A Brief History of the International Partnership (through 2000)
TOGETHER in Christ...
"that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."
(Romans 1:12)
PREFACE: The partnership approach to mission is based on the biblical understanding of "koinonia," which the Apostle Paul interpreted as "working together for the Gospel." This suggests that we are not only to serve our sisters and brothers in other lands, but that we are also to seek the help which they can offer us from the rich resources of their faith and experience. It was the recognition that we need to listen and learn from Christians whose lives and faith are shaped by other cultures that initiated and has sustained the quest for an international partnership.
Prior to the formation of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina (PWNC), Concord Presbytery (part of which came into PWNC), formed a partnership with a presbytery in Taiwan. During reorganization of NC presbyteries this partnership was given to another new presbytery, leaving PWNC with no such arrangement.
The National and Global Missions and Ecumenical Relations Committee (NGMER) of PWNC wondered if the presbytery would want an international partnership itself. A Task Force, responsible to NGMER, was charged with ascertaining PWNC's interest and exploring possibilities. The Task Force contacted the International Partnership Office of the General Assembly, and has worked closely with that office ever since.
In October 1992, a presbytery consultation on international partnership was held at the Black Mountain Church. Representatives from three nearby presbyteries that already had partnerships explained the processes, challenges, and rewards of partnership. Questionnaires to determine interest in partnership and the perceived strengths and needs of PWNC were sent to all PWNC churches. 27 of the 30 churches that responded indicated interest in a partnership. The majority also favored one with a relatively nearby country to maximize opportunities for a large number of people to have direct contact with each other.
Presbytery "assets" and "weaknesses" listed by those who responded to the questionnaire were used to frame a proposal for international partnership. The proposal was presented to and approved at the July 30, 1993 meeting of PWNC. At this same meeting, Homer Rickabaugh, member of this presbytery and Director of the International Partnership office in Louisville, said that some presbyteries in Guatemala were seeking partners.
To investigate the possibilities, three members from the Task Force visited Suchitepéquez and Sur Occidente Presbyteries in Guatemala in October 1993. The trip resulted in the decision by all three presbyteries to pursue entering into a partnership, a decision formally endorsed by PWNC at its January 1994 meeting. This was followed by two representatives from each of the two Guatemalan presbyteries coming to PWNC in summer 1994 to work with representatives of PWNC to draft a Memorandum of Understanding, the official basis of the partnership. All three presbyteries voted to accept this document, and thus the partnership, in autumn, 1994.
In November 1994, four members of PWNC visited Sur Occidente and Suchitepéquez Presbyteries to see their churches, lead workshops, and witness the presbytery votes on partnership. The process of partnering congregations in PWNC with congregations in the Guatemalan presbyteries began, using the information gathered from the three exchange trips.
During 1995, both PWNC and Guatemalan churches began to experience the koinonia enabled by this partnership by joining in an active church-to-church relationship with specific Guatemalan churches, and a Guatemalan minister selected by the Guatemalan presbyteries came to WNC to lead an expanding Hispanic ministry here. All but one of the 27 churches in the two Guatemalan presbyteries are now partnered with a church in WNC. Although communication, especially with the more remote churches, is difficult, it is hoped that partners in all presbyteries will pray regularly for each other and make concerted efforts to get to know one another through correspondence and exchange visits. Currently Arely Tot, a young Guatemalan woman, serves as the communications link between partner churches.
There have been several exchange trips, with Guatemalans coming here and members of PWNC churches visiting Guatemala. July 1997 was a landmark for the partnership because our Presbytery sent the first youth team to Guatemala. In July 1998 two Guatemalan youth visited our Presbytery and attended the national Youth Triennium and at the end of the year eight young people and their two young adult leaders were the guests of youth organizations of both partner presbyteries. We now await the visit of two more young adults to Triennium and our presbytery. All of these exchanges have helped all of us gain a better understanding of one another's dreams, hopes, and also make pragmatic plans for the future.
In January 1996 a health ministries team from our Presbytery went to Guatemala to begin making plans for a health promoters training program. The process has been long and difficult, but currently more than fifty members of Sur and Suchi churches and congregations have completed three years of training in preventative and primary health care in order to provide a basic health ministry in their communities. A second class of students is beginning, and trained health promoters are helping their communities do health needs assessments and develop mutually agreed on development projects. Our Presbytery is using some of its 2¢ a Meal funds to support the health program.
As well as short visits of two weeks, there have been longer exchanges and visits. In 1995 Suchi Presbytery sent a pastor, Victor Batz, for several months to help with the Hispanic ministry in Mitchell and Avery Counties. In 1996 former missionary Sara Dixon spent six weeks at the national Presbyterian seminary (located near our partner presbyteries) teaching Christian education. Also in 1996 Howard Boyd of Brevard-Davidson River Church served for four weeks as an accompanier for Pastor Samuel Mérida, who was kidnapped, later released, but continued to receive death threats. Several members of our churches have attended language school in Guatemala so they can be better prepared for the partnership. Robert and Linda Moore and their family were appointed by the PC(USA) as full-time mission workers in Guatemala. Robert serves as the liaison between our denomination and the Guatemalan one. Finally the Rev. Ellen Dozier, member of this presbytery, served as a Mission Volunteer, and now is a mission specialist working with the concerns of women.
The October 1996 meeting of Presbytery approved support of scholarships for members of our partner presbyteries' churches to attend seminary. Strong support for this aspect of the partnership has developed in a very short time, especially since the Presbytery has offered it as a Christmas gift project. Since the inception of the program dozens of Guatemalans have been able to study because of PWNC scholarships. In this way, our presbytery is honoring its commitment to help Sur Occidente and Suchitepéquez with their Christian education programs. The men of First Presbyterian Church in Cherryville have established an endowment for seminary scholarships and invite others to join them in getting the seminary on sound financial ground.
As our relationship with Guatemalans and the Hispanic population in Western North Carolina have both grown, so has our recognition of and concern for our Spanish-speaking neighbors. In Avery, Gaston, Catawba, Transylvania, Henderson and Buncombe counties at least Presbyterians have become involved in ministry to and with Hispanics.
Although only a few years have passed since the Presbytery of WNC began the process of considering whether it wanted to pursue an international partnership, much has happened. Many of us began to realize how much we take the telephone and post office (and many other services and amenities available in the US) for granted! So we've learned how to be thankful in new ways. We've learned a lot about Guatemalan life and its challenges, some of which is appalling and some intriguing, and have been impressed by how much faith, deep faith, informs the lives of our Guatemalan brothers and sisters. So we've developed a yearning for deeper faith for ourselves. Some of us have heard God calling us to new ventures or ways of living, and using our gifts, expertise and experiences in brand new ways. So we've been learning Spanish, praying for God's power in specific ways, becoming advocates for changes in US policy, and doing things we never dreamed of a few years or even months ago. Many churches and individuals here and in Guatemala have experienced oneness in Christ in new and unexpected ways.
In the fall of 1999 all three presbyteries signed a new five year covenant together and look forward to what how God will continue to lead us on our journey together...
Covenant |
