Magyar Egyház, 2006 (85. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)

2006-10-01 / 4. szám

MAGYAR EGYHÁZ

7. oldal

The newly elected officers of the Synod: Mr.Anthony C.Beke, Chief Elder, Ft igyes Hefty,

Rt.Rev.Stefan M.Torok, General Secretary, Dr.Zoltán Mester, Lay Secremember of the Church Council of the

tary, Mrs. Szilvia Russell, Treasurer, Mr.Karoly Okos, Controller Free Magyar Reformed Church of Ontario

The

Meeting of the General Assembly of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America continued with the ordination and inauguration of the new Bishop, Rt.Rev. Sándor Szabó in the sanctuary of the Free Magyar Reformed Church of Ontario, where approx. 300 people were present. The newly elected bishop Sándor Szabó entered the church accompanied by 15 other pastors to accept his duty to serve Rt.Rev.Jozsef Vásárhelyi

the Hungarian

Auxiliary Bishop of the Calvin Synod,UCC Reformed Church

in America.

Every pastor took part in the church sevice. The English sermon of Very Rev.Ferenc Varga, Dean, was followed by the Hungarian sermon of Rt.Rev.Andor Demeter, resigning Bishop. The newly elected bishop placed his left hand on the bible at the Lord’s table, while placing his right hand on his heart, gave oath in front of God and the congregation. Afterwards Rt.Rev.Sandor Szabó took oath of his office, the pastors placed their hands on his head, while reciting scripture verses and asked for God’s blessing for the life and service of the new Bishop, singing the Hymn: “Jövel Szentlélek Ur Isten ...” In his inaugural sermon, Bishop Szabó emphasized God’s calling to duty and strenghtening grace, which will be needed to carry out the tasks awaiting him. In front of the resigning Bishop, the newly ordained Bishop and the rest of the officials in front of the newly ordained Bishop took oath of their office.

The pastors participating in the meeting and the Bishop’s ordination service were as follows: Rt.Rev.AndorDemeter, Honorary Bishop, Phoenix,AZ; Rt.Rev. Stefan M. Torok, General Secretary, Hungarian Reformed Church of Carteret,NJ; Very Rev. Ferenc Varga, Dean of the Central Classis and Ecumenical Secretary, American Hungarian Reformed Church, Allen Park,MI; Rev. Balint Nagy, Hungarian Reformed Church in Hollywood,CA; Rev. Dr.Attila Kocsis, Magyar Reformed Church, Perth Amboy,NJ; Rev.Gabor Magyari-Köpe, Hungarian Reformed Church of San Francisco and Vicinity,CA; Rev.Lajos Fábián, Hungarian Reformed Church of Vancouver,B.C.Canada; Rev.Dr.Sandor Tenke, Hungarian Reformed Church of Phoenix,AZ; Rt.Rev. József Vásárhelyi, Auxiliary Bishop, Calvin Synod, UCC, Hungarian Reformed Church of Passaic,NJ; Rev.Zsolt

Jakabfiy, Grace Hungarian Reformed Church,CA;

Rev.Istvan Kacsó, Dean,

First Hungarian Reformed Church of Los Angeles,CA; Rev.Dr.Béla

Bónis,pastor,CA; Rev.Dr.

Ildikó Szabó,pastor,CA;

Rev.Istvan Danyi, adventist pastor,CA; Rev.

Gerlac A. Horvath, O.

Praem. St.Michael’s Abbey of Norbertine Fathers, Silverado,CA.

After the greetings of the pastors Mr.

Ferenc Bosenbacher,

Consul General of Los Angeles, greeted the new- Rev.Ferenc Varga,

ly elected Bishop, folio- Dean of the Central Classis

wed by Ms.Ilona Peter,

Chief Elder, Mr.Frigyes Hefty and Ms. Judit Peters Church Council members, along with the youth of the congregation. Zsóka Szabó recited a poem by Sándor Reményik: „Az én lelkipásztorom”— „ Pastor of mine”, greeting her bishop-pastor husband.

After the church service, the many guests continued to celebrate in the Church’s Zágonyi hall of the during a fundraiser dinner.

November 18th was a blessed day with a new beginning in the life of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. We all deeply felt that the call to serve our fellow men comes from God. We are looking forward with great hope and joy that those of us who have been entrusted to carry on the burden of the governance of our church will do it by seeking the will of God, but we must always be aware that guidance and blessing and salvation to our church is received only from Christ. We all pray to almighty God that those who have been honored and chosen to guide our community and our church will have strength and ability to carry out their task in good time and bed time to build our church to the greater glory of God.