Magyar Egyház, 1973 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1973-05-01 / 5. szám

6

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

MAGYAR

CHURCH

A CREATIVE MINORITY

The historian, Arnold J. Toynbee, in his monumental study of the rise and fall of civilizations, has noted that the role of the creative minority is far more important than had heretofore been imagined. According to his thesis, the progress of a civilization depends largely upon the intellectual and spiritual attainments of a relatively small group within it. No civilization can survive deadly assaults from without unless it is strengthened by an internal minority which gives it direction and resiliency.

Dr. Toynbee’s thesis has been proven by our parent body, the Reformed Church in Hungary. A minority since the days of the bloody counter-reformation, it has had to rely on its own spiritual resources for survival. The Hungarian language is the gift of the Reformation. Karolyi’s translation of the Bible set the standard for the language, as did the Authorized version in Great Britain. The emphasis upon personal integrity and education made the Reformed believer a force to be reckoned with. This realistic view of living in God’s universe saved our Reformed folk from the prevalent superstitions that have plagued Roman Catholicism in Central Europe.

Our Magyar forebears brought this consciousness of being a creative minority with them to America. They had no illusions of power. While the old-line American Protestant congregations dreamed of the good old days, the Magyar Reformed brethren realistically appraised their situation in this new land. No hopes of grandeur for them, only the hard task of surviving in the cities and mining towns. In spike of many shortcomings, they succeeded in making of the Church a living institution, free of all pretensions, able to serve in this great new nation.

The threat of assimilation has always been present. Large numbers of people, in search of acceptance, left the fold and simply disappeared in American life. Their loss has been a tragic one. Loss of identity means loss of selfhood. Assimilation always means surrender, and the formerly Hungarian churches that now bear new names witness to the failure of a great dream.

Fortunately we live at a time when individuals are deeply concerned with discovering themselves. We can learn much from the four hundred year old history of the Reformed Church in Hungary. Turkish and Austrian occupation were unable to still the proclamation of the Gospel. Even the present Russian military might has been unable to prevent this creative minority from maintaining the truth of the Gospel.

Our task in America today is to maintain this great tradition and bear witness to God’s truth in the spirit of our professing ancestors.

Charles A. Darocy

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE EASTERN CLASSIS

The Eastern Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America held its Annual Assembly in the Roebling Church Sunday afternoon, April 8. Dr. Andrew Harsanvi, Dean and John Nemish, Chief Elder presided at the assembly attended by close to 50 elders from the constituent congregations. After hearing the Dean’s extensive report the assembly broke into committees. As the result of their work the assembly

• approved the Treasurer’s report and voted to send gifts (varying between $50 and $100) to the following: Hungarian Reformed Church, Brussels and Liege, Belgium; Chapel Fund of the Hungarian Reformed Church, Geneva, Switzerland; Hungarian Relief Service, Munich, Germany; Pastoral Service among Hungarian Reformed people in camps in Italy; Hungarian missionaries in Kenya, East Africa; Organ Fund of the Reformed Church in Szamoskér, Hungary; Hungarian Reformed Church in Turterebes; “Magyar Egyház.”

• passed the following resolutions:

1. That support provided to churches, ministers, or missions in foreign countries be continued;

2. That a major-event calendar be adopted; local