Magyar Egyház, 1991 (70. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1991-07-01 / 4. szám
12. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 203RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.) Baltimore, Maryland, June 4-12, 1991 Fifteen Ecumenical Advisory Delegates were invited to the Assembly, three of them were unable to get permission to leave their countries. The EADs were observers in the planery sessions, but full right members in their computer assigned committees. I shared a room with the Rev. Martin J. Beukenhorst, President of the United Protestant Churches of Belgium, at the Hyatt Regency. All expenses of our stay was underwritten by the PCUSA. I served on the committee on Church Orders and Ministry and had more opportunity to speak than on our own Synodical Meeting. Nevertheless I felt uneasy to discuss and to make decisions on some of the subjects, such as “Sexual Misconduct of Pastors” which seemed to unfairly dominate much of our time. There were sixteen committees in all, we heard the report on the role of the PCUSA supporting its chaplains to the Armed Forces, the report on Interfaith Relations, Educational Ministry, Evangelism and many others, yet the media put Committee No. 13 in the limelight: “Human Sexuality” as if it would be the biblically and denominationally most important burning issue. It was gratifying to observe that the final outcome was “The 203rd General Assembly overwhelmingly reaffirmed the scriptures to be the ‘unique and authoritative Word of God superior to all other authorities.’ It also strongly affirmed the sanctity of the marital covenant between one man and one woman to be a God-given relationship to be lived out in Christian fidelity.” It was also heartwarming to see Christian leaders from both North Korea and South Korea linking hands in an expression of unity during a presentation on stage, the first meeting since before the Korean War. Later a “Brief Statement of Faith” was presented and accepted by the Assembly. It was encouraging to hear the statement: “Calvinist Reformed tradition” here and elsewhere quite often. As I said, there were numerous Committees and decisions made and heard beside No. 13, even if not as “sensational” but theologically important. A few more observations and impressions: Administration was unequalled in efficiency. Voting was done electronically, the results seen on giant TV screens with numbers and graphic analysis in a matter of seconds. The several mikes available to the delegates were automatically turned off at the end of the allotted time (2-3 minutes). My roommate and I wondered how our meetings would take such discipline? There were Youth Advisory Delegates (YADs) and Theological Student Advisory Delegates (TSADs) who voted first, before the other Delegates on motions presented to the Assembly. Efficiency and discipline were admirable, though it made proceedings exceedingly slow at times. As it was explained to us: “that’s the Presbyterian Way” — to make sure everyone is heard and is participating within reason. Outside, in the hallway the great Aids Quilt was displayed. I passed through the hallway with mixed emotions. We were invited to numerous luncheons. As we returned from one, following our Moderator, the Rev. Herbert D. Valentine and the Stated Clerk James E. Andrews, we even had to cross a moving and loudly chanting circle of protesters. We could not make out what they were saying, protesting or favoring. The paperwork was efficient and numerous in volume. We received pages amounting to approx. 5 inches before the Assembly, this was almost doubled during the Assembly. Even the Post Office set up a special office in the hall with special canceling for the Assembly. Different Presbyterian, Reformed firms displayed their wares. Each day began with a worship service and ended with Evening Prayer. Special booklets were printed for these services with the words and music of the service. Some classical hymns were used with modern wording. Even the two main services, the opening in the Arena, attended by almost four thousand and the Ecumenical had their own booklets. Communion was served twice — the Presbyterian way, one with crackers, the other with a loaf for each table to be passed around, participants broke off a piece. There .was continuous interpretation for the hearing impaired, even during solos at the service, and the meetings. Bible study groups were formed to meet before the sessions in the morning. Even Baltimore itself was a nice place to visit, streets lined with linden trees (hársfák) and many other attractions. Finally we felt at home, accepted not only as guests but also members of the Presbyterian family. I mentioned to them that they number 2,900,00 and the Hungarian Reformed approx. 3 millions. It was good to be amongst brethren. And this is where the slight difficulty appeared also. I was upset for years to sing the watered-down version of Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress.” I hear, Presbyterians now plan to leave out “militaristic” hymns such as “Onward Christian Soldiers.” At the meetings only ministers were reported to be “guilty of sexual misconduct,” God’s attitude was compared to a mother nursing her child. The pendulum is moving to the other extreme, we are moving away from Reformed tradition to socially acceptable grounds, questionably acceptable from a theological view. On the other hand, who knows what is right, while we are trying to explain God’s deity (the Father, or Venus de Milo?) in human terms. Thank you, Bishop Harsanyi for appointing me to be there, thank you PCUSA for being a gracious host, I learned a lot — our congregation is going to sing those new hymns — I learned a great deal, what I want to do, and what I definitely want to avoid. Rev. Louis Illés, Ecumenical Secretary
