Swaziland Companions Meeting
March 8, 2006

Present: Andy[Chr.], Ron, Charles, Beth, Kate, Melody, Paula, Barbara, Leslee, Cheryl, and from Christ Church, Burlington: Sue

Welcome: Andy opened the meeting welcoming those present. Barbara offered an Edwina Gately prayer that spoke to the dynamic mission of the Holy Spirit, to renewal and strength.

January 11, 2006 Minutes: Accepted without change.

Charles reported that three disbursals of $2,000 had been sent from Christ Church to the diocesan office to be wired to Swaziland for the Mpaka school construction project. Barbara asked if we knew that the money had arrived in Swaziland. Melody said that Bob Joy had e-mailed her notice of monies wired to Swaziland in December and January, but she had not heard of any further wirings from the Iowa diocesan office, and had not received confirmation from Swaziland. It was agreed that we need to know that the funds we are sending are arriving and being used where they are needed on the school project.

Kate is working with Judy Welch to develop a "thermometer" that displays funds raised and generally shows the sources of those funds. Barbara said the SwaziCompanions fundraising committee had done a fantastic job. She saluted and applauded their creative accomplishments.

Travel Scholarships: Melody reported on correspondence from Lydia Brown, a high school graduate from Fort Dodge, who has applied for assistance for the trip to Swaziland. Andy said when he learned that St. Mark’s in Fort Dodge supported Lydia’s parents and Lydia’s trip to Swaziland by paying their airfare in advance, he felt assured that this was a legitimate request. Sue said that she knows Lydia, and feels she has leadership skills and many gifts that will make her experience in Swaziland worthwhile. Andy thought it was great for the whole family to have the experience together. Leslee asked if the Ft. Dodge church was providing any assistance, or was Lydia expected to pay the church back for the entire amount advanced for airfare. Sue noted a diocesan policy for youth trips of the diocese granting 1/3 of the cost, asking the church to pay 1/3 and the individual to pay 1/3. She said there would not be enough in the Youth Ministry fund to pay the diocesan 1/3 for the Swaziland trip. Barbara suggested inviting Lydia to come to talk to the young people in our parish when she returns from Swaziland. Sue said she would like Lydia to do the same in her parish or at a diocesan youth meeting. Leslee said we should encourage Lydia to do this, but not place the burden on her, as she may be involved in college next fall. Barbara said it would be good to encourage Lydia to use her photography skills while in Swaziland.

Andy asked if the upcoming fundraisers were intended to raise funds for travel. If that is the case, he felt it should be clearly stated in the publicity for those events. Kate said a letter had gone out to the members of the congregation stating that the goal had been reached for building the school; that additional funds would be used for travel, but if not needed would be sent to Swaziland for the Mpaka school project. She asked about providing travel assistance for Coe students, who would be going with the team and helping with the Mpaka mission. Paula said that the Coe students going to Swaziland were not asking for funding at this point, and they were willing to help with the fundraising efforts at Christ Church. Ron said that he thought the students should be entrepreneurial in raising their own travel funds. He felt they were being supported by being given an opportunity to go with the mission group. Kate asked about the sense of community for all those going, including the Coe students. She wondered if these students were not to be considered for travel assistance as Lydia had been, because they are not Episcopalian. Andy said the needs in Swaziland are clearly great in comparison to those in this country. He said he was not greatly in favor of offsetting the cost of the trip if the students were not asking for it. If asked, then it could be considered. Paula said the students would be on the school site helping with construction at least half of the time while in Swaziland. She explained the scientific mission of the trip in terms of water quality and millennium development goals. She said she had applied for grants that will support some of the travel costs. Barbara asked that Paula stay in touch with our group concerning the grant process. Beth said the needs of those nearest you always seemed the most pressing. She thought she would feel that need the most while in Swaziland. She wondered if we would be able to cover half of the travel costs for the Coe students. Cheryl said youth are our future ambassadors. She said these students will bring passion back to us for Swaziland and will discover all kinds of things within themselves as a result of their experience. Beth suggested targeting future fundraisers for scholarship dollars. Barbara again urged Paula to stay in touch, that perhaps a stipend of $200 or $300 could be awarded to each student.

Companion T-Shirts: Sue displayed t-shirts left over from the healing mission, and asked about a reprint. She suggested having the same logo, but instead of saying "Companions in Healing," to have printed: "Companions in Mission." She discussed the possibility of including the diocesan shields for Iowa and Swaziland on the shirt. The group felt that the team going to Swaziland should make the design decisions, but agreed that the t-shirts would make nice gifts for the Swazi hosts this summer.

