Magyar Egyház, 2001 (80. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2001 / 2. szám
8. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BISHOFS COUNCIL OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA The Regular Annual Meeting of the Bishop’s Council of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America met on Saturday, June 23, 2001, at the Hungarian Reformed Church of Carteret, New Jersey. Opening devotions were led by the Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, Bishop, from the letter to the Romans 8:14 - 17 and prayer was offered by Mr. Stephen Szabó, Chief Elder of the Synod. Members sang jointly the Hungarian Hymn “Szállj alá óh áldott Szentlélek.” Bishop Forro extended an official greeting to all the members of the Bishop’s Council and asked the Rt. Rev. Stefan M. Torok, Ecclesiastical Secretary of the Synod to take an official roll call. Those present included the following: Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, Bishop, Mr. Stephen Szabó, Chief Elder of the Synod, Rt. Rev. Stefan Torok, Ecclesiastical Secretary, Mr. Zolten Ambrus, Lay Secretary of the Synod, Miss Priscilla Hunyady, Synod Treasurer. Representatives of the Classis: Eastern Classis, Dean the Very Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan was absent due to ill health, Mr. Balint Balogh, Chief Elder. New York Classis, Secretary of the Classis, the Rev. Arpad Drotos, and Mr. László B. Vanyi, Chief Elder. Central Classis, the Very Rev. Daniel Borsay resigned from his position as Dean, and Mr. Zoltán Kun, Chief Elder of the Classis was not able to attend because of his sickness. Western Classis: The Very Rev. Andor Demeter, Dean, Mr. Stephen Farkas, Chief Elder was absent. Also present and acknowledged as nonvoting members of the Bishop’s Council were: Mr. Anthony C. Beke, Chief Elder Emeritus, also Comptroller of the Synod, the Rev. Ambrus Batiz, Ecumenical Secretary of the Synod, the Rev. Barnabas Roczey, members of the Ministerial Qualifying Committee. The Rev. Joseph Posta was extended an invitation by Bishop Forro, to offer a report on the Central Classis. Bishop Forro established that a quorum was present and the meeting of the Bishop’s Council will be official. Greetings were extended by the following: Miss Priscilla Hunyadi in behalf of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America as newly elected Chairman of the Board, Mr. Anthony C. Beke, Chairman of the William Penn Association, Mr. James Balias Synod presbyter as official representative of the Calvin Synod United Church of Christ appointed by and representing the Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi Bishop of Calvin Synod. The Rev. Csilla Lucskay-Spelda on behalf of the host church, the Hungarian Reformed Church of Carteret, NJ. Guests included the following: Mrs. Eva Szabó, Mrs. Zolten Ambrus, Mrs. Stephania Drotos and we extended a greeting to her mother who was visiting from Hungary. Minutes of the Bishop’s Council held on June 17, 2000 in Perth Amboy, NJ was presented. Since the minutes were made available to the members in advance upon the motion of Mr. László Vanyi and Mr. Balint Balogh were accepted as corrected. Miss Priscilla Hunyadi gave a shortened Treasurer’ Report on the financial condition of the Synod. Full report will be made available through the mail in three weeks. The meeting continued with the report of the Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, Bishop. Upon the motion of Rev. Stefan Torok and the Rev. Andor Demeter the report of the Bishop was accepted with thanks. The meeting continued with the report of Mr. Stephen Szabó, Chief Elder of the Synod. Upon the motion of Rev. Stefan Torok and Mr. Balint Balogh, the report of the Chief Elder was accepted with thanks and both were recommended to be part of the official minutes. The meeting continued with the report of the Classis. In behalf of the absent Dean, the Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan, Rev. Stefan Torok reported that there is peace, understanding and wonderful cooperation within the Classis. Our Roebling, NJ congregation is the only one that needs our special attention upon the resignation of its former pastor, the Rev. Leslie Martin who was called to a full time position in South Norwalk, CT. The congregation was served by the Rev. Gabor Egeresi, a student from Hungary at Princeton Theological Seminary. Upon his graduation, services may be offered by the Rev. Zoltán Tarr who is also from Hungary and presently continues his studies at Princeton. Mr. Balint Balogh, Chief Elder of the Calssis also added his report on the life of the Classis, expressing his many thanks to the Lord for the opportunities He has given him for the visits he made to the congregations and for the services of His Church. Bishop the Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro reported on the life and events of the New York Classis. He also asked Mr. László B. Vanyi, Chief Elder of the Classis, to extend his reports and the Rev. Arpad Drotos, Secretary, concluded all reports from the New York Classis. Among the reports Bishop Forro mentioned the request of the Staten Island congregation’s desire to return their membership to the Eastern Classis, which decision shall be addressed at the next Classis meeting. Mr. Stephen Szabó also reported difficulties at the Cliffside congregation. He said, he hopes that all the issues
