Sister Synod Relationship
Developing In The Yucatan

by Bill Williams

Taking steps toward adopting each other as "sisters," the Synod of Living Waters and the Synod of the Peninsula, in the Yucatan of Mexico, have begun talking about how the relationship might work.The kinship might involve exchanges of information and visits assistance with ministry to Hispanics in our synod, help for Mexican pastors wanting to study in U.S. seminaries, and other people-to-people matters.

Twice this year, in May and in August, delegations from the two synods have conferred in Merida, Mexico, about how to formalize the deal. Synod Executive David Snellgrove was accompanied to Mexico in May by the Rev. Wil Howie, coordinator of the synod's Living Waters for the World project, and by elder commissioner Bill Williams, moderator of the synod's LWW Committee.

Then in August Howie and Williams returned for further talks. The Synod of the Peninsula proposes to formally endorse Living Waters for the World, which already has installed eight water purification systems in the Yucatan. The synod has a goal of doubling its number of churches in the next 20 years, and it sees water projects as a plus for proposed new church developments.

The first people exchanges are expected to take place when a delegation from each synod attends the other synod's annual meeting, the Synod of the Peninsula on October 27-29 in Campeche and the Synod of Living Waters on January 24-25 in Huntsville, Ala.

To help people in the pew learn more about those in the sister synod, regular exchanges of information are planned. The Synod of the Peninsula will send articles for submission to The Voice about happenings in Mexico, and the Synod of Living Waters will send Spanish language reports at intervals for distribution to churches in the peninsula.

After all, sisters have to talk to each other.