Bethlen Almanac 2000 (Ligonier)

Közép Egyházmegye - Central Classis

The origin of the American Hungarian Reformed Church can be traced back as far as 1904. The present-day congregation is the result of schism and union as well. In the beginning it split from the Mother- Church, and according to the Hungarian style of reproduction (according to which Hungarians primarily reproduce by division) a separate Church was founded. There was a period when four Reformed Churches tried to fulfill the spiritual needs of many thousands (maybe many ten thousands) of Hungarians in Detroit and surroundings. At present times through God’s Grace this is the only standing Reformed congregation in this area. With its 465 voting members (instead of more than 2000) it still is considered the largest congregation in the United States. In spite of the fact that another congregation joined it, the decrease of the past 35 years has had an effect on the congregation which moved (in 1965) to one of the nicer cities of Detroit (Allen Park). One can find the main reasons of the decrease in some processes, which influence all the Hungarian congregations in the United States (the move of the younger generations into different states, the process of assimilation, difference between the rate of birth and the rate of death, etc.) and the frequent change of pastors (a characteristic of the last decade). The main concern of each American Hungarian congregation in the United States (and especially of the congregation in Detroit and surroundings) is to rally people with different backgrounds, upbringing, roots, education, age (etc.) and different needs into a peaceful congregation. Our Church and congregation tries to fulfill this multitude of needs by having programs covering all of the aspects of the Christian life in both English and Hungarian. Accordingly, each Sunday we have an English and a Hungarian Service, English and Hungarian Sunday Schools. Each Sunday between 150 and 200 people come to our Church to worship God and to pray to the only One who can give meaning to the human life. Our congregation has a group that organizes visitations to Nursing Homes on three Wednesdays of each month. With these occasions they not only give small gifts, but they also sing and pray in both English and Hungarian (according to the needs of the visited ones). Periodically we organize movie-nights when we project religious and educative movies both in English and in Hungarian. Bible study classes are kept both in English and Hungarian. The common lunches and dinners of different circles (Busy Bees, Dorcas Guild, Hungarian Heritage Preservation Circle, and Szatmar County Association) follow each other both on weekdays and Sundays.

120