5 Rules for Healthy Global Partnerships (and Allies)

Over the last year, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with dozens of partners around the world with whom the United Church of Christ and Christian Church(Disciples of Christ) have historic and treasured relationships. When we meet, we are not negotiating terms for peace among nations, but these visits do often occur in places mired in deep conflict (and what we’re doing is in fact peace-making). Our purpose for such visits is not to craft complicated foreign policy, but we are often navigating complex socio-political contexts that require diplomacy and sensitivity in our dialogue.

So while I’m fully aware that sitting down with global partners in the life of the Church is not the same as a high-level meeting of elected world leaders, I’m convinced there are some basic rules that should apply to both. These 5 rules of engagement shape our Global Ministries partnerships.

2. Acknowledge that our partners have wisdom we need. Our partners have experience we don’t. Their specific contexts provide perspective that we couldn’t possibly have .  Partnership requires humility enough to recognize our own ignorance and the willingness to learn from another’s experience. Their wisdom informs our shared ministry and strengthens our faith.

3.    Listen (at least) as much as you talk.  When we listen carefully to the stories of our partners, we create space for vulnerable sharing and deepened trust. We better understand what causes them pain and brings them joy. We remember that we don’t need to have all the answers and we refrain from imposing our solutions. We invite and honor their input and don’t make decisions about them without them. We practice being fully present with one another.

4.   Be generous without expectation.  Sometimes we are blessed to provide material support to our partners, fully trusting they will steward our gifts faithfully. We freely and joyfully give knowing that our mutual ministry will be strengthened in doing so. We don’t give with the expectation that our partner will somehow feel beholden to us. We don’t need incessant thanks. We give simply because God has given generously to us.

5.      When the partner is experiencing particularly difficult circumstances, practice all the above tenfold. Often our partners are grieving deeply, massively overwhelmed, or barely holding on to hope amid circumstances that are unimaginable. When this is the case, being a good partner means being especially sensitive to their needs and their feelings. We sustain our relationship in times of trial and rejoicing, and hold each other in constant prayer.

In a recent meeting with faculty at the Divinity School at Chung Chi College in Hong Kong, one of our Global Ministries partners, we spent two hours discussing theology, the complicated politics of our two countries, and what it means to faithfully be the Church in this moment in each of our contexts.  The day before, we’d sat elbow-to-elbow in a tight space hearing from another partner, the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants, and we discovered common cause seeking justice for migrants everywhere.

Neither meeting resulted in public proclamations that will change the world. But something happened in each of them that is of priceless value.  We heard and respected each other. We deepened our bonds.  We remembered we are not alone in doing the hard work before us. We covenanted to continue working together for justice and peace. We kept the faith.

Those are the fundamentals of peace-making. That’s how you maintain healthy global relationships.

Gracious God, Crafter of the Universe, our world is a bit of a mess right now. Allies act like enemies. Leaders rule with too little grace. Peace evades us, justice is absent. Grant us wisdom, O God, to practice some simple rules, that we might build relationships in our homes, our towns, our churches, and our world steeped in love and characterized by mutual respect. Teach us to authentically love our neighbor, the one near to us and the one far from us. We beg it of you. Amen.

The Reverend Shari Prestemon began her service with the national ministries of the United Church of Christ in January 2024. As the Acting Associate General Minister & Co-Executive for Global Ministries she has the privilege of supporting several teams: Global Ministries, Global H.O.P.E., Public Policy & Advocacy Team (Washington, D.C.), our staff liaison at the United Nations, and our Gender & Sexuality Justice Team. She previously served as a local church pastor in Illinois and Wisconsin, the Executive Director at Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the Minnesota Conference Minister. Her call to ministry grew, in part, from early Global Ministries experiences, especially service as a Peace & Justice Intern in Dumaguete City, the Philippines.