The Cuba Partnership Resource Manual
Mutual Mission Agreement
Last Updated (Tuesday, 22 February 2011 21:43) Written by PCUSA and IPRC collaboration Tuesday, 22 February 2011 21:37
Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba and Presbyterian Church (USA)
Adopted by the 198th General Assembly (1986)
Background (Excerpted)
From September 30 to October 6, 1985, a delegation from the Program Agency and the
Mission Board visited the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba at its invitation. The
delegation traveled to all three of its presbyteries and visited in twelve churches. The situation
of each denomination was discussed and an Agreement of Mutual Mission was adopted
concerning the relationship and shared ministry of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba
and the Presbyterian Church (USA)
MUTUAL MISSION AGREEMENT
The Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba and the Presbyterian Church (USA), meeting in
consultation at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba on October 3-5, 1985,
celebrate together the following:
• Our unity in Jesus Christ.
• Our common Reformed tradition.
• Almost a century of partnership in mission, looking forward to the celebration of the
Centennial of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba in 1990.
• The effective witness and vitality of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba
through its three presbyteries, thirty-five local congregations, active programs of
Christian Education and leadership development, and important contributions to
the new society coming into being in Cuba.
• The ministry of faith of the Presbyterian Church (USA) as it begins its life as a
reunited church and seeks to be faithful in its ministries, such as worship,
Christian education, congregation renewal, peacemaking, and social-economic
justice.
We also affirm:
• That we share together in "one Lord, one faith, and one baptism."
• That we are called to deepen the bonds of unity, faith, and common witness between
our two churches.
• That we share in one mission of Jesus Christ in Cuba, the USA, and the world.
• That we are called to be peacemakers, creating bonds of friendship and understanding
between our peoples.
• That we are committed to sharing our gifts and resources with one another to
strengthen the witness of our churches.
• That we shall place our partnership in the context of our common commitment to the
church ecumenical.
Among the many common objectives between our two churches we agree to the mutual
sharing of resources in the following ways:
A. Partnership in Mission
1. Exchange of seminary professors and students between the Presbyterian-Reformed
Church in Cuba and the Presbyterian Church (USA) and churches in other
countries.
2. Participation of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba in the Mission to the USA
Program.
3. Joint ministry in peacemaking programs.
4. Relating middle governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) with the
Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba once guidelines are agreed upon.
5. Exchange programs between youth, women, and other groups in the two churches.
B. Restoration of Facilities
We commit ourselves to share together in rebuilding and refurbishing church buildings
and the conference center of national activities of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in
Cuba. We shall implement a plan whereby both churches will use their resources to
enable the rebuilding and refurbishing of church buildings, leading to the Centennial
celebration of the Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba in 1990
C. Ecumenical Participation
We shall work together in the Reformed family through the World Alliance of Reformed
Churches, the Caribbean and North American Area Council of the World Alliance of
Reformed Churches, the Association of Reformed Churches of Latin America, the
Caribbean Association of Reformed Churches, the Latin American Council of Churches,
the Caribbean Conference of Churches, and the World Council of Churches.
D. Mission in a Third Country
We shall share our resources and persons to participate in mission in a third country.
E. Pension Funds
The Presbyterian Church (USA) shall seek to find a solution to the problem of
transmitting pension benefits to Cuban pastors who are members of the Board of
Pensions.
We express joy in our unity together as brothers and sisters in Christ and express through
these concrete agreements to continue to strengthen our common participation in the one
mission of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Both delegations unanimously adopt this mutual
agreement and recommend it to our two churches for implementation.