Calvin Synod Herald, 2002 (103. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2002-09-01 / 9-10. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 9 Hungarian President Praises Rise in Christian Students Hungary’s school year opened Sept. 2., with apparently more students than ever attending church schools. At a ceremony to mark the opening of a new year at the Calvinist College in the town of Pápa, President Ferenc Madl suggested that the growth of church schools was the most important development since Communism collapsed in 1989. “The rapid spread of church schools was one of the most important achievements of the free and independent Hungary over the past 12 years,” said Madl. In total about 1.5 million pupils and students returned to primary and high school, including Christian institutions, according to Government figures. Madl stressed that Christian schools “account for about six percent of the country’s educational system.” Sacrifices The President added that he “appreciated the sacrifices” of millions of ethnic Hungarians in neighboring countries who often were forced to fight with even the post Communist authorities for recognition of Reformed schools. Hungary’s President said he welcomed that since the regime change a “network of church schools” began which he said “strengthen the spirit that gives priority to the pursuit of knowledge, faith and morals”. Madl explained that this was the best way for pupils to “learn to appreciate what is good and true,” in a country that for decades suffered under an atheistic ideology during Communism. Knowledge Education Minister Bálint Magyar was quoted as saying by news media that “only nations with respect for knowledge can be successful in the next century.” Magyar noted that “Hungary is on the threshold of joining the European Union and that therefore children must be given competitive skills in schools.” Earlier former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said his country, which long had one of the highest suicide rates in the world, needed to be part of a Christian Europe. Stefan J. Bos Eastern Europe Correspondent ASSIST News Service United Reformation Service Ties Hungarian Churches of Eastern Reformed Ministerium Reformation Sunday brings together Hungarian Reformed members and ministers in a solemn event observing the great Reformation of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church. Gathering in the Hungarian Reformed Church of Woodbridge, New Jersey, the church’s walls echo the strains of the heroic hymns of Zwinglo, Calvin, Luther and the Hungarian psalms on the last Sunday in October. The Rev. Barnabas Roczey, of New Brunswick, NJ is the President of the American Hungarian Reformed Ministerial Association, and also of the Eastern District. The ministers from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut meet in most months to plan cooperative work and events, to learn from informative church leaders and each other, and to develop friendships and build up one another in the faith. Future programs include topics on “The Holy Spirit” (Rt. Rev. Bela Poznan), “Pastoral Care of the Elderly” (Rt. Rev. Dr. Zoltán Király, and “Euthanasia” (Rev. Dr. Attila Kocsis), the latter two new members of the association. A future session on opposing abortion is also in the planning. In an effort to turn talk about mission into deeds, the Ministerium appointed the Rev. Dr. Attila Kocsis to head up the effort to develop a sister-church relationship in Europe for all of our churches that are willing. Another effort, to help a Reformed Church in the Felvidék to renovate its building which is in tragic disrepair, outside the village of Nagybalog in Slovakia, will also get underway immediately. The Rev. Albert W Kovács was assigned to receive contributions from churches and members - made out to him and noting: Ministerium/Nagy balog. The group acknowledged that they receive many requests and, while our churches simply cannot help everyone, we surely must help someone. It is always good to be careful when you give advice, because someone might take it. Americans were a lot happier when there weren’t so many books being published telling people how to be happy. GOO
