Magyar Egyház, 1972 (51. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1972-06-01 / 6-7. szám
10 MAGYAR EGYHÁZ MAGYAR Mr CHURCH OUR WORLD MISSION What is the mission of the Church? The answer to this question will determine the future of Hungarian Reformed Christianity. For, unless we have a definite idea of what our basic purpose, or mission is, we are doomed to annihilation. For most church members and pastors, the mission of the Church is seen in purely local terms. As long as the local congregation is doing well, it is held that it is fulfilling its mission. In reality it is just surviving. Nothing more, nothing less. When mission is thought of in purely local terms we forget that Christ summoned his followers to proclaim his Gospel to all the world. The early Church owed its strength to this tremendous ideal, the winning of all nations to faith and obedience. In a very real sense the mother church of Hungary fulfilled a missionary role when it provided trained ministers and funds for the congregations in the U.S.A. and Canada for decades. True, the individual members sacrificed much to build churches. But the bulk of the ministerial leadership was made up of men educated in Hungary at the expense of the mother church. Today’s mission field is no longer the North American continent. There are literally tens of thousands of our brethren throughout the world. They need trained leaders. They need funds to build churches and schools and homes for the aged. Many of their ministers have left the field and come to the States or Canada. They have been unable to develop native leadership. Unless our denominations do something about this soon, we will find that our world outreach will be a thing of the past. Some positive steps are being taken. A new sense of cooperaton is being developed. There is no reason why our American Hungarian leaders, even though of different denominational affiliations, cannot get together to develop a missionary strategy. Greater use of laymen in the field is necessary. But, most important of all, a program for funding a new outreach must be established. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Short-term missionary stays. An individual minister would spend three years in a specific area. He would be given a leave from his congregational duties. Upon his return he would return to his former position. 2. Recent seminary graduates would serve three years as missionaries, then would receive parish assignments here or in Canada. 3. Skilled laymen, particularly accountants and artisans, would take leave from their work and serve where most needed. 4. Young people would serve in a Protestant version of the “Peace Corps” for two year terms. All these suggestions point up the fact that all Christians: clergy and laymen alike, are responsible to God for the fulfillment of their ministry. What is the mission of the Church? Ask yourself, and find out whether or not you have the calling to represent Christ in faraway lands. The Apostle Paul received a call from Macedonia. He went. The fruit of his labors in God’s service is the Christian Church throughout Europe. The call sounds today from Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Australia. Charles A. Darocy WE SUPPORT THE PRESENT VIETNAM POLICY In the name of our Church denomination our Bishop sent the following telegram to the President of the United States of America, Hon. Richard M. Nixon: Dear Mr. President! Members present at the Synodical Ministers Meeting of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America held in Ligonier, Pa., May 28-30, have voted unanimously to express their support of your present Vietnam policy. We are in total disagreement with those religious leaders, who are engaged in distasteful demonstrations against your present policy. We are convinced, that in most instances they do not represent their constituencies. As ministers of the gospel, we pray for God’s continuing guidance in your demanding task. Respectfully yours: Dezső Abraham, Bishop
