Covenant Relationships

CEPAD Covenant Realtionships Policy CEPAD established the Covenant Relationship program in 1987 in order to create personal, human ties internationally, despite cultural, political, economic, and social differences. The following objectives and requirements define the Covenant Relaionship program that the Public Relations Department and CEPAD supports in general. These objectives are not exclusive; in addition, each realtionship develops different, particular objectives of its own. Objectives

To create ties of love, union, peace and faith between Nicaraguans and groups from other countries. To strengthen the understanding that we are all brothers and sisters regardless of country, language, color, or economic status.
To build bonds of friendship and solidarity by sharing our faith, struggles, dreams and way of life in an exchange of communications and visits between the two countries.
To help us to come to know ourselves better, by sharing our expertises and theologies. To increase, and change, our understanding of this world and our lives in it.
To make us conscious that the Gospel calls us to work for justice, peace, and reconciliation in this world, wherever we are. To find new ways to plant these seeds through Covenant Relationship ties.
To attempt an empowering and Christian response to the problems of poverty, rather than simply providing material needs. To understand the resolution of problems in the different contexts of the Nicaraguan and international communities.
To ecumenically support projects started by memebers of teh Nicaraguan communities that benefit an entire community, and that will become locally self-sufficient.
To share grass-roots community development models that may serve as inspiration for local projects in Nicaragua or internationally.
To include as many women as possible in our Covenant Relationships, so that women can voice their needs and achieve a greater measure of equality through participation in community and international exchanges.

Requirements

That each potential partner, as a congregation/group, reflect on the significance of a possible Covenant Relationship: the needs of their church and congregation or organization; what they hope to learn; and how they may decide to relate to their partner -- what to give and what to recieve. Decide upon selected objectives to pursue within the relationship.
That each partner submit a complete application for a Covenant Relationship to CEPAD.
That each partner establish a Covenant Relationship committee, formed from such groups as pastors, women, youth or community development advocates, dedicated to directing the communications, projects and tasks of the relationship.
That each partner commit to regular prayer for each other and regular written communication.
That each partner commit to visits as a lasting basis for the relationship. Face-to-face visits are a critical component of the sense of mission and the personalization it brings.
That each partner make an annual evaluation of the relationship and the program, and make a renewed committment to continue the relationship
That each partner percieve of the relationship as a concrete, non-monetary investment. To this end, partners must give and recieve any monies or material aid through CEPAD, to ensure that the aid is properly distributed and administered, and that the designated community benefits from it.
Return to the CEPAD homepage.
This site maitained by Steve Herrick, webjourneyman for CEPAD.