Calvin Synod Herald, 1992 (92. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1992-09-01 / 5. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

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REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

The all-important Historic Tiffin Agreement

(Excerpts from the often quoted Legal Contract)

(1) That having in mind greatest good and hishest spiritual benefit for the members of the congregations involved, and to avoid any future legal or ecclesiastical complications, it be determined to receive these congregations whether selfsupporting or missions, now composing the Eastern and Western Classes of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, into organic relation with the Eastern and Pittsburgh Synods of the Reformed Church in the United States, as Classes upon the following conditions being fully met by the congregations composing the Eastern and Western Classes of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, to-wit:

FIRST: — That the Conventus of the Reformed Church of Hungary, through its representatives, dismiss the congregations and ministers belonging to the said Eastern Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America to the Eastern Synod of the Reformed Church in the United States, and the Western Classis to the Pittsburgh Synod of the Reformed Church. Such congregations and ministers shall comply with the requirements of the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the United States in every respect. The official seal of the Conventus shall be attached if necessary to such dismissal and to all the documents involved in the case.

SECOND: — That all other conditions as suggested in this report be carefully and accuretely complied with in every respect; thus assuring both Classes of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America that they will be in organic, legal and ecclesiastical relations with the Reformed Church in the United States, with all of its rights, privileges and sanctions, and to enjoy all its protective powers to safeguard and foster their growth and future development.

All property, whether'real or personal, shall continue to remain in the possession of the congregations involved. Documents now being held by and recorded for these congregations from the name of the Reformed Church of Hungary, to read: — “The Reformed Church in the United States, and subject ot its constitution, laws and rules.” Furthermore, that if it is deemed a legal necessity, the Conventus of Hungary by its legal representatives shall issue the necessary declaration of dismissal.

3.) According to statements from the President of Western Classis, there are in the Eastern Classis 14 congregations with approximately 1800 members. The value of their church properties, including church edifices, parsonages, city and town lots and cash in hand amounts to $286,225. These properties are encumbered with debts as follows: — Hungarian loans received through the Conventus to the amount of $18,119, and American loan of $15,750 which together with certain notes given by the congregations amount to the total sum of $35,695. In the Western Classis there are 15 congregations with approximately 4,000 members. The value of their church properties amount to a total sum of $559,824. These properties are encumbered with debts as follows: — Hungarian loans received through the Conventus to the amount of $44,690, and American loans of $66,657, which I amounts to the total sum of $111,347.

With regard to the debts of these congregations, we felicitate them upon the fact that their present assets constitute sufficient equity to guarantee the safety of the loans made. So far as the American loans are concerned, we need give no further consideration; but with reference to the foreign or Hungarian

loans, we may say that while the Alien Property Custodian has not seized the property of these congregations as such, yet the congregations as such, yet the congregations are according to the “trading with the enemy act”, absolved from any debts that might be due the Conventus of the Reformed Church of Hungary for salaries promised to ministers for the years 1919, 1920, and 1921 October 1st, and for other items including the annual fee of the President of the Classes to the amount of $25,000 in the Eastern Classis and $27,000 in the Western Classis.

In view of the foregoing facts and the consequent heaviness of the burden caused thereby for the congregations resting under them, and in order to relieve them and place them on a basis of efficient work for the advancement of the Kingdom of God, it is hereby agreed that the Reformed Church in the United States, through its Board of Home Missions, shall assume responsibility for the payment of $25,000 to the Eastern Classis, and $27,000 to the Western Classis as soon as said Classis shall have been legally transferred to and received by the Reformed Church in the United States, according to terms and stipulations of other articles of this agreement.”

5.) These congregations will become part and parcel of a large and influential American denomination, and nothing should be laid in the way to hinder or prevent them from assimilating through historical process with the Reformed Church in the United States.

6 a.) While we do not wish to suppress those natural feelings of affection and love for the Mother Church, or informal expressions of such regard and esteem as between these congregations and the Reformed Church of Hungary, yet we must require that official correspondence between the Conventus and the Classes or congregations now known as the Hungarian Reformed Church in America shall be carried for ward through the Board of Home Mis{Continued on page 8)