The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee
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| In June 2002, Guatemala’s Presbytery of the Peten requested that the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee consider forming a partnership. The Peten is located in the north of the country, bordered by Mexico and Belize. Unlike most of the rest of Guatemala, it is flat and sparsely populated. Comprising 35 percent of Guatemala’s land area, only 3 percent of its population lives in the Peten. Amid the scenic beauty are many critical human needs.
The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee has 92 churches and 18,696 members. In April 2002, the first delegation from Middle Tennessee traveled to the Peten. The Presbytery of the Peten is among the poorest of Guatemala’s seventeen presbyteries. The presbytery has fewer than six hundred members. The congregations are tucked away in small, remote villages. The churches are multiethnic, worshiping in Spanish and Kekchi in an act of interethnic cooperation not often seen in Guatemala. None of the pastors are seminary-trained, nor do they receive a salary. To the visiting delegates, their hosts were the embodiment of Christ’s grace, worshiping and serving with sincerity and joy. After several follow-up visits, the two presbyteries adopted a three-year covenant of partnership in July 2004. According to their covenant, the presbyteries agree to pray for each other, communicate regularly, and develop project plans together and in coordination with both national denominations. For its part, the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee agrees to support church development, theological training, and community projects in the Peten, and to arrange for representatives from the Peten to visit Middle Tennessee. For its part, the Presbytery of the Peten agrees to provide a beautiful context for cultural exchange in Guatemala, hospitality for groups from Middle Tennessee, shared worship experiences, and accountability regarding joint projects. Although the partnership is still in its early stages, already it has made the global Christian connection more tangible for both presbyteries. The relationship is a response to God’s love for the whole human family, and an answer to John’s admonition that we “become co-workers with the truth” (3 John 8). |
 Presbytery Staff Rev. Phil Leftwich, executive presbyter Therese P. Howell, stated clerk Rev. Michael Davis, associate executive presbyter Carie Turner, financial administrator Barbara Howell, hunger action enabler Rev. Philip Beisswenger, Hispanic ministries coordinator Mission Volunteers in the U.S.A. Young Adult Volunteers, Nashville Epiphany Project, Nashville, Tennessee: Chandra Payne PC(USA) General Assembly Staff Virginia Putnam, BOP Elder Fred Pyle, DEDO Raissa Raatz, WMD |
 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus” (Acts 19:4). |
 Ps. 65, 91, 125, 147:1–11 Esth. 6:1–14 Acts 19:1–10; Luke 4:1–13 |
