By now you have heard that I have been selected to be on UUCB’s ministerial search committee.  It’s going to be a huge commitment of my time.  Whether or not I can remain as chair of the Transylvanian Partner Church Committee remains to be seen.  Who might be writing in this space in the future?

One of my aims on the search committee is to find a minister who has experience in a partnered congregation.  Our partnership with Homoródújfalu is in its ninth decade.  We were fortunate that Rev. Dick Boeke was digging through our archives and found records of the early partnership.  We were able to reconnect with our long lost partners.  Revs. Barbara and Bill Hamilton-Holway made two pilgrimages to Transylvania and hosted Rev. Arpad Ilkei and his family when they visited Berkeley.

Thus our next minister will have big shoes to fill.  If she or he has been a pilgrim they will know the value of the partnership and can bring a fresh perspective to it.  For all we know, their partnership might have been with a church in a village in India or the Philippines.  That definitely would be a fresh perspective.  And if that next minister has not enjoyed such a partnership then we will be most happy to introduce them to ours!

Want to learn more about travel to Transylvania and the work of the Partner Church Committee?  Contact Stephanie Ann Blythe or Anne Greenwood.  We meet on the third Thursday of each month at 4:30 p.m.  All are welcome!