Partner Church Committee

 

Mission Statement  

The mission of the King’s Chapel Partner Church Committee is to formalize and strengthen King’s Chapel’s historic relationship with the First Unitarian Church in Kolozsvar, Romania, through a broad range of contacts and communications between members and clergy of both churches.

[left to right: Rev. Earl K. Holt III, Former Minister of King's Chapel; Dr. Judit Gellerd, member of King's Chapel; Rev. Balint Benczedi Ferenc, Minister of First Unitarian Church of Kolozsvar (October 2006)]  

Committee Statement of Purpose

(1) to develop robust and continuing communications between King’s Chapel and our partner church, involving both clergy and lay leadership as well as other members of both congregations;

(2) to increase our knowledge of the people, culture, traditions, and religious beliefs and practices of our partner church;

(3) to encourage and facilitate reciprocal travel to and from our partner church, involving youth and adult visits, both in groups and individually;

(4) to increase our knowledge of and appreciation for the religious heritage of King’s Chapel; and

(5) through these and other means to promote the spiritual enrichment of both our churches and congregations, and to increase awareness of opportunities for mutual support and assistance.

 

PROPOSAL FOR A MINISTERIAL EXCHANGE APPROVED…

 

The Vestry approved a proposal to establish a fund which will enable an exchange of ministers between First Unitarian, Kolosvar and King’s Chapel.  The purpose of the exchange is to enhance partner church relationships and reinforce our Christian Unitarian heritage.  Funds will be used to provide transportation and related expenses for exchanges to be undertaken over the next calendar year.  Peter Sexton is leading the effort.

 

ATTIC PROJECT FUNDRAISING A SUCCESS…

 

Thanks to all our parishioners and visitors who contributed to the Partner Church “Attic Fund” over the last three years with their in-kind contributions and generous bidding at the 2008 spring auction, the fulfillment of pledges, the purchase of note cards, and plate collections at Morning Worship.  We’ve raised over $25,000 as King’s Chapel’s contribution toward the renovation of the top floor of the Parish House of our partner Unitarian Church in Kolozsvar.  Now we are confident that the Attic Project at our partner church will be sufficiently pre-funded so that construction can begin soon, allowing them to host visitors and support the work of the church.         On behalf of our partner church minister and parishioners, thank you for your generous support!

 

TRANSYLVANIA NIGHT!

 

Rev. Dr. Judit Gellérd, guest of honor at a Parish House celebratory dinner on October 30th sponsored by the King’s Chapel Partner Church Committee, spoke movingly of her many connections to Transylvanian Unitarianism.

 

As a visionary founder of the UUA’s partner church program twenty years ago, Rev. Gellérd has met with thousands of UU’s across the USA, inspiring their efforts to provide spiritual and tangible support for their partner churches in Transylvania.  She authored Prisoner of Liberté, the story of her father, a Unitarian minister, who was imprisoned and tortured during the Communist era.  More recently, she completed the English translation of a scholarly work on Francis Dávid by Prof. Mihály Balázs at the University of Szeged, Hungary.  Rev. Gellérd brought her remarks to a close by singing a lovely Chopin etude a cappella…in French!

 

Rev. Carl Scovel, King’s Chapel Minister Emeritus, offered the invocation prior to the Hungarian meal which featured pogácsa (cheese scone), Transylvanian pork goulash, plum cobbler, and Hungarian wine. Guests at the dinner included William Shultz, past UUA President and co-founder of the UU partner church program, and Beth Miller of the UUA.

 

A RARE VISIT

 

Ms. Eniko Veres, a member of our partner church in Kolozsvar who is a researcher and teacher in the field of Sociology at Babes Bolyoi University in Kolozsvar, visited the Boston area last spring prior to attending the International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women in Houston, Texas - the first international meeting of UU women! 

 

Ms Veres participated in the Wednesday church service on February 18, attended Morning Prayer and a concert at King’s Chapel on the 22nd, and enjoyed a host of other opportunities for sight-seeing or entertainment offered by parishioners. While with us she spoke about the significance of Unitarianism and connection to American UU's in her native land of Transylvania, and many other topics of interest or concern in modern Romania.  She was most engaging!