Joint Task Force-East

Religious Leaders meet for first Time

By U.S. Army Sgt. Marla Keown, JTF-East PAO

U.S. military religious leaders and Romanian clergy commence their traditional Romanian dinner with a short prayer at a local restaurant in Constanta, Sep. 15. Joint Task Force-East hosted dinner so that religious leaders could meet each other for the first time. This first meeting opened doors and was the foundation for building interoperability capabilities and strengthening relationships for stronger regional security cooperation, an important goal of JTF-East. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Marla R. Keown)

MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, ROMANIA - U.S. military religious leaders met with local clergy to develop better relationships with NATO partners in the port city of Constanta, Romania, Sept. 15.

U.S. Army Maj. Chaplain Gerald Jacobs, representing Joint Task Force-East (JTF-East), coordinated the evening event at La Protap, a rustic Romanian restaurant in the heart of Constanta, for local religious to meet with military chaplains.

Jacobs and U.S. Army Sgt. Michael W. Hart, the chaplain’s assistant, have been searching for an opportunity to gather with the local Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and visiting military leaders to enhance relationships and look for ways of coordinating community events. “We hope to figure out how the Romanian civilian clergy and churches and the Romanian and American chaplain teams can work together to help local communities,” said Jacobs.

Chaplains from U.S. Army’s European Command, headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, Col. Charles Bailey and Lt. Col. Rick Spencer, joined JTF-East Commander Col. Gary R. Russ who met with a Romanian Navy Col. Florin Buhalea, a Roman Catholic priest from Bucharest, Priest George Gunea, an Eastern Orthodox priest from the village of Mihail Kogalniceanu, and Priest Nicolae Paolelungi, a representative for Archbishop of Tomis, the historical name of the city of Constanta.

Jacobs, who initiated the event, began the dinner with an informal salutation followed by a short prayer and blessing of the food. The group of eight discussed faith, family and cultural values during the three-course meal.

U.S. military religious leaders and Romanian clergy toast before beginning a traditional Romanian meal at a local restaurant in Constanta, Sep. 15. Chaplains from U.S. Army’s European Command, based in Heidelberg, Germany, Col. Charles Bailey and Lt. Col. Rick Spencer, flew to Romania to partake in a Joint Task Force-East (JTF-East) hosted dinner in hopes of building strong relationships for better regional security cooperation, an important goal of JTF-East. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Marla R. Keown)

“I have discovered that God-fearing people, be it orthodox, catholic or protestant, have no differences in the aspect of wanting to help their neighbors,” said Paolelungi.

Russ hopes to strengthen relationships between host-nation religious leaders with the help of U.S. Army chaplains to act as local ambassadors. Chaplains Bailey and Jacobs are striving to strengthen relationships with their NATO partners by sharing a common vision through faith-based events. “I am excited to see us make the next step forward,” Russ said. The dinner event was the first of several opportunities for religious leaders to interact with one another.

Since the JTF-East military exercise began in early August, military leaders have steadily met with local civic, educational and community representatives. This first meeting of religious leaders opens doors and is the foundation for building interoperability capabilities and strengthening relationships for stronger regional security cooperation, an important goal of JTF-East.

During the evening, discussions strayed from faith-based issues as the new acquaintances enjoyed a variety of traditional Romanian dishes prepared specifically for the event. They discussed topics such as the beautiful monasteries in Romania, the sport of Oina and ideas for aiding local communities.

The gathering of religious leaders appeared to be successful, said Jacobs. “I think we saw beginnings of genuine relationships,” he added. The meet-and-greet dinner was just the beginning of what Jacobs hopes will “be a nice long journey” leading to stronger relationships between Romanian and U.S. Army religious leaders.

Throughout history, people have found ways to open dialogue and form new relationships. “We have broken bread, meat and dessert tonight,” said Bailey. “I thank you for allowing us to come, and I hope we can break bread more often.

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