Fraternity-Testvériség, 1998 (76. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1998-10-01 / 3-4. szám
Page 8 TESTVÉRISÉG CHURCH NEWS HÍREK EGYHÁZAINKRÓL Letter ofIntroduction from the newly elected bishop of the Calvin Synod Louis Medgyesi: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, By the gracious will of God, I have been elected as Bishop of the Calvin Synod in this past May in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, to oversee the work, mission, and witness of our local churches and to perform the ecclesiastical duties of the office entrusted to me. I thank the Lord for granting me a share in an expanded ministry to serve Him and His people with love and diligence. Already, in the short six months of my tenure, I have experienced the heavy demands of the office as our pastors and churches call for personal advice, guidance, and involvement. I have been called to conduct installation services for three new pastors, invited to attend church anniversaries, and a host of daily tasks await my personal attention. Truly, the “buck stops” at the Bishop’s office. Since the Reformation, our forefathers deemed it necessary for Bishops to have their own congregations and be in tune with the needs, hurts, and thoughts of the faithful. We are the proud recipients of that tradition where the office of the Bishop is tied directly to the work, mission, and witness of the local congregations. Therefore, I view the tasks of my office as an enabler and encourager of pastors and congregations, as well as an uncompromising defender of our Christian faith in God. My position is akin to the watchman of Ezekial 3:17 where the unvarnished truths of God’s Word is proclaimed to the faithful and the unregenerate alike; the only phobia I have is mitigating and mincing the full gospel message of God’s salvation that calls for repentance, conversion, transformation, and service. I fear being disloyal and displeasing to God alone! I would encourage all of you to strengthen the ties that bind you to the local congregation. Whether you have been attending church since birth or have come later into the faith fellowship, think of the church as an extended family unit. For as much as we need the loving arms of our heavenly Father to guide and nurture us, we need each other to maintain unity, purpose, and resolve in the body of Christ. We must hold each other accountable for the choices and promises we have made, the lifestyles we espouse and follow, and find support and affirmation for living according to the unalterable moral standards of God’s love and grace. This is the nature and character of those sharing leadership within the Conference Council. I do give thanks to God for my fellow officers who were elected to fulfill their own responsibilities, viz., Rev. Bela Poznan from Fairfield, Connecticut, as Auxiliary Bishop, Rev. Karl Ludwig from Gary, Indiana, as Secretary, Mr. Wilburn Roby from Butler, Pennsylvania, as Treasurer, and Mr. Edward Szabó from Seven Hills, Ohio, as Synod Presbyter. I look forward to having a good working relationship with all of them for the benefit of our Synod. As we head across the threshold of time, from one millenium to the next, let us strive to keep not only our ethnic and faith traditions alive, but endeavor to maintain a unified witness of the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord (John 3:16). Please remember that the Calvin Synod, as well as its “mother church” in Hungary, exists as a unified whole and not as “disjointed body parts” who set their own agendas and may proclaim a degenerate gospel which we neither read nor hear in the Word of God. Let us live according to the model of Jesus’ perfect life for the preservation of our soul, the benefit of our fellow man, and to the glory of God. Louis Medgyesi, Pastor Front row: Rev. Ágoston Dobos, Rev. John Thomas, Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Rev. Bela Poznan, Rev. Zoltán Szucs, Rev. Albert Kovács and Rev. Szabolcs Kalman. Back Row: Rev. István Geczy, Rev. Frank Endrei, Rev. Csilla Geczy, Rev. Dr. Jake Wagner, Fr. Bryan Eyeman (Byzantine Rite), Rev. Zoltán Sutto, Rev. Gabor Nitsch, and Rev. William Nyerges. Also participating: Rev. Shirley Mälzer and Rev. Charlotte Brown.
