NED - GERMANY PARTNERSHIP CONSULTATION
LUSHOTO 6 - 10th OF AUGUST 2003

RECOMMENDATIONS ON PARTNERSHIP

•  1. MISSION AND EVANGELISM
•  2. PROJECTS AND MONEY
•  3. COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICTS
•  4. THE CHURCHES RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A PROPHETIC VOICE TO SOCIETY

1. MISSION AND EVANGELISM

Partnership means we are united in one mission of God.

•  a. Mission and Evangelism has a high priority in Tanzania as well as in Germany.
•  b. We want to go on learning from Mission history without excluding difficult developments and underestimating positive results of missionary work.
•  c. Education is an essential part of mission work.
•  d. We commit ourselves to supporting materially and spiritually the mission work in Germany and in Tanzania (NED).
•  e. We underline the priesthood of all believers. Therefore we recommend the churches and the mission partners to organize training programmes in evangelisation for lay people.
•  f. We recognize the importance of exchange programmes in all forms. Therefore we recommend intensifying and extending such programmes. (e.g. workshops and seminars in diakonia, music, etc).

2. PROJECTS AND MONEY

The way we handle funds and projects is an expression of our Christian stewardship and of our relationship to each other. Therefore we emphasize the importance of sound, transparent and participatory planning, implementation, evaluation and reporting of project cooperation. This can be ensured if:

•  a. There are partnership committees on each side
•  b. Training of the people involved in planning, monitoring and evaluation is provided
•  c. A simple and effective process of joint planning and priority setting is established.
•  d. Responsibility structures are clear and are adhered to.
•  e. There is a clear distinction between personal friendship and official partnership.
•  f. All agreements and the whole project plan is written down and signed by both sides.
•  g. Money sent to partnership groups is used to facilitate self-reliance of the church.

3. COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICTS

We recognize the great importance of regular and honest communication because we understand that lack of good communication has often led to serious conflicts in the past.

•  a. We therefore underline the necessity of a procedure of information exchange to be agreed upon between partners. For example:

  - Exchange of annual reports should be done at least twice per year.

  - Letters should have current information of the situation, which can be used in intercessions (prayers).

  - Broad distribution of information is the responsibility of the partnership committees.

•  b. We suggest NED to hold regular partnership seminars on Germany as Germans partners do on Tanzania.
•  c. Planning of visits should be transparent and should consider balance concerning gender, age, lay/ordained persons. This should be the responsibility of the local partnership committee. If the visit has a thematic focus, suggestions can be made on certain people with expertise. In order to ensure the success of such visits, these suggestions should be considered.
•  d. There should be a partnership agreement in which the foundations, aims and priorities of the partnership are written down and which is worked out and agreed upon by both sides after consulting the church authorities.
•  e. We should not only share positive sides and successes but also our problems, weaknesses and conflicts.
•  f. Wherever conflicts arise they should be communicated quickly and frankly. If necessary a mediator can be called e.g. a church authority.

4. THE CHURCHES RESPONSIBILITY TO BE A PROPHETIC VOICE TO SOCIETY

As partners we are united in Christ and as such we are witnesses of worldwide Christianity. We share common prophetic responsibilities towards our societies. We therefore commit ourselves to:

•  a. Being informed of the impact of unjust global economic order.
•  b. Fighting against unjust global economic order.
•  c. Promoting a comprehensive debt cancellation for the Highly Indebted Countries.
•  d. Supporting fair-trade campaigns.
•  e. Advocating the right to care and medication for all people especially those living with HIV/AIDS.
•  f. Promoting justice, peace and integrity of creation.