Mission Trip Update: Andy reported that Ron and Toni Noah had purchased the airline tickets on behalf of the group. The team will leave on July 20 from Des Moines, flying to Atlanta and then South Africa. A discussion of logistics and preparation for the mission trip ensued.

Fundraising Report: Kate reported that the dessert auction, "Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too," is scheduled for April 23. She said that Libby Slappey will take care of auctioning the desserts and is actively soliciting donors. Kate said the children’s concert will be on May 25. The next SwaziCompanions Finance meeting will be held on March 14 at 7 p.m.

Web Page: Paula said the Christ Church web page now features Swazi news and photos. Melody noted the link on the CEC web page to the diocesan missionminutes.blog site that provides updates of SwaziCompanion news.

Quilt: Melody reported that Liz Varnum has ordered the material for the four foot by four foot ABC quilt to take to Swaziland. It will be ready by the time of the mission trip. Kate said that it is hoped that photos of the children from here and in Swaziland will end up on fabric for wall hangings here. Leslee thought that would be a great reminder, an icon of the kids who will be in the school at Mpaka. Melody thought it would nice to be able to reproduce it for other churches in the diocese.

Nancy & Orma’s Visit: Barbara said Nancy and Orma were the first women to be ordained into the priesthood in Swaziland. Because the diocesan convention this year is honoring the 30^th anniversary of women being ordained into the priesthood, we would like them to be here for that occasion. She said they would bring a wonderful presence for our companion relationship to the diocesan convention. Barbara said she needed to find out more from Bishop Scarfe about how long Nancy and Orma will be in Iowa. She said the women clergy are getting together in May to plan for the diocesan convention. She said that we need to be thinking of ideas of what we might do to celebrate and honor the women if they come to Christ Church. Barbara pointed out that she had experienced such beautiful, honoring hospitality while in Swaziland. We will want to do something extremely special in return. Melody said the Global Mission branch of the diocesan One World One Church Commission is interested in being involved with the planning, welcoming and hospitality for the women as well.

Mission: Melody said that there had been some discussion of developing a mission committee at Christ Church that could serve as a resource group for those involved in mission work. She and Ellen Bruckner had been asked to prepare some ideas for developing mission opportunities at Christ Church. She emphasized that the draft was in its first conceptual stages, but is based on The Rev. Titus Pressler’s definition of mission: "ministry that crosses significant boundaries of human experience – cultural, social, economic, political, racial, ethnic, linguistic, geographical, or any combination of these. Mission takes us beyond our comfort zones, leading us to see the image of God in the face of "the other". In mission, we join with companions from other cultures as they bear witness in word and deed to God’s reconciling work, not only through service, but also through being present with one another, walking together on life’s path. Such incarnational ministry seeks not only to serve, but to be served, not only to share our faith stories, but to listen to and learn from the faith of others." Melody asked for the group’s comments on the draft proposal.

Andy said he thought it was a great idea to incorporate mission more comprehensively at our church, but he wondered where outreach was in this mission proposal. He said for example, the food pantry is a mission ministry, but isn’t mentioned. He said it’s a great idea to provide a framework for mission, instead of having the bits of mission go on in isolation. Melody said that she and Ellen had discussed the food pantry and its relational ministry, but wondered how broad & inclusive the scope of mission should be. Leslee said that the food pantry is a Jubilee ministry as is the mentoring program at Johnson School and the SwaziCompanions. Beth said it’s a kind of back and forth concept… Jubilee serves many ministries and certain of its ministries are mission in design.

Barbara said she could see the value of the group in expanding mission as a concept in people’s minds throughout the church. Kate said she thought the group would be primarily a combination of SwaziCompanions and Christian Education sharing resources and fundraising for mission trips and pilgrimages; that mission would be shared, not competitive at Christ Church. Barbara said the group could provide education for the importance of mission, of fulfilling our baptismal covenant.

Leslee said not everyone can go or is drawn to go to Swaziland, but some may be able to do a local mission, such as fixing up a house. Beth said with more mission opportunities, there will be more volunteers, more involvement. Barbara talked of the possibilities of synergistic energy and increasing involvement. She said the group could provide a focus to identify mission in the church, to educate others about it, raise it up in celebration as it happens and raise funds to support mission opportunities.

Leslee reminded the group that the national church has designated Christ Church as a Jubilee Center. She thought this designation should be incorporated as part of our church letterhead. It is the work of the church. Andy suggested that comments be e-mailed to Melody.

Cheryl said she hoped that there would continue to be a commitment to Swaziland first and foremost, that we will continue to sustain that companion relationship. Melody said there is no intention of diminishing the Swaziland mission, but there has been a need expressed to offer other mission opportunities. Leslee said we need to live in balance

Closing: The meeting was concluded with Barbara sending us home in peace, to love and serve another day.