PC(USA) maintains strong ties to Brazilian Church

By Sherron George

One of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s strongest and most vibrant partners in Latin America is the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB). This denomination was born in 1903 as a result of debates over Free Masonry, North American educational philosophy, the need for autonomy in Brazilian theological education and a “Plan of National Missions” depending more on Brazilian resources. In 1984, after the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB) unilaterally ended the cooperative agreement with the PC(USA), the IPIB received our mission workers to cooperate with them.
 
The IPIB no longer needs PC(USA) mission personnel to serve as pastors, evangelists or social workers.  However, this does not mean that our partnership is coming to a screeching halt. To the contrary, as one who participated in many of the conversations with the IPIB leadership, I would say that making this very difficult and painful joint decision to end the service of some of our mission personnel has strengthened our relationship and prepared us to think freshly about the ways we can work together in the future.
 
Some PC(USA) mission personnel will continue serving with the IPIB. Arch Woodruff has been teaching in the IPIB seminary in São Paulo many years and has accompanied the brave decision of the IPIB to reconstruct their theological education in one consolidated center of excellence. This center is seeking government accreditation for the first time, and PC(USA) mission co-worker Tim Carriker is assisting them in this endeavor. IPIB leaders also want a PC(USA) professor to replace Arch, who is retiring.
 
Multiplication of Partnerships

IPIB leaders have told us that their partnership with the PC(USA) has been a model for them as they develop more international partnerships. They are moving toward a partnership agreement with the Reformed Churches in Argentina and are interested in conversations with the Presbyterian Church in Angola. Already the IPIB has formal partnerships with four of our partners: the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, the Waldensian Evangelical Church of the River Plate, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, and the Independent Presbyterian Church in Bolivia.
 
Three-Way Mission

Another exciting development of the partnership between the IPIB and the PC(USA) is the way we have cooperated in sharing human and financial resources in sending mission workers to other countries with great needs. In collaboration with the PC(USA), mission workers from the IPIB have gone to Portugal, Chile, Bolivia and Venezuela. Currently the IPIB is negotiating with the Waldensians and with the Reformed Churches in Argentina the possibility of sending IPIB mission workers to Argentina.
 
The PC(USA) has also received valuable IPIB pastoral leadership through the Mission to the U.S.A. program. They have strengthened our Brazilian fellowships and contributed to our presbyteries. Five PC(USA) presbyteries have partnerships with the IPIB. While I suffer in solidarity with my colleagues who had to leave, I rejoice in the reason, which is the strength of the human resources of the IPIB, and I also rejoice in the maturity and future of our partnership together.