Magyar Egyház, 1986 (65. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1986-11-01 / 6. szám
8. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 2. ELECTED, respectively CONFIRMED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Ecclesiastical General Secretary — the Rev. Dezső Trombitás Lay General Secretary — István Szabó Treasurer of the Synod — Priscilla Hunyady Counsellor of the Synod —- Alex Eger Editor of “Magyar Egyház” — the Rev. Stefan Torok Managing Editor of “Magyar Egyház” — the Rev. Gabor Nitsch STANDING COMMITTEES: Committee of Ministrerial Relations Chairman — the Rev. Gabor Csordás Commission of Interreligious and Ecumenical Affairs Secretary — the Rev. Lajos Illés (Portfolios for World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Council of Churches, National Council of Churches, Hungarian Reformed Church Uniting, Hungarian Reformed Ecumenical Service, Roman Catholic Relations, Jewish Relations) Committee for Religious Education and Youth Work Secretary — Priscilla Hunyady Committee for Financial Assistance Secretary — the Rev. Gabor Nitsch The Committee on Recommendations and Resolutions presented 17 points, important to note the 6th point, about the acceptance of a new congregatiion into the Synod, that of OSHAWA, Ont., Canada. #15 urged the work toward unity with Calvin Synod and other Hungarian Reformed congregations. #17 recommended support for a worldwide Hungarian ÖKUMENE. After a report of the Auditing Committee the meeting was adjourned. THE CHURCH SERVICE started at 4:00 p.m. with a long line of clergy procession. There were 34 ordained ministers present in the church filled to capacity. The participants in the divine worship were: Dezső Abraham, Kalman Adorján, Alexander Forro, András Harsanyi, James McCord, Gabor Nitsch, Denes Tamas and Stefan Torok. Dr. James McCord, past president of Princeton Theological Seminary and always a devoted supporter of Hungarians, delivered the English sermon about the finality of Jesus Christ, based on Hebrews 1:1-14. The unforgettable ordination message was presented by Stefan Torok in English, and by Dezső Abraham in Hungarian. The most moving part of the service was that of the laying on the hands to ordain the new Bishop Andrew Harsanyi. The new Bishop than addressed those present, which was followed by the installation of the new Chief Elder Anthony C. Beke, new General Secretary Dezső Trombitás and all other officers of the Synod. THE BANQUET followed the two hour worship service, in the Bethlen Hall. Right before the dinner the Mayor of Carteret Pete Sica greeted Bishop Harsanyi joined by the 240 participants. Dinner started with a surprise filet mignon for the honored guests, courtesy of our Chief Elder Leonard Sendelsky. He later introduced the guests, the new officers and presented Bishop Harsanyi with a I4K gold Omega watch, with an inscription on the back of the date and event, courtesy of the Church Council of Carteret, where Dr. Harsanyi served for over 24 years. Lenny also presented Mrs. Harsanyi with a dozen of red roses. In the name of the family, daughter Dr. Fruzsina Harsanyi greeted the festive crowd. The host Pastor Gabor Nitsch related the best wishes of the President, Ronald Reagan, the Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean and several dozens of letters from world organizations as well as prominent individuals of religious, theological prominence and from the private sector. Bishop Harsanyi filled with emotions than thanked all present and afar, their support and encouragement. He than offered the right hand of fellowship to his new Chief Elder Anthony C. Beke and to the Bishop of Calvin Synod, Zoltán Király. The evening continued with fellowship and dance led by the Harsanyi grandchildren. It was an event to be remembered. Our prayers are with our new Bishop that he may succeed in his role and be able to bring honor and respect to our denomination worldwide. RENEWED AND TRANSFORMED (Inaugural Sermon) “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) “.. .and be renewed in the spirit of your minds.. (Ephesians 4:23) What I am going to tell you as my inaugural sermon is not the teaching of my own mind; as you heard it I learned it from the Apostle Paul and Paul learned it from Christ through the Holy Spirit, God calls the Church to communion with Himself to be transformed by the renewal of minds. We are consecrated and dedicated to God to manifest His will, that is that we may think, speak, and do everything to His glory. This is possible if we respond to God with the mind of Jesus Christ. We must manifest it by Word and Sacrament, and by the manifold services of love and reconciliation. This must be done not only in and for the inner circle — that is within the visible Church — but also in and for the wider circle — that is for the “world,” for all humanity. The model of the Church’s witness is given in the life of the People of God in the Bible, supremely in Jesus Christ. This model has historically been interpreted by the Christian Church and because it has always been an interpretation by human minds and words it has taken many forms of expression. This is the reason why there are so many traditions, denominations. The one we believe to be the most clear interpretation of the mind of Christ was made by the Reformer John Calvin and by what we call the Reformed tradition expressed by the Heidelberg Catechism and the Second Helvetic Confession. The subscription to the latter in 1567 by the Synod of Debrecen marked the final establishment of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Our Hungarian Reformed Church in America is the faithful offspring of it. Thus we profess that we, as People of God, are called by God to communion with Himself, to be consecrated and dedicated to manifest His will, renewed in the spirit of our minds, conformed to the mind of Christ. Every Church and every member in the Church has a specific ministry. This is of utmost importance to us to
