Companion Network Urges 'Bring Lambeth Back'
Episcopal News Service. July 16, 1987 [87151]
Lucy Germany, Diocese of Texas
LOS ANGELES (DPS, July 16) -- The Companion Diocese Provincial Network meeting at the African Studies Center, UCLA, this summer, urged bishops not to form companion diocese relationships based on bishopto-bishop contacts at Lambeth.
The Network, composed of a representative of each of the eight domestic provinces of the Episcopal Church, voted to make a formal request of bishops asking them to "bring Lambeth back" and let the people in the various US dioceses have a chance to share and understand their goals before launching a companion diocese relationship. The Network expressed the belief that the strongest companion diocese ties are those in which people at the grassroots level are involved from the outset.
The Network agreed to give some financial support to the work of the North American Network for Responsible Tourism, an ecumenical organization devoted to developing a sense of "mission" and cultural sensitivity on the part of American tourists going abroad. "There are many ways in which tourists can be of missionary service," commented Dennis Delman, companion diocese representative from Province VIII and the Episcopal Church's representative on the Tourism board. A Center for Responsible Tourism has been set up in San Anselmo, Calif.
Dioceses involved in companion relationships were urged by the Network to follow Partners in Mission guidelines. They heard the Rev. Simon Chiwanga, provincial secretary of Tanzania, say that the split between those who have and those who have not must be eliminated. This can be accomplished by looking at the concept of the greatest good for the greatest number as evidenced in provincial priorities, he noted.
The Network also discussed the viability of companion relationships without large financial gifts, the necessity of some people-to-people interchanges, the need to give people at the parish level a sense of "ownership" of the companion relationship. The Rt. Rev. Shannon Mallory, bishop of El Camino Real and member, Standing Commission on World Mission, said that there is a need to extend ecumenical parameters in companion relationships. "That is a viable dimension of your relationship, one on which you should consult with your overseas partner," he said. He stressed need for evaluation of companion relationships by both US and overseas dioceses and noted that diocesan bishops need to take into account Partners in Mission guidelines in establishing companion relationships.
The meeting provided the Network members -- all of whom were represented with the exception of Province VI -- with an opportunity to meet with the current crop of Volunteers for Mission, at UCLA for missionary training, and to hear experts talk on the geo-politics of Africa, Central America, Asia and Oceania. The Rev. Steve Commins, director of the Development Institute of the African Studies Center, UCLA, talked about common biases which keep visitors to other cultures from seeing and understanding the real nature of the people. Timidity, politeness, lack of language, centering in urban or tourist areas and ignorance of the questions necessary to get insight, were among those cited. Questions tourists -- especially those traveling for the church -- should keep in mind include: What is the daily life of the people? What is their work life? How is land used? Who owns it? What are the resources of the poor? What are gender relations? How much power do poor have? What is their vulnerability in time of disaster? Church aid must focus not on projects alone but capacity -- helping develop permanent leadership among the poor, he said.
The Network's next meeting will take place Jan. 22-24 in New York. Its members function year-round as resource persons and consultants to dioceses forming or already involved in companion relationships.