What is a Presbyterian Church Partnership?

In 1985, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba adopted an Agreement of Mutual Mission which celebrates our unity in Jesus Christ, our common Reformed tradition, and a century of partnership in mission. The Agreement affirms that the two churches are called to deepen the bonds of unity, faith, and common witness; to be peacemakers and create bonds of friendship and understanding between our peoples; and to share our gifts and resources with one another to strengthen the witness of our churches.

NYAPC-Church of the Pilgrims delegation
at First Havana's Cojimar Mission

Among the activities identified in the Agreement for the two churches to work together as partners in mission were seminary exchanges; peacemaking programs; exchange programs between youth, women, and other groups in the two churches; participation of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba in the Mission to the USA Program; and ecumenical participation in third-country mission and regional church organizations such as the Caribbean and North American Council for Mission. A central element of mutual mission and support would be presbytery and congregational partnerships. Since 1985, more than 75 partnerships between congregations, presbyteries, seminaries, and the National Synod in Cuba have formed to forge mutually supportive relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) states that partnership commitments mean sharing in Grace and Thanksgiving; recognizing mutuality and interdependence, yet understanding and affirming the individual identity of each partner. It encourages open dialogue and transparency between partners and the sharing of resources, including human, cultural, financial, and spiritual.

In practical terms, this means that partners will pray for each other, support each other spiritually and in friendship, exchange visits when possible, share knowledge and experience of programs and outreach, bear witness in our home country to God's work in our partner church, and experience from each other the power of God's love, the meaning of being brothers and sisters in Christ, and the joy of sharing with, and learning from, one another.