Magyar Egyház, 1964 (43. évfolyam, 3-9. szám)

1964-11-01 / 9. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

19

event and also a delicate subject to deal with. Five years later the situation was entirely different. The press of the Hungarian mother church gave full coverage to the establishment of the diocese which took place in 1929. One of the leading organs, Kálvinista Szemle of Budapest wrote: “The Assembly of the Free Magyar Reformed Church in America was a significant event. Its decisions will be hailed as the beginning of a new era.’’

Now what was the comment in the conformist camp? They said the Free Magyar Reformed Church has no future at all. Before “our generation passes from the scene of history this entire Free Magyar attempt will be long forgotten as a complete failure.” We are here today, much stronger than we had been forty years ago, and those who made these predictions had passed from the scene long ago. The Free Magyar Reformed Church was here to stay, and let us look now at the abiding message of the organization of this free denomination. What is the message of yesterday for us people who live and serve today, and for us who hope to serve also tomorrow?

The first message is the emphasis on faithfulness and loyalty to the Lord of the Church. Faithfulness and loyalty to the faith of our fathers, once delivered to the saints. Faithfulness to the Hungarian Reformed tradition acccording to which our fathers served the Lord Jesus Christ, in the particular witness and service of the Hungarian Reformed Church. The confessional Church means that we are a Confessing Church, that we have to contribute spiritual heritage which is ours, but we have to know it first. We have to stand in it and to stand firm. We have to have the courage to witness freely and boldly to the Lord of our Church.

To this point we should stress that the first Constitutional Assembly was concerned with mission. It was one of the most important, and I would say the important action of the first assembly to start on own Mission Fund, an own denominational mission work! That is a direction in which we have to increase and to develop our witness in today’s world. The founding fathers made it clear that America grants freedom to all to develop an own church life. We should seize and use to the fullest extent the opportunity and the challenge to serve in the communities in which we live. We are grateful that our denomination is recongnized, that we are present in the larger national and international church organizations as well as in the local councils of churches. But our voice should be heard distinctly, we have to increase our faith and obedience to the Lord Jesus if we want to accomplish our own particular mission and service.

Finally we should not forget that despite all the hostility, struggle, conflicts and animosity of the years following the tragic Tiffin Agreement (which divided hopelessly the Hungarian Reformed Churches until the present day) the people who organized the Free Magyar Reformed Church were ultimately and passionately concerned with all the Hungarian congregations. We should not forget that the Free Magyar Reformed Church did not want to be a separatist, non-conforming opposition church, but was offering itself as the only way, as the more American way, as the better Hungarian Reformed way, as a more obedient and sacrificial answer to Christ’s missionary command to His Hungarian Reformed people in this country. They were always concerned with the unity of the Hungarian Reformed Churches in this land. I feel, as we remember the foundation of our church, the message is directed at us by saying: “let us continue” and “let us move ahead” by increasing our obedience to Christ, by strengthening faith and upbuilding a spiritually strong, attractive, high-quality church life in the name of Jesus Christ as His Hungarian Reformed Church in America!

DEDICATED LAYMEN WANTED

Comments by John Nemish (Carteret, N.J.) at the Elders’ Conference in Bethlehem, Pa.,

October 25, 1964

My Fellow-Elders:

I feel sure that as Elders of our Church, at one time or another, we have discussed the past and the possible future of our denomination. What do we think we should do to see that the work of our forefathers continues in the right path.

Well, let us assume we have a building. An old building. 40 years old. The question is, shall we tear it down or keep it as it is, or remodel it and build to it and make it more beautiful. As practical men. first of all we would examine the foundation. If the foundation is good and strong we would continue with the job.

The same thing applies to our Church. Let us, therefore, examine our own foundations. In 1924, the leaders of six Churches — represented by five pastors and seven elders — organized our denomination. They had nothing to start with but their faith in God, their good sense, and live congregations. But wasn’t that more than enough? Today we have a strong denomination which has grown steadily since then. Our Church is now recognized within American church life. Because we never compromised our position, we maintained our identity.

So, we find that the foundation of our Church is good and strong. It is our sacred duty to work to preserve what our forefathers built. It would be sinful to destroy something that has such strength, historic value, and such strong potential.

Another important factor in building this foundation so strong — or should we say: to build the walls so strong — was the fact that early enough, about 20 years ago, our leaders and members integrated enough American ideas — such as English service, youth work, etc. — into the life of the Church. These ideas were incorporated in order to hold and resulted in holding the future generations coming up in our congregations who have naturally become more Americanized and perhaps had ideas unknown or at least not practiced by their parents.

So much for the past and for the foundation and the walls of the Church. As we look back on the church life of our youth, I am sure that we can all feel that it has been beautiful and inspiring. If it weren’t, I don’t think we would be here today trying to analyze what more we can do to continue the progress and to hold fast unto what we have for the sake of the future generations.

Well, what about the future? For one thing, and perhaps one of the most important, is promoting youth