Magyar Egyház, 1957 (36. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1957-01-01 / 1. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

13

LATEST CHURCH STATISTICS AT A GLANCE

Compiled by The Yearbook of American Churches published by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., 297 Fourth Ave., N.Y., N.Y.

CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES Church Membership & Number of Churches By Religious Groups

Membership Churches

Buddhist ................................................ 63,000 48

Old Catholic and Polish

National Catholic .......................... 367,370 288

Eastern Orthodox ................................ 2,386,945 1,385

Jewish .................................................... 5,500,000 4,079

Roman Cathode .................................. 33,396,647 21,086

Protestant .............................................. 58,448,567 278,563

Membership of Protestant Groups

(The membership of major Protestant groups is listed below. Figures given in parenthesis following the name indicate the number of member bodies reporting

in the group.

Baptist (27 bodies) .................... 18,793,097

Methodist (22 bodies) ................ 11,784,060

Lutheran (19 bodies) .................. 7,059,593

Presbyterian (10 bodies) ............ 3,860,686

Church Membership as Percentage of the Population

1850

16%

1920

43%

1860

23%

1930

47%

1900

36%

1950

57%

1910

43%

1955

60.9%

Faith Membership as Percentageof the Total Populatior

ProtestantRoman Catholic

192627.0%

1926

16.0%

194028.7%

1940

16.1%

195033.8%

1950

18.9%

195535.5%

1955

20.3%

Major U.S.Church Bodies

With

More Than

1,000,000 Members

Roman Catholic ......................................................33,396,647

Methodist Church .................................................. 9,292,046

Southern Baptist Convention .............................. 8,467,439

Jewish Congregations .......................................... 5,500,000

National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.......... 4,557,416

National Baptist Convention of America ........ 2,610,774

Protestant Episcopal Church .............................. 2.757,944

Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A...................... 2,645,745

United Lutheran Church in America .............. 2,175,726

Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod ................ 2,004,110

Disciples of Christ, International Convention . 1,897,736

Christ Unity Science Church ............................ 1,581,286

American Baptist Convention ............................ 1,513,697

Churches of Christ ................................................ 1,600,000

Congregational Christian Churches .................. 1,342,045

African Methodist Episcopal Church .............. 1,166,301

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints .. 1,230,021

Greek Archdiocese of Nort and South America 1,000,000-»

FURTHER NEEDS

To meet continuing needs in both Hungary and the Middle East, and to replenish stocks which have been diverted from programs aiding the needy in other areas, one million pounds of good, used clothing is needed at once, as well as blankets.

In addition, assurances are sought which will guarantee jobs, housing, and other assistance for Hungarian refugees.

BAN ON JESUISTS LIFTED

The Norwegian Parliament has decided by 111 votes to 31, to repeal tne paragraph in the Constitution which declares that “Jesuits shall not be tolerated.” The ban on Jesuits has been in force since 1814 when the Constitution was promulgated.

In the debate, which lasted nine hours, it was pointed out that Norway was the only country apart from Switzerland which still maintained such a ban. Members of Parliament opposing the motion declared that Jesuits more than anyone else believed that “the ends justify the means” and that Jesuits everywhere had fougnt against freedom of thought. Minister of Justice Jens Haugland declared, however, that the ban accorded ill with the ideas of liberty now current in the world. E.P.S., Geneva.-------------o------------WORLD DAY OF PRAYER ON MARCH 8th

“WHO SHALL SEPARATE US . . .”

In more than 60 languages and 1,000 dialects on six continents women kneel to pray and rise to act on March 8, World Day of Prayer.

In the United States alone, more than 25,000 communities will participate. They assemble in factories, power plants, department stores, schools, hospitals, chapels, homes and in small churches and large cathedrals. The prayerful vigil will follow the full swing of the sun in the heavens, with no break during the 24- hour span.

In announcing the day, Miss Elsie Sweeney of Columbus, Indiana, national chairman of the 1957 World Day of Prayer observance for United Church Women declared:

“The yearnings of men and women suffering behind the Iron Curtain sound loudly this year. Through our globe — encircling prayer and our offerings, we hope to make the meaning of brotherhood — of one world — come closely home to all Americans and to those who need help around the world.

“World Day of Prayer had its back in 1887 when Presbyterian women designated a day of prayer for home missions. By 1920 Canadian women joined, and seven years later the day was observed in foreign lands. In 1947 United Church Women assumed sponsorship of the service.”

The theme of the service this year is taken from the text of Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us...?” A special service of worship is written each year. This year it was prepared by Mrs. Bela Vassady of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a refugee from Hungary before the present crisis there. Because of her own personal experiences, hiding in cellars during the siege of Budapest at the end of World War II, the service she wrote voices the prayers of Christians who today are destined to live behind so called ‘Curtains’ and mirrors the hopes of all people suffering oppression and want.

Many groups celebrating World Day of Prayer will use Mrs. Vassady’s service, a special children’s service or a service in Braille as well as a 35-milimeter film strip.