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Why South Africa?
The ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) has "Companion Synod" relationships with 127 international church bodies. The Global Mission department of the ELCA assists Lutheran international church bodies that desire this relationship to develop such a relationship with one of the 65 Synods of the ELCA.
All the activities of the ELCA, all the relationships, and all that is happening in Lutheran bodies around the world is beyond anyone's ability to know. This myriad of relationships and connections allows us to provide instant relief in times of disaster with minimal bureaucracy and with amazing effectiveness. It also provides for great opportunities for travel, exchange of ideas, mutual support, and for growing and experiencing God's call for us to be one, to be the Body of Christ, and to witness to all the world.
Left to our own devices each congregation or individual would only connect with the church bodies with which we know or to which we have access or hear about in the news. A few organizations and churches would then overflow with resources and many would be left with no relationship. Thus the ELCA Global Mission department serves to encourage companion synod relationships whenever requested so that all international church bodies are served. Through these "companion synod" relationships the ELCA is able to connect each synod and each congregation that so desires with a specific international church body so that significant, ongoing, personal relationships develop, and the ELCA coordinates these relationships so that every international church is included.
In 2010 we are hearing a lot about Haiti and Grace also has a special connection to Guatemala through Pastor Diane and Estuardo Dardon (Diane is the daughter of Marcie Schmit and sister of David Schmit). So why not go there? Because there are synods and congregations already relating with these countries. Those relationships provide us with accurate information on what is happening in Haiti and direct channels for effective use of our financial contributions.
Grace is a member of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin (ECSW), one of those 65 Synods of the ELCA. Our assigned "companion synod" is the Western Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA). Our synod is the only one that relates with the Western Diocese. So that our Synod has a special responsibility on behalf of the entire ELCA to be especially attentive to South Africa and especially to this one diocese for any concerns that may be of benefit to them or to us. This matched relationship has also been further developed between their Diocese and our Synod so that the 26 ELCA congregations in the Wausau area (known as the Wisconsin River Valley Conference) are matched with the Madikwe Circuit (a collection of parishes in a specific area of the Western Diocese). Plus Grace has then been matched with one specific parish in that Madikwe Circuit which is Lekubu Lutheran Parish.
Pastor Mark's journey to Lekubu Lutheran Parish is not at all an arbitrary choice. This experience is a way to further this specific relationship of our congregation, Conference, Synod, and the ELCA. Just as through our ELCA we are able to provide direct relief and support in Haiti through prior relationships that have been developed, so this relationship Pastor Mark and those traveling from our Conference are developing in South Africa, will be for the benefit of the entire ELCA.
