Sponsorship programmes at parish or church levels come alive not least from the actions and initiatives of individuals in building a church partnership overseas. Very often, study trips in southern countries provide the impulse for these partnerships. They can motivate people to partnership work. Development is not a one-way street. It is urgently needed in both southern and northern hemispheres.
Partnership is the imperative requirement for ecumenical cooperation.
The missions' departments, the KED representatives and the regional services for mission and ecumenism are prepared, within the bounds of possibility, to give advice on the work of partnership groups, and also to provide practical help, particularly in the implementation of study trips, education plans and ecumenical meetings.