Fraternity-Testvériség, 2008 (86. évfolyam, 1-3. szám)
2008-01-01 / 1. szám
Dobbins, apósa és anyósa Tamás és Rose Szeverényi, sógorok Tamás, Sándor és Peter Szeverenyi, nagybátyja és nagynénje Zoltán és Ica Dömötör, nagynénje Veronika Petre, és unokatestvérei Ildikó Nagy, Erik és Zsolt Nagy, és Zoltán Dömötör. Tibor halálát, édesapja, Főtiszteletű Tibor Dömötör halála előzte meg. ♦ ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ Rev. Stephen A. Feke—(May 3, 1920—January 22, 2008) (HRFA member since 1940) The Reverend Stephen Alexander Feke, renowned Presbyterian minister for sixty-two years, minister at the National Council of Churches and the Riverside Church of New York, died lanuary 22 in San Diego, California. His death followed a three-year struggle with heart and kidney disease. He was 87. Born May 3, 1920 in Yonkers, NY, Rev. Feke grew up as a member of the Hungarian Presbyterian Church. In 1942, he graduated from Bloomfield College, New Jersey, with a Bachelors of Arts in English Fiterature and continued at Bloomfield Seminary, graduating with his Bachelors in Divinity in 1945. He later went on to serve on Bloomfield’s Board of Directors. On June 21, 1945, Reverend Feke was ordained and became the minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Stirling, New Jersey. On November 28, 1945, he married Marguerite Hatos in his church; they were married for 62 years. Rev. Feke was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Phillipsburg, New Jersey in 1949 and then to Warren Point Presbyterian Church in Fair Fawn, New Jersey in 1952. At Warren Point, Rev. Feke grew the church membership from 475 in 1952, to 990 in 1958, tripled the budget, increased the benevolence budget by 1600%, and led two building campaigns. In December 1957, Rev. Feke boarded the USS General FeRoy Eltinge as part of the Navy's refugee relief program following the Hungarian Revolution. One of three clergy. Rev. Feke served as translator and minister to over 1,700 refugees on their way to the United States. He taught English to over 400 Hungarian refugees and served as chaplain in the sick bay on board the ship. His reputation for church administration and business led him to the position of Director of Budget of the National Council of Churches from 1958-1969. He later returned to work as the Assistant General Secretary for Finance from 1974-1979. While at the NCC, he was responsible for the total fund development and management of a $30M budget and worked closely with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland and Church World Service. Following his position as Director of Budget for the NCC, Rev. Feke served as the Minister of Business Administration and Finance for the Riverside Church of New York from 1969 to 1974. At Riverside, he developed a stewardship program, the Every Member Canvass, which netted over $400,000 in new mission money and a special campaign for benevolence that resulted in over $350,000. He finished his long career at Cover’s Fane United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX, serving as the Minister of Finance for over 8,500 members from 1979-1982. Throughout his career. Rev. Feke served as permanent clerk of the Presbyterian Synod of New Jersey and a member of the Fiscal Services Team for the Synod of the Northeast, the Presbyterian representative on the New Jersey Council of Churches, the chairman of the Presbytery’s Committee on National Missions, a member of the Board of Trustees for Blair Academy and The Interchurch Center, and a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Church Business Administrators. Rev. Feke summarized his personal theological beliefs as follows: “We are unique individuals created by God and called by God through Christ to response to the Gospel of love, redemption and reconciliation. Our acceptance of God in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, is by faith. As unique individuals, God calls us to be fully what we were created to be, contributing to God’s purpose of love for humanity. Bringing out that uniqueness and facilitating its contribution is the response to the Gospel and responsibility of our faith commitment. As a community of faith called Church, we encourage and support one another in a framework of meaning, working it out in faith and life, within ourselves and in community with others. In this, we become coworkers with God, who enables, gives purpose to life, hope for ourselves and others, and ultimate fulfillment.” In 1976, Rev. Feke wrote about the major issues confronting the church. His words still ring true today: “Human survival is a major issue. How can we develop a just and sustainable society? How can we find community instead of competition for survival? What is the role of an individual, church community in this increasingly interdependent world? Can we in the United States justify using over 35% of the world’s energy representing only 6% of the world’s population? Can we stand by in plenty while two-thirds of the world’s population is seriously undernourished or starving? Can we as Christians be Christian without a response to human need? The Church as a community of faith should create an environment for growth and response to the love of which we are recipients in Christ.” Reverend Feke is survived by his wife, Marguerite; his son, Stephen James; his daughter, Marjorie; their respective spouses, Cristy and Frederick; and his five grandchildren. In memory of Rev. Feke’s extraordinary life, donations can be made to the Elizabeth Hospice in 28 Fraternity - Testvériség - Winter 2007/Spring 2008
