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| Covenant of
Partnership
Between Blantyre CCAP
Synod and Pittsburgh Presbytery PC(USA) God’s
Word tells us that “Two are better than one because they have
a good return for their work.” It goes on to say that
“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
We, the representatives of the Blantyre CCAP Synod and Pittsburgh
Presbytery, pledge ourselves to each other in a partnership of equals
in which Jesus is the “third strand” who binds us
together. During
the next three years we will seek to
express this partnership through:
- exchange
of missionaries
- linkage of
congregations
- special
gifts
Throughout this time we
will seek to evaluate and strengthen our ties, and to be open to
whatever further endeavors the Holy Spirit may lead us to in the days
ahead. A Vision for
the Partnership The
partnership will include: - Exchange
of MissionariesMissionaries may be pastors, elders, seminarians, or
other Christians sent individually or in groups. During the next three
years, our goal will be to have at least two missionary trips per year.
Each visit will have a defined purpose such as:
- Evangelism
Conference – including music, Bible study, preaching
workshop, and pastoral counseling.
- Leadership
Development – including opportunities for pastors, elders,
and other church leaders to acquire skills for leadership within the
congregation.
- Citizenship
– including
voter education, human rights efforts, democracy education from a
Christian perspective.
- Pastor
and/or
Seminarian
Exchange – may be organized around a meeting of the General
Assembly PC(USA) or Blantyre CCAP Synod.
- Stewardship
- Medical
- Manual
- Linkage
of Congregations
- Covenant
Renewal – Within the next three years all
congregation to congregation partnerships will be reviewed and, if
applicable, renewed. Thereafter, the partnerships will be reviewed
every three years.
- Improved
Communications
– Efforts will be made to improve
communications between partner churches, including possible
establishment of a Partnership Secretariat.
- Exchange
– Congregations will be encouraged to plan visits,
exchange information, and pray for each other.
- Special
Gifts
We recognize that there are many kinds of
gifts that are exchanged
within the partnership. Financial gifts from congregation to
congregation or from individual to individual should be small and
symbolic, and motivated by friendship. Gifts of more than US $500.00
should be made using the attached guidelines. - Congregation
to Congregation Partnerships
We will encourage congregation to
congregation partnerships within the
Synod of Blantyre and within the Pittsburgh Presbytery.
Click
here to download and view
the 2003-2006 signed copy of the
Covenant.
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