Magyar Egyház, 1955 (34. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
1955-10-01 / 10. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 17 DETMOLD - A SIGNIFICANT REFORMED CONGRESS . . . “The International Congress of Reformed Faith and Action’’ met specifically to discuss the theme of the Congress: “The Lordship of Jesus Christ” as related to society, education, and the Christian’s relationship to his changing world. The meetings were held in “die wunderschöne Stadt” Detmold, Germany, July 30 — August 7, 1955, under the auspices of the “International Society of Reformed Faith and Action’, an international society of Reformed Christians seeking to promote the Reformed faith in the world. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety signed participants from about nineteen nations, and many visitors, attended this Congress. From the point of view of numbers this was a very successful Congress. The delegates themselves added inspiration to the Congress: from Austria, East Germany, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, England, Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. Such a wide representation gives the lie to a popular notion that Calvinism is restricted to a few nations. This Congress was composed of men and women of all strata of society: the commercial, the professional, industrial, the clerical and the professorial. This also gives the lie to another fallacious notion that the Reformed (Presbyterian) faith is suitable only to an intellectual aristocracy. This Congress made it evident our faith addresses itself primarily to the hearts of men and women, and that it must be strong also at the grass roots if it is to be vital at all. Later on when the question of literature was discussed it was specifically mentioned that the man on the street should be reached. The tone of this Congress was the recognized need of a mission for the Reformed faith in a topsy-turvy world. People from behind the iron or the ecclesiastical curtain of Rome feel the Reformed faith is musculine and supplies a real need to famished souls. Speeches at the Congress delineating the Protestant situation in various countries were consistently good and appreciated. This Congress did more than hear speeches. It decided upon a definite plan of action. A Mirror of Current Reformed Faith Detmold was an innovation in the manner of conducting a Congress. Detmold is a sequel to the Montpelier Congress, held in that city of France. It was felt that Bible study had not come to its own in that Congress, and consequently attempts were made to rectify that lack at Detmold. To do justice to this phase of Reformed piety this Congress devoted its morning sessions to the study of selected passages from the “Epistle to the Colossians”. After a passage was introduced in plenary sessions the Congress resolved itself into nine groups, membership of which was determined by language. Those who could use the English well were put into the English groups. There was, for example, in one group: Anglicans, Presbyterians from Scotland, Reformed from the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United States. After these group discussions the Congress reconvened in plenary session, and a summary of the discussions was given. It was amazing what agreement there was in joint Bible study. There was also a very positive attempt to make the World of God relevant to our day. The discussions based upon the various topics soon revealed that there is also a Reformed variety as well as unity. One thing becomes evident at an international Reformed congress — differences in background and in historical development. There is a Dutch slant of Calvinism, and also a German or Scotch. To recognize this is to recognize the need of such a congress. The value of a congress is that it becomes a crossroad of all traditions, and a meeting place of those who have been traveling independent roads for decades. Such a congress also indicates that its membership may have been influenced by its own isolation from other movements in the Reformed world. New contacts serve as a corrective and as an inspiration to learn from each other. Proposed Action This Congress has adopted the reading of a constitution that stipulates that membership in the International Society of Reformed Faith and Action requires agreement with the second clause: “In accordance with the historic Reformed Confessions of faith the Association submits unconditionally to the authority of Holy Scripture as the Word of God, thereby recognizing it as the sole standard of reformation in this and every age of the Church”. The association accepts the three symbols of the ancient church: Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. There are already a few regional societies constituent members of the International society: “The Calvinistic Society of France”, that shines with a lustre in its accomplishments, and the “Calvinistic Action Committee” of America. The former has already done a tremendous amount of successful work, among which is the present publication of a new edition in modern French of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, by John Calvin. This is a great project and unquestionably urgent. The Calvinistic Action Committee in America is also seeking aid to help this important project which our French co-religionists cannot do unaided financially. The French Society also publishes a magazine that has become known internationally. There are already several translation societies in various countries organized to translate Reformed writings into several languages. There can be no better way of creating a truly Reformed ecumenicity than through the medium of distribution of Reformed literature. A part time secretary will give more direction to this movement. Until the present moment this movement is a volunteer movement of those whose time is limited. Through him such ideals as a center of Reformed literature, exchange of books, news releases, writing for all classes of people, perhaps an international Reformed Journal, or helping the current Reformed journals to become more internationally Reformed, will be realizable. This Congress revealed the faith that the Reformed faith has something to say, and must say it to our age. Consequently is adopted a threefold purpose: (1) to promote fellowship between Reformed Christians in every land; (2) to facilitate the interchange of Reformed thought and experience: (3) to strengthen and advance the Reformed cause throughout the world. J.T. HOOGSTRA
