Calvin Synod Herald, 2013 (114. évfolyam, 3-12. szám)

2013-07-01 / 7-8. szám

in the land of their families for over a thousand years. Demands upon the people to give up their Magyar language and culture as well as their historic church connections never cease in the na­tions surrounding Hungary, especially in Slovakia and Romania. In the former rigid language usage limitations, and in the latter church properties and schools confiscated by the Communists af­ter 1945 still have not been returned despite legislation and court decisions. Failing in their pleas for an end to discrimination, several sections of Romania, Ukraine and Serbia with large Hungarian populations have sought to have autonomy in their areas, but have been stymied by militant nationalists. Hungary has been has been supportive by endeavoring to give them voice, but aid­ing without official meddling. Dual passports for people of other countries with Hungarian roots have been encouraged by the Orbán government, and many in the United States and Canada have signed on, with many more from its neighbors. The enrollment is not difficult for people here, but roadblocks have been numerous in Slovakia and other nations. Pastors in churches here can assist interested persons. Conference Resolution and Partnership The Conference’s closing session endorsed a resolution ad­dressing the discrimination against the Hungarian “Diaspora,” civil and religious minorities in the Carpathian Basin countries. The voice of their friends in the U.S. and Canada expresses in it a deep concern for kinfolk under other flags, and pleads that basic human rights for equal treatment of all citizens should not be denied to our Hungarian Reformed and other religious church members in Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and Serbia. Recent attacks on Hungary’s integrity as a guarantor of minor­ity rights by political forces inside and outside its borders make it urgent that partners who know the real Hungary speak up to dis­pel the unfair charges of those with devious agendas. Irrespon­sible voices of radical politicians, joined by a smear campaign in the media, have accused Hungary of resurgent anti-Semitism, but the government has instituted new laws and regulations to curb skinhead neo-Nazis and blatant attacks on Jews. A small but vo­cal Jobbik political party is an embarrassment to the citizens, but is joined by members of the former leftist government, noted for lying and corruption, and leftists in the EU with social agendas marked by anti-Christian, pro-abortion and homosexual legaliza­tion, and socialist big government economics. Their efforts un­dermine the right of the Hungarian people to rebuild their nation and sustain their ancient Christian identity, and Hungary looks to those with cherished ties to its people to partner with them and come to its aid - unlike those who forsook Hungary at Mohács in its time of need. Rev. Albert W. Kovács CALVIN SYNOD HERALD_____________________________ □ □ Annual Meeting of the Calvin Synod The Seventy-Fifth Annual Meeting of the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ was held from Tues­day, May 14, to Friday, May 17, 2013. The Annual Meeting convened on Tuesday, May 14,2013 in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The Opening Worship Service was held at the Bethlen Home Chapel, with Bishop Béla Póznán preaching in English and Auxiliary Bishop Dr. Csaba G. Krasznai preach­ing in Hungarian. The Annual Meeting was attended by 21 congregations in full standing, 21 ministers, 15 Delegates, 2 lay officers, 5 alter­nates and a number of guests. Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Bishop Emeritus, acted as parlia­mentarian for the duration of the meeting. Rt. Rev. Ferenc Varga, representing the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, brought greetings in the name of the Church. I. Church Revitalization and Growth. The main theme of the meeting was “Church Revitalization and Growth”, a topic spearheaded by Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai. We held two work­shops on the topic, led by Dr. Lee Solomon, Dean of Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Dr. Krasznai presented the “Plan of Action”, “Starting a Prayer Group at each Church of the Calvin Synod”, which was approved by the Annual Meeting. II. The Future of Calvin Synod and UCC Relations. A sec­ond theme presented was “The Future of Calvin Synod and UCC Relations”, by a committee (taskforce established by the 2011 Annual Meeting) chaired by Rev. Imre A. Bertalan. Discussed was the work of the Committee up to now. The following mo­tion was passed by the assembly: “The taskforce is empowered to continue to explore a possible relationship with the HRCA III. Youth Camp. Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi reported on this year’s planned program. It was emphasized that this is an impor­tant program, one in which we work together with the HRCA for the future of our congregations and our youth. IV. Bethlen Museum and Archives. The importance of the Bethlen Museum and Archives was emphasized. Bethlen Com­munities received approval from Ligonier Township Supervisors to begin the renovation of the upper floor of the Heritage Center which will be used for the Museum and Archives portion of the Center. This will be OUR place where we will have our history, and also a center for research and learning. V. Grace Hungarian Reformed Church in Reseda, Califor­nia. Rev. Zsolt Jakabffy of Grace Hungarian Reformed Church in Reseda, California led one of our morning worship services and also shared briefly about his congregation, which belongs to the local UCC conference. They have Bible Classes and a sum­mer camp for their children. He received his theological educa­tion in Kolozsvár, and worked as editor of a newspaper there. Rev. Jakabffy stated that while he was a minister in a “priestly role” in Europe, it was here in the United States that he found the “Living Christ”. VI. Rev. Peter Toth, who had been injured in a serious accident just weeks prior to the Meeting, came to the Annual Meeting on a __________________________________________________5

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