Magyar Egyház, 1985 (64. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1985-09-01 / 5. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 9. oldal C. Beke newly elected President of the Presbyter’s Association, Rev. Imre Bertalan, President of the Hungarian Reformed Federation, and Rev. Zoltán Kovács in the absence of Rev. Paul Kovács in behalf of the Bethlen Home. Our afternoon program continued with the lecture of Rev. József Farkas from Budapest, Hungary, on the subject of “The Problems of Contemporary Preaching.” Rev. Farkas posed the question of how to minister to our ministers. Our second lecture for the afternoon was delivered by Rt. Rev. Dr. László Irányi, Bishop at Large for the R.C. Hungarians out side the borders of Hungary. Bishop Irányi spoke on the subject of “United Actions” explaining that our work, inspite of the religious affiliations, is the same. We are ministering to a people (Reformed or Catholic) that have the same needs. Our actions must be unified, when we make our voices known in behalf of the Master. Following a supper at the Bethlen Home, we again joined together in Christian Unity to install the newly elected Bishop of the Calvin Synod, Rt. Rev. Zoltán Király of Passaic, New Jersey. In behalf of the Minister’s Association we extend our best wishes and congratulations to the new Bishop, and other elected officers of the Calvin Synod. Following the church service a presentation with slides was made by Rev. Alexander Havadtoy on his recent trip to Egypt. Our second day opened at 9:00 a.m. Rt. Rev. Zoltán Király, Bishop delivering the morning devotions. Lecture on this day was offered by Rev. Dr. László Medyesy on the Hungarian Reformed Ecumene. Rev. Medyesy’s lecture was followed by six pastors’ additional personal comments on the subject. Recommendations were made to establish a World Body of the Hungarian Reformed Alliance. The closing part of the meeting was the election of new officers for the next two years term. Newly elected oTicers are the following: President Rev. Barnabas Roczey, Assistant President Rev. Pal Mezo from Canada, Vice- President Rev. Dr. László Medyesy, Secretary Rev. Sándor Farkas and Treasurer Rev. Stefan Torok. The oath of office was administered by Rt. Rev. Zoltán Király, Bishop. Recommendations accepted by the Ministerial Association were unanimously accepted and are published in Hungarian. The meeting was closed at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3rd. Following the official meeting, committees dealing with the visit of the Debrecen Kantus was held and plans formulated as to where these concerts will be held. Once again, Ligonier proved to be a place, where elders and ministers can find a united front and work together for the benefit of the whole Hungarian Reformed People. We look forward to next year, hoping and praying that the Good Lord will give his strength to our weakness in finishing the works that He has begun in us. Editor NEW ECUMENICAL STATEMENT BACKS CHRISTIAN ACTIVISM ON ISSUES AFFECTING HUMAN DIGNITY “Children who are not exposed to the great faith traditions of the world with at least as much objectivity and detail as they are now exposed to economic and political ideologies, to artistic perspectives, and to scientific theories and hypotheses,” it adds, “are educationally deprived.” Regarding tax relief for parents of children enrolled in religiously sponsored schools, the document sets forth the arguments for and against such relief. “There is need for proponents of both positions to listen carefully...,” says the document. “Both of us must assess the roots of our differences: Are they theological, or historical-sociological? Is change possible?” On the matter of sex education in public schools, the document says that such education should be “positive, accurate, and prudent, guided throughout by fundamental ethical principles necessary to the formation of personal responsibility and viable relationships in all sexual behavior.” “Our traditions agree that sex is never, for humans, simply a matter of physiology, or even of psychology,” the document observes. “We agree that human sexuality involves moral and spiritual values at every point, and that, according to the teachings of both our traditions, sexual activity is to be carried out in the context of stable, loving, monogamous, heterosexual relationships that are sacramental or covenantal in character. Insofar as these perspectives are not allowed or emphasized in sex education courses in the public schools, tension will remain between them and the churches.” The Consultation which approved the document is cochaired by Most Rev. Ernest L. Unterkoefler, bishop of Charleston, SC and Dr. Andrew Harsanyi, dean emeritus of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. Other members of the Consultation, appointed by their respective parent bodies, are: Rev. James T. Burtchaell, University of Notre Dame; Dr. Dorothy Dodge, Macalester College; Dr. Eugene J. Fisher, National Conference of Catholic Bishops; Rev. Daniel Harrington, S.J. Weston School of Theology; Dr. Monica Hellwig, Georgetown University; Rev. Anne Ewing Hickey, Louisville, KY; Rev. William J. Hill, O.P., Catholic University of America; Rev. Elizabeth Johnson, Charlotte, NC; Rev. John T. Pawlikowski, O.S.M., Catholic Theological Union, Chicago; Rev. Cornelius Plantinga, Calvin Theological Seminary; Rev. Gerard S. Sloyan, Temple University; Prof. Max Stackhouse, Andover-Newton Theological Seminary; Dr. Ronald Stone, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Rev. Robert A. White, President, New Brunswick Theological Seminary; and Dr. Ronald C. White, Jr., Princeton Theological Seminary. ANOTHER SAD NEWS FROM TRANSYLVANIA There is a painful shortage of pastors in the German (Saxon) Evangélical Church of Transylvania (erdélyi szász). Only two (2) students are permitted by the State (Romania) to enroll in the Seminary of Nagyszeben (Hermannstadt in German, Sibiu in Romanian). Membership is 139,000 according to a West German source. Number of pastors, according to the Church’s bishop, is 131; 141 pastors had left the country. The bishop also stated that if the emigration of his people continues at the present rate the Church’s membership will be zero in 28 years. The bishop also says that political and economic consideration prompt the people’s decision to emigrate. The Church does not assist in emigration but stands by with spiritual counsel. Another source adds that the Romanian State systematically dissolves ethnic areas by coercive settlement.
