Companion Congregations & Clusters

Shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand, this is how Bega Kwa Bega has grown. Its strength lies in the grassroots network of relationships that links congregations and communities of faith across continents. These relationships, not head office to head office or individual to individual, are at the heart of how this program has been structured.

Since formalizing a companion partnership in 1987, the Saint Paul Area Synod and the Iringa Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania have been walking together to learn more about what it means to be Lutheran in our global church. Through visiting companions, receiving the pastoral team as guests, prayerful support, supporting projects, and living through the values of accompaniment, companions on every end of the partnership have grown more deeply into faith.

In St. Paul, cluster leaders serve as the primary point of contact and support for 10-12 congregations within the synod. Cluster leaders are volunteers based in the United States who assist congregations here to develop deeper connections with their companions in Iringa.

As the Iringa Diocese continues to grow and add new parishes, there is always an opportunity (and a need) to identify new companions from the Saint Paul Area Synod. Currently there are 40+ congregations in Iringa looking for connections. If you or your congregation are interested in learning more, email begakwabega@spas-elca.org to start the conversation!