Calvin Synod Herald, 1974 (74. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1974-01-01 / 1. szám
8 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD WORLD FAMILIES OF CHURCHES MEETING Geneva — The annual conference of secretaries of World Confessional Families—World Families of Churches is a suggested new title, now under review—at the end of last month discussed the contribution they can make to the ecumenical movement in the common pursuit of unity. Representatives at the three-day meeting agreed to draw up a plan to constitute “an adequate forum for the full exchange of views on bi-lateral dialogue at the world level”. As a first step, a discussion paper will be drafted next May by a sevenperson committee. The draft, with comments from the world Families, those involved in interconfessional dialogue, and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, will then be considered at the 1974 meeting of the secretaries’ conference. The joint discussion paper in its final form will be submitted to the assemblies of the World Confessional Families and the World Council of Churches. Other items on this year’s agenda included a discussion on religious liberty issues, as seen in the total context of the discussion on human rights; and a proposal that World Confessional Families should each make a substantive contribution to the 1975 Jakarta assembly of the World Council of Churches, by studying its theme “Jesus Christ frees and unites” from their specific theological and traditional viewpoints. The World Alliance of Reformed Churches was represented by its general secretary, the Rev. Edmond Perret. Consultants for the WARC were Dr. James I. McCord, (Princeton Theological Seminary, USA), the Rev. Richmond Smith (WARC, Department of Theology) and the Rev. Fred Kaan (editor, RPS). W.A.R.C. EXECUTIVES TO MEET IN U.S.A. Geneva — The next meeting of the Executive Committee of the WARC will be held in Stony Point, New York, January 10-15. Members of the Committee are expected to arrive early in the USA to attend also the 1974 meeting of the North American Area Council which will be held there January 8-10. Chief guest at the Area Council will be Dr. Philip Potter, general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Agenda items for the Executive Com-NEWS ITEMS IIIIIMIIC3III1IIIIIIIIC3IIIIIIIIIIIIC3IIINIIIIIIIC3IIMIIIIIIIIC3IIIIIIII1IIIC3IIIIIII mittee include the normal domestic business of the Alliance, as well as discussions on the role and purpose of world confessional families, the present financial crisis and plans for the next world assembly of the organization which is scheduled for Scotland 1977. Following the meeting, several WARC executives and staffmembers will pay visits to church headquarters, local congregations and theological seminaries in the USA and Canada. The WARC has 16 member churches in the North American area. RPS Young people of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland at this year’s missionary rally, presented a cheque for £11,000 to the moderator of the Church, Dr. J. W. Orr. The money raised by Presbyterian youth and Sunday schools, was well in excess of the seven thousand Pounds target that had been set. £10,000 of the money has gone to a mission project in Indonesia; the remaining £1,000 to the International Extension Fund of the Boys Brigade. RPS * A 700-page novel entitled “The Messiah” written by the Rev. László Farkas, a pastor of the Reformed Church in Hungary, has been published by a Roman Catholic publishing house in cooperation with the Press Department of the Reformed Synodal Office in Budapest. The book is Mr. Farkas’ second novel with a biblical theme; his first was entitled “Moses.” RPS * The Rev. Edmond Perret, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, attended the Conference for the Abolition of Torture organized by Amnesty International at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, December 10-11. The conference which marks the opening of a world-wide campaign for the abolition of torture coincides with the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. RPS * If a child attends Sunday Church School regularly from the time he is three until he is 18, assuming that he attends 48 Sundays each year, he will have had 546 hours of Christian Education. That’s just a little more than 22 days—or just a shade longer than the incubation period of a chicken. Where does God get a chance to get a hold of a person’s mind under these circumstances? Ed’s Clipsheet MUST WE LIVE ON LEFTOVERS? Pulling the refrigerator door open proved quite a challenge for me the other day. I was hungry and didn’t want to bother with starting my meal from scratch. Quickly surveying the scene before me I found several small containers, — meat in one, cold peas in another, a bit of Jello fruit salad behind a two-thirds empty carton of cottage cheese, and a pickle from a jar in the door shelf. Not enough of anything to make a full meal, but sufficient to pull me through until the chief cook arrived, hours later, and prepared a solid and nourishing one. We don’t mind living on leftovers once in a while, but every day, every meal? Ouch! But that’s exactly what the church must do. Much of its financial support, not to mention its human power, comes from the leftovers we offer. When we evaluate what is accomplished through the use of these leftovers, it’s phenomenal. Master fiscal culinary artists take our money and literally provide food, housing, medical, and spiritual aid to the world. What could be done if we gave off the top and not out of leftovers. We could turn the world upside down! (Stewardship 73, by NCM, Published by the National Council of Churches.) 1974 SPRING PACKET The Spring 1974 Packet is currently being distributed to all churches by the Stewardship Council. Featured in the packet is a brand-new revision of the Guide for the Christian Enlistment. The general format of the Guide has been retained, but there have been some changes in procedural recommendations based upon field experience with this important resource. Also in the packet will be: a new folder on the United Church of Christ, entitled The United Church of Christ is Known As ..., which will help you to interpret our denomination to new members of your congregation and to interested persons in your community; a new stewardship education resource, Stewardship for Our Time; and three leaflets dealing with Wills and Estate Planning. Watch for the Spring 1974 Packet. One copy is sent free to every congregation. Additional copies may be secured from the Stewardship Council, 1505 Race St., Phila., Pa. 19102 at a cost of $1.00 each.
