Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-05-01 / 5. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 The National Assembly . . . would be the highest governing body of the church. It would legislate on all matters concerning the whole church and would administer national and worldwide ministries by creating agencies to do so and by electing their chief executives. It would have a relatively lean staff. Made up of seven hundred fifty to two thousand representatives from the regions, the assembly would meet at least biennially. As planned at other governing levels, the assembly would elect a council to carry out its work between meetings. The assembly would establish standards for the ordained ministry, develop overall objectives and strategy for mission, adopt a national budget, operate institutions of health and education and welfare, and act on complaints and appeals from the regions. Ecumenical cooperation would be stressed at every level of the church, which would be open to union or to cooperation in all undertakings. Membership in the Church of Christ Uniting would be open to all persons; all members of the uniting churches would be recognized as full members. Christian nurture and instruction would hold an important place. SCRIPTURE 'UNIQUE AUTHORITY' The plan affirms that the proposed church: • “Acknowledges the unique authority of the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments . . .” • “Accepts the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds as witnessing to the mighty acts of God recorded in Scripture .. • Agrees to continued use of confessions and corporate covenants expressed in the past by uniting denominations “as enrichments of its own understanding of the gospel,” but “will not, however, use any of these confessions as an exclusive requirement for all.. .” • Will “from time to time confess and communicate its faith in contemporary language and in new forms, under the authority of Scripture and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit...” • “Takes its stand against all forms of prejudice, hatred, discrimination based on supposed racial superiorities or purity .. .” • And “will seek to assess the needs of the world and to be involved in the issues of economics, politics, international relations, and culture . . .” SACRAMENTS 'AT HEART OF WORSHIP' The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper would be accepted as “at the heart of the church’s worship.” Corporate worship would include corporate acts of praise and prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, the preaching of the gospel, and the celebration of the Sacraments. “The preaching of the Word,” the plan emphasizes, “is central to public worship.” There would be “room for a wide variety and manner of ceremony, furnishings, vestments, music, and the like. Each parish, subject to the general norms of the united church, will be free to work out its own forms of worship.” The new church would accept both infant and adult Baptism, but “neither shall be imposed contrary to conscience.” Baptism would be “with water by immersion, affusion, sprinkling, or pouring.” Despite the many differences of background in the COCU denominations, it is not these differences but apathy among church members that some of the delegates who hammered out the plan see as most likely to hinder it. Hope was expressed, however, that local-level interest will grow as the plan becomes widely available for study. Member denominations of the consultation are the African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church in the U.S., United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, and United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. JMy JlLá er s C^JarJen Her heart is like her garden, Old-fashioned, quaint and sweet, With here a wealth of blossoms, And there a still retreat. Sweet violets are hiding, We know as we pass by, And lilies, pure as angel thoughts, Are opening somewhere nigh. Forget-me-nots there linger, To full perfection brought, And there bloom purple pansies In many a tender thought. There love’s own roses blossom, As from enchanted ground, And lavish perfume exquisite The whole glad year around. And in that quiet garden — The garden of her heart — Songbirds are always singing Their songs of cheer apart. And from it floats forever, O’ercoming sin and strife, Sweet as the breath of roses blown, The fragrance of her life. Alice E. Allen New General Secretary For World Alliance Koenigstein, Germany/Glen Ridge, N. J., USA — The president of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Rev. D.Dr. Wilhelm Niesel, and the moderator of the International Congregational Council, Dr. Ashby E. Bladen, have announced the appointment, as from November 1st, 1970, of a successor to Dr. Marcel Pradervand as general secretary of the W.A.R.C. He is the Rev. Edmond PERRET, 45, a pastor of the National Protestant Church of Geneva. A graduate of the University of Geneva, Mr. Perret was ordained in 1950. From 1951 to 1955 he undertook post-graduate studies at McGill University, Montreal, where he obtained the S.T.M. degree “magna cum laude.” While in Canada, Mr. Perret had pastoral oversight of the Church of the Saviour, Montreal (United Church of Canada). Since his return to Switzerland in 1956, he has held pastorates in three Geneva parishes. Mr. Perret has also taken an active share in the wider work of the church in Switzerland, serving
