Hungarian Church Press, 1958 (10. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)

1958-01-15 / 1-2. szám

- 7 -7

HCHP 1.15,“I!L 1,1958 , Vol-X/l-2

3. ) Sírt her I cannot agree with setting the movement in action, since it is obvious what a renewing movement had started in spring of 1958 and in what a pace it had pushed on in the months of September and October,- I put the question of the ancient homilists to me: quid, quomodo and quando. This is, of course, only analogy,- Referring to quid, it had been my view those days, and it is now either, that no one con have Any objection against the theological contents of the movement of the renewal, but the same time I stated, too, that it contained no more theological elements of those represented by the official leaders of the church in the previous times. It is sufficient to tuna over the pages of last 4-5 issues of the Reformed weekly entitled: "az Ut" to see that - according to the statement of János Péter, Bishop of the Tiscian Church District - the time of recommence has arrived and he a begun, too,- As to the quomodo I have always had objections. Both on constitutional and theological territory it is incomprehensible and inexplicable insisting on the character of the movement so stubbornly, I ran over again Karl Barth's work (Theologische Existenz heute* München 1933) in which he criticizes Die junge ref ormai ori ache f*. wegung started under the auspices of prominent per sens,

I am aware of the difference which e::iits between this "Bewegung" and the Movement of Renewal, but the statements of principle and theology are valide also today and in the same extent, Barth pointed out that such a movement as a rule, is, "struggle in the church but not for the church" (p.35. ) The Holy Ghost needs no movements: "die allermeisten Bewegungen hat wahrscheinlich der Teufel erfunden",- At last the quando. Time makes the connections with political events unquestionable, "The events of last October - it runs in the Easter Message of the Presidential Council of the General Convent - have had their impact on the life of our church also." The endeavour for the renewal of the church started long before October and had for its aim the regeneration of eur ohurch life originally; under the influence of the October, events certain people made use of it to establish the Movement of Renewal and tried to take over the management in the church. There were certain peqpre who took into consideration the forces of the counter-revolution and their effects either, Then the bishop went on mentioning the Session of tbc Synodal Council qf December the 21st 1956,

He quoted the statement of the Session of the Synodal Council disapproving

Dr, László Pap's radio message, fur tier he reported all the events which gave a push to clear the situation. He spoke of the re staurat ion of the Cistiscian Church District, the talks of the standing mixed Committee contemplated in the Agreement initiating its activity, and the effects of the nation-wide events manifested in the Transdanubien Church District,

The church life would slowly and by get back to noimal though in general connections there are a lot of things left which need further inproving.

We thankfully bear witness that in the congregations the life went on alert, preaching was not hindered; the children's religious education, holding divine services for the children, pre-confirmation instruction, Bible study hours, evangelizating services, and holding religious evenings were not reduced but they took animation still more; our brethren end congregations did not grow languid in zeal and readiness to sacrifice. Our fellow-pastors are conscious of the fant that the church lives on God's Word and lives for God's Word, and her duty is preaching the "lord, As it is true that the crisis of the church is crisis of preaching, too, it is as well true, that the renewal and intensification of