Calvin Synod Herald, 2000 (101. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-07-01 / 7-8. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 5 Hungarians in Calvin’s Geneva Church Hear Call for Awarenessof Diversity In Worldwide Reformed Family Calvin Hall in Geneva sits right alongside St. Pierre’s Church, where the great Reformer John Calvin himself preached his powerful sermons. Calvin Synod’s own Bishops Louis Medgyesi and Francis Vitéz were photographed standing beside the very chair in which he had sat. It was on July 22nd the scene where the Rev. Dr. W. McComish, the church’s lecturer, spoke on the topic of “Calvin and Calvinism in the Twentieth Century,” to the assembled delegates of the Hungarian Reformed World Federation. His address highlighted the fractured character of the Reformed/Presbyterian family, in which the many nationalities are very unaware of their other colleagues and coworkers in neighboring and distant lands, with numerous illustrations. He noted that the small French Reformed community really did not recognize other Reformed churches all around the world, almost as if the Calvinist strain began and ended there. In other countries too there is almost a total lack of knowledge of anything beyond the white European part, which began in Geneva but did not end there. He pointed out that the historic Reformation did not stop in the 17th or 18th centuries, but continued elsewhere in response to the faith crisis in other places as well, for many years. In ignoring these facts, there arose a tendency to limit the Reformation to antiquity, limiting its impact on developing history in different locales. As an illustration, he pointed out that the European groups have tended to hold their numbers, but the Reformed/Presbyterian churches have swelled up in Asia and Africa, as well as other places. He added figures to demonstrate the huge successes of the Calvinist churches in Korea and Indonesia, and remarked that in one of the states in India near Bangledash the first Christian was baptized in 1900, after ten years of evangelism, but they now comprise the majority of the population and have 811 missionaries themselves. In Mexico too there is a Protestant majority of 783,000 in one of the states. One of his salent points was his emphasis that growth in such diverse places and cultures has led to vast differences in church order, and even considerable varieties and perspectives theologically. One of these is in the styles for the use of ministers and laity, elders and deacons, as well as acceptance or rejection of ordained women ministers. Many of the churches are earnestly trying to discover more effective ways to serve Christ where they are. The Hungarian Reformed churches are no exception, using lay ministers and bishops. Another development he cited was the rise of the new “Middle Class” at the time of the Reformation, with bankers and traders, artisans and educated leaders all a part of this newly emerging force. In other places as well, it was not an appeal to the peasants or masses that brought along Reformed growth, but the rise of the new middle classes elsewhere. Great numbers of political and institutional leaders became the vanguard of change, in America as well. A unified and powerful Reformed community, he noted, would have to take into account a number of problem areas: (1) Religious Situation - The true church is a real minority in every land, and must face up to the obstacles that poses for succesful outreach and impact. (2) Fraternal - Th» need churcnes in various lands to be aware of each other for their benefit. (3) Language - Difficulties arise from misunderstandings due to inaccurate or unclear theological expressions. (4) Culture - Churches in the respective nations should not look with disdain upon others who are poorer or richer, more traditional or modern, etc. (5) Schism - One of the greatest problems, as in America, Brazil and Korea, where the church is beset with internal bickering and a readiness to split. (6) Ordination of Women - From Ireland to America, and places like Hungary where women have been ordained for decades but congregational acceptance lags behind. (7) Church and State - Excessive entanglement or persecution, including nepotism as is sometimes found in Africa. (8) Separation - The all too ready acceptance of division, all too common because people are used to it, without Christian reconciliation. Dr. McComish concluded with a plea for the churches to meet and work together, as in this world convention, as the only adequate means to face up to global problems. We hope this condensation from handwritten notes will not do injustice to his fine lecture, which was so warmly and thoughtfully received by the assemblage, who packed the hall to overflowing. Rev. Albert W. Kovács 2. God, exalt Thy holy name By destruction of their work, Strengthen us, so we’ll not shirk, To defend Thy holy name, Lord! 3. Grant, that all the bitterness May depart from our fair land Let us all united stand And bring praises to Thy Name, Lord!
