Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys

Minutes For International Partnership Ministry Action Team

Committee Met:

August 4, 2007

Minutes:

Over-Archiing Goals:
1. Enable churches and their members to engage in effective ministry
2. Overcome barriers of communication, culture, gender and age.
3. Facilitate face to face interaction
4. Interpret and apply understanding learned through the international Partnership

*We discussed our committee's restatement of our goals for the Council. Jim Krapf has these notes.

Members Attending:
Rev. William Yueill, LeRoy Ennenga, Gary Woehler, Harold Kampa, Rev. James Krapf, Carol Stiles

Members Not Attending:
Rev. Paul Collier, Rev. Stacey Steck, Karen Woehler, Lynn Yueill, Dena Fischer, Jan Prehn, Diane Gravley, Gladys Ratzlaff, Edith Alvarez, Merrilyn Arndt, Heidi Chapman

Ex-Officio Attenders:
None

Actions Taken:
1. 8/4/2007 - Voted to approve minutes of 4/21/07 with corrections to information about the March and April multicultural celebration in Worthington. Jim was a guest on Minnesota Council of Churches "Considering Faith" radio show. Omit words"MultiCultural Cel." 4/29 meeting with Chris Morton is the Organizational Development MN Council of Ch. staff rather than "Multicultural Celebration director.
2. 8/4/2007 - Voted to receive the financial reports noting L5085( Water Project Supplies) is the only account in the red.
Related financial info: a. Gary W. will present the Water Project at Cross Lake Church who will present $1,000 toward the project. b. Budget requests for '08 and '09 stand as previously requested. See 4/21/07 minutes c. L5075 (International Partnership T.F. received $4,395.89 from the Joining Hearts and Hands MN Vall Mission Fund. Fund L5075 stood at $4698 1/11/07 and now has $6811. d. Mn Valleys. Presby funds ($1700-$2000)absconded by the Guatemalan Presbyterian Synod treasurer will be replaced through an Occidente appeal to the Guat. Presbyterian Synod.

3. 8/4/2007 - Received LeRoy E's report on the Water Project installation 6/22-7/3 at Iglesia Presiteriana Siana, St Pedro. Participants: Edith Alvarez, Jan Prehn, Heidi Chapman, Gary Woehler, LeRoy Ennenga. Graciously hosted this is a real mission opportunity. The installation works, but had to be hooked up to city water initialy since the dug well hadn't been pumped to clear sediment.

4. 8/4/07 voted up to $200 to send a delegation to the Synod of Lakes/Prairies gathering 10/14 & 15 on Hispanic Ministry

Actions Pending:
Devotions centered on Acts 10 with this "pending action" question: What do we gain or lose in our partnerships with Christians of other cultures?

Old Business
1. WATER PROJECTS. a. Next water project: likely Jan 24-Feb 7th at Quizel an isolated Mt. village of 140 families. (Occidente Presb. Exec. chooses these sites: one in each of their 5 designated sub-areas). LeRoy E. is Point Person. Our 6 could be Harold K, LeRoy, Jan or Heidi, maybe Gary W. and 2 or 3 others. Veterans are training our own people. We have moved beyond Living Waters Univ. training program. Cost for each participant: $700 (minimum)-$1,000 airfare, plus incidentals, some meals, a night or 2 in Guata City Hotel coming or going.
b. Water Permit issue - local gov. refusal to grant licensure. Slavadore water distribution co. has a liabiliy concern if someone uses Salvadore jugs for Clean Water Project water and becomes diseased. Selling water cheaply also cuts in on their business is a likely fear. Permanent labels can be stuck on Water Project jugs. Church sale of water is an evangelism tool and a means to generate cash to replace filters. Almalili is working on the license for the Xela installation. We won't proceed further until her results are known.

2. Invitation to Occiendente delegation in 8/08. Mn.V.Presby Council will be requested to extend that invitation since Guatemalans are very conscious of diplmatic niceties including invitations from the top of the organization thus representing the whole of M.V.P. Jim K. will take a proposed letter for Council to use as its invitation.

3. New Int Partnership members are needed and they need to attend our meetings to gain info. as they participate in a Water Project. From 1/26/07 minutes: Criteria for trips as follows: physical mobility. Spanish is helpful. Ability to raise ones own funds to get there (600-1000). Be a member of the IMPAT for at least a year. Occidente provides housing, travel in country. Higher priority goes to existing team members. Those who go to Clean Water Un. commit to 2 years on water projects.
4. Requests for Internet Radio and C.D. production needs clarification. If this is for use in Occidente it needs to come through their presbytery. (See 1/26/07 minurtes)
5. Invitation by Occidente PW to Mn Vall. PW to visit there 2/15/08. seems to be under discussion at Mn Vall. PW.
6.Women Walking With Women workshops. Request Lynn write her experience for the Vall. Bridge of 8/15 and express availability of the women who went to interpret their work. Karen Woehler, Judi Larson, Edith Alvarez, Lynn Yueill. While this group received funds from Soc Action Ministry of Mn Vall.Presby the Int Partnership has more experience with Occidente and should be the accountablity path for Wom.Walking W/Women.
7. Karen W. is coordinating the invitation for Mission Workers to visit Mn Vall. Presby. meeting 10/08.
8. Hispanic ministry initiatives in Mn Vall. Presby: a. '07 goals of Soc Action Ministry focused toward immigrant issues continues. b. Sun. Oct14 (5PM)- to 15 (maybe noon) Synod of Lakes/Prairies Hispanic Ministry Gathering. Propose sending Jim K., reps from St James Ch, Willmar Ch.
9. Report on Baltimore Mtg 4/25-27 of Guate Mission Network attended by Jim K.: a)Passionate stories of Christian's mission involvement b) Ellen Dozier led "Bearing One Another's Burdens" Bible study c)Young people from PCUSA Washington office shared "Hidden Powers in Guatemala." Maybe a skit? d) When readying for Mission involvement orientation must be "Do No Harm." e. Jim K sees these two trends 1. Mission is no longer centralized. It is dispersed and messier. 2. Mission includes ministry to physical needs and evangelical work. The Diaconate of the Guatemalan Presby Church languished with George's death, but starts up again now.
10. Maxine Olson(previous Int Part. chairwoman) has the big bunch of material on the history of Mn Vall. Presby / Occidente partnership. It should go back to the Presbytery office.

NEW BUSINESS
1. Request 10 minutes on Sept 15 Presbytery meet at Aug 14th Council mtg.
2.Sept 15 MN Vall. Presby meeting - use Heidi's power point (5 min.) A Clean Water Project report. Invite new members into the Partnership. Stress support received from Joining Hearts and Hands offering.
3. NEXT MEETING OCTOBER 26TH, PRESBYTERY OFFICE.

Bill Yueill, secretary