A Kürt, 1987 (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1987-05-01 / 5-6. szám

1987. május—június

3. oldal

Tiszteletbeli doktorrá avatták dr. Archibald R. Goldie-t,

a Baptista Világszövetség társtitkárát Debrecenben

Dr. Archibald Richardson Goldie, Baptist minister, Associate Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance was given an Honorary Doctorate in Theology by the Reformed

Theological Academy of the Reformed Synod in Hungary. The solemn convocation took place in the oratory of the Reformed Kollegium. Barna Nagy Sarkadi, General Deputy President of the State Office for Religious Affairs received Dr. Archibald Richardson Goldie Friday. The meeting was attended by Dr. Sándor Haraszti, Representative for Eastern European Affairs of the Billy Graham Association and by Dr. József Szakács, President of the Council of Free Churches (Hungarian Information Office). Behind this short news there is a very important event. Brother Dr. A. R. Goldie this practical Christian of high knowledge is well known all over the world by the great family of Baptists. As the Director of Baptist World Aid he emerges here today, there tomorrow to organize the assistance to starving and epidemic stricken people. He does this with a heart and incentive. Just an example for this is that there was a transport of food aid stranded in the harbors of Ethiopia. There was a danger that the food stuff would decay. Then he took matters in his hands and in spite of the unpassable roads he rented large transport helicopters and took the shipments to their destination. We ourselves have experienced that he has a heart for us. An example of this is the

assistance he has given us to construct church buildings, also he gave a donation to support the construction of the House of Reconciliation destined for emotionally disturbed youth. Also he donated a heart and lung machine to the medical university in Debrecen. Among other things these were the fruits that were recognized and the renowned Reformed Theological Academy in Debrecen had decided to bestow an Honorary Doctorate upon Brother Goldie. The solemn event took place on December 11 in the oratórium of the Kollegium. The occasion was attended by church leaders representing the Reformed Church, the member churches of the Council of Free Churches and the Baptist Church. Also this event was attended by professors of theology, ministers and several hundred members of congregation. As guests the Ambassador of Canada, the Secretary of the U.S. Embassy were present, also László Bai, department head from the State Office for Church Affairs and Bela Cseke, secretary of the county State Office and many other people.

The event was preceeded by a short worship service lead by Ferenc Arató, protonotary of the church district, Deputy Bishop. The convocation was presided by Dr. Janos Csohany Dean. Bishop László Kürti gave permission to bestow the Honorary Doctorate. Then Dr. Ambrus László Szabó, professor gave a detailed account of the eventful life history of Brother Goldie. He started in 1925 in a little mining village of Scotland, he received his final direction in Canada and he committed himself consciously to follow the narrow path of serving fellow neighbors. The new Honorary Doctor was interpreted by Dr. Sándor Haraszti as he gave an address of acceptance aboutservanthood. While delivering this address he was standing on the very same platform from where the leader of the Hungarian freedom fighting Lajos Kossuth had addressed in his time representatives of

Dr. Archibald Richardson Goldie new member of the Doctoral College, Debrecen.

Reformed College, Theological Academy and the Reformed Cathedral in Debrecen, Rome of Calvinism in Hungary