Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1971-05-01 / 5. szám

14

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

Permanent Council of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches in France.

One of several points which will need clearance and precision by the churches, are the authority and functions of the Permanent Council. Among its proposed responsibilities are: the study of WCC issues, and relations with the Roman Catholic Church, further education of ministers and the organization of the “Common Synod.”

The churches involved in the scheme are the Reformed Church of France, the Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine, the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of France and the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Alsace and Lorraine. RPPS

WHAT U S. CHAPLAINS IN VIETNAM WILL BRING HOME WITH THEM

The political views of chaplains in Vietnam, like their ministerial colleagues at home, run the full gamut from hawk to dove, but while in Vietnam they are looked upon and understood first of all as ministers of the gospel by soldiers who appear to be more devout than their contemporaries at home.

This was the report of the Rev. Dr. Robert V. Moss, president of the United Church of Christ, after a recent trip through the country which was spent meeting with and talking to 215 of the 390 chaplains there.

Drugs and declining morale are the chief problems facing the chaplains, said Dr. Moss, adding “I was deeply impressed by the kind of ministry they are performing ... in many ways they are on the frontiers of the whole Christian ministry.”

Among their successful innovations are:

• counselling drug addicts in ways that have not been yet matched domestically,

• community organizing to deal with racial tensions in the services,

• counselling soldiers who decide to apply for conscientious objector status,

• new forms of worship.

Looking ahead, the chaplains worry

about their reception at home after demobilization. Little has been done to reassure them about their places in antiwar churches, said Dr. Moss. “I’m convinced that these chaplains, when demobilized, can serve as a tremendous resource for the churches.” TEMPO—Feb. 1971

The

President’s

Page

THE SYNOD MEETING

was held in the Maple Leaf Motor Lodge, Tonawanda, N.Y. from April 26 to 28, 1971. Altogether 40 congregations were represented by 32 minister and 27 presbyter delegates (59), but with dual membership pastors and guests the attendance reached 95 or more. Thus it was a well- attended, disciplined and fruitful meeting.

In addition to the official business, participants had an opportunity to discuss in small groups (1) “A Plan of Union” — the basic document of the Consultation on Church Union (COCU), and (2) Our Constitutional Amendments in regard to the bishop title and the attorney’s services. Monday evening we were the host of our Buffalo West Side Church which joined our Synod a year ago (Rev. Paul Kantor, pastor), and on Tuesday afternoon we had a bus tour to Canada: Niagara Falls, Welland and the “North American Hungarian Night” at Port Colborne, Ont. were the highlights of this tour (The Hungarian Reformed Federation paid the bus fare).

IMPORTANT ACTIONS

of the Synod Meeting included the following ones:

1. Four congregations were admitted: The Grace Hungarian Ref.

Church of Van Nuys, Calif. (Rev. L. Kecskemethy, pastor), and The Hungarian Ref. Church of Lorain, Ohio (Dr. K. Toth, pastor) with dual membership; The Manville Ref. Church (Rev. Z. Király, pastor) and the Pleasant Valley UCC of Dayton, Ohio (Mr. J. Haws, repr.) with full membership. We have now 49 churches.

2. Four ministerial candidates were examined by the Church and Ministry Committee: Rev. Paul Kovács, Rev. Zoltán Harko, Rev. Coralyn Medyesy, and Mr. Tibor Lorincz.

3. The Synod expressed its unanimous conviction that in the COCU negotiations it intends to retain its present status and autonomy as a Synod. At the same time, Synod authorized the new Conference Council to compile a booklet in which the history, legal continuity, accomplishments, and specific ministries of our Synod are expounded.

4. The constitutional amendments by which (a) the officers of our synod shall be called Bishop, Deputy Bishop, General Secretary, Synod- Treasurer and Synod-Presbyter; (b) the attorney may be called by the Bishop to participate in the Conference Council meetings—were adopted.

5. The new slate of officers are: Bishop Arpad Beretz, Deputy Bishop Aaron Elek, General Secretary Joseph Marsalko, Synod Treasurer Joseph Kecskemethy, Synod-Presbyter John Nemesnyik.

6. The travel equalization quota was raised to $100.00 retroactive in 1971 due to the fact that last year the mileage reimbursement was raised to 10 cents but the quota was not raised accordingly (The deficit was $1.062.90).

7. The Synod accepted the following

appeals for 1971: (a) Heart-Lung

Machine to Hungary which is presently being shipped by Mr. William Köteles; (b) South American Mission in Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil; (c) Aid to churches in Hungary and Romania; (d) the Kenya Mission in Africa: J. Pásztor and S. Csákány; (e) Aid to Hungarian Reformed groups in Europe: Belgium. Switzerland, France, Italy.

8. Suggested procedure for the handling of money in local churches was adopted and recommended to our consistories. (It wil be published in Ref. Lapja.)

9. “The Lay Ministry in Calvin Synod” was approved. According to