German Bundestag travels to Bethlehem for update on World Heritage nomination

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites hosted the German Bundestag to visit Historic Moravian Bethlehem on Monday, Sept. 12.

President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch welcomed the group to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, the oldest building in Bethlehem, and introduced them to the Bethlehem World Heritage Council representatives from Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, Bethlehem Area Moravians, The City of Bethlehem, Moravian University and Central Moravian Church.

The Bethlehem World Heritage Council presented an update to the 16 members of the German Bundestag (Parliament) on Historic Moravian Bethlehem’s transnational, serial World Heritage nomination with Hernnhut, Germany and Gracehill, Northern Ireland, alongside Christiansfeld, a Moravian settlement in Denmark that received World Heritage designation in 2015. On the occasion of the annual Congress-Bundestag Seminar, members of the German Bundestag traveled to Bethlehem to better understand the culture, history and people of the Lehigh Valley.

The German Bundestag concluded their visit with a walk through the Old Chapel and God’s Acre.

Bethlehem World Heritage Council representatives in attendance:

LoriAnn Wukitsch, president and CEO, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites; Bishop C. Hopeton Clennon, Central Moravian Church; Dan Soos, CEO, Bethlehem Area Moravians; Charlene Donchez Mowers, senior advisor, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites; Curtis H. Barnette, vice chair, World Heritage Commission; Mayor J. William Reynolds, City of Bethlehem; Joel Rosenfeld, board chair, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites; Amir Tejani, special advisor to the president, Moravian University.

Other attendees included:

Pat Witmer, corporate vice president corporate affairs at B. Braun of America Inc

Jean-Claude Dubacher, chairman and CEO of B. Braun of America Inc.

Tina Smith, director of community and economic development, County of Northampton.

Delegates of the German Bundestag in the Old Chapel with Bishop Hopeton Clennon and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites President and CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch.

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