Magyar Egyház, 1990 (69. évfolyam, 3-6. szám)
1990-05-01 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 11. oldal Main topic for the afternoon was a lecture prepared by László Hamos, executive with the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation in New York. Mr. Hamos in his well prepared presentation gave us the most up-to-date information on the situation in Erdély (Transylvania) and also provided Video tapes of the disturbances in Marosvásárhely which was taped secretly and was provided to the Foundation. Our ladies were interested very much in which ways can we help our suffering brothers and sisters in Transylvania, and also throughout the world. We have come to realize that we may be far away from the hot-spots of the changing world in Eastern Europe, yet we must bear a responsibility for our brothers and sisters. Among the suggestions that were raised was that we can adopt congregations, and through the exchange of letters find out what are those things in which we can help to them. The Conference also requested that in the future our official church organ the “Magyar Egyház” would offer informational news of the events in Eastern Europe. Concluding the afternoon, we held our business meeting at which time elections have taken place with the following result: President for the 1991 year is Mrs. Elsie Bodo from New Brunswick where the next Annual Church Women United Conference will take place. Secretary elected was Mrs. Margaret Beke from Trenton, Vice President Mrs. Georgianna Harkel from Roebling, Treasurer Mrs. Elizabeth Dudich from Perth Amboy, and Chaplain the former president Mrs. Alice Radvansky. Installation of Officers was conducted by Rev. Alexander Forro, Dean of the New York Classis. NEW CONGREGATIONS OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH ESTABLISHED Indefatigable efforts by our Commissioned Preacher Katherine M. Nagy have been blessed and the establishment of two new preaching stations are now in operation in Houston, Texas and Sa Diego, California. Monthly services are being planned. Services of Word and Sacrament have been well attended. Monthly services in Dallas, Texas are continuing. Knowing Katherine, her dedication to the Lord’s work and her ability to preach and to organize, we are sure that we shall hear about other prospects from the South and from the Southwest. THE NEW SITUATION IN EUROPE At the October, 1989 meeting of the Conference of European Churches its general secretary, Jean Fischer gave an extensive report. The following are excerpts from his report: The Conference of European Churches has been actively campaigning against the division of Europe into two ideological blocs. Now we are experiencing the breakdown of this ideological division. The iron curtain has been dismantled; in several countries the process of democratization is in progress. We can affirm that the success of the Helsinki process is being felt in many fields, among others in the area referred to as ‘the human dimension’ of the CSCE [Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe] which includes, in particular, religious liberty and freedom of conscience, human contacts, and human rights. ... The economic stagnation and disorganization in several countries affecting the availability of food and basic consumer goods, etc. has achieved what none of the Helsinki Final Act baskets could have guaranteed, namely the setting in motion of a process of democratization with the results that we observe in Poland, Hungary and in the Soviet Union. But we must be aware of the dangers of a situation in which the forces of economy and finance organized at multinational level escape the democratic control of the political power, still largely nationally organized, leaving thus a free hand to the ‘market’ and its exclusive interests. Financial assistance was offered to the following causes: General Mission Fund for the Assistance of Transylvanian Churches to the Hungarian Human Rights organization, Hungarian Heritage Center in New Brunswick, Archives in Ligonier Pennsylvania, Bethlen Home. The joyful afternoon concluded with the Benediction offered by Rev. August Molnár, Host Pastor, President of the Hungarian Studies Foundation Heritage Center in New Brunswick. The ladies of the host church extend a cordial invitation to all attending the conference to share with them in a Fellowship Dinner. After an afternoon of Christian Fellowship we returned home, bringing with us our concern and love for each other and for our brothers and sisters in the Lord throughout the world. God be with you till we meet again on the First Sunday of May in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The changes result also from a deep aspiration of the new generation to participate in decisions that will shape their future and that of their children rather than to continue to be subjected to the doctrinal convictions of political leaders and powers that may have been able to deal with some social problems, with some success, but have completely failed to solve the human problem and the claim for freedom and participation with dignity. We are now at a point where it becomes more and more difficult to continue to use the vocabulary of the past, and we should certainly not perpetuate in our language, the categories and terminologies that reflected the European division into two seemingly coherent monolithic ideological blocs. It is hardly possible anymore to speak of East and West. Although Nato and the Warsaw Alliance still exist, the new geography of Europe is calling for new denominations reflecting largely both economic and democratic choices.
