Magyar Egyház, 1984 (63. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)

1984-01-01 / 1. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

7. oldal

ECUNOTES

Ecumenical Notes and Comments from Here and There

In a statement, “Towards New Lifestyles,” the Roman Catholic Bishops of France said that “except for those who are poverty-stricken, the defense of one’s standard of living is not the most urgent goal today.” Therefore, people should adopt simpler lifestyles, spend less on luxury goods, and give up extra jobs to ease unemployment. (EPS)

Methodist ministers are not supposed to drink alcoholic beverages. A survey of British Methodist ministers, however, shows the number of those who say they don’t drink alcoholic beverages has decrease from 64.6% to 36.8% in the past 20 years. (EPS)

The Communist Party daily paper for Lithuania has urged young Lithuanians to resist efforts to make them Christians and accused Roman Catholic priests of frightening parents into sending their children to church. Religious belief, according to the paper, is outdated and alien and is used by the West to subvert Soviet youth. (EPS)

Pope John Paul II during his visit to Spain in November, 1982 said that the Spanish Inquisition was guilty of “errors and excesses” in its efforts (in the 16th and 17th centuries) to combat heresy which included torture and execution. (EPS)

Although the number of members in the churches of the Polish Ecumenical Council (Old Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, Eastern Orthodox) is only about half a million — vs. over 35 million Roman Catholics —, these churches are very active. Some previously uncommitted people are actively joining the Protestant churches; some churches are providing courses in adult catechism; non- Catholic radio and TV programs have started; there is also a brisk sale of Bibles. (One fForld)

DEADLINE

FOR OUR NEXT ISSUE FOR MARCH AND APRIL WILL BE APRIL 1, 1984

MÁRCIUSI ÉS ÁPRILISI SZÁMUNK LAPZÁRTA:

1984. ÁPRILIS 1.

FOCUS ON . . .

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH

by Judith Pásztor

Mrs. Pásztor, librarian in Debrecen, represents church women of Hungary in the Ecumenical Forum of European Christian W omen.

Each church has some specific historical dates. In our recent church history the 11th of November 1981 is such a date. On this day the General Synod made the decision to open the way for women to be ordained for the ministry and also to be elders in the church.

One year has gone by since that day, and one can say this year was in our church the year of the women.

It was fifty years ago that in our church the first woman was accepted as a student in a theological college. Since that time more and more women have attended the colleges and studied theology. For many years after graduation the only possibility was for them to work in church administration. As the number of well-trained women theologians increased the issue of their ordination became more and more urgent. The view expressed by many church leaders was that this problem should be discussed on a biblical and theological basis, and not only on a practical level. Then, several theologians set to work. Papers were written and the issue was raised at theological debates and conferences. Articles appeared in various theological journals. These debates and discussions were followed by a study conference of the Collegium Doctorum, which is a unique institution of our church. (It is a body of theologians belonging to the Reformed Church in Hungary or to sister churches abroad. The task of the Collegium is to study the burning issues of the day in the church. In other words, to make theology serve the church.)

The Collegium Doctorum proposed that the General Synod should take up the matter and should decide in favor of the ordination of women. When the time of decision came there was only one dissenting voice. Thus, the vote was taken almost unanimously for the ordination of women.

So now we have women pastors with full rights both in leading liturgy and business in the church. They lead the congregations in celebrating Holy Communion, administer the Sacraments of Baptism, and chair meetings of sessions in the congregations.

It has always been the case that women have carried much of the responsibilities and burdens of the life of the church even without full rights. During the last ten years or so they were particularly active in the so called “serving committees” or diakonia committees that were formed in congregations. These committees usually come together every week to discuss the actual problems of the community, to organize help for those in need and to study the Scriptures with a particular emphasis on ethical issues. In some congregations this committee shares in the preparation of the minister’s Sunday sermon, when the text of the sermon is being discussed in the committee. This practice strengthens their understanding that the proclamation of the Gospel is not an individual performance of the minister, but it is also a common task and responsibility of the community.