Magyar Egyház, 1993 (72. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)

1993-07-01 / 3. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

9. oldal

WESTERN CLASSIS HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA

ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Western Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America was held in the Windsor, Ontario, Canada Church on Saturday, June 5; the Very Rev. Andor Demeter, dean, and Mr. Zoltán Kun, chief elder of the Classis, presided. All pastors and chief elders of the constituent congregations were represented except the church from Youngstown, Ohio. The church of Duquesne, Pa, which has no pastor at present, was represented by its administrator, the Rev. Daniel J. Borsay. Officers of the Classis present were the Rev. Denes Fodor and Mr. Zoltán Ambrus, secretaries, and Mr. Albert B. Kovács, Classis treasurer, also the Very Rev. Denes Tamas, dean emeritus.

Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, bishop and Mr. Stephen Szabó, chief elder of the Synod, attended the meeting and reported on issues of common concern of the Hungarian reformed churches in America and in the old country. The bishop’s report included the new officers of the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ: the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ferenc Vitéz, bishop, the Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, deputy bishop, the Rev. Albert W. Kovács, secretary, the Rev. Raymond F. Kaiser, treasurer and Mrs. Irma Y. Carnevale, Synod presbyter. Bishop Harsanyi also announced that in September the Rt. Rev. Dr. István Mészáros, bishop of the Cistibiscan (Miskolc) District of the Reformed Church in Hungary and Dr. Sándor Tenke, former dean of the Reformed Theological Academy of Budapest, are expected to visit the annual conference of the Hungarian Reformed Ministers’ Association in Ligonier.

Western Classis Annual Meeting

l. to r.: Dean Andor Demeter, Rev. Dénes Fodor and Mr. Zoltán Ambrus classis secretaries

Among the many guests at the Windsor meeting were Mr. Menyhért Nagy, chief elder of the Windsor congregation, with officers and members of the host church. Also were present: Mrs. Andrew Harsanyi, Mrs. Paul Mezo, Mrs. Ilona Fodor, Mrs. Bela Szabó (widow of a former pastor), Mrs. Betty Bone and Mrs. Irene Ambrus. All members and guests were richly entertained at a noon-banquet, and at a supper the evening before and after the meeting, prepared by the Women’s Circle, under the leadership of their president, Ilona Peter.

After hymn-singing and prayer, dean Demeter opened the meeting and gave his detailed report. Ha said: “In this report I combine the activities and accomplishments of our Western Classis churches as a bouquet tied together with strands inspired by our gratitude to our loving Lord. We have all learned from experience that through prayer we come closer to God who in turn strengthens our faith and gives us energy for our appointed tasks. He teaches us to value His creatures and the work of their labors. Today we recount these events. Our goal remains that we discharge our responsibilities to the Holy Writ, to our faith and to our church. With our accomplishments we praise God and we keep on building our beloved church established by the Holy Spirit.”

Continuing his report, dean Demeter listed the various congregational activities of the churches he examined and found most satisfactory during his visitations. The following changes are to be recorded: 1. Following the sudden death of the Rev. Louis Illés of Duquesne, that pulpit is still vacant, with a minister of a neighboring church, the Rev. Borsay from the McKeesport church, helping out as the administrator. 2. The Rev. Imre A. Bertalan resigned the pastorate of the Allen Park Church and returned to his previous charge in Toledo, Ohio. The Rev. László Kontos, associate pastor at Allen Park will return to Hungary at the end of September. The congregation is in search of a new pastor. The Allen Park Church changed its official name to “American Hungarian Church”. We all mourn the sudden death of its longtime chief elder, Edmund Vig. Robert Bone was elected new chief elder. 3. Frank Király, chief elder of the Phoenix, AZ Church left for a foreign assignment in South Korea. Mr. Lewis Erdos is his successor. Mr. George Moser is associate chief elder. 4. San Diego, CA, is the new mission church of our Classis to be confirmed by the next meeting of the Synod. The Rev. Sándor Szabó conducts worship services once a month. Mr. Janos Kaszonyi is the new chief elder. 5. The Rev. Ken Sausman is interim pastor at Youngstown. The congregation is most appreciative of his work. We would be most pleased if they would accept our request to host our 1994 Annual Classis Meeting. 6. According to recent reports, God turned around the force of the destructive accusations, a copy of the history of the “Ontario Litigations” is being submitted to this meeting. Classis Chief Elder, Zoltán Kun,