The Hungarian Unitarian Church has presented its highest distinction, the John Sigismund Award, to Dr. Judit Gellérd, a Unitarian minister, physician and author, and her husband, Dr. George M. Williams, an American historian of religions. The award was presented on October 9, 2026, at a ceremonial gala held in Alsóboldogfalva (Bodoc? no) during the Church’s annual General Assembly, in recognition of the couple’s decades of dedicated service to Transylvanian Unitarianism, international church partnerships, education, scholarship and the preservation of Unitarian heritage.
Established in 2023, the John Sigismund Award honours individuals whose exceptional contributions have strengthened the Church, supported its communities and helped preserve its spiritual and cultural heritage. The award was first presented in January 2025 to Dr. László Kövér, Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly.
At the ceremony, Emőd Farkas, Senior Chief Lay Officer of the Hungarian Unitarian Church, announced that the Church Representative Council had unanimously selected the couple as the 2026 recipients.
Two Lives United in Service
In his tribute, Bishop István Kovács compared the couple’s life journeys to two rivers flowing together. Although they came from different geographical and cultural backgrounds, their paths converged in a shared commitment that has profoundly influenced Transylvanian Unitarianism and its international relationships for nearly four decades.
Judit Gellérd, daughter of the distinguished Unitarian minister and theologian Imre Gellérd, trained as a physician in Târgu Mureș and practised medicine in Romania and Hungary. Following her marriage to George M. Williams in 1988, she moved to the United States, where she continued her theological studies. She was ordained as a Unitarian minister in Kövend in 2002. She has also published twelve books, including works devoted to preserving her father’s intellectual and spiritual legacy.
George M. Williams, a professor of religious studies at California State University, Chico, specialised in Hindu religious traditions and Japanese liberal religious movements. Alongside his academic career, he has been actively involved in international interfaith dialogue and the defence of religious freedom, particularly through the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). His contributions have received numerous distinctions, including an honorary doctorate from the Protestant Theological Institute in Cluj-Napoca in 1996.
Building Bridges Between Congregations
One of the couple’s most significant achievements has been their contribution to the international partner church movement.
At Judit Gellérd’s initiative, the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council was established in 1993. Through its work, more than 200 Unitarian congregations in Transylvania and Hungary developed partnerships with congregations in North America. These relationships provided substantial support for churches, schools and community facilities while fostering personal connections, reciprocal visits and lasting friendships across continents.
The couple also made important contributions to theological education and the preservation of Unitarian intellectual heritage. In the early 1990s, they brought computers to Transylvanian Unitarian theology students and taught them how to use the new technology. They helped establish scholarship opportunities for ministers in the United States and the Imre Gellérd Fund, supporting continuing theological education.
Their work extended to the research, documentation and digitisation of historical Unitarian manuscripts, the support of denominational educational institutions and fundraising for the establishment of the Heltai Printing House.
Bishop Kovács emphasised that their achievements were rooted in genuine partnership: George M. Williams embraced the cause of Transylvanian Unitarianism, while Judit Gellérd actively supported her husband’s academic and religious work.
An Award Received with Gratitude
In her acceptance speech, Judit Gellérd described her life as a calling to service rather than a pursuit of career or personal achievement. Reflecting on her work as a physician, minister and advocate for international church partnerships, she spoke of her desire to carry forward the dreams and legacy of her father. She attributed the course of her life to God’s providence and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the unexpected honour.
George M. Williams reflected on the legacy of Prince John Sigismund and the historic 1568 Edict of Torda, a landmark in the history of religious freedom. He stressed that freedom of conscience and religion must never be taken for granted, warning that religious and political institutions can still stray from these principles. He accepted the distinction with deep gratitude, emphasising that his work had been motivated by his love for his wife and for Transylvania.
By presenting the 2026 John Sigismund Award to Judit Gellérd and George M. Williams, the Hungarian Unitarian Church honours a remarkable shared commitment whose enduring impact can be seen in international congregational partnerships, theological education, scholarship and the everyday lives of Unitarian communities.