Calvin Synod Herald, 2002 (103. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)

2002-09-01 / 9-10. szám

8

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

Of Bishop Lorant Hegedűs

Just who do you thing you are to slander a fellow Christian minister in charging Bishop Lorant Hegedűs that he “considers himself the most educated theologian and the only capable leader of the Reformed Church in Hungary.” I never heard him say that - did you? Please tell me when! Since when is your opinion undoubted fact?

And you pitch in with others, by whom he is “accused of extreme Hungarian nationalism.” Yet hasn’t he been in the fore of those protecting the very life of the Hungarian Reformed churches and institutions in lands like Romania and Slovakia - and is it not they who accuse him, or the whimps who have surrendered to Trianon’s legacy and forgotten the true patriot’s cry: Nem., nem, soha! If the free Reformed bishop in Budapest will not speak on their behalf, who will?

And how dare you charge that “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you?” Then you add further insult to injury in lumping him with “the prophets (who) prophesy falsely, and the priests who rule by their own authority”, warning him “what will you do when the end comes?” Who made you prosecutor, jury and judge? In what ecclesiastical court have you levied your charges? By what authority have you joined him with the condemned of God? If my memory serves me right, Bishop Hegedűs was elected by ministerial peers and church elder to his office of Bishop, and then reelected. He was elected President of the Consultative Synod, and Administrative President of the Hungarian Reformed World Federation - then returned to that office just last year. Apparently a lot of Hungarian Reformed people have a far different idea than you. If they are for him, I can’t imagine someone who lives thousand of miles away challenging the authenticity of his office - and certainly not one who was elected a bishop by one of the least of the Synods, so many years ago. Your tears are false - our shame is real!

Of Bishop László Tokes

Then you follow with another attack upon one you claim is a “heroic son of the Hungarian minority in Romania, bishop László Tokes, because in his bishopric he rules harshly and brutally fellow Christians of who several suffered long prison terms for their faith.” Then you proceed to charge him with being like the misguided Saul, before his conversion, persecuting even “CHRIST in a misguided zeal for his ancestors’ traditions.”

But is it not his heroism that has helped to bring freedom from Communist Russian tyranny, and now keeps alive the Hungarian language and cultural traditions, especially the Reformed faith heritage, in a militantly nationalistic land oppressive of minority peoples and religious diversity?

Is it you who has charged that most important is condemnation from above, for “thus says The Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves... You have ruled them harshly and brutally.” Is it not he who carries on courageously amid daily dangers and the government’s threats to imprison him as a traitor? Who dares to stand up against Mayor Funar of Kolozsvár, who condemns the Hungarians to extinction, churches and all? He doesn’t seem to be taking care of himself very well at all. Frankly, I would be

hesitant to say, and give more ammunition to his anti-Hungarian detractors, that the Reformed churches in America are against him. From the support he has received here, quite the opposite is true! I would want to be one of the last to give a weapon for use against him by the ultranationalist Romanians!

Then you have used two terms, bishopric and Inquisition to associate him with images of the tragic abuse or our martyred Reformation era saints, such as the Galley Slaves, by a merciless hierarchy. From your viewpoint it would seem we have a modern era Dracula heading the Reformed World Federation. But if he is such a terrible person, why have his colleagues and church elders elected him their bishop, and then elected him President of the Vilagszovetseg, following your term of office, and then reelected him just last year?

III.

I don’t know why you chose this opportunity to couple attacks on a matter concerning the churches in Europe with the situation of our churches in America. However, since you not only insist they be conjoined, but invite an outspoken antagonist of Bishop Hegedűs to lecture at the Ministerial Association’s meeting. Dr. Pásztor, adding fuel to the fire you have set, I have refused to take part in this affair. I have refused the organizing committee’s appointment to serve in several capacities at the meeting. I will absent myself from the portions of the program dealing with this subject, participating only in the regular meeting agenda with my colleagues.

Because Calvin Synod’s Bishop Medgyesi and the Conference Council pursued passage of an action insisting upon printing of your tirade, I resigned my position of Co-Editor of the Calvin Synod Herald / Reformátusok Lapja, rather than have it published over my signature. I am ashamed for our Synod to do so - and I don’t think the delegates knew what they were voting on. Bishop Medgyesi has refused “Op-Ed” space in the current issue of the Herald/Lapja alongside your “sermon” or use of the Synod’s e-mail group address, so I will circulate my response myself.

But, Bishop Butosi, why didn’t you raise this when you were President of the Federation? You enjoyed the cooperation of these bishops, gladly used the services of their offices, and had numerous press and photo opportunities to say something then. I have many photos of the three of you together. Will we be welcome now in Budapest of Nagyvarad? Why this? Why now?

Rev. Albert W. Kovács Woodbridge, NJ - 26 August 2002

REFORMED MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION

The American Hungarian Ministerial Association appreciates the call of Dr. John Butosi to meet in discussion of our common concerns and goals; however, the issues concerning the bishops of Hungary raised in his sermon, “Declare a Holy Fast" are his own and do not reflect the united and common views of the ministers of this Association. - Ligonier, PA - Sept. 3, 2002