Magyar Egyház, 2004 (83. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
2004-01-01 / 1. szám
6. oldal MAGYAR EGYHÁZ Roebling, New Jersey 1913-2003 ”OUR” BISHOPS The Rt. Reverend Dr. Bishop Zoltán Béky was bom on June 21, 1903, into a family with a long ancestral line of prominent clergymen, educators and judges, and he, too, was soon to distinguish himself as one of the outstanding clergy of our denomination and civic leaders in the Hungarian Community. Graduating from Sárospatak Theological Seminary in 1927, he was ordained in the Reformed Church of Hungary. He later attended New Brunswick Seminary and in 1928 was chosen to become pastor of the Trenton church which he served for thirty-seven years. From 1933 to 1948, he also served our church in Roebling. In 1938, he was elected Dean of the Eastern Classis of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America and in Febmary 1958, became its first Bishop. He represented the HRCA and held executive positions, in many national and international church, governmental and civic organizations, including the Hungarian Reformed Federation. He was the author of several books and contributor of numerous articles on religious, educational and political subjects. Bishop Béky passed away in Washington, DC November 26, 1978, with a funeral service held in Trenton, New Jersey on November 30lh, officiated by one of the largest gatherings of Hungarian Reformed clergy ever. We give thanks to God for his dedicated leadership and love for our American-Hungarian Reformed community and for bringing the church into the worldwide fellowship of such organizations as the World Council of Churches and Presbyterian World Alliance. On June 16, 1968, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Reverend Dezső Ábrahám was consecrated as the third Bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, succeeding the Rt. Reverend Dr. Zoltán Béky and Rt. Reverend Lajos Nagy. The son of Péter Ábrahám and Julianna Beremi, Dezső Ábrahám was bom in 1930 in Old Baranya County, Hungary. Completing his elementary and secondary education, he followed the direction of his heart to serve his people as a servant of God. He received the equivalent of a Bachelor of Divinity in 1942 at the Reformed Theological Seminary of Budapest. After serving in various ministerial capacities, Christian student and civic organizations, as the forces of Communism took over the government of Hungary, he left his homeland for studies in Glasgow, Scotland, and post-graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary in America. His first pastoral charge was in Roebling where he served from 1948-1954. The church expanded and flourished under his leadership with the foundations laid during his ministry still upholding the church today. Upon the death of Dr. Charles Vincze, he accepted a call to serve as Pastor in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. He served as Editor of the ’’Magyar Egyház”, a voice of Radio Free Europe, and was instrumental in aiding many refugees during the Hungarian Freedom Fight in 1956. He was elected Dean of the Eastern Classis in 1959 and later served the Allen Park, Michigan church until his retirement and return to the Roebling area. He continued to serve as substitute pastor, helping wherever and whenever he could, visiting the sick and elderly - even those of other denominations he did not know. He met an untimely death in July, 1999 and was memorialized by an over-flowing crowd of those whose hearts he had touched in a funeral service held in Trenton, New Jersey. His wife, the former Margaret Szinyeri of Roebling still serves our church to this day. ’’May God grant to us all wisdom to see the unifying power of His Holy Word that we may live and work together in harmony to the greater glory of His Holy Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.” The Rt. Reverend Bishop Dezső Abrahám Today's Congregation in Roebling, New Jersey 90,h Anniversary October 26, 2003
