Fraternity-Testvériség, 1989 (67. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1989-07-01 / 3. szám
Page 6 TESTVÉRISÉG and challenging lecture which was very well received and gave a very rich program and mission for the future of our congregations. On the second day of the conference the elders also met our guest, Presiding Bishop Dr. Elemér Kocsis. It was a rewarding encounter with many blessings. New officers of the Ministerial Assoc, with Bishop Kürti The Minister's conference heard with great interest the lecture of Bishop Kocsis as he spoke of the renewal of our mother church, the Reformed Church of Hungary. Our distinguished guest also spoke about the unexpectedly rapid and favorable changes in Hungary, which make it possible for the church to carry out its mission in freedom. Christian education, reopening of former historical schools of the church, even teaching our faith within the context of the state schools, and missionary projects of the church for the benefit of the entire society were only pious hopes and dreams of yesterday and now they are all possible. God opened the door to tremendous new opportunities to the church to carry out its mission. It was like all of our prayers of the last four decades have been answered favorably by our God. We were deeply touched by the humble and open way Bishop Kocsis spoke to us. The round table discussion between Bishop Kocsis and selected members of the forum: Csaba Baksa, Imre Bertalan, András Harsányi and Zoltán Szűcs dealt with all the problems in a very open and Christian way: how we can help and strengthen each other in our mission of today—the church in the old country and the church in North America. Plans were discussed to hold a World Congress of the Hungarian Reformed people in 1991, possibly in Debrecen, Hungary. The first congress of such dimension was held in 1938 also in Debrecen. For many decades our Bethlen Naptár (Calendar) was the only forum, which annually reviewed the life of the Hungarian Reformed Church in the world. In recent years the official weekly of the Reformed Church of Hungary, Reformátusok Lapja, started the same by reporting about all Hungarian Reformed churches in the world: East and West alike. It was a great joy for all of us that the Rev. Attila Komlós, editor-in-chief of this church weekly, and the charming wife of the Bishop were able to accompany him on this trip. On the second day of the Minister's Conference, Rev. Komlós spoke about the ministry of the only Hungarian Reformed weekly in the world. The Ministerial Association resolved to help and strengthen the work of the Reformátusok Lapja with a generous donation. BOARD OF DIRECTORS-BETHLEN HOME The Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home had to face the problem of the Bethlen Home of Ohio. The Board decided to continue this promising project. To our great regret, the leading workers of this project who have done so much for it during the past two years resigned from their offices. We have already purchased the necessary lot, and now our branches and churches in Ohio have to face the challenge of implementing and realizing this plan. It is our fervent hope and prayer that the branches and churches of Ohio will unite in this endeavor, and will find the means and ways to continue this project. The realization of our Archives and Museum progressed one step in this meeting. A new committee of the representatives of our Federation and our churches is commissioned to be in charge of this very important and hopeful project. In this Committee the Federation is represented by President Dr. Imre Bertalan, Vice President Endre Csornán and Director Piroska Hunyady. The churches are represented by the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Bütösi, the Rev. Louis Illés and the Rev. Alexander Jalsó. The meeting also resolved to work out a long-range master plan for the future of our beloved Bethlen Home of Ligonier. BOARD OF DIRECTORS-HRFA Our two days meeting of the Board of Directors of the Federation was a hopeful and progressive event. We heard the good news that our union with St. George Catholic Union (Hungarian) was agreed to by the conventions of both societies. Thus, the continuity and the spirit of the St. George Society is kept alive, and we are mutually strengthened by this unique new way of uniting. St. George did not disappear, but continues to live through its branches and continues to carry the historical name on local level. Our American Hungarian life would be richer if the past mergers had made it possible to continue the names of the old Hungarian fraternals at least on the branch
