Magyar Egyház, 1966 (45. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1966-03-01 / 3. szám
10 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ Charles A. Darocy: A NEW LOOK AT CONFESSIONALISM Calvinistic churches have always emphasized the use of confessional standards in presenting their witness to the world. No other branch of Protestant Christianity has found a home in so many parts of the world, largely because of the power gained through the possession and use of definitive creeds and statements of faith. The concept of church unity is an outgrowth of the ecumenical movement. Church union, however, cannot be gained if the price is the loss of evangelical witness. Many Christian communions have sought to renew the use of confessions in order to better express their understanding of the Gospel and to improve their relations with the racially and culturally separated fellowships. We in America are in the midst of a crucial era. The old cult of personal Christianity has been battered by the tragic national and international situation. An increasing secularized society is calling upon the churches to say and do something positive. The present racial struggle vividly illustrates the vast no-man’s-land between Church pronouncements and practice. In this situation the Hungarian Reformed Church is in an unique position to proclaim its distinctive heritage. No other fellowship can claim so great a record of unity as the Mother Church in Hungary which remained one through four centuries of persecution and oppression. No other fellowship has held so steadfastly to its doctrinal standards: the Heidelberg Catechism and the Second Helvetic Confession. No other fellowship has survived the brutality and viciousness of enemies such as the Turks, the Habsburgs and the Communists of today. Here in America the United Presbyterian Church is engaged in the preparation of a new doctrinal standard, the Confession of 1967. It includes the Heidelberg and Second Helvetic documents among its standards. It further calls for the Church to meet the basic issues of modern life head-on, without any compromise. It has met with loud opposition, primarily from traditionalists who prefer the safety of the past to the problems of the present. Its chief interest is its strong desire to proclaim a changeless faith in the language and thought forms of our time. Confessionalism can be a blessing or a curse. When it is used as the basis of belief and practice it can and does give the church and the individual believer spiritual strength. When, on the other hand, confessionalism is used to demand strict adherence to the written word, it stifles the work of the Spirit of Christ. What will be the church’s witness generations from now? Nobody can tell with certainty. We can, however, examine the record of history and confidently state that the confessional church will be abler to survive and surmount its difficulties than the church which simply assumes that the individual believer has the strength and authority to maintain and express the will of Christ to a rapidly changing world. ATTENTION ALL WOMEN! SEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE of the United Church Women of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, Eastern Area Sunday, May 1 2:00 p.m. New York, N. Y. EVERYONE INVITED! NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS BETHLEHEM The dinner for the newly elected officers and elders was held on February 20. Our oldest member, Mrs. J. Jámbor celebrated her 88th birthday on March 13th. Burial: on February 16th, Mrs. J. Tarnóczy, born. Bozzai, 84 years old. Mrs. J. Simon, the wife of our controller was buried in Scranton, Pa. on March 11th. CARTERET Attendance at Lenten Communion was 120; the holy elements were presented by Mr. and Mrs. John Nemish. At the request of Church World Service the congregation assumed sponsorship for a young couple from Transylvania, Ferenc and Ilona Delbacs. As the result of the gifts and help from several members and friends a furnished apartment and an excellent job awaited these young people who arrived March 14 and were introduced to the congregation at the Installation Dinner on the following Sunday. The Installation Dinner was well attended. At this time dinner was prepared by a special group of church members who joined forces for this occasion. They included, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Gisella Szabó, Mrs. Julia Lazar, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Peter, Mrs. Barbara Stasolla, Louis Szabó, Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Szabó, Mrs. Yolanda Trosko and Sándor Kazup. Others assisting at the affair were Mr. and Mrs. John Nemish, William Lazar, Francis Ullersberger, Frank Vérségi, Miss Linda Fabian, Miss Diane Martin, Miss Gloria Pokol, John Lazar Jr. and Frank Papp Jr. Baptisms. Jennie Victoria, daughter of Benjamin Sokolowski and his wife Jennie Mary Varga; godparents: Steve Varga Jr. and Mrs. Mildred Varga. — Robin Lee, daughter of the late Richard Lee Valentime and his wife Irene Orosz; godparents: Raymond Valentine and Mrs. Sophie Orosz. DUQUESNE Guest speakers: Dr. Leslie Berzeviczy (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) on February 6th, the Rev. Paul Ferenczy (HRFA) on February 20th. Youth Sunday, March 6th. Lay readers: Christine Estu, Janice Horvath, Charlene Nagy, Diane Vockley. Ushers: Shirley Stiver, Sharon Sapos, Gary Wargo, Larry Wargo. PERTH AMBOY From Palm Sunday to Good Friday, sick and shut-in brethren will be visited with Holy Communion. Call the Church Office. The order of services during Holy Week will be mailed to our members. C. Y. F. Car Wash will be held Saturday, April 9th from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. in the church yard for the benefit of the National Camp Fund. The Senior Women’s Club’s 45th Anniversary will be held on Sunday, April 17th at 6:00 P.M. in the Center. Everyone is invited. Please make your reservations before April 12. ROEBLING Our Lenten Holy Communion Service was well attended. The elements of the Lord’s Supper were received by 75 people. The elements were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Steven Bajzath.
