Magyar Egyház, 1991 (70. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1991-03-01 / 2. szám
12. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ IN MEMÓRIÁM MARGARET KOSA BERTALAN Margaret Kosa Bertalan, wife of the Rev. D. Imre Bertalan, President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, died February 7 in Washington, DC. Funeral services were held February II in the Hungarian Reformed Church of New Brunswick, NJ. The Hungarian community of Washington, DC remembered her in a Memorial Service on February 24 in the Oxnam Chapel of the Wesleyan Theological Seminary where Hungarian Reformed church services are regularly being held. Preachers at the Memorial Service were the Rev. Dr. Aladár Komjáthy, in Hungarian and Bishop Dr. Andrew Harsányi in English. Memorial tributes were said by Béla Tóth in the name of the congregation and Mrs. Tibor Pfluam and Mrs. István Musnai in the name of the co-workers. The Rev. Paul Kovács from Ligonier served reading the Scripture Lessons and Lajos Ábrahám conducting a special choir with Margaret Harsanyi at the organ. Margaret Bertalan is remembered with grateful love not only by the Reformed Community in America but by many of her friends all over the world. A.H. USA: MAJOR DENOMINATIONS CONTINUE MEMBERSHIP DECLINE The 1990 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reports that membership in several major US denominations continues to decline in the last reporting period (from 1987 to 1988). Declines include United Methodist Church, 69 430; Presbyterian Church (USA), 38 173; United Church of Christ, 17 á87; Disciples of Christ, 13 549; and Episcopal (Anglican) Church, 68 78. (EPS) USA: GOVERNOR BANS ATHEISTIC LITERATURE FROM INNS IN STATE PARKS Governor Evan Bayh of the US state of Indiana has banned atheist literature criticizing the Bible from placement in inns in state parks. Bayh said that state policy allows material from ‘bona fide religious organizations,’ such as the Gideons, who distribute Bibles. President Anne Gaylor of the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation said her group proposed the pamphlet after state officials rejected its efforts to have Gideon Bibles removed from the inns. The foundation material describes the Bible as ‘a violent racist and sexist fable.’ It warns that literal belief in the Bible ‘may endanger your health and life.’ (EPS) CEASE-FIRE IN THE GULF WAR We thank God for the cease-fire in the Gulf War. Politicians, historians, military and church people will be debating for decades about the Gulf War whether it was necessary, whether it was just and whether it was worth its cost of human blood and of the billions spent for it. The immediate task is to secure peace and stability in the Middle East. The war in Iraq is still going on; rebellion against the government of Saddam Hussein and his effort to stay in power. Until peace is achieved Allied Forces, mainly Americans, cannot leave the area. Another question is how to reconstruct the devastated countries and who is going to pay for the reconstruction. The third and maybe most important problem is to work out the solution of the Israeli-Palestinian hostility. Churches in America and all over the world appealed to President Bush to “delay military action, give peace another chance.” A conference call to all heads of the denominations of the member churches of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. worded an appeal to President Bush on January 15. After the war began the churches continuously prayed for peace and urged the President to end the war. The Hungarian Reformed Church in America is a member of the National Council of Churches. Bishop Dr. Andrew Harsanyi participated in the conference call of the heads of denominations in wording the appeal of the churches to President Bush. Now, that the cease-fire has been achieved the Churches prayerfully approve President Bush’s peacemaking efforts in the Middle East. Leaders of the National Council of Churches also issued a Statement which, among others, says: “We grieve... with American families and those in other nations who have suffered the loss of persons dear to them; (...) The pursuit of peace must begin with the recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to selfdetermination and a home of their own, and of the right of every state in the area, including Israel, to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force. An international conference to achieve this urgent goal should be convened without delay.” I know from personal experience that many members of our Hungarian Reformed Churches in America have sent letters of love and encouragement to our soldiers stationed in the Gulf Area; emotion filled personal answers were received from all. Now we mourn the sacrifices of those who died and with joy and love do we greet the returning troops. We do not want to forget, however, the victims and veterans of the Vietnam War. Andrew Harsanyi HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE HYMNBOOKS FOR HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCHES IN SLOVAKIA Upon request of the Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia the Press Department of the Reformed Church in Hungary published 20,000 copies of the hymnbook used by the
