Denver Presbytery hosted 4 delegates from the Presbytery of Zimbabwe from October 9 thru October 24: Rev. Lydia Neshangwe, Rev. Tafadzwa Kasere, Rev. Simba Agushito and his wife, Doreen. The Agushitos were the recipients of the 2019 “long leave” (rest and renewal) grant of the PZDP prior to joining the delegation (September 24 – October 8).
Our partners preached in the following host congregations: Bethel, Green Mountain, Calvary, Peoples, Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, First Englewood and Wellshire. They met our Presbytery staff members, learned about the Enneagram in a workshop taught by Rev. Dr. Holly Heuer, participated in the Fall Gathering of Presbyterian Women at PCOC, toured Central Visitation and New Genesis, met with our Mission & Ministry Work Group and Mission Partners focused on Zimbabwe, immersed in the history and current day life of Denver’s African American community, spent long hours in conversation with their home hosts about real life and real ministry where we each live, work and worship.
We also participated in a conference in Austin, TX, hosted by the Zambia, Zimbabwe & Mozambique Partnership (“ZZM”), which is part of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. There were about 40 people there. We met representatives from congregations with connections to the church in those 3 countries, as well as representatives from Zambia. PCUSA’s World Mission leadership was there, as well as our Mission Co-Workers in Eastern Africa, Paula Cooper, and Southern Africa, Doug Tilton. The conference presented 4 themes for education and discussion: Theological Education, Communication, Sustainable Livelihoods, and HIV and AIDS. To have voices from the US as well as Zambia and Zimbabwe made for a rich exchange.
We were the only Presbytery Partnership present – the others were from individual congregations primarily from Grace Presbytery and Mission Presbytery. Our model was of great interest – and received requests for phone calls to talk about it further. I want you to know, Presbytery leadership, that being part of the outward looking church is life giving. With the structures of church as we’ve known for our lifetime are shifting, stretching, breaking sometimes, mending, it’s easy to hunker down and close the circle. Denver’s commitment to stay open and in partnership not only across our Presbytery, but beyond, was affirmed as a real message of hope. Thank you!
During the October 22, 2019 Assembly, the delegation presented Denver Presbytery with a statue representing:
Two heads…two separate partners from different contexts and different environments
Joined arms…the unity of purpose that joins us and keeps us together in partnership
Same color…we have so much in common
Common base…in God we live and move and have our being
Knicks & scratches…our imperfections and the challenges that come along the journey of partnership
