Guests from around the world gathered in Bethlehem October 16-17, 2024, to celebrate the inscription of the Moravian Church Settlements UNESCO World Heritage Site – the first ever transnational UNESCO site – which includes the settlements of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Gracehill, Northern Ireland; Christiansfeld, Denmark; and Herrnhut, Germany. The celebration included a Moravian worship service, the official inscription ceremony, and a dinner for dignitaries and church leaders.
Worship at Central Moravian Church
Festivities began on Wednesday evening with a beautiful worship service at Central Moravian Church, which highlighted the connectedness of our global Unity. It was a blessing to hear from each of the Moravian areas represented in the UNESCO inscription: the Rt. Rev. Sarah Groves brought greetings from Gracehill, Northern Ireland and the Bishops of the Moravian Unity; the Rev. Dr. Jørgen Bøytler, Unity Board Administrator, shared a message from the Worldwide Moravian Unity and greetings on behalf of his congregation in Christiansfeld, Denmark; and the Rev. Drs. Jill and Peter Vogt brought greetings from Herrnhut, Germany, and shared a meditation on the unity that has characterized our church since its earliest days: “Moravians in the 18th century and even today were remarkable for their mobility. The first generation of refugees gave rise to a missionary church where members traveled to all corners of the world. They were constantly on the move, going from one place to the next and, in doing so, they created a net of connected settlements, a community of communities, a global body of friendship and fellowship in Christ.”
The service also included siblings from Bethlehem: the Rev. Janel Rice, pastor of Central Moravian Church; the Rev. Dave Bennett, President of the Northern Province Provincial Elders’ Conference; and the Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler, who represented the Moravian Unity on the transnational coordinating committee. The presence of the late Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon, who pastored Central Moravian Church and served on the transnational coordinating committee for many years, was felt throughout the service. Many thanks to Central Moravian Church Minister of Music Becky Kleintop Lepore and the Bethlehem Area Moravians for sharing their musical gifts.
As church leaders and dignitaries joined together to recognize the rich history of our Moravian Church, this joyous service also celebrated our identity as a living, serving church that is ministering in diverse contexts throughout the world today.
Official Inscription Ceremony and Dinner
On Thursday, dignitaries and church leaders who had gathered from other areas of the Moravian Unity or to represent the UNESCO World Heritage Committee spent the morning touring some of the most historic buildings in Bethlehem. Led by Historic Bethlehem Museum & Sites, guests were invited to step into the past and learn about how early Bethlehem Moravians expressed their faith through worship, mission service, and daily activities.
The official inscription ceremony took place on Thursday afternoon in Foy Concert Hall on the South Campus of Moravian University. Representatives of UNESCO, as well as spokespeople from each of the Moravian Settlements represented in this inscription spoke of the Moravian Church’s contributions to the communities of which they are a part and the importance of preserving and sharing the history of these settlements. Over 65 people attended the event, including Richard Verma, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State; Courtney O’Donnell, U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO; Rep. Susan Wild; and Lazare Eloundu-Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center. Moravian University President Bryon Grigsby stood in for Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and offered the opening speech, expressing gratitude for all those who had worked to make this inscription possible, with special thanks to Charlene Donchez-Mowers, senior advisor to Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, and Hank Barnette, vice chair of the Bethlehem World Heritage Commission and former CEO of Bethlehem Steel.
After the ceremony, those gathered were invited to a celebratory dinner at the historic Hotel Bethlehem. Before the meal, guests were serenaded from above by the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and all joined together in song with each person singing in their own language – a powerful representation of the global significance of this inscription.
