Magyar Egyház, 1965 (44. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1965-08-01 / 8-9. szám
14 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ SWISS REFORMED PASTORS ON MIXED MARRIAGES (RPPS.) — A Study Commission on Mixed Marriages, set up in Spring 1964 by the Conference of Reformed Churches of French-speaking Switzerland, has issued a Statement to help Reformed pastors to deal with pastoral problems arising from mixed marriages between Protestants and Roman Catholics. While welcoming the new climate produced by recent developments in the Roman Catholic Church as a “cause for unqualified rejoicing”, the Statement notes the danger of “premature” and “exaggerated hopes” arising from these developments and seeks to dispel “any illusions, ambiguities, and misunderstandings” by reminding pastors of the present unchanged position of the Vatican on this question. That position, it points out, is still governed by existing Canon Law regulations. Until those regulations are changed the position remains that “mixed marriages celebrated in the Reformed Churches are not recognised as valid” and that, “as in the past, the Roman Catholic partner is automatically excommunicated”. “The vows taken by couples married in the Roman Catholic Church still impose Roman Catholic baptism on children of the marriage, and prohibit the Protestant partner from exercising any religious influence on the children.” This position, the Statement declares, is unaltered by certain formal concessions which have been introduced in some quarters, such as an “official” participation by Protestant pastors in mixed marriage ceremonies in Roman Catholic Churches. “Far from solving the problem, these innovations create confusion in people’s minds.” The Statement strongly advises Reformed pastors not to accept invitations to participate in any official way in Roman Catholic marriage ceremonies. It leaves to the pastor’s own pastoral judgement the question whether or not he should even attend such ceremonies, considering carefully how such attendance would be interpreted. Requests for a “second” marriage ceremony in a Protestant church, following Roman Catholic ceremony, should be refused on principle. CUBA PRESBYTERIANS' DECLARATION ON CHURCH UNITY (RPPS.) The Presbytery of Cuba has issued a Declaration on Christian Unity, inviting the other Churches in Cuba to join with it in initiating a fruitful exchange of views in order to realise “the visible and effective unity of the mission of the one Church of Jesus Christ to the people in Cuba.” The Declaration was adopted by ministers and elders of the Presbytery at its meeting on May 14, 1965. While thankfully acknowledging that the Gospel had reached men through the Presbyterian Church and had used the Presbyterian system and doctrinal emphasis to witness to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Declaration says that the Holy Spirit has made it clear that “a confessional group can exist only with unity in view.” To make the unity desired possible, the Presbytery for its part declares: “Our structures are not sacrosanct, our emphases are not final, our name is not unalterable.” “We make this declaration in humility, acknowledging that we ourselves have often placed obstacles in the path to unity.” “We are confident,” the statement includes, “that all the Churches of Cuba, led by the same Spirit, will, together with us, show their longing and will to discover — with the rich diversity of the various traditions — that unity in love and service to the world for which Jesus Christ -—■ Lord of the world and Lord of the Church —- died.” THE POLISH PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC out of a total population of some thirty-one million inhabitants, has about one hundred and forty thousand Protestants, according to recent estimates. Most of these are members of Baptist, Lutheran, or Reformed churches. The large majority of these Polish Protestants live in Upper Silesia and in the Province of Allenstein. It is reported that in Lower Silesia only two confirmations took place during 1964, NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS CARTERET More than the usual number of our members participated in New Bread Communion on August 1. We shall return to our usual schedule of services on September 19. Rally Day Service will open Sunday School at 9:30; Hungarian service at 11 o’clock. The Board of Elders accepted a large scale renovation plan of the 60 year old church building. A committee will work out the details and present it to the annual congregational meeting. We hope to have the job finished by next Easter. Two of our members received scholastic honors upon their graduation from college. Miss Patricia Sipos, a former valedictorian of her class at Carteret High School, was graduated from Douglass College and was awarded the Steuben Society Prize for highest achievement in German studies. She is also the recipient of two graduate scholarships. Miss Irene Szabó received a bachelor of music education degree from Westminster Choir College, Princeton. On a scholarship grant she is now studying at the Budapest Academy of Music. Among our young people in the service, Airman 3rd Class Roger L. Martin has been selected Outstanding Airman of the Month at Dover Air Force Base, Dover Delaware, while Army Specialist 4th Class John A. Sebok received the Good Conduct medal at Ft. Hood, Texas. Funeral. Mrs. Stephen Markus (Piroska Szabó) died at the age of 47; she was buried from the church on August 11. The Junior Women’s Guild lost one of its tireless workers, in Mrs. Markus. The Junior Women’s Guild will sponsor a Chinese Auction on September 13, the Men’s Fellowship a Grape Festival Dance on October 9. Both affairs will be held at Bethlen Hall. BETHLEHEM We are going to start a Radio- Worship-Service program on Sunday, August 22nd, and continue every Sunday morning between 7:45—8 o’clock, on Station WHOL—1600. The Elders decided to purchase a bus that can easily accomodate 24 children or 16 adults. On September 12th we shall return to our regular worship service schedule: English at 9:45; Hungarian at 10:30. DETROIT Our Summer Services were very well attended this year, in fact it was the
