Magyar Egyház, 1992 (71. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1992-05-01 / 5. szám
12. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ INSTALLATION IN CARTERET November 15,1992: delegates of the East Coast Hungarian Churches came to witness together with the people of Carteret at a worship service of our common faith-heritage, when Rev, Stefan M. Torok, dean of the eastern classis and dr. Andrew Harsanyi, Bishop, installed Rev. Peter L. Toth as pastor here. A fraction of my “curriculum vitae”: “I finished my studies at the Theological Academy of Budapest. The same year, in October, I started my ministry. In 19871 succeeded with the completion of my final examinations, then I was ordained in 1988. In 1989 I came to Princeton, NJ to earn my Master of Theology. I came to Carteret in 1990.” Dr. Harsanyi in his charge, emphasized that the minister is a servant of God, end he/she is responsible, first of all, to the Lord who called him/her to this ministry. Secondly, he mentioned the necessity of world-bom harmony between pastor and congregation. He urged us to preserve our Reformed Heritage. The installation ceremony was performed by Dean Stefan M. Torok who introduced Rev. Peter L. Toth, sworn in by Bishop Harsanyi. As an installed minister at my first sermon, on the base of Mt 7,12,1 called the people to accept and appreciate the har-mony, however, on every individual differently reflected of god-likeness mutually. On the way the church must be an all-embracing love community of believers, and not frustration, relieving spiritual safety valve. Besides our pastors, numerous pastors of our sister denomination, the Calvin Synod of UCC were present and Rev. William Ashley, Presbyterian and Rev. Brace, Episcopalian ministers of Carteret, had a prayer for Christian unity. István Emri, Consul of the Hungarian Republic, was with us and greeted the Church leaders after the church service. This day we had our Banquet in our Bethlen Hall where Mayor Peter Sica spoke of the appreciated Hungarian Reformed presence in town. Rev. Albert Kovács, in the name of the UCC Calvin Synod, Prof. August Molnár, as the representative of the Hungarian Heritage Center, greeted the celebrating minister and church. I myself asked the people to keep the spirituality of this celebration in the upcoming workdays. BÉLA VASSADY (1902-1992) His autobiography (‘Limping Along’, Eerdmans, 1985) is the moving and colorful report of the life of Bela Vassady who died in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 5, at the age of 90. In America he spelled his original name ‘ Vasady’ with two ‘s’, ‘Vassady’. Born in Arad, Hungary in 1902, he studied theology at the Theological Faculty of the University of Debrecen, followed by studies in Dayton and Princeton. After his return to Hungary he was professor of systematic theology at the Theological Academies of Papa and Sárospatak, then at the Seminary of Sárospatak and Debrecen where he became full professor in 1938. He emigrated to America in 1945 where he thought theology in several seminaries he finished his teaching career in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He was the author of many printed books written in hungarian as well as in english, also of many papers and periodicals. His hungarian written ‘The Mystery of Faith’ (1931) was a dreaded seminary textbook, much appreciated by students of later years. Together with his wife, Serena, Dr. Vassady was active in many areas of the life of the world church. Sharing the grief of his family, we remember Dr. Vassady with love and respect. Andrew Harsanyi
