Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)

1985-06-01 / 3. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

47th Annual Meeting of Calvin Synod

One of the best attended and most successful meeting of the Calvin Synod was held in Ligonier, PA. May 6-9,1985. Only a couple of our churches were not represented at this highly productive event. Beside the delegates we had many distinguished guests, such as the president of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America, Rev. Imre Bertalan; bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, Rt. Rev. Dezső Abraham; executive director of the Biblical Witness Fellowship, Rev. Gerald N. Sanders who praised our Synod for its biblical, confessional and reformed standard, and for its work and faithfulness; president of the American Hungarian Foundation, Rev. August J. Molnár; administrator of the Bethlen Home, Rev. Paul Kovács; president emeritus of the William Penn Association, Elmer Charles; past president of the HRFA and our Synod, Rt. Rev. Arpad George; president emeritus of the Calvin Synod, Dr. Stephen Szabó; a representative of our Hungarian Presbyterian Churches in America, Rev. Alexander Jalso.

There were also special guests from Hungary, such as poet Eva Petroczi; Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Horvath, who was doing graduate work at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and Rev. Sándor Balogh from Princeton Theological Seminary. Daniel Szabó was also visiting from Hungary, and led us in morning devotion.

Solemly and appropriately the delegates remembered Dr. László Harangi, who for many years was a faithful and outstanding minister of our Synod. In our behalf Dr. Francis Vitéz, auxiliary bishop, eloquently portrayed him as a servant, a scholar, a man, a colleague, and a friend. The remembrance was touching and brought out many tears. Following the presentation Mrs. Rozsa Harangi remarked, “Now my husband is properly buried.”

A moving and succint tribute was presented by delegate, John Nemesnyik, honoring the capable leadership and accomplishments of our beloved, retiring bishop, Dr. John Butosi. It was followed by a standing ovation.

The responsibilities of the 47th Annual Meeting were very diversed and quite immense. The following pastors were elected as officers: Rev. Zoltán Király, (Passaic, NJ), former treasurer was elected as bishop; Dr. László Medyesy, (Wallingford, CT), was nominated from the floor to become auxiliary bishop; Dr. Zoltán D. Szucs, (Lorain, OH), was elected general secretary; Rev. Sándor Kovács, (Homestead, PA), was called to serve as treasurer and Frank A. Dudás was re-elected for his second two-year term as Synod presbyter.

(We ask God to bless our new leaders with the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, perseverance of Paul, the loyalty of Ruth and the strength and endurance of Samson.)

One of the greatest achievement of the meeting was the revision of the Synod Constitution and Bylaws. The delegates also worked on the Classis Bylaws to make them more comprehensive.

Our Church and Ministry Committee added several pastors to our diminishing bilingual supplies by granting Privilege of Call to Rev. Raymond F. Kaiser, (Dayton, OH), Rev. Steven G.P. Strickler, (Manville, NJ), and Rev. Joseph Vásárhelyi, (Delhi, Canada).

Contrary to the cynical opinion of the downhearted, the Hungarian Reformed Churches have something valuable

to offer. If it were not so, why would Rev. Kaiser, an American, want to join us? Or why did Rev. Strickler, a Princeton graduate, go to Hungary for a year’s seminary and language training in Budapest? They both accepted calls from Hungarian churches. Rev. Andrew P.Sholtes was also granted Privilege of Call and the right of ordination.

Three of our students, under care, who are finishing their seminary education were examined by the Church and Ministry Committe and were granted the right of ordination by the Synod. Thus we have three new pastors, Peter P. Bodor, András Czecze and Zsolt Takacs. (Now all we need is willing and dedicated Hungarian Christians who would received them as their pastors, or help them to organize new congregations.)

One of the progressive resolutions of the Synod was to establish a discretionary fund of $2,000,00 for our retired pastors to help them to attend future Synod meetings.

Our congregations are advised to submit their proposed constitutions and bylaws to the Conference Council before finalization in order to avoid contradictions.

Our churches are encouraged to designate a day as Transylvania Sunday in order to raise the necessary $7,000.00 for the need of our brothers and sisters there.

We are all urged to take adavantage of the UCC property insurance program and the rich resources of our denomination.

The Conference Council was mandated to prepare guidelines against schism, from a biblical, confessional and historical point of view.

An overture was also adopted pertaining to the atrocities of human rights and cultural oppression of our people in Rumania and Czechoslovakia. This will be presented to the 15th General Synod of the United Church of Christ.

We need to raise our voices about the horrible injustices being inflicted upon our brethren, otherwise we can not justify our silence and lack of care.

It was also resolved that the Calvin Synod should propose an international ecumenical meeting of the Reformed Churches.

Our churches are encouraged to support the Bethlen Collection of Ligonier, PA. financially, morally, and also with pertinent materials. The churches are encouraged to provide matching funds for their minister’s IRA account.

Among the many resolutions that were passed by the Synod we should mention also that $3,000.00 was allocated to the modernization of the bishop’s office.

We also had the privilege of being enlightened by the presentation of Sarah Butosi about the work and modus operandi of the Board of Homeland Ministries. She is a member of this Board.

Rev. Margaret Beretz, secretary of evangelism of the UCC Board of Homeland Ministries challenged us with “church growth covenant.” It was a clarion call to all our churches who take their mission seriously.

Eva Petroczi, a poet from Hungary capably touched our souls with her recital of her metaphoric poems.

We had a joyful, prayerful, hard working, succesful meeting under the watchful eyes of God and under the energetic and capable leadership of our former bishop, Dr. John

®utos'- Zoltán D. Szucs