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

1957-06-01 / 6-7. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

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official name and to the character of the hlgest officebearer of the Church. As to the first, the General Assembly suggested the elimination of the adjective “Free” of the Church’s name. The new name should simply be MAGYAR REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA which is similar to the names born by other Hungarian Reformed Churches, like that of Yugoslavia or Roumania or Czecho-Slovakia. The General Assembly felt that the use of the distinguishing adjective “Free” is not needed anymore.

As to the second recommendation the General Assembly felt that the time has come to complete the organization of our denomination, and since we have always followed the pattern of the old-country Church the title and office of the Archdean should be abolished and the title and office of Bishop established.

Before calling the Constitutional Assembly the congregations will be fully informed on the reasons and on the historical foundation of these recommendations.

CHURCH UNION: TWO EXAMPLES WITHIN OUR FAMILY

by Rev. Charles A. Darocy

On June 25th the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united to form the “United Church of Christ.” By this merger yet another large national denomination came into being. With more than 8,200 congregations and over 2,100,000 communicant members this new denomination will be able to serve more effectively on a national scale. The merger is the first example of a union by two bodies with radically differing types of church government. The Congregational churches maintained local autonomy while the Evangelical and Reformed group adhered to a presbyterian system. Yet in the new merger there will be ample opportunity for local congregations to select the form of government they prefer to follow.

A second merger will be consummated next May in Pittsburgh when the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. unites with the United Presbyterian Church of North America to form the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. This new denomination will comprise more than 9,500 local congregations and over 3,000,000 communicants. It is a natural merger and one that will increase both the numbers and prestige of America’s leading Calvinist denomination.

Other Protestant groups outside our immediate Reformed family are actively pursuing merger proposals, but our primary interest is in these two examples. In both cases we recognize the basic fact that for large scale operations united organizations are necessary. Our witness to the nation and the world depends in large measure upon the type of fellowship we have within our Reformed family.

In many urban areas we see examples of tragic shortsightedness in denominational planning. The unions under way will serve to overcome the greatest danger, selfish competition.

In the community where I serve there are two congregations. One is Evangelical and Reformed, the other is Congregational. Before the merger was well under way these congregations had no active contact. Now they are planning community visitation programs and united stewardship drives together. There is no need to merge the two, but there is a tremendous need for them to work together in a community that is largely unchurched.

The national trend is unmistakeably clear. The growing power of the Roman Church contrasts with the divided witness of our own Churches. Only those congregations which still have a strong nationality tie have been able to withstand these pressures. But what of ten or twenty years from now?

By its active participation in the World Alliance of Reformed Churches the Free Magyar Reformed Church has come into the mainstream of worldwide Protestant life. It maintains its unique role, especially in view of the new mergers, of being the one and only spokesman for Magyar Reformed Christianity in the free world. Its role for the future can be determined only in the light of its witnessing function and service as the unique inheritor of a centuries old tradition of Calvinist Christianity. The two unions indicate a search by denominations of our family for a new role. The ongoing work of the Free Magyar group demonstrates its continuation in its traditional role as spokesman for a dauntless nation of faith.

Timely "Magyar Album" Published

The American Hungarian Studies Foundation has published a timely book entitled Magyar Album. It is a picture book.

Magyar Album is a report about Hungarians living outside of Hungary and their achievements in the fields of art, science, literature, theatre, sports and music. The Album proudly confirms that the Hungarians, whatever part of the world they may be living in, have succeeded in taking their place among the leaders of the profession. Moreover, they are worthy and valuable citizens of the country in which they live. Very few people know, for example, that four of the top scientists connected with development of the atomic bomb in America were Hungarians.

Of special interest to all Americans is the article about “Washington’s Hungarian Ancestry.” For the first time in print, a new stage adaptation of the classic and immortal Hungarian drama, “The Tragedy of Man,” by Imre Madach is presented. An anthology of the 100 best Hungarian poems and a lengthy section about Hungarian cooking with recipes enrich the Magyar Album.

There is nothing about politics in this book. It is a modest documentation, that the value and importance of a nation is not dependent upon a large population nor upon geographical size. Magyar Album is a picture book of pride for all Hungarian or Hungarian descendants living in foreign countries.