Guidelines for the Companion Synod Relationship
NWO Synod Global Mission Board

Regarding the Covenant

•	We encourage congregations to be in consultation with the Global Mission Board regarding all plans, arrangements and decisions involving the companion synod relationship. We discourage individual congregations from acting independently.

Regarding Projects

•	We encourage projects that assist in building faith in Christ crucified. We discourage any projects that entice people with a counterfeit gospel of goods and glory. 
•	We encourage projects that are sustainable. We discourage projects that promote dependency or cause damage to the environment, the culture or the church.
•	We encourage support of current Global Mission Board projects which are consistent with the Companion Synod Covenant and our Core Values. (See attached Covenant).
•	We encourage our congregations to be involved in projects that directly support evangelism, health, and education. We discourage projects that focus primarily on development.

Regarding Money

•	We support funding of congregational/diocesan/ELCT projects. We discourage the funding of requests by individuals.
•	We encourage giving help through a matching funds process. We discourage outright and/or complete funding for projects.
•	We encourage sending funds through the Synod Office for the sake of accountability, safe transmittal, favorable exchange rate, and Synod‑wide celebration. (Designate when giving for a specific project.) We discourage sending funds directly.
•	We suggest congregations consider sending relief funds through Lutheran World Relief and World Hunger Appeal, designating funds for the Dodoma. diocese. We discourage congregations from initiating their own relief projects.

Regarding Travel

•	We encourage congregations to see trips to the diocese Companion Synod as educational and/or work‑project opportunities. We discourage trips that are basically sightseeing tours.
•	We encourage congregations who want to be involved in travel to our Companion Synod to be in consultation with the Travel Sub‑committee of the Global Mission Board. We discourage trips to the Companion Synod which are independently planned.

Values for Global Mission

Core Values for Northwestern Ohio Synod Division Board for Global Mission and Its
Committees

•	Making Christ Known ‑yet being receptive to meeting Christ in Others

We are ambassadors for Christ, commissioned to proclaim the Good News, even though we have much to learn ourselves. We make Christ known in humility with the expectation that we too will meet Christ in this encounter.

•	Being culturally sensitive ‑ yet free to challenge and to be challenged in wisdom and love

We are called to grow in our understanding of each other's traditions, assumptions and mores. We recognize that in every culture there are attitudes and behaviors that are harmful and ungodly. Therefore, in the light of the Gospel we are called to speak and hear the truth in love.

•	Meeting people's needs ‑ yet doing no harm

As Christians we want to help in any way we can, however we realize that not everything we could do is necessarily helpful. We strive to avoid those projects which would be harmful to the community, church, or the environment. We encourage mutually identified projects that are sustainable, that do not promote dependency, and that strengthen church and community. We discourage gifts to individuals.

•	Working in partnership with accountability ‑ yet valuing initiative

Partnering is more than doing things for others, but involves doing things with others. Furthermore it necessitates being responsible to each other, and exercising our gifts and vision within the agreed structures (e.g. Companion Synod Covenant; Synod Constitution, Global Mission Board Structure).

•	Learning, teaching and doing Global Mission ‑ yet knowing that the fruitfulness of our efforts depends upon God alone

We believe we are called to develop lay leadership, to help people discern their gifts for mission, to identify the needs of the global community, and to involve people of all ages in the call to mission. We do this fully realizing that we rely upon the Holy Spirit working in, through and among us to make this happen.