Calvin Synod Herald, 1988 (88. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)

1988 / 1. szám

-5-REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

pastor says. "They hear the hymns and they are moved.’’

Charlene L. Fu, AP

(Two pastors in our own fellowship, The Reverends Maria and Alexander Babos, now retired, served as missionaries in China, planting those seeds which now are bearing fruit.)

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

News From Hungary

Lake Balaton - The Reformed Church in Hungary introduced German language worship services in the Lake Balaton resort area this past summer, an are which is visited by many German-speaking tourists. The worship services were held in the communities of Keszrhely, Csopak, Siofok and Boglarlelle from June 20 through August 31. Some 1,200 persons participated, mostly from East Germany, West Germany, Holland, Austria and Switzerland. It is anticipated that this program will be repeated in the coming years.

Raday Academy, Budapest - the 1987-1988 enrollment at the Raday Academy, one of two theological schools of the Hungarian Reformed church, is 115 students, of which 21 are first year students. The Academy also has 100 students enrolled in correspondence courses.

Raday Academy, Budapest - The theological academy recently received a video recorder-set for use in the education of the students. The video recorder was given as a gift by Prime Minister Dr. Johannes Rau, of the federal state of Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany.

Budapest - In 1987, Hungarian Radio began broadcasting reading from the Bible. First from the Pentateuch, in September and October portions of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters of Paul and The Revelation of John were presented, the readings done by professional artists.

Budapest - The Hungarian government announced in October that compulsory military service for theological students in Hungary is now only 12 months, which brings them on par with other students in Hungary enrolled in higher education. Formerly, students pursuing theology had to serve 18 months.

Budapest - The Hungarian Bible Council has been working on a revision of the new Hungarian-language Bible translation. The revision is being undertaken cooperatively by Old and New Testament professors of the Reformed, Lutheran and Baptist theological academies in Hungary, with Professor Dr. Jan de Waard, translation consultant of the United Bible Societies, participating in discussion of translation difficulties. The new edition is planned to be to the printers by December, 1988, so it will be available for the 1990 anniversary of the Vizsoly Bible.

Budapest - This past November the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Public Health addressed representatives of the church bodies of Hungary, called together by the Hungarian State Office of Church Affairs. The topic was the “social program of safeguarding health’’, with special emphasis on prevention of narcotic addiction. The religious community was contacted because of "the

support...inspired by their religious convictions, (they) had already given in such efforts.”

Berekfürdő - Late in October a conference was held in a new facility built for the physically handicapped and mobility limited. Jointly convened by the local Reformed Church District and a national organization of physically handicapped and mobility impaired, the conference was attended by professionals in the field of rehabilitation from both church sponsored and state sponsored institutions, in addition to physically handicapped participants. The Roman Catholic, Reformed and Lutheran churches were represented at the conference.

Budapest - On November 15, 1987, the Reformed Church installed the first woman as pastor of a church in Budapest. Having completed her theological education in 1978 in Budapest, The Rev. Ms. Eszter Karsay was installed as pastor of the Budapest Klauzal Square (Gyulai Pal Utca) parish following 10 years of service as assistant pastor in a number of congregations.

Budapest - On November 27, 1987, an ordination service was held at the Calvin Square Reformed Church for 67 new ministers, 49 of whom were women, at a service presided over by Bishop Karoly Toth.

Budapest - On December 17, at the winter session of the Hungarian Parliament, Hungarian Secretary of State Imre Miklós, who is also president of the State Office for Church Affairs, stated that “It has become possible that the churches contribute their values to the end of raising the moral level of society, of enriching its cultural life and of taking part with their activity in the work of performing our tasks to solve our economic, cocial, cultural and moral problems in the service of our common interests.”

“In our view,” he continued, “one’s ideological commitment, thus his religiosity, is a private matter of the citizens of our state.”

In his presentation he pointed out that based on their 'principles of faith, the churches speak up both and at home abroad on matters of peace, disarmament, and social justice, and in the process “have in fact acquired great authority for themselves and for our country as well.” He continued by mentioning the social activity of the churches, and the important role the church plays in maintaining contact with Hungarians living outside Hungary.

“It has become possible that the churches contribute