Partner Church Program
Partner Church CouncilSoon after the collapse of the Communist government of Romania in 1989, informal connections between Unitarian churches in Transylvania and Unitarian Universalist churches in other countries began to strengthen. Several Unitarian Universalist congregations formed relationships with particular churches in Transylvania. In 1993, the Partner Church Council grew out of the Unitarian Universalist Association to help coordinate resources and connections between North American churches and those overseas, which now include churches in other Eastern European countries, India, and the Philippines.
Congregations in long-term international partnerships enjoy close friendships and spiritual growth. For more than 15 years, Unitarian Universalists in Canada and the United States have made friends worldwide, helping to build the global community of Unitarian Universalists. Each partnership expresses the values and vision of the two churches that come together.
Here are some examples of what partners do:
- Exchange visits and sermons in each other’s church
- Work together on community projects, such as water systems for clean, reliable water
- Share religious services, histories, and traditions
- Work together to provide economic opportunities, such as a dairy operation
- Build and repair churches and parsonages
- Address community needs, such as a medical clinic
- Develop communication systems and letter-writing partners
Congregational partnerships are first about building sustained relationships and growing in shared community.
