Church-to-Church 

GENERAL  GUIDELINES FOR CONGREGATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS 
PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA 

(NOTE:  We experienced some difficulty in transferring this document via OCR technology from a hard copy to this scanned copy.  Some formatting problems exist in the document below)

INTRODUCTION 
The primary purpose of church to church relationships is to strengthen the bonds between the people of the congregations of Suchitepequez and Sur Occidente Presbyteries and the people of the congregations of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina. Church Partnerships will enhance and support the Presbytery partnership. More people will get involved at the local level in direct exchange and projects, further facilitating our Presbytery projects as well as developing their own. All congregational partnerships should be in accord with the covenant which we have signed with the two Guatemalan Presbyteries. The Presbytery partnership, and the congregational partnerships as part of the overall program, affirm our understanding of the church universal. As we work and worship together we rejoice in our shared common faith. As we develop new insights and friendships, we see that we are building Christian unity in very concrete ways. We celebrate together the kind of Christian love that cares about the other and responds to the other in authentic mutuality. 

FORMAL STEPS 
1. The particular congregation in Western North Carolina contacts the convener of the church partnership division of the Partnership Task Force to express interest in exploring the possibility of becoming a congregational partner. 
2. The congregation will be sent a form to be completed and returned to the convener. You will also receive a packet of materials explaining the Partnership Program. 
3. The Task Force schedules a visit to the session of the requesting church by one or more of the task force members. 
4. The session of the requesting church makes a decision to participate in the program and, if that decision is affirmative, signs the commitment form. They send the completed commitment form along with a description of their church (no more than two pages) and two pictures to the Partnership Task Force. The session will also appoint a contact person who will update the Task Force on the congregation's partnership. 
5. The Task Force approves the partnership in principle and then negotiates with the two Guatemalan Presbyteries for a match. 
6. Once the match is made, this relationship will be reported to the next stated meeting of Presbytery. POSSIBLE WAYS 

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TO INTERACT AS PARTNER CONGREGATIONS 
1 . Exchange letters - can involve pastors. sessions, educators, group representatives, youth & children?
2. Exchange pictures - of the church building, individuals and groups within the congregation, the ? neighborhood and area where the congregation is located. 
3. Exchange maps - showing your church and congregation's members' houses, your town and country. 
4. Pray - Make prayers for your partner congregation a regular part of worship. Bible studies, and ?? personal devotions/pray for families and needs in the partner congregation. 
5. Simultaneous Bible study - Exchange audio cassettes or written texts of discussions of the same Bible passages for comparisons and contrast. 
6. Exchange histories - of your local area and your congregation. as well as the story of the lives of faith of members of your congregation. 
7. Celebrate - Plan materials to be used jointly with your partner congregation to celebrate major church observances such as World Communion Sunaay or World Day of Prayer. 
8. Telephone - Phone calls to your partner congregation can increase communications between individuals andlor groups. 
9. Banners - Have a group design a special banner and send to your partner congregation. 
10. Gifts -  Make hand crafted items which can be used in the partner congregation such as communion table cloths, stoles etc. 
11 . Choir Music - Record the choir, children's choirs, or hymn singing on an audio cassette to send to partner congregation. 
12. Arts and Crafts - Exchange children's art work and members' craft projects. 
13. Plan a meal like your sister church would serve. 
14. Language - Learn songs, simple phrases, Bible verses, and liturgical phrases such as "Christ is Risen" in Spanish to use during special worship services. 
15. Educational Programs - Conduct an educational series on the geography, history, politics, religions, and cultures of Guatemala. 
16. International Students - If there are students from your sister church's country studying in your area, invite them to speak to your congregation and to share their experiences with you. 
17. Customs - Exchange descriptions of the way people in your area celebrate occasions such as Christmas and Easter. 
18. News Articles - Display news of your partner congregation and events in that country for the congregation to see. Also keep these articles in a file in the church library for members to read. 
19. Service Projects - Plan simultaneous service projects such as feeding the elderly, operating a day care ministry, fixing up a needy person's home for each congregation to do. 
20. Personal Visits - Try to get one or two members to plan a trip which would include time to visit with the partner congregation. 
21 . Sponsor a teenager for Montreat or Camp Grier camps to attend with the youth from your congregation. 
22. Invite people from partner congregation for work projects. 'Note: Any expenditures of an amount over $200.00 should be coordinated through Presbytery's Partnership Task Force in order to prevent inequities. since some churches would be more financially able to do more than those with limited means.

(NOTE:  We experienced some difficulty in transferring this document via OCR technology from a hard copy to this scanned copy.  Some formatting problems exist in the document below)

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