PC(USA) global partners speak

LOUISVILLE — A handful of the PC(USA)’s global partners held a webinar Wednesday to discuss not only the pain they felt last year when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) transitioned World Mission into its Global Ecumencial Partnerships model, but their hope that new partnerships — some including support by congregations and mid councils — can bear much fruit in the months and years to come.

Attended by more than 140 people, the 85-minute discussion, “PC(USA) Global Partners Speak: Are We Listening?” came less than four weeks ahead of discernment over three items of business at the 227^th General Assembly, beginning with the Reformed Identity Around the World Committee: RIW-01, a call to review the restructuring of World Mission; RIW-02, which seeks a new missiological statement for the PC(USA); and RIW-07, which would require a detailed report to be completed by July 1, 2027, regarding the elimination of mission co-workers and a renewal of “the call to our local congregations to financially support, pray for, educate and train up new missionaries to serve our denomination moving forward.”

Wednesday’s webinar was hosted by the Latin American Biblical University. Dr. Henry S. Kuo of Eden Theological Seminary moderated the panel, which included:

• Dr. Elisabeth Cook, Rector and Professor of Biblical Studies at Latin American Biblical University in San José, Costa Rica
• Dr. Anne E. Zaki, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt
• The Rev. Dr. Dario Barolin, pastor of the Waldensian Church in Uruguay and Professor at the Ecumenical Network for Theological Studies in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Cook traced her university’s relationship with the Presbyterian Church back to the early 1970s, “and possibly before.” The university has worked with 10 mission co-workers over that span. “There were hiccups along the way,” Cook said, “but we felt supported and recognized.” The partnership included funding for programs, scholarships, local support staff and an endowment that still provides income. The majority of mission co-workers came as faculty, Cook said.

“They stood alongside, listened and learned rather than imposing external solutions,” Cook said. “Our hope for the future is to continue partnering with the PC(USA).”

“We’re not sure how that will work out,” but “we’re grateful for relationships with congregations and mid councils,” Cook said. “Our hope is to strengthen these ties in the work we are doing.”

According to Zaki, Presbyterian missionaries planted Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo 163 years ago. It’s been “a joy and a model to share with the world how the partnership has lasted so long and is so healthy,” Zaki said. “Mutuality was a model we could happily share and witness to God’s glory in all of this.”

Zaki noted that mission co-workers who came to Cairo to teach “learned our language and struggled with our struggles,” including the revolution in 2011. “They stood with us and faced danger,” Zaki said. “Their kids were our kids, and our kids were their kids. They came with a posture of humility, of wanting to learn and seeing us as equal partners.”

In a February 2025 email, the seminary learned that three mission co-workers — one-fourth of the faculty — would be leaving. Global Ecumenical Partnerships are “still a grand supporter of our ministry, and we still get tremendous help with funding,” Zaki said. “But there is a little bit of an insecure feeling about what if they decide to cut that funding.”

Learn more about Global Ecumenical Partnerships here, here and here.

Barolin called the PC(USA) “my second church.”

“Everything I am saying comes out of love and out of hope to keep working with the PC(USA),” Barolin said. “I want to be very respectful of the PC(USA) because you have been respectful to our churches.”

Barolin said that shortly after the February 2025 announcement, the Rev. Jed Koball, a PC(USA) GEL based in Colombia, immediately established “a conversation to open up a new relationship.”

“I’m not sure we can go back to the situation before 2025,” Barolin said. “Mission co-workers were usually people who translated what they learned with us to local congregations in the USA. Who will do that now?”

The Rev. Cheryl Barnes, the Manager of U.S. Global Ecumenical Liaisons, did not participate in Wednesday’s webinar. Barnes later said that “Mission engagement under Presbyterian Life & Witness involves creating and expanding the table to include both the Global Majority in the U.S. and international partners. International-facing Global Ecumenical Liaisons will continue to focus on maintaining international relationships by strengthening connections with mission networks, mid councils, constituents and congregations.”

Barnes said it’s her recollection that PC(USA) faculty were allowed to finish their semesters before ending their service at theological institutions. 

“I am very glad I am in contact with Jed,” Barolin said. “I knew him because he was a mission co-worker, and he is willing to work with us. He has visited our church. We need to work this out to be a better witness.”

Kuo then moderated a time of questions from those joining the call and answers from the panelists.

“Theological education is about companionship,” Zaki said. “It’s so much more than just providing courses. You can’t just sit people in a studio and record lectures. We need life on life. We need people to continue to carry the load with us, to be an influence here and on U.S. churches.”

Zaki told those on the call that “you need to send missionaries as much as we need to receive them.”

“If we had taken some time to act like the Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15,” Zaki said, “the Holy Spirit would have guided us to creative solutions where we could have come up with less losses.”

“The mission co-worker process, where you go and live with others, can go both ways,” Barolin said. “The idea of moving out of your context into a different one is key to creating true relationships. Otherwise, you are a tourist.”

“I am grateful for opportunities like this [webinar],” Zaki said. “People who share the same concern can be in this shared space. It has restored and healed some part of me as I represent our community, that we are not in this alone.”

Together, Zaki said, “we can re-sort and re-prioritize our resources so we can come up with a win-win solution.”

“You can help us,” Barolin said, “and we can help you, too.”

“Thank you for 163 years of faithful partnership,” Zaki said. “I hold onto faith and hope and love. We can continue this partnership, even if it takes a different form in the future.”

Ruling Elder Donna Cammarata drew the webinar to a close with prayer, thanking God “for all you’ve created and for all your people all around the world.”

“We ask for your Holy Spirit to continue to guide us, fill us and unite us. May our actions reflect those of Jesus Christ,” Cammarata prayed. “We thank you for the faith and the witness that has been shared today and for the opportunities that lie ahead. Our eyes are fixed on you, Lord Jesus, and our hope is in you.”

Watch the recording here.