Magyar Egyház, 2005 (84. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

2005-07-01 / 3. szám

4. oldal

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

NETWORK CHURCHES,

A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE OF HUNGARIAN REFORMED CHURCHES’ BROTHERHOOD AND SISTERHOOD

It was 115 years ago that our forefathers, the founders and pastors started organizing the Hungarian Reformed Church in the USA, in 1890. At that time, there was a mother church with at least nine church districts, one in Felvidék (today Slovakia) two in Erdély (the Transylvanian parts) and one in Délvidék (Voidovina) as a stronghold in the background, and the tenth district was the newly founded Hungarian Reformed Church in the USA. Plenty of young ministers came from the old country to minister their people. We learn their heroic struggles, the building of the churches and of the congregations, stories of courage and hardship, and anecdotes from the book of our late colleague Rev. Dr. Aladar Komjáthy “The Church which Staggered Out” and also from a booklet “Passion for New Beginnings”by Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan.

Then, the financial and spiritual support of the Reformed Church of Hungary came to an end in 1920. From 1921 the Hungarian Reformed congregations joined to several sister Reformed Churches established in America, such as the German Evangelical and Reformed Church, American Presbyterian Church, Dutch Reformed Church in America, and they organized the Hungarian Reformed Church in America (1924). They all stood on a common platform, so it was easy to constitute a union with the hosting sister churches. Meanwhile, the Hungarian Reformed congregations went through a positive process of accommodation and a negative tendency of assimilation. We may learn that the common features with the American sister churches still dominate, however, the development of our churches differ, despite of the common roots. Our Hungarian Reformed Church in the USA has a specific nature with peculiar characteristics based on our 480 years old traditions, in respect of both our Christian and ethnic experiences.

New Brunswick, New Jersey American Hungarian Foundation, Musem Courtyard

The main point differentiating us, lies in level of the attachment to the confessional nature of our Church. We, the Reformed, observe the principles of the classic Calvinism: proclaiming God’s word, administering the sacraments in reverence, and practicing the church discipline accordingly. The loyalty to the Catechism of Heidelberg and the Second Helvetic Confession

determines our faith heritage and our self-conscience. We, the Hungarian Reformed Church would not make movements either to the right or to the left. It is not the case with our sister Reformed Churches in America. They seem not too much concerned about steering - either to the right or to the left courses - toward Fundamentalism or Liberalism. Their theological reflections on doctrines make slight changes in “modem” approaches and interpreting them from new point of views. If we give up our integral dependence on the historical Reformed confessions, then we are lost. In other words, the network of sister churches won’t guarantee our own progress and future procession.

No doubt, we need open dialogues with the sister American Reformed (e.g. UCC, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed etc) churches. We share a common destiny with them, including the social issues and the mission visions, etc. There are two kind of temptations: one is the lack of the dialogue, living in a ghetto. The second is the a compromise or a self-surrender in which we sacrifice our own identification. The solution, therefore, lies in building network and tying sisterhood and brotherhood with our own sister churches. We are the children of the same mother staggered out to America. In Ligonier, we meet the members of our extended family. There are no closer sisters and brothers outside. We are the descendants of martyrs of our historical faith and ethnic identity.

Seeking unification and joining in one body: is the path to the future. The Hungarian Reformed Church in the USA never considered herself as an counter-Church of the mother Church in Hungary. If our home-church suffered, we shared in her pain and sorrow. If she celebrated, we shared in her joy. Her trial was our burden and her triumph is our elevation. Now, the United Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church encourages us for membership and belonging to the one big body throughout the world. We should open the doors of our mind and faith to experience the long expected unity. First, we have to come close to the idea of one Hungarian Reformed Church in North America so that we may draw closer to the mother church. Therefore, we should be aware of our treasures and spiritual strongholds. We are not less than any other Reformed Churches of Scottish, Dutch, English, Swiss, etc origin. We have potential that are not used and profited yet. We have a rich heritage and legacy that would keep us in abundant life and mission. Let me quote Dr. Charles Shaeffer again. He addressed this prophetic speech to the Hungarian Reformed Churches in the USA in 1938: “Who knows, is it not for this destiny that the Hungarian Reformed Church was organized in America at this period of time? Is it not possible that the small Hungarian diaspora is a means of grace in God’s plan through which the Almighty wants to start a new Reformation in America? Today, you have 150 congregations with 50 thousands members, though scattered in five denominations, but they all possess the same doctrinal confessions, the same traditions, the same heritages, the same language, and the same hope. If you choose the politics of assimilation, then you would lose all the distinguished stigmas and miss the great destiny that I’ve just mentioned. On the other hand, if you choose the autonomy-policy and unite with all your own brethren for achieving great goals and for the building up of a new America: you will accomplish the most valuable service.”

We have all the reasons and purposes to seek the unity that is walking on the path of a sisterhood and brotherhood network with one another. In 2005, we should make pledge and vow to be bound in this heavenly vision. May God’s Holy Spirit fill us with new strength, faithfulness, and perseverance till the finish line. Amen. Rev.Dr.Eva Lukacsi