Global Partnerships
Our context shapes our views and the priorities of our faith. In order to experience our faith through “third world eyes” we have formed partnerships with friends in Laurel Galan, Nicaragua and Lwamondo Parish in Venda, South Africa. Since 1990 multiple delegations have journeyed from both directions (they here, we there) during the past 18 years. When on site, dialog and immersion in cultural experiences create fresh perspectives, new understandings and the willingness to reexamine our personal and global priorities.
The Incarnation of Christ, his struggles and crucifixion by the powers of his day, make clear our responsibility for engaging the issues of our time. Too many Christians want to evade and avoid contemporary realities.
Nicaraguan friends (working with Entre Culturas/Between Cultures) have revealed the harshness of impoverishment, exploitation, drought, hunger, and the international policies which hurt them. Tshenu Farisani, a Lutheran Dean, was imprisoned and tortured four times during a 10 year period for speaking out and organizing against apartheid. He, his wife Mudzunga and their children were banished into exile. They arrived in the Bay Area and Peace became a spiritual home for them.
Through partnership we became friends; through partnership we became advocates for one another; through partnership our mutual faith prompted the desire to create a better and more just world with one another – because this is God’s desire. Most of all we get to delight in the humanity of each other by the sharing of our hopes and dreams and commitments.
Therefore we welcome – especially in worship – friends from around the world who struggle for justice: a Chinese seminarian working for Human Rights; Sulha (Reconciliation) advocates from Israel/Palestine; indigenous people from the Amazon of Ecuador; Japanese Hibaksha – survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Real solidarity begins when it is no longer a matter of “we and they” but when we pray and decide to make real the Shalom God longs for on earth.
Click here to download and view our Global Partnership FAQ’s in PDF format, as well as several wonderful portraits from our partnerships in Laurel Galan, Nicaragua and Lwamondo Parish, South Africa.
___________________
Partnership Correspondence between Peace Lutheran Church and Our Friends in Laurel Galan. Letters are saved in PDF format and are available for download by clicking on the hyperlinked date.
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated October 15, 2009
Letter from Laurel Galan, dated October 21, 2009
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated December 30, 2009
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated March 25, 2010
Letter from Laurel Galan, dated June 15, 2010
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated July 3, 2010
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated December 21, 2010
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated February 23, 2011
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated May 18, 2011
Letter from Laurel Galan, dated June 26, 2011
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated September 9, 2011
Letter from Peace Lutheran Church, dated January 30, 2012
Purpose and Mission of Entre Culturas
Letter from Laurel Galan, dated February 17, 2012 English Version / Original Version
