The Big Question

“East and Old Church in Forfar twins with Zuglo Church in Budapest and has informal links with Dubendorf and Schwerzenbach Church in Zurich and with Memmingen in Germany.

“Last year all four churches came together twice – once in Scotland and then in Switzerland.

“There are so many benefits to having links with overseas churches, with friendship being the top of the list. “Many of my church members have new friends in these countries who email each other and now visit each other.

“When we visit these other churches and we stay with host families and visit other members of the churches, we get to know what life is like for them and they see how we live in Scotland too. Although it appears slightly different we all still have similar concerns in life, similar ups and downs.

“Learning about the cultures and customs of other nations has educated our members and given them a taste to learn more, not only of the countries and food, but also in church finance, history and understanding the different theologies in each church.

“Each church we are linked with has differing views on refugees, the environment and worship services. We are respectful of one another’s views but it gives us a chance to openly discuss the differences and why we do what we do.

“Our children are also involved with pen pals and have been to summer camp in Hungary which has enriched their lives. Overseas church links are a real blessing to all involved.”

“Partnership with overseas congregations removes the abstract factor of distant places and issues, replacing it with a direct and very personal focus in which real relationships can develop.

“We have so much to learn from overseas Churches, especially those in such culturally different settings. If relationships are allowed to develop this can spread well beyond a Sunday worship setting.

“Here, we’ve benefitted by consciously pushing the partnership out and linking up with community organisations including schools, so that the whole community can have a shared focus.

“Good communications are vital, allowing information, news and prayer issues to be regularly exchanged and passed on to the congregation and wider community through pulpit, magazine, website etc.

“It’s often said that these partnerships (particularly with developing countries) shouldn’t become about financial dependence. This is true as there’s so much more to share. But in any relationship where there’s such a huge imbalance in terms of financial resources and needs, it’s surely inevitable that a focus will develop on specific projects needing support. These in turn, create opportunities to show practical generosity and to make a real difference where it’s needed. This is a justice issue.

“In Westray and Papa Westray our partnership with congregations in the south of Malawi has made us a more outwardlooking and rounded Kirk, bringing out the very best in people and enabling us to live out one aspect of our faith together.”

“In June 2019 Strath & Sleat linked with St Paul’s Episcopalian Church in Amman. This was the fruit of several years of seeking the most effective way of helping with the refugee crisis. Refugees Officer for the Scottish

Faith Communities, David Bradwell, advised us to get involved at the sharp end at the same time as we were approached by Al Sutton of Christians Abroad, who was looking for a Scottish congregation to partner with a church in Jordan, to support Christian refugees from Iraq and Syria.

“So the primary benefit we are experiencing is that of obeying God’s call into a new and exciting venture. This is stretching our faith, our commitment, our stewardship and our imagination. So far we have sent a couple of representatives to Jordan in order to meet our partners, visit other refugee support initiatives around Amman and explore the country, particularly the desert region in the south where we expect to be helping to develop respite camps. Our ‘ambassadors’ returned glowing with the rich encounters they had with the people and the country.

“Through the support of World Mission’s Faithshare project, we also feel closer to that dimension of the Church of Scotland. At the same time, because our partner church in Jordan is Anglican, we now enjoy being linked into the Diocese of Jerusalem, with all the possibilities of ecumenical co-operation that offers. Christians in the Middle East are in a precarious situation. As a Gaelicspeaking congregation in Scotland, we can identify with that – even if we do not face the same levels of persecution.”

Uist

“In our churches of Benbecula linked with Carinish, the benefits of links with an overseas church have been great. We are entering the 10th year of a very successful twinning with Jerusha Kanyua Memorial Church in Chuka, Kenya.

“We visit one another on alternate years. The main benefits to congregational life here are friendship, fellowship, great fun, and inspirational times of sharing faith together, here, and in Chuka. We are hosted in homes of the church family of JKMC, and we do the same when our Kenyan brothers and sisters come to us. The privilege, benefit, and blessing, of hosting someone from Kenya in your home is tremendous. For two weeks of the year, eating, travelling, praying together, and sharing faith is so uplifting, often humbling, but always informative. Joy pervades our churches, our trips out, and our church life while the Kenyan folk are here. People out in the communities want to see, and learn more of them.

“They share in leading our worship – as we do when we visit them. They are more than friends now. We feel that the meaning of twinning is really lived out – the closest of relationships. Craft groups in both congregations knit and sew throughout the year, and all the items are delivered straight to the point of need in Chuka, to bless little ones in the schools and hospital. Our twinning has also brought a rich dimension to our schools’ and churches’ interaction with the community here.

Bwana asifiwe.”

“In October this year, Hawick: St Mary’s & Old Parish Church will celebrate 20 years of linkage with Wyalusing Presbyterian Church, Pennsylvania, USA.

“Once linked with Cavers and Kirkton and now linked with Teviot and Roberton, this Church in the Scottish Borders has extended a welcome to American friends over the years, and in return been warmly welcomed across the Atlantic. All three Scottish congregations are now involved.

“How have we benefitted? Having friends to act as tour-guides in a foreign country is obviously one major benefit! but the friendship is much deeper. We are one in our love of the Lord. While we, in Scotland, tend to be quiet and reserved about our faith, in contrast, people in Wyalusing are much more ‘up-front’ and vocal about their beliefs. Perhaps we Scots should proclaim our faith much more loudly than we do. Theirs is a good example to follow.

“The Church in the USA seems to be growing and attracts young people, teenagers and families. Could we learn from them? It is good to hear about their initiatives and aspirations, even share their struggles and sorrows. One group were visiting Wyalusing on the anniversary of 9/11 and coincidentally when the Susquehanna River burst its banks. Homes were not only flooded; some floated away. They were able to offer a little help in the clean-up and of course prayer.

“Receiving a message from a friend in Wyalusing can lift and bring an unexpected sparkle to the day!”