Projects List Distributed
Diocesan Press Service. January 8, 1965 [XXVIII-1]
"Projects for Partnership, 1965", a list of 250 projects, has been sent to all dioceses by the Executive Council's Overseas Department in partial response to the resolutions on Mutual Responsibility by the 61st General Convention.
These projects have been selected from the 700 projects listed in the six regional directories already published by the Anglican Executive Officer: Africa, India and Ceylon, the Jerusalem Archbishopric and West Pakistan, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. With few exceptions, these lists are the product of corporate planning by the provinces or councils concerned and they represent the primary priorities of these churches as they, themselves, see them.
Representing a small part of a diocese's plans and hopes, and framed by the planning Church, these projects are designed to make possible the participation of other churches in their work and life. They are not a substitute for longer-range and deeper relationships but they do have the value of broadening knowledge of one another, of making possible new relationships and of representing, in manageable form, an invitation to mutuality in planning.
The projects included in the Overseas Department's list were selected on the basis of urgency, practicability and the possibility of mutuality from those not already undertaken by other churches of the Anglican Communion.
In the Introduction of the "Projects for Partnership, 1965", several warnings are issued and several suggestions on planning given. First, no projects should be undertaken until obligations to the general church budget are met. These projects are designed to be in addition to, not instead of, quota payments. It is suggested that the diocese is the proper unit to see that this regulation is adhered to. Second, the Introduction strongly warns of the dangers involved in undertaking projects which ask for money alone. These projects "could lead to beggary and dependency where there is not grace to give and receive as people who share a common poverty before God and to whom all needs and gifts are one. Thus where congregations and dioceses undertake such projects, it will be clear how great a spiritual preparation must be made for it, and how much care taken that there is a gift to be received in return, not money, of course, but in some other tangible form." Finally, in order to avoid duplications or disappointments, a diocese must correspond with the Overseas Department before adopting any projects and before correspondence goes overseas. Reports on progress are also necessary to avoid disappointments when projects are not completed or are unduly delayed. As lists of projects have been circulated to all provinces of the Anglican Communion, to the churches of the Wider Episcopal Fellowship, and various ecumenical agencies, careful coordination is essential or widespread confusion would result.
It is suggested that each diocese be responsible for circulating "Projects for Partnership, 1965" as they find best, and for coordinating all individual, group or parish responses. Parishes, groups of parishes, or a whole diocese could undertake a project, with specific groups undertaking an appropriate part. Responses will depend on local situations and creativity and experimentation are to be expected. One final possibility suggested is that all who undertake projects consider contributing an additional 30% above cost for a general fund which could be used for those projects not undertaken, etc.
It is expected that those dioceses in a companion relationship with one of the American church's overseas missionary districts will continue to meet each other's special needs and to fulfill the spirit of mutual responsibility in this way.