Start a Partner Congregation Relationship!
Global Mission > Start a Partner Congregation Relationship

Click here to read a brochure listing more opportunities for partnership with our companion synods.

What is a Partner Congregation Relationship?

It is a mutual relationship between a congregation in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod and a congregation in either of our Companion Synods - the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) or the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia (IELCO).

Partner congregations:

• Pray for each other in worship
• Learn about each others struggles, joys, and hopes
• Share a personal commitment to each other’s ministry, which can include:
  • Bulletin and Newsletter articles
  • Photo Displays
  • Exchange of banners
  • Exchange of church publications and other resources
  • Visits from one congregation to another

Why would my congregation want to start a Partner Congregation Relationship?

Partner congregation relationships:

• Provide an expanded view of the Body of Christ
• Broaden the vision of the Church’s mission and are tangible signs of that mission
• Provide opportunities to build personal relationships with Christians in another culture

How is financial support a part of the partner congregation relationship?

The emphasis in partner congregation relationships is on the relationship before resources. Money can represent power and when it becomes part of the relationship it may disrupt the mutuality of the partnership. After a partner congregation relationship is established it is recommended that only up to $500 per year be sent to the partner congregation through the synod office. Additional financial gifts, designated and undesignated, are always welcome and needed to support ministry projects and goals of the Central Diocese of the ELCT or the IELCO.

How does a congregation start a Partner Congregation Relationship?

• Pray about this opportunity
• Identify a group in the congregation or form a mission partner team that will take responsibility for establishing and growing a partner congregation relationship
• Invite a member of the Companion Synod Congregational Partnership Team to speak at your congregation
• Complete an application form and return it to Kathy Bolin in the synod office (Southeastern Minnesota Synod ELCA 1001 14th St NW, Suite 300 Rochester, MN 55901.) Questions? Call 507-280-9457 or 800-426-6376 (MN only) or . Please Note: the partnering process can take months due to overseas communication.

What people say about their partner congregation relationships:

“We have a banner from El Consolador, which hangs in our church, and have sent a banner to them, which hangs in their church. Each Sunday we have reminders of each other’s presence through Christ, giving a vision of a larger church.”
-- Pastor Tom Kolden, LeRoy Lutheran Church, LeRoy – partner congregation with Iglesia El Consolador (The Counselor/Comforter Lutheran Church), Sogamoso, Colombia

“Visiting our companion congregation and our mission trip as a whole really changed my perspective on life. I feel I am really able to appreciate things, as well as people more than I ever used to. Many people have asked me if I would want to go back and spend more time living a very simple life and my answer is always the same, ‘In a heartbeat…’”
-- Spencer Niebuhr, Senior at United South Central High School and member of Good Shepherd, Wells – partner congregation with Kinambeu Lutheran Church, Tanzania

“I’ve always known that there are Christians in other parts of the world, but to actually meet some of them face-to-face, and worship together, and talk about the ministries of our churches – what an amazing experience! What a joy it is to know that people in Tanzania, and all around the world, share in this ministry of spreading the Good News of God’s love in Christ Jesus.”
-- Rev. Steve Delzer, Our Savior’s, Faribault - partner congregation with Manyoni Lutheran, Tanzania

2007-2008 Companion Synod Congregational Partnership Team Members:

507-265-3355

507-331-2276

507-645-4429

507-334-4389

507-324-5283

507-838-5233

507-334-4782

507-553-3513

507-625-7807

Synod Contact:
507-280-9457/800-426-6376 (MN only)

Resources: