Rev. Dr. Chaplain Richard Davis, PH.D and Rev. Dr Chaplain Teresa Ko-Davis, D.Min (APC-BCCI Board Certified Chaplain)
This pioneering church is spear headed by husband and wife team, Rev. Dr. Richard Davis, PhD and Rev. Dr. Teresa Ko-Davis, DMin. Both are ordained priests in the Charismatic Old Catholic Church. Fr. Richard has an extensive background as a geneticist/scientist and Mtr. Teresa's ministry started at age 18 since the supernatural encounter with Christ, with a strong background in visual arts and music, and extensive experience traveling to many nations as a mission evangelist. She was a liscenced minister in a Protestant Inter-denomination since 1988 and ordained Protestant Pastor since 1998. She became an Episcopal priest since 2021. Then, later became Independent Catholic denomination called Charismatic Old Catholic Church priest in 2023 (COCC) to current time.
Mother Teresa earned an MDiv Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary (1993),
Diploma at the Cenacle Spiritual Direction School (2005),
a STM-Masters of Sacred Theology at Drew Theological Seminary(2014),
and D.Min-Doctor of Ministry at the United Lutheran Theological Seminary (2014).
She also has been Board Certified Chaplain by Association for Professional Chaplains (2003 and 2025) and
In the past, she served as a solo and assocate pastor at churches of diverse Protestant denominations, ministered at various Universities/Grad Schools, presented contemplative prayers, led retreat as served as a Spiritual Director, mission builder ministering with international pastors/bishops, at Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, France, Belgium, Dominican Republic, ministered as an Active Duty MP Battalion Chaplain in US US Army Chaplain at the VA Chaplain and 4 other hospitals, ministered to students at Universities (Columbia University, Princeton University, Syracuse University, University in Thailand) and provided spiritual care at Hospice organizations.
Starting December 1, 2025, she started working as a staff full time, Inter-Faith chaplain at the Albany Medical Center while ministering as a Co-Priest with Rev. Dr. Chaplain Richard Davis at the Holy Cross Universal Church. Also, she has been continuing to minister as the Director of the Humanitarian Outreach as an extension ministry of the church.
She was born from Seoul, South Korea and immigrated to America, New York city with her family at age 10. She loves arts, music,
painting, singing, watching Korean Drama, traveling, zumba dancing and window shopping. She was first one to receive a College degree in her family of origin.
Mother Teresa was raised by her nurturing dad who was a fearless and wise alpha military leader/teacher and her mother who was compassionate and caring nurse who also organized and led women's baby delivery clinic.
Father Richard has been a scientist who received his
PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (1997)and a
MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary (2023).
He has served as a Scientist, Associate Professor, cutting edge Molecular Biologist Research Scientist, Consultant and Executive Leader of Corporations for over 30 years. He loves music and use to be DJ in his College. He loves to read books, BBQ, draw, play video games, watch survival shows from you-tube. He was the first one in his family of origin to have received a College degree.
Currently, Fr. Richard has been involved as a volunteer chaplains at the Albany Medical Center, Pastoral Associates at the FOCUS Churches Breakfast Club and co-leaders of an English conversation/coaching classes. Both are co-priests and Co-Directors of the Holy Cross Universal Church/Humanitarian Outreach located at the rented space of Westminister Presbyterian Church building: 85 Chestnut St. Albany, NY. The church was founded by both ministers since mid July of 2024 in the living room of their home.
Vision
Their vision is to build the church by the grace of the Triune God to welcome all people of all walks of life and help them to encounter the living, loving and forgiving Christ, Holy Spirit and Creator God in their lives in a real way beyond superficiality, hypocricy, relgious dogma, laws that kills and high on judgementalism. They believe a church is a garden full of wounded souls created in the image of God and it is also a hospital where wounded comes to get healed. It is also a locus for spiritual growth, practice love towards neighbors to form a community, developing deep self-awareness and God-awareness, offer hospitality-service-outreach and being the lighthouse to reach out and help those who are being attacked, sick, in psychological/physical pain, lonely and suffering. This church is not a building. It is a body of Christ made of spirits/souls of people of Triune God in Christ.
We reach out to people who are Veterans and some with PTSD, Homeless, Refugees, Immigrants from all nations, Policial Assylum Seekers, elderlies, children, men and women who are living on limited income, sick, wounded, mentally ill, people who are broken hearted, has experience of being prisoned, has history of substance abuse and trauma. We also reach out to those who are are highly educated and intelligent, who were once very powerful and wealthy in legal or business system. No matter what the description of who they look like, they all are strong and fierce although suffered from heavy life blows and became broken .... but not completely destroyed. Their human spirits are resiliant. Most of all, God loves them so much as they (we) are with mercy, grace and compassion. Their tears and agony is heard by Jesus Christ. Mother Mary prays for them.
The Holy Cross church is a network beyond four walls and living, transforming organism in the image of Christ, supervised by God alone for God's glory. Christ's redemptive Gospel story still stands in this century in the midst of intense chaos, violence, war, corruption, natural disaster, uncertainty, age of anxiety and fear, death, tragedy, horror, abuse, trauma and ugliness. These are the purpose and reason for our existence, the very call from the holy and loving Christ to build His/Her Church, the mystical body of Christ within and outside the four walls of a building made by human hands.
Holy Cross Universal Church reaches out to people of all religious/faith traditions or spirituality or no religions. We minister to the human souls and support human spirits in distress. We invite people of all Christian denominations and many religious/faith and belief systems into our worship and provide spiritual care to them. If anone wants to join our church as a member or associate member or stay as visitors, that is acceptable also. The humanitarian outreach are for all even if you are not Chrisitan or identify yourself as Buddhist, Muslim, etc. and even if you are not a member of our church. This outreach is at the level of interfaith and ecumenical ministry.