Hungarian Church Press, 1949 (1. évfolyam, 4-13. szám)

1949-07-26 / 9. szám

No 9.-7-MISSIONAKY CONIEHBNoE OS' THE HUNGARIAN REFORMUL CHURCH -The Working Union of the missionary workers of the gungarian Reformed Church held a three days’ conference in Berekfürdő where all the branches of congregational work took part* The branch of evangelists numbering more than eighty workers submitted a declaration accepted as binding by all its members*

The declaration says i.a.;

I« The Church of the Lord where He placed U3 to serve, is the Hungarian Reformed Church in itd actual congregations. Our task is to labour with full missionary devotion within the concrete congregations continually bearing.in mind the biblical teachings and doctrines of our Creed. It is a matter of course, that manifest profanes and disobedients cannot be reckoned to the living part of the Church in their present state. We consider it right that the Church may not only confine itself to determine the conditions for admission of church members, but toöip strict discipline in the Church,

It is also clear, that mission will never give up anybody, otherwise it would be no mission any more. Likewise it is evident that those having come to a living faith may form a closer communion, but only and always with a view to prepare for service, for mission, supporting each other therein. Thus the distinct aim can only be that by the will and grace of the Lord the actual congregations may grow into living Christian congregations.

Within the work of evangelism the evangelisation of the ministers must be considered as one of vital importance, that being led^^ a decision the minister may awaken to his pastoral dutieá/see the very aim of his pastorship in the congregation.

The leading of the union of evangelists must be submitted, to the common leadership of the Missionary Working Union. Evangelism and its workers must get into an increasingly steady and close communion with the other branches and services of the Church, seeing their place within the whole, obeying with joy to the respective manyfold charismatical gifts, co-cperating in love to build up the Body of the Church of Christ.

One task of the leadership must be to prevent separation, fight the menace of self-righteousness, and selfishness, to inspire evangelists to appreciatie and avail themselves of their special charismatical gifts, as it pleases the Lord to bestow through His Spirit, never all to the same place that, - according to the words of Calvin - His Church may never fall into the hands and power of man.