Calvin Synod Herald, 1978 (78. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1978-05-01 / 5-6. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

3

Calvin Synod meeting, Ligonier, Pa., April 17-18.

THE BISHOP’S REPORT — 1978

“Heritage and Horizon” is the title of this report as we have gathered for the 40th Annual Meeting of our Synod to give account of our stewardship. By this title I do not suggest escapism either into the past or into the future, but rather I wish to use both memory and expectation for a more meaningful cultivation of our present challenges.

LET US REMEMBER!

It was 40 years ago — on March 14, 1939 — that the Magyar Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church was officially organized in the Cleveland West Side Church. In his opening speech, the convenor Rev. Barnabas Dienes said these words: “This moment is the fulfillment of much planning, hope and work... We have all known each other, we have even worked together, but we have not been one. Today we shall become one family, and our eyes are filled with laughter of joy, our hearts with deepest emotions. This was the dream of our predecessors and for its realization be praise, glory, honor and thanksgiving to the Almighty God, our loving heavenly Father.”

Of course, in the organizing meeting the problems were not clear and accentuated. But a year later, in 1940 when the second meeting was held in Passaic, N.J., President Dienes said: “Let us review our situation on the basis of facts and face the problems realistically!”

I wish I would have time to quote more, but I hope all of us sense now the lesson: we still struggle with the problems that emerged 40 years ago ...

TRAVELING THROUGH THIS WILDERNESS

The number 40 is often used in the Bible. The rain fell upon the earth 40 days and 40 nights when the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth. Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights when He was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. But perhaps the most embarrassing 40 is the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness, because it is not only a sign of God’s marvelous providence (Neh. 9:21), but also the proof of the price God’s people have to pay if they lack the courage of faith to take posession of the land the Lord has promised to them (Nu. 14:26-35). During the past 40 years, we elected slates of officers (some of them by standing ovation), after 7 presidents we had 2 bishops, proposed hundreds of recommendations, but the basic problem still is this: traveling through this wilderness are we ready to posess the land the Lord has promised to us? Do we still believe

OFFICIAL

COMMUNICATIONS

THE 40TH ANNUAL MEETING of our Calvin Synod was held on April 17-18, 1978 at the Holiday Inn of Ligonier, Pa. With guests we had more than 100 persons present, and spent two days in concentrated listening, concerned debating and constructive decision making. In order to help the delegates report, here is the summary of highlights:

The Bishop reported on the 40 years, “traveling through this wilderness” and especially through 1977, making several suggestions.

The General Secretary gave reports on the work of the Conference Council during the year of 1977-78.

According to the Treasurer’s Report our income was $59,120.96, our disbursements $53,762.58 in 1977. Presently we have $14,953.51 on the checking account, $4,646.61 on Youth Fund, and $114,000.00 on three Church Fund Accounts.

At the Annual Synod Dinner four persons were honored for meritous services: two ministers and two non-ministers, while nine persons extended official greetings.

Two workshops were held on the second day. One on “Why Are You an Elder?” and the other one on “Ramifications of the Crisis in Ligonier.” Both proved to be helpful.

The Church & Ministry Committee reported on Margaret Beretz (ordina-