a congregation and without the contributions of the congregation my office as an elder is meaningless. Our ministers are so modest and humble that unless we elders point out these few things about their vital importance in our churches, they themselves would never do. But all elders and all church members shoud know these things before it is too late. An Elder ELEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE CHURCH WOMEN UNITED HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA EASTERN AREA Date: Sunday, May 3, 1970 — 2:00 P.M. Place: Hungarian Reformed Church, Roebling, N. J. All women of the New York and Eastern Classes are cordially invited to attend. This invitation is open to members, as well as nonmembers, of church women organizations. Last year’s conference was a great success, and the Executive Board hopes to see a large group attend again this year. Come share in fellowship with each other and our Lord and learn more about our Reformed faith. The theme of the Conference will he: Reforined-Protestant-Christian— What Do the Names Say? Guest speaker in Hungarian: The Rt. Rev. Louis Nagy, Supt., The Bethlen Home, Ligonier, Pa. Guest speaker in English: The Rev. Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, pastor of our Carteret church. 2:00-2:30 Registration at Church — Fee: $2.50 2:30-3:00 Opening Devotions Welcome and Introduction of Conference Theme and Guest Speakers 3:15-4:30 Presentation and Discussion of Conference Theme in both Hungarian and English. 4:45-5:15 Reconvene in Church to sum-up highlights of group discussions. 5:15-6:00 Business Meeting — Election and Installation of Officers for 1971. 6:00- Fellowship Supper — Entertainment. ROSE TAKACII — President MARGARET SILAGYI — Vice President GEORGIAN A HARKEL — Secretary PIROSKA HAJDÚ — Hungarian Secretary HELEN NEMISH — Treasurer IRENE KOVÁCS — Chaplain
