Fraternity-Testvériség, 1989 (67. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
1989-07-01 / 3. szám
Page 8 TESTVÉRISÉG 1979, The Lorain Hungarian Reformed Church, Lorain, Ohio, elected him to be their Pastor, where he is serving since. The Lorain church was part of the local Western Reserve Association of the UCC and transferred its membership to The Calvin Synod by the unanimous vote of the congregation in February of 1983. At the 47th Annual Meeting of the Calvin Synod, in May 1985, Pastor Szűcs was elected as General Secretary of The Synod, serving for four years. On May 25, 1989, at the 51st Annual Meeting of The Calvin Synod, the delegates honored and entrusted Pastor Szűcs with the responsibility and trust of electing him Bishop of The Calvin Synod Conference. Bishop Szűcs and his family are members of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America. He strongly believes in the historical ties linking Church and Federation to the benefit of the entire American- Hungarian community. 50 YEARS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY— THE REV. STEPHEN SZŐKE The Rev. Stephen Szőke was born in Hungary on December 16, 1915, studied at Debrecen, came to the USA in 1935 as a scholarship student, graduated from Eden Theological Seminary (B.D/39), then at Union Seminary (S.T.M. '40). During his graduate work he served on Staten Island as supply minister. He was ordained by the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. He was elected to his first pastorate in 1941 by the Hungarian Reformed Church of Duquesne, Pa., where he served for 24 years; during this time they built their new church and parsonage. He served 6 years as Dean of the Western Classis, 6 years as Gen. Secretary of the denomination, locally as president of the Prot. Churches. In November 1965 he became the pastor of the First Hungarian United Church of Miami, Fla. where he served for 11 years. During his time, the church building was renovated, a parsonage, a duplex and a 30 unit apartment building were built. He was elected as pastor of the Hungarian Evang. and Reformed Church of Dayton, Ohio, in November 1976 for four years. Their small chapel and the parsonage were renovated during that time. In 1980 he was called to be the pastor of the Magyar Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, became a member of the Westminster Presbytery on October 28 and took charge of the congregation on November 1, 1980. During his pastorate the congregation in Lakeland became financially stronger, but still very small in membership, though the fellowship dinners are well attended. In 1987 the church was refurbished and beautified. The motto of his alma mater in Debrecen was: ORANDO ET LABORANDO, that is, PRAY AND WORK. Az Amerikai Magyar Református Egyesület nagy családja nevében június 4-én, méltó ünnepség keretében üdvözölhettem, s most köszöntésement a nagyobb nyilvánosság előtt megismételve, a köszönet és elismerés hangján szólok Nt. Szőke Istvánról, lelkipásztori szolgálata aranyjubileuma esztendejében. Annak a lelkipásztori nemzedéknek tagja ő, amelyik Magyarországon indult a szolgálatra, de egész élete az amerikai magyar református élet munkálásába gyökereket vetett. Induláskor az első nemzedék papja. Még az egyetem padjaiban ül, amikor a gyakorlati teológia egy fontos tárgyát első kis gyülekezetében, egyházalapító amerikai magyar reformátusok közt szolgálva, Krisztus megfogalmazásában így tanúlja, hétről-hétre ebből vizsgázik: "Építem az anyaszent- egyházat. Attól kezdve, egy életen át, teljes sorsvállalásban él az alapítókat követő egyházépítők nemzedékével. Közte és az előtte járt templp,mépítő lelkipásztorok közt van egy különbség: O már a gyülekezet második templomát építi, a második és harmadik nemzedék számára. Az angolnyelvű életrajz is azt tükrözi: Mindenestől
