Seattle and Colombian presbyteries explore thriving across borders
In a new video, members of presbyteries in Seattle and Barranquilla talk about how a Lilly Thriving Congregations Grant illuminated their relationship
SEATTLE — In 2020, Seattle Presbytery received a Thriving Congregations Grant from the Lilly Endowment, enabling the mid council to explore with its congregations how their faith could be renewed through community connections.
“Thriving is not just for the congregation, it’s for the community, which then forces a question, which is, how is the congregation viewed within its own community, and how is that congregation even connected?” said the Rev. Scott Lumsden, Co-Executive Presbyter of Seattle Presbytery. “How can these be true relationships, and not just the church kind of doing mission to the community?”
The Rev. Eliana Maxim, Co-Executive Presbyter of Seattle Presbytery, said, “We decided when we received this award, we’re not doing this alone. We’re going to do it with our partners in Colombia.”
As we saw last week, Seattle Presbytery has established a relationship with Presbiterio del la Costa in Barranquilla, Colombia, rooted in building relationships and understanding as opposed to traditional, service-oriented models of “mission.”
While, as Lumsden noted, the presbytery couldn’t share they money with Presbiterio de la Costa, Seattle could share what they were learning and learn from what churches in Barranquilla were also doing.
In this story, hear how people in both presbyteries learned about thriving through the grant and through each other.
Watch the first video in this series on YouTube.
Next week: One Seattle church’s experience in a deep partnership with a Barranquilla pastor and congregation.
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