Appendix 1: Protocol Agreement
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Appendix 1: Protocol agreement The following "Agreement between the B. Global Mission Program Unit – The Conference of Bishops and the Global Global Mission unit “shall be responsible Mission unit on companion synod for this church’s mission in other relationships in the Evangelical Lutheran countries and shall be the channel Church in America" was recommended for through which churches in other preliminary approval at the ELCA countries engage in mission to this Conference of Bishops meeting on March 9, church and society.” The Global 2009. Mission unit stewards a complex array of activities, personnel and relationships, including missionaries, INTRODUCTION grants and scholarships for the God’s purpose for the world is for it to be purposes of “evangelism, witness, a reflection of that which God is: a education, promotion of justice, service, community sustained by love where each of relief, and development” in cooperation the persons of the Trinity dwells reciprocally with ecumenical, global, regional and within one another. Through Christ, and in mission organizations (ELCA the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to Constitution 16.12.B05). participate in this mission through our C. ELCA Synods and International proclamation, service and witness of how Companions – The Global Mission unit God continues to restore community with established, shapes and supports the humanity and all of creation. The mutuality Companion Synod Program as a way to and reciprocity reflective of God’s being deepen bilateral relationships.3 The shapes our response to and participation in Global Mission unit connects4 each God’s mission.1 ELCA synod with one or more Lutheran To aid in the fulfillment of God’s mission church bodies (called “international to create community, this protocol between companions” in this Protocol). In some synodical bishops and the Global Mission cases, these international companions program unit defines the partners and will be national churches. In other principles involved in companion synod cases, they will be synods, dioceses or relationships, and outlines how to develop districts of those national churches.5 new initiatives within those relationships. ELCA synods are responsible for Since its inception early in the life of the deepening relationships with specific Evangelical Lutheran Church in America international companions on behalf of (ELCA), the Companion Synod Program has the entire ELCA.6 Companion synod grown rapidly. Due to this rapid growth and relationships are part of the wider work the evolving challenges, this protocol may of the church for the sake of mission. require frequent revision. D. Bishops – The Global Mission unit has oversight over the Companion Synod Program. Bishops have oversight over I. PARTNERS how the companion synod relationships A. National Churches Who Are are carried out in their synods. Both the Companions – Through The Lutheran bishop of the ELCA synod and the World Federation (LWF), the ELCA is in bishop/president of the international relationship with 140 Lutheran church companion share a significant and bodies in 78 countries.2 Each of these complementary role in developing this national churches has primary relationship, under the oversight of the responsibility for mission and ministry Global Mission unit (and the national within its territory. The ELCA also has church of the international companion, bilateral (church-to-church) relationships when applicable). These two leaders set with 80 of these national churches, the tone and the manner by which the which can include sending missionaries, relationship emerges.7 For ELCA providing grants or having a companion synodical bishops, this role arises from synod relationship. their constitutional responsibility to be 68 Companion Synod Handbook the “chief ecumenical officer,”8 to through exchange of official visitors and “exercise leadership in the mission of prayer requests. ELCA synods should this church,” to “interpret and advocate discuss with the Global Mission unit if the mission and theology of the whole they prepare to engage in ministry in church,” and to “foster awareness of other countries, within or outside of the other churches throughout the Lutheran international companion relationship world communion and, where (see section III which follows). The appropriate, engage in contact with Global Mission unit will inform an ELCA leaders of those churches.”9 These synod if it engages in ministry within the responsibilities include promoting territory of that synod.13 interdependent relationships among the F. Preparation – ELCA synods and the expressions of the ELCA, overseeing Global Mission unit are committed to the church’s mission within the territory provide quality orientation for visitors of the synod, and serving as a “sign of and personnel traveling to and from the unity of the church, between their international companions. respective synod and other G. Collaboration – This is necessary in all denominational families and ecumenical companion relationships, particularly 10 organizations.” where more than one ELCA synod has the same international companion, or when an international companion is also 14 II. PRINCIPLES a national church. Mutual planning A. Accompaniment – “A walking together between these synods and the Global in solidarity that practices Mission unit enhances the development interdependence” in a way that honors of healthy, non-competitive each other’s integrity and wholeness.11 relationships. The first priority is to pray for each other. H. Representation – Each of us B. Patience – Companion relationships represents all of us. Representatives of take years to grow into true the ELCA synods are recognized as accompaniment, and sustainable representatives of the ELCA in their programs are preferable to those that international companion activities. are short-term. Therefore, ELCA synods will exercise C. Mutuality – ELCA synods and caution and diplomacy, recognizing that international companions working with their speech and action are understood the Global Mission unit and the national by companions to express the position church body of the companions will and commitment of the whole ELCA. establish priorities and agendas ELCA synods and the Global Mission together. ELCA synods and the Global unit commit themselves to formalizing Mission unit learn from each other as relationships through agreements which they interact with companions. both strengthen the companion D. Transparency – ELCA synods and the relationships and also take into account Global Mission unit will inform each the implications for the whole church. other of ministry undertaken with their international companions (such as volunteers or funds sent to or received III. HOW TO DEVELOP NEW INITIATIVES from an international companion) in A. Step One: Companion Request – order to avoid duplication, competition ELCA synods and the Global Mission and mixed messages. ELCA synods unit will develop new initiatives in the and the Global Mission unit commit territory of an international companion themselves to engage in ongoing only in response to that companion’s mapping of evolving relationships, and request. (If the international companion to seek mutual accountability for the is a synod, diocese or district, the management, allocation and distribution national church will also need to of resources.12 endorse the request.) E. Sharing Information – ELCA synods B. Step Two: Inform Partners – To should try to communicate frequently ensure effective ministry and to avoid with their international companions duplication, ELCA synods and the Spring 2010 69 Global Mission unit will inform each synods are encouraged to arrange other of these companion requests,15 for direct orientation at the Lutheran jointly assess requests,16 and coordinate Center. ELCA synods are advised to responses. ELCA synods will provide consider issues relating to health regular progress reports to the Global insurance, evacuation, liability, Mission unit, and the Global Mission unit housing, transportation and other will provide regular progress reports to matters, some of which are and maintain communication with other described in the Companion Synod ministry partners involved in related Handbook. projects in international companions (for 2. Mid-term Volunteers (three to example, national churches, LWF, nine months) – The ELCA synod Lutheran World Relief, ecumenical conducts its own selection process, groups, European churches and provides orientation using Global agencies, and other ELCA synods also Mission unit materials, and writes an in relationship with that international endorsement letter to the companion).17 international companion and to the C. Scholarships – The Global Mission unit Global Mission unit, attaching the will inform ELCA synods of ELCA or volunteer's biographical material. In LWF scholarships given to members of addition, ELCA synods are their international companions. ELCA encouraged to arrange for direct synods will first consult with the Global orientation at the Lutheran Center. Mission unit before providing The Global Mission unit then scholarships to students from any other appoints the volunteer as an ELCA countries, to avoid duplication and volunteer missionary under a Letter provide consistent guidelines and of Agreement. In turn, the volunteer expectations for scholarship recipients agrees to serve under the Global and donors. Mission unit Personnel Policies and 18 D. Funding Requests – Priority should Expectations. The Global