The Saint Paul Area Synod formed a companion synod relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa in 2005. Partnership for Justice will be developed and implemented through the disciplines and principles of faith-based community organizing and involves leadership from the Minneapolis Area Synod, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, Church-Based Community Organizing-South Africa (CBCO-SA), and ISAIAH. The partnership aims to equip partner organizations to work more effectively for justice in the United States and South Africa by engaging the poor, building relationships, developing leadership capacity, organizing resources, and engaging congregations to act powerfully together in faith. The partnership will operate from five primary principles:

Justice

The partnership will be focused on addressing poverty by working toward justice and the changing of policies rather than providing services;

Engaging the Poor

All strategies for justice will involve engaging the poor and those directly affected by the issues in the work of creating solutions;

Mutual Learning

There will be benefits for and learning by all partners in both nations;

Relationship Building

Relationships will be both the starting point and a priority outcome of every aspect of the partnership;

Worldview

The partners will wrestle deeply and faithfully with how they view the world and what values that view promotes.

For information on how you can become involved, contact coordinating committee co-chairs, the Rev. Ralph Baumgartner, bishop’s associate, Saint Paul Area Synod, at 651-224-4313 or ralph.baumgartner@spas-elca.org or Myrna Nelson at 651.228.1594 or min412@comcast.net.