Page 6 - Presbyterian Connection Newspaper

6 SPRING 2019
PRESBYTERIAN
Connection
presbyterian.ca
PRESBYTERIANS SHARING
The Power of Partnership
General Assembly 2018
Proclaiming the love of Jesus Christ
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By Karen Plater,
Stewardship and Planned Giving
“A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12b).
Presbyterians Sharing is partnership. Since I began working for The Presbyterian Church in Canada over 20 years ago, I have seen the value of partnership. Partnership with presbyteries. Partnership with con- gregations. Partnership with interna- tional churches. Partnership across denominations. Interfaith partner- ship. The Presbyterian Church in Canada is a connectional church. We value collaboration and dialogue—
sharing and learning together.
The projects and programs we support in Canada are guided by partnership with presbyteries. They identify vital ministries in congrega- tions and specialized ministries that impact communities in their region. Because of this partnership, con- gregations and ministries are able to launch new and innovative initia- tives—often too risky for them to try on their own. Read about the New
Beginnings program on page 22. Equipping and empowering con- gregations creates oppor tunities for learning and sharing with one another. The Hear t Garden described on page 24 is inspired by the healing and reconciliation effor ts of our national church. Congregations are developing and revitalizing their presence on the web with help from the Communica-
tions office (see page 29). Internationally, we engage with
local par tners who design, guide and implement mission and min- istry accompanied by PCC grants and people. Each par tnership has developed out of unique historical circumstances and a common view that together we can share the gos- pel message in ways we could not do on our own.
Ecumenical structures like the Ca- nadian Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches and the World Council of Churches allow us to collaborate with other de- nominations on common goals and speak with a common voice—shar- ing the faith, hope and love which is embodied in the gospel message. As partner churches, we are building relationships of love and compas- sion. Read about the blanket exercise and reconciliation efforts being done through KAIROS: Canadian Ecumeni- cal Justice initiatives on page 13.
Par tnership is people. In par tner- ship there can be strength and en- ergy and encouragement. But it can be hard work. It requires process: meetings, memos, discussion, re- flection, decision-making. And peo- ple have different opinions, different ideas and different ways of learning and working. We need to be willing to listen, to see things from a dif- ferent perspective and to reflect on our own position and sometimes to modify it, in order to find a way forward. Dr. Nick Bauman, mission staff in Nepal, reflects on the dy- namics of partnership in his blog at presbyterian.ca/baumans: “One of the frustrating things, and simulta-
neously one of the gifts of being in a place like this, is the fact that we are here only for a short time and in many ways will only be a small blip in the history of this place. I am oc- casionally frustrated by cultural dif- ferences in the hospital or at home but in these moments I have usually been able to remind myself to step back, remember who I am, and my role. Hopefully this has helped me to be supportive of my Nepali col- leagues in their leadership roles, as they confront situations or problems which will be solved, or remain un- solved, long after we’ve left.”
Partnership is potential. Working together allows us to do things that we wouldn’t be able to do individual- ly. At its best, partnership is a journey of interdependence, mutual learning and sharing. Through the ups and downs of long-term partnership, we can see God working through our common efforts as we grow in our understanding and practice of God’s mission in our communities and in the world.
As you turn the pages in this news- paper you will learn from people of faith working together to share hope and love. It is happening because of your partnership with congregations across Canada.
Thank you—for your continued partnership, for your faith and hope and love expressed through your gifts to Presbyterians Sharing. This is your ministry, a result of your part- nership with people and congrega- tions across the country and around the world.