R3: Resolution on a Companion Relationship with the Diocese of Tanga - Passed

Resolved, that the 195th Convention of the Diocese of Ohio endorses the formation of a companion relationship between this diocese and the Anglican Diocese of Tanga, Province of Tanzania, beginning December 2011 and continuing until December 2016 or terminated by mutual consent; and be it further

Resolved, that the Diocese of Ohio’s Commission on Global and Domestic Mission be empowered to set up a representative Companion Relationship Committee to oversee this relationship by encouraging and supporting the participation of persons and congregations in the Diocese of Ohio.

Submitted by:

The Commission on Global and Domestic Mission (CGDM)

Rationale:  

In 2009 the CGDM sent a request for mission partnership recommendations to all the parishes in the Diocese. CGDM requested that parishes consider companion relationships with Africa/Asia and South America/Central America and the Caribbean (SACAC). CGDM received six partnership recommendations from Africa/Asia and three for SACAC. After considerable research and deliberation CGDM recommended the Diocese of Tanga, Tanzania, and the Diocese of Belize. The Bishop accepted these recommendations pending arrangement and exploration with the Bishops of those dioceses. These two mission partnerships build upon already existing relationships between those entities and parishes in the Diocese of Ohio.

The investigation of diocesan partnerships within the hemispheres of Africa and Central America was approved at the 2010 Convention. During this past year the Commission on Domestic and Global Mission has been actively making connections with the Diocese of Tanga, Tanzania, Africa.

Three years ago, Brendan Knoblauch, a parishioner from St. Paul’s, Cleveland Heights, was sent by Bishop Hollingsworth to work for 18 months in the Diocese of Tanga, build relationships, and discern projects that the two dioceses might engage in for mutual benefit.

As a part of those efforts, a group of seven lay persons and clergy visited Tanga in August 2011 and traveled across the Diocese of Tanga to many parishes, hospitals and schools during the course of 10 days. By forming relationships, the group could better evaluate how to move forward with an effective partnership. Three parish-to-parish relationships are emerging from that visit and a partnership with St. Raphael’s Hospital. The Ohio churches represented were Our Saviour, Akron; Christ Church, Oberlin; and St. Michael’s-in-the-Hills, Toledo. Members of the Diocese of Ohio shipped a crate of medical goods to St. Raphael’s hospital.

As a result, the CGDM is now recommending our Diocese form an official companion relationship with the Diocese of Tanga. There is enthusiasm in making this relationship a fully two-way endeavor, in which clergypersons and the new Bishop of Tanga would be invited to meetings within our diocese. Another trip to Tanga is strongly encouraged for next summer.