Magyar Egyház, 1981 (60. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1981-09-01 / 9-10. szám
9. oldal MAGYAR Q& .aj Ilii CHURCH American-Hungarian Reformed Presbyters’ Association 35th Annual Conference September 6th and September 7th, 1981 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Greetings and welcome to the 35th American-Hungarian Reformed Presbyter’s Association Annual Conference. Greetings to the Clergy in attendance, the officers of the presbyters, members of the association, and all church members that are with us today. It has been a year since most of us have seen each other. The great distances between our churches just does not permit it to happen more often. And still our work must go on. The aim of the National Presbyters’ Association is to unite the Hungarian Reformed Presbyters of America in one organization to strengthen the feeling of fraternal unity and to endeavor to make the Hungarian Reformed Churches in America better and more efficient instruments of the spreading of the Kingdom of God on earth. Each one of us must do our utmost to reach this goal. The last 2 years the theme of our conference was “The Role of our Youth in our Churches Today. ” I like to think that our conferences about our youth have been helpful and as we returned to our respective churches each year the message from the conference discussions seemed to have gone with us and aided us is some way. The youth conference in Cleveland this year had more in attendance then there has been for many years. And as we hear from the other districts it may be that their reports may also carry an encouraging sign. It was brought out at the fall church workers conference that our youth were not in the plans to be included at the conference, but this was because of schooling and their activities. However, there were about 9 youth at the conference and they felt that they should have been included. In fact, the youth that were there had their own group discussion and reported their following thoughts and feelings which I would like to pass on to you at this time: 1. Give them something meaningful to do. 2. Have Youth Leadership Training Classes. 3. Parents must be involved. 4. Involve the youth in everything so that they can maintain a feeder system for leadership. 5. Have a type of retreat. 6. Update our faith. 7. Preserve our heritage — look forward. 8. Being a leader is important. 9. Invite the youth to meetings — parents to take them. 10. Have personal involvement to gain respect — use nicknames. 11. Emphasize the positive aspects of youth. 12. Have a General Annual Meeting. 13. Have visitations to families to discuss problems. 14. Communicate. They felt the above items would help them in their “Role in our Churches” and also in their future in church leadership. The theme of our conference today is “The Future of our Churches”. I chose this topic so that we as a group could discuss this openly from a positive viewpoint. There are probably some situations required discussions at all of our churches. These situations can be solved as long as they are discussed openly, and definite plans are made for resolvement, and then to take action and implement those plans. Some of these topics that could be discussed are: 1. Churches without ministers. 2. Declining membership. 3. Getting the youth to attend. 4. Financial difficulties. 5. Help available from the Synod and/or Classis. Many of our churches have probably been involved in these types of situations and could be very helpful to their sister churches. I wish that I could have visited more churches and become better acquainted with their members. But because of the great distance and work commitments it was almost impossible. Therefore, what I would like to stress and impart with you today is that, if you live within a short distance of a sister church try to visit with each other, exchange ideas, both adult and youth, and help each other in order to establish good fellowship and Christian love, so that we can keep the ties that bind us together in the love of God, His Son, Jesus Christ, and our beloved Hungarian traditions and faith. Edmund Vig My Creed I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would he pure, for there are those who care; I would be strong, for there is much to suffer; I would be brave, for there is much to dare. I would be friend of all, — the foe, the friendless; I would be giving, and forget the gift; I would be humble, for I know my weakness; I would look up—and laugh—and love—and lift.
