Search: Philip N. Olson, Partnerships

Why Partner?

Partnerships are risky. Partnerships take energy and time. It may not be easy to look
past the challenges of organizing your own congregation for ministry to see the potential
in collaborating with others. Nor is it always easy to adjust to a partnering agency’s different methods and priorities. Is the effort worth it?

Few churches can carry out effective holistic ministry without entering into some
form of partnership. This is true for seven practical reasons and three theological reasons. The attached document outlines all these reasons.

QUALITIES OF HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS

Most partnerships are organized around a shared commitment to address a need.
A common concern is not enough by itself, however, to make a collaboration work. The attached document describes how healthy partnerships have the following six qualities:

1. Healthy partnerships share a compatible core mission.

2. Healthy partnerships do not hinder the faith or evangelistic witness of the church.

3. Healthy partnerships are founded on mutual trust and respect. Bishop Robbins

4. Healthy partnerships have a sense of ownership on both sides.