International Partnership Review Process

The UCC Pacific Northwest Conference’s Mission Committee uses this review in evaluating the vitality of their overseas church partnerships.

Partnership Review

Regularly review your Global Church Partnership. Review both independently and with your Global Church Partner. The joint review might take the form of a conference call, email chat room, postal exchange or a face-to-face meeting.

Assess and evaluate

What are we grateful for in this partnership?
What have you brought/given to me/us and me/us to you? Where is Christ’s presence evident?
What do I/we want to do next? What can I/we do?

Review

As individuals and as a committee, review the following aspects of your Global Church Partnership:

1. Global Church Partnership Mission Statement
   a.  How have you lived out the Mission Statement together
   b.  What obstacles do you see that hinder the Mission Statement
2. Relationships
   a.  Are you communicating with Global Ministries?
   b.  Is everything out in the open?
   c.  Are your relationships companionships? Paternalistic? Acts of solidarity? Creating dependency? Liberating? Trusting?
3. Goals
   a.  What goals have you accomplished
   b.  What goals are not accomplished
   c.  What new goals should be considered
4. Leadership
   a.  Who are the leaders of this partnership?
   b.  How is the region/conference staff involved
   c.  Are youth involved?
   d.  Is there rotation of responsibilities?
   e.  Is there “new-blood” in your Partnership Committee?
   f.  Is the Partnership “personality-based” or does it have a structural foundation?
5. Opportunities
   a.  Focus on mutuality.
   b.  Be sure to consider options for both directions.
6. Communication
   a.  How are you sharing news and enthusiasm?
   b.  Are you using your region/conference newsletter?
   c.  Are you using web connections?
   d.  Are you visible at region/conference events?
   e.  Are you sharing news with Global Ministries?
7. Budgets
   a.  Share and review partnership budgets for both partners.
   b.  Review the parameters for giving.
   c.  Contact Global Ministries Development Office regarding any financial projects.
   d.  Share partnership budgets with Global Ministries
8. Projects
   a.  Identify areas of interest that have arisen and those that require further investigation.
   b.  Are both Global Ministries and the Partner denomination’s governing body and leadership aware of each project?
   c.  Whose project is it? Whose priority is it? Who initiated it? Is it one-sided or shared? Who energizes it?
   d.  Whom does the project benefit: the giver, the receiver, or both?
   e.  Will the project continue under new leadership?
9. Advocacy
   a.  What advocacy work is underway?
   b.  What other advocacy opportunities are there?
   c.  Be sure to consider action going both directions.
   d.  Review page 11.
10. Education opportunities – going both directions

a.  What are you doing to share the story with congregations in region/conference?

b.  With the whole church?

Other Items to Review, Assess and Re-Negotiate: (list here or on a separate sheet of paper)