Bishops Sign WPA-Zimbabwe Partnership Pact
By Jackie Campbell, WPAUMC News
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6/12/2010
Prayer labyrinths offered members of Annual Conference 2010 a moment of time, prayer and meditation with God. The Health as Wholeness Team sponsored this finger labyrinth and a larger walking labyrinth.
United Methodist Bishops Eben Nhiwatiwa of Zimbabwe and Thomas J. Bickerton of Western PA signed a historic Chabadza Partnership Agreement between their two episcopal areas on Friday, June 11.
In a rousing sermon during evening worship at the Western PA Annual Conference session, Bishop Nhiwatiwa described Chabadza as a Shona word that describes a community spirit of helping someone you know who is already at work.
The agreement has been under development since the conference-to-conference partnership was approved at last year’s annual conference.
Building on the history of Western PA support for Zimbabwe through development of Africa University in Mutare and the recent work of the The Nyadire Connection group, the agreement provides that the two areas will work together to:
Develop Principled Leaders by:
- Conducting a bi-annual Lay Leadership School in Zimbabwe led by resource people from both the Western PA and Zimbabwe.
- Developing a Zimbabwe Immersion program for people from the UMC-Western PA to spend significant time in Zimbabwe to learn church growth, discipleship, and leadership dynamics and to further guide the Partnership
Create New Places for New People and Renew Existing Congregations by:
- Assisting in the strategic funding and/or construction of churches, parsonages, clinics, and other facilities to make the good news of God’s love real in Zimbabwe.
- Ensuring support of the office of the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area (West) Communications and Projects Coordinator.
Engage in Ministry With the Poor by:
- Increasing the utilization of fallow, arable land according to the Zimbabwe Farm and Agriculture Development Program, beginning at the Nyadire Mission Centre farm.
Stamp Out Killer Diseases that contribute to the Cycle of Poverty by focusing on primary health care issues through:
- Providing better, continuous, safe, and sustainable water and electrical supply, starting at the Nyadire Mission Centre Hospital.
- Providing mosquito bed nets for distribution in seeking to fulfill the goals of the Imagine No Malaria – Nothing But Nets programs.
- Working with the UMC-Zimbabwe Health Board to achieve their goals and objectives for a healthier Zimbabwe.
As we grow in our relationship and get to know one another better we will seek to respond to future calls of support as the Bishops of Zimbabwe and Western Pennsylvania might liaise and determine. When we communicate with each other we will channel communications between our two conferences through the agreed structures of the United Methodist Church. As people formed and led by the Spirit of God we will keep this covenant partnership open to review, evaluation, and adjustment as seen fit through mutual agreement.
Click here to find all the coverage and resources from Annual Conference 2010.
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