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COVENANT BETWEEN SHIGHATINI LUTHERAN PARISH
UGWENO, TANZANIA
AND
BETHESDAY LUTHERAN CHURCH
AMES, IOWA U.S.A.
VISION
The Companion Congregation relationship exists for the purpose of strengthening
one another for life and mission within the body of Christ. It offers us the
privilege of participating in the life of another church through prayer, study,
communications, and exchange of persons and resources. It opens our eyes to the
global challenge that Christ offers us today and calls us to deepen our commitment
and discipleship as individual persons and as a community of faith.
COVENANT AGREEMENTS
In order to give shape and direction to our journey as partners
in the mission of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, we accept the
following covenantal agreements:
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We agree to learn more about the congregation, city,
state and country in which our partner congregation lives and works.
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We
will help each other in this endeavor by exchanging information
and suggestions for learning through letter, newspaper
clippings, photographs or any other means
available.
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Individual-to-individual relationships must
be the foundation of our partnership in mission. We will explore
every possibility
to foster such
relationship; for
example, visits and/or letters between pastors, church
leaders, church councils and committees, men's and
women's groups or young
people.
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We agree to pray for each other at every
opportunity, especially as a part of our regularly scheduled
worship services.
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In addition to informing each other of our
current programs and outreach ministries,
we agree to invite
mutual participation
in each other's future
faith community
activities.
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We agree to encourage visits
by members of Shighatini Lutheran Parish and Bethesda
Lutheran
Church whenever
possible.
We do this to the glory of God! Imani
Moja, One Faith
BETHESDA TANZANIA MINISTRY TEAM
BETHESDA LUTHERAN CHURCH, AMES, IOWA
CREATED BY CHURCH COUNCIL, APRIL 15,
2003
PURPOSE: The Council voted to establish
a Tanzania Ministry Team that will
be responsible
for facilitating
the building
of companionship
relations
with Shighatini
Lutheran Parish and the PARE Diocese
in Tanzania.
ORGANIZATION:
a) The Ministry team will be chaired
by a representative of the Christian
Service and
Mission Board. (The
Chair may or may not
be a current member
of the CSM Board.
In other words the CSM Board
representative need not be an official member
of the CSM, but would
represent CSM.)
b) Members of the team would
include:
a. At least one member from each
Bethesda Church board who would
like to be representated
on the
Tanzania Ministry
Team. (The
Board representative
may or may not be a
current member of the Board.)
b. Representatives of Bethesda
Committee who have an interest
in the Bethesda-Tanzania
Companionship.
(Example:
Bethesda Centennial
Committee)
c. Bethesda members who may
provide leadership for specific
Bethesda
projects with Tanzania.
(Examples:
a project
team to work with
the Shighatini primary
and secondary school system;
a team to work with the Shighatini
Dispensary.)
d. Others as deemed necessary
by the Council of Ministries.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
a) To carry out activities
for Bethesda to build the
companionship relationships.
(Example:
the
Pastor of
Shighatini Lutheran Parish
will be on an internship
at Camp Ewalu this summer,
2003.
The SEIA Synod has asked
if Bethesda could
host
him from June 28 through
July 5. We need a church wide Ministry
Team to plan the
activities for
that period
of time.)
FOOTNOTE: Several boards
and committees have already
been
actively involved
in Tanzania
activities during
the past few months:
a) Education: Adult
Education, Sunday School
offerings and
gifts
b) Youth: Preliminary
discussion of a Youth
trip to Tanzania
c) Worship, Music
and Art: Creating banners,
planning
music exchanges.
d) BLCW: role of
women in the Church
in Bethesda
and
Tanzania.
e) Fellowship: Special
events celebrating
the Tanzania/Bethesda
companionship.
f) Centennial: Plan
to invite members from
Shighatini to
our 2005 Centennial.
g) Evangelism and
Lay Ministry: Evangelism
a major need at Bethesda.
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