Magyar Egyház, 1975 (54. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1975-04-01 / 4. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

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one District headed by Endre Sebestyen as Dean. In four years after its establishment, The Independent Hungarian Reformed Church in America had grown to seventeen churches. On September 4, 1928, at a meeting in Trenton, New Jersey, the Church District was divided into two classes, each classis headed by a Dean. The Eastern Classis had nine churches and the Western Classis had eight churches. Endre Sebestyen was given the title of Chief Dean. There is no precedent for this title in the Hungarian Reformed Church in Hungary although it does appear in the structure of the Reformed Church in Bohemia.

On February 21, 1958, in Duquesne, Pennsylvania, major changes were made in the Church’s outward structure. The name, The Independent Hungarian Reformed Church in America, was shortened by dropping the word Independent from the official title. The fact was that the denomination had been independent for more than three decades. Also, the need to maintain a distinction between the former Church and the affiliated Churches became less of a problem with the passage of time. The other noticeable change was in the title of the chief elected church officer of the Church from Chief Dean to Bishop. This was more in the tradition of the Hungarian Reformed Church, and Dr. Zoltán Beky who had been serving as Chief Dean was consecrated the first Bishop of THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA. In 1959, another change was made in the Church’s structure when the Eastern Classis was divided into two classes — a smaller Eastern Classis and a New York Classis.

During the past fifty years, the following individuals have served as leaders of our Church District and its Classis: Endre Sebestyen served as the first Dean from 1924 to 1928 and as the first Chief Dean from 1928 to 1938; Sándor Daroczy served as Chief Dean from 1938 to 1945; Dr. Karoly Vincze served as Chief Dean from 1946 to 1954; Dr. Zoltán Beky served as Chief Dean from 1954 to 1958 and as the first Bishop until his election to President of The Hungarian Reformed Federation, a fraternal organization. Lajos Nagy served as the second Bishop of the Church and is currently the Superintendent of the Bethlen Home, serving the needs of the orphans and the aged. Dezső Abraham, our third and current Bishop, is serving as minister of our Allen Park Church in Michigan.

Others who have served as leaders of the Church in various capacities are as follows: Chief Elders of the District — István Bodnar, István Szendrey, Ferenc Szalay, Janos Damay, Dr. Sándor Kiss, Karoly Kish and Janos Nemish. The following ministers were

serving as the Deans of the Western Classis — György Borshy Kerekes, Sándor Marton, József Urban, István Szőke, István Kovács, Lajos Nagy, Tibor Tóth and Tibor Dömötör; Chief Elders of the Western Classis — István Szendrey, Benjamin Hadar, Zoltán Fisher, József Eigenbrod, Gabor T. Balogh, Karoly Kish and Karoly Bone; Deans of the Eastern Classis — Dr. Lajos Nanassy, Dr. Karoly Vincze, Dr. Zoltán Beky, József Urban, Gabor Csordás, Dezső Abraham and Dr. András Harsanyi; Chief Elders of the Eastern Classis — Miklós Pentek, Ferenc Banyacsky, Imre Gilanyi, Sándor Balogh, Albert St. Miklossy, Janos Nemish and Imre Kovary; the New York Classis has been served by Gabor Csordás as Dean and István Kiss as Chief Elder.

THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA has played a leading role in the preservation and advancement of the community and culture of Hungarians even beyond that of its own Church members. The Magyar Church has served to tie together the members of the separate churches comprising the denomination by bringing news and articles of interest in both the Hungarian (Magyar) and English languages to its readers. This official publication of the Church started out as a privatelyowned magazine in 1922. Endre Sebestyen, founder and first editor of the magazine, turned over its operation to the denomination after it was formally organized, and it has been a continuing record of our history. In the early days, in the 1920’s, and the days of great economic hardships, in the 1930’s, this monthly magazine was kept in operation by ministers who co-signed notes to raise operating capital. The struggle for survival and the influence and role of this magazine in the Church’s life should make a worthy historical study. During these fifty years, the following have served as editor of this publication: Endre Sebestyen, György Borshy Kerekes, Sándor Daroczy, József Urban, Dr. Zoltán Beky, Imre Bertalan, Dezső Abraham, Dr. András Harsanyi and Tibor Dömötör.

The Church and its leaders have been active in the Hungarian community beyond the scope of the immediate Church. After World War II and after 1956, when large numbers of Hungarians came to America seeking freedom, the efforts of church members, individually and coUectively, went far to make the transition and adjustment easier for them than it had been for those who preceded them. It was not only in periods of great stress that the Church has emerged to serve its community, but in many ways it has labored continuously to help those in need. It has been a strong supporter of The Hungarian