Magyar Egyház, 2010 (89. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2010-07-01 / 3. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 17. oldal & Reformed Church of McKeesport, PA. (1955-1959), where he also attended the University of Pittsburgh receiving his Doctor of Philosophy. Rev. Butosi then became the Pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Norwalk, CT serving there from 1960 until 1976, when he was elected Pastor of the United Church of Christ in Bridgeport, where he served until his retirement from Pastoral ministry in 1989. The Butosi's then bought their home in Ligonier, PA, and he spent much of his "retirement" traveling extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe (especially Hungary and Romania ), Central America, South America, Africa and Australia. His wife Lorraine passed away in 1991, the same year Dr. Butosi was invited to Hungary, where he taught and chaired the Missiology Department at Debrecen University, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. In 2000, he rejoined his daughter and son in law at the newly built addition of their home in Shelton, and shortly thereafter was awarded the title “Pastor Emeritus of the United Church of Christ in Bridgeport”. In his Ministry, Rev. Butosi served not only his Congregations, but his local and worldwide communities. He served as President of the International Institute of Connecticut, in the Calvin Synod Conference of the UCC he served as Secretary, Deputy Bishop, President-Bishop and Bishop Emeritus. He was the first President of the Hungarian Reformed World Federation (President Emeritus). He served on the Executive Council of the National and World Council of Churches of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. He supervised pastoral students at Yale University and was an Adjunct professor of Hungarian Studies at Sacred Heart University. He was also the author of several books, mostly in Hungarian, and published his autobiography in English, "Praise the Lord, O My Soul", in 2007. Rev. Butosi will be lovingly remembered as a Man of God, first and foremost, but also as a loving and supportive husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed and remembered by many. He leaves behind his daughter, Ann Elizabeth Balias and her husband James of Shelton CT, grandchildren Matthew and Erica Balias, as well as several nieces and nephews in Hungary. He was pre-deceased by his wife Lorraine and daughter Sarah Joan Lynch, and also by brothers Steve, Mihály and Michael and sisters Julie, Elizabeth and Gisella, all of Hungary. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2010 DIRECTLY at the United Church of Christ, comer of North and Laurel Avenues, Bridgeport at 11:00 am, with the Rt. Rev. Koloman K. Ludwig, Bishop Emeritus officiating. Calling hours will be held on Friday, July 16, 2010 from 4-8pm in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Rd., Fairfield Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the United Church of Christ c/o 963 Laurel Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604, or to the John Butosi Memorial Mission Fund, c/o Calvin Synod, Treasurer, 1836 Timothy Drive, West Mifflin, PA 15122. To sign an online register, please visit www.leskopolkefuneralhome.com Dear Family of Rev.Buttosi, Dear Ann & Jim, July 16,2010 On behalf of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, elders, pastors, congregations we are asking God’s grace and peace in this time of sorrow. Please accept our deepest sympathy. As we remembering the father, the pastor, the teacher we believe that Reverend Buttosi a servant of God, has gone home to his Father, who sent him to the world as he was God’s missionary. Jesus Christ as the Word of God gives “power to become children of God” to all who receive him and believe him. Our Lord gives us power, spiritual power, in an age when we are chrushed, overwhelmed, dwarfed by the power of the world. We need this spiritual power. Rev. Buttosi helped us to find this power. Our Lord gives us power to become. This is a large part of the “Good News” of the Gospel: that we can change with the Lord’s help, a man of shifting sand like Peter can become the Rock. Thank to Jesus, we are not statistics but unique individuals capable of transformation and of a fresh start. Rev.Buttosi was an instrument in God’s hand that many people close to him in his service was able to change and went close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us power to become children of God. This highest of priviliges is not ours by birthright. This new life with our Lord is a gift of God through him. All we can do, all we need to do is to receive it and use it - in a life of thanksgiving and love. As we knew Rev.Buttosi, firmly believe that he was a child of God, a servant of God, that he received the gift and put it to work and service, faithfully in his life. Praise God for the life, service and witness of Rev.Buttosi, whose gracious presence in our churches of mourning has comforted us in our sorrows. We rejoice with him, because he has heard the voice of his Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Master.” With faith in his love: Sándor Szabó, Bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America Bishop’s Council Meeting May 21-22, 2010, Ligonier, PA Bishop’s Report Dear Members of the Bishop’s Council! Chief Elder Beke! Pastors, Chief Elders, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ! Tis is the last time that I can attend the Annual Bishop’s Council meeting as Bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. It is my pleasure to greet the members of the Bishop’s Council, as the leadership of our Synod. In the last eight years as bishop and earlier as ecclesiastical secretary, it was a very good experience for me to see the life of the community of our Hungarian congregations all around in the American Continents. I am honored to be part of this brotherly group to lead together our church to the future. This was not just a challenge but much more, because the mission is a call from God. The mission is the most important part of the Christian life, it is in my life also. It is clear that we are different as people, but we have to be One in Christ. The only way to be One in Him to step on the road of the mission. There can be no unity unless we clearly know what the mission is for our time. The theologian Emil Brunner once said: ‘As a fire exists by burning so the Church exists by mission; if there is no burning there is no fire; if there is no mission there is no Church.’ So the very existence of the Church depends upon its mission, according to Brunner. If we don’t have a clear vision of what it is we are primarily about we are like a drunken person
