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Companion Synad

Global Companion Synod


Hand in hand, Maboko na Maboko, is the loose African translation of “companion synod.”


The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic (EELRCA) is Western North Dakota’s global companion synod. The Central African Republic (C.A.R.) is located in the heart of Africa and is one of the poorest countries in the world. Many of its people live daily lives of struggle and bare subsistence; however, Christians in the C.A.R. join in worshipping their Savior and in sharing that joy with others.


As people and congregations of Western North Dakota, we are called to be in relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Central African Republic.


Over the years, the Holy Spirit has worked through us to provide resources that have built schools in the village education project, put roofs on churches, provided scholarships for young women to attend both secondary school and university, supported vocational training at the women’s center, provided theological education for those training to serve as pastors and evangelists, and much more.


How do the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America accompany one another in ministry?


ELCA Global Mission within the ELCA relates to and is in bilateral relationship with over 80 companion churches and institutions. ELCA Global Mission stewards a church-to-church relationship with the EELRCA. This relationship is deepened and extended by the EELRCA’s Companion Synod relationships with the Western North DakotaEastern North Dakota, and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synods.


Funds raised in the Companion Synods are added to support committed through the ELCA Global Mission and support key priorities identified by the EELRCA, including strengthening the EELRCA’s leadership development, capacity building for the development of effective programs and ministries, as well as sustainable development in the areas of water and sanitation, agriculture, health care, and education. Two ELCA mission personnel serve in C.A.R. in the areas of village-based education and women’s ministries.


Domestic Companion Synod

 

Our companion synod in the United States is the Northeastern Ohio Synod.

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