A New Day
Ryan and Alethia White
Dear friends and supporters,
We are writing to thank you for all the ways you have supported us over the years and to inform you of some internal changes that the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is undergoing, which will affect our work. You may have read about changes to World Mission within the Interim Unified Agency (IUA), but we wanted to take a moment to send a personal message.
While global ministry will be continuing in a new way, the ministry area of World Mission is concluding. As of the end of March, we will no longer be working in capacity as regional liaisons on behalf of PC(USA).
We are very much going to miss the partnerships and relationships we have built over the years and the experiences and learning we have been able to share with you. We first came to serve with World Mission, working with a Persian-speaking migrant community in Berlin and, in 2021, shifted to connecting with partners throughout Europe. Through this, we have heard stories of the challenges faced by people seeking a new life, particularly when viewed as outsiders. And we have witnessed how decisions made in the U.S. affect communities throughout the world. We have also seen and heard how faith communities are addressing local and global justice issues and are committing to advocating for marginalized communities as modeled by Jesus.
One of our favorite memories was the annual celebration of Norouz, the New Year celebrated on the Spring Equinox by Persian, Kurdish and other communities. Norouz means “New Day,” and one of the ways of celebrating begins the week before, gathering with friends and jumping over fires as a symbol of burning away the bad of the previous year to welcome, with newness, the upcoming year. As our work draws to a close a few days following Norouz, we look forward with anticipation for what lies ahead while also making space for what is ending.
Even though we will not continue working with the IUA, ecumenical cooperation and partnerships with partners will continue. The new model for global engagement will have staff serving as global ecumenical liaisons. More information about the new model and these positions will be shared by the IUA. Below are Presbyterian News Service articles that describe the process that led to these decisions.
February 7, 2025 – The Shifting Patterns of Ecumenical Global Engagement
February 5, 2025 – Interim Unified Agency Announces Shift in Global Ministry Engagement
January 23, 2025 – A New Vision for Global Ministry
November 5, 2024 – Next Steps in Reimagining Global Mission
Our current plan is to remain in Berlin through the end of the school year in late July and then return to Richmond, Virginia, where we spent the 2023/24 school year. We are grateful for the time and compensation we have been given to make this transition.
After living outside of the U.S. for much of the last decade, this will indeed be a significant transition for our family as we say goodbye to friends and to Berlin, a place that has become home. At the same time, we look forward to being closer to family and friends in the U.S. who have been missed.
Please continue praying for the partners we have had the privilege to connect with and seek opportunities in your communities, congregations and presbyteries to continue engagement on issues of importance and learning from one another.
If you wish to stay in contact with us after March, our personal email is: alethia.ryan@gmail.com
Alethia and Ryan