Fraternity-Testvériség, 1973 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1973-04-01 / 4-6. szám

English Section

FORTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE OF THE ORDINATION AND TESTIMONIAL BANQUET OF THE REVEREND DOCTOR ZOLTÁN BEKY, BISHOP EMERITUS AND PRESIDENT OF THE HUNGARIAN REFORMED FEDERATION OF AMERICA

The Rt. Rev. Zoltán Beky graduated summa cum laude from the Sárospatak Theological Seminary in Hungary. In 1927 was ordained into the Christian Ministry. He was selected by the Sárospatak Theological Seminary to do post graduate work at the New Brunswick Seminary. He continued his theological studies at the Philadelphia Divinity School. In 1928 he was elected pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Trenton, N. J. In 1930 under his dedicated leadership a great cultural and educational center was erected by the congregation. In 1960 the Midwestern Bible Graduate College conferred the Doctor of Divinity degree on him.

In 1930 he returned to Hungary to marry a former schoolmate and granddaughter of his favorite professor of theology: Margaret Zombory. Their marriage was blessed by two daughters: Margaret and Gloria. They married Lt. Col. Walter Parker and Col. Hugh J. Lynch, both West Point graduates. Dr. and Mrs. Beky have five grandchildren: Lorika, Zoltán, Robert, Eva and Jimmy.

Dr. Beky was recognized by his civic services on the city, state and national levels. He served as Commissioner on the Governor’s Committee on Refugee Relief. In 1964 he was elected chairman of the Board of the American Hungarian Federation, the largest American-Hungarian organization representing the American Hungarian churches, charitable and fraternal organizations. He still serves in this capacity. In 1970 President Nixon appointed him on his Presidential Advisory Board of the Small Business Administration and in 1971 as presidential advisory member of the White House Conference of the Aged. He still serves in these capacities also. In 1967 he received the “Arpad Academy’s Golden Award.” In 1969 he received the “George Washington Award” for his “distinctive service as distinguished pastor and churchman; eminent humanitarian and civic leader, lecturer and writer.” In 1971 he became a Knight of the “St. Ladislaus Order.”

In 1938 the Eastern Classis of the Free Magyar Reformed Church in America unanimously elected him as its Dean. In the same year the Reformed

Church in Hungary invited him for an evangelistic tour and visitation throughout Hungary. In 1947 his alma mater conferred the honorary degree of Theological Professor on him. In 1954 he was elected Archdean and in 1958 was elevated to the high administrative office of bishop of the Free Magyar Reformed Church. In this position he represented in the international and ecumenical ministry the Hungarian Reformed Church in America in all parts of the world. He visited the Holy Land, the Middle East, Latin America, Western Europe and Great Britain. In 1957 he led his denomination into the National Council of Churches in the U.S.A. At the 1961 Third General Assembly of the World Council of Churches held in New Delhi, India the entire world noticed his passionate speech delivered at the November 21st plenary session. He also represented his denomination for eleven years in the North America Area Council of the Reformed and Presbyterian World Alliance. For ten years served on its executive board and in 1961 as Vice Chairman. In 1964 he attended the 19th General Council in Frankfurt, Germany where he was host to all the Hungarian Reformed Church dignitaries, among them nine bishops present from all parts of the World. He was often invited to participate in the Holy Communion Service for the U.S. Congress. He offered the opening prayers at the U.S. Congress, House of Representatives and the Senate in 1966, 1968 and 1973.

During his entire ministry he served as branch manager of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, a large fraternal organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C. In 1952 he was elected a member of the Supreme Council; in 1956 became Vice-President; and in 1964 was elected President of the fraternal organization, having assets over seventeen millions of dollars and many branches throughout the United States and Canada. He still leads the Federation as President.

He is the author of the following books: The Immortality of the Soul in the Theology of Paul, Stoics and Plato, 1930. The Theology of Calvin and Barth, 1936. Latest Theological Thinking, 1937. Ser12