Sárospataki Füzetek 21. (2017)

2017 / 2. szám - RESEARCH PAPERS-FORSCHUNGSMATERIALIEN - Pándy-Szekeres Dávid: Elements of a triangular relationship: the presbyterian church in canada, ethnic Hungarian congregations of the presbyterian curch in canada and the reformed church of hungary

them, to make their cause our cause, even when prospects for Easter seem dim and

the only future visible remains a continuing procession to Golgotha.”32

In the May issue editor Congram went to great lengths to encourage his readers and the PCC to get involved in trying to help Rev. Tőkés and others like him. He called for a visit to Rumania by an official church delegation, going to the extent of saying: “I hope that our ‘Moderator Designate’ will give serious consideration to visiting Rumania and other Eastern Bloc nations during his term of office.”33 In the same issue a three-page spread written by PCC Hungarian minister Dr. József Pungur is dedicated to recounting the events surrounding Rev. Tőkés’ ordeal and eventual escape to freedom and the subsequent collapse of an evil regime.34 Rev. Tőkés’ visit to Canada to the Hungarian PCC congregation of Toronto with PCC moderator Rev. Harold Morris moved the decades-long quest for a triangular relationship giant strides forward, to as great an extent as had his courageous actions in Rumania. One concrete step was in place already that spring in May when acting moderator Rev. John F. Allan took editor Congram’s exhortations to heart35 and together they embarked on an official visit of the RCH in Eastern Europe, a place where they were warmly welcomed and ably guided to RCH mission fields, congregations, schools and church head offices by RCH members and a voluntary PCC missionary36 who had already been working there for years. The visit and the experience totally charged37 the official two-man delegation. On their return, an extensive account of people, places and events encountered was duly prepared and published in three successive issues of the Presbyterian Record in both editorials and in a three-part “travelogue”.38 In riding the coattails of these two PCC travellers on their

Dávid Pándy-Szekeres

32 John Congram: From the Editor: The Strange Silence of the Church, Presbyterian Record, April 1990,4.

33 John Congram: From the Editor: Climbing on Board, Presbyterian Record, May 1990,4.

34 Joseph Pungur: A Modern Hero of Faith, Presbyterian Record, May 1990,14-16.

35 The Reverend John F. Allan, personal correspondence, 2007:"John Congram, the Editor of the Record, voiced his strong opinion that the Moderator should visit the Hungarian Reformed Churches in Eastern Europe, especially the Church in Rumania. John was very taken with the Reformed minister, László Tőkés, who spearheaded the revolt that brought down the government in Rumania. [...] Congram thought the Moderator should go to Hungary and Rumania and show support, etc. I said I'd be delighted to go if the Editor of the Record would come with me."

36 Dávid Pándy-Szekeres had been studying, travelling and working in Hungary and Rumania full-time since 1984 and served as guide for the visit to Rumania; RCH lay officer Rev. Dániel Szabó served as guide in Hungary and for the historic first ever visit of PCC representatives to RCH congregations functioning within sub-Carpathian Ukraine.

37 John Congram: From the Editor: Answering Questions, Presbyterian Record, July-August 2002,3.

38 John Congram: From the Editor: A New Mission Opportunity, Presbyterian Record, July-August 1991,3;

'I) With the Moderator in Eastern Europe, Two Days in May, July-August 1991,15-19; From the Editor, Strength to Teach Again, Unpaid Missionaries, September 1991,3; (2) With the Moderator in Eastern Europe, Romania, Not Yet Free,September 1991,14-17; From the Editor, Getting History Right, October 1991, 3; (III) With the Moderator in Eastern Europe, A Reformed (Presbyterian) Church With Bishops, October 1991,12-16.

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