Form Covenant Partnerships

We encourage local congregations and varied ministry settings, inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit, to form covenant partnerships with all who work for the common good in their local communities and throughout the world.

Strategic Partnerships

As the Southern New England Conference continues to live out its mission to develop new covenant partnerships it’s important to explore relationships that have not yet been explored. Toward this end the Conference has recently joined multiple chambers of commerce in our three states. In most instances, the Conference is the first faith-based non-profit organization to establish these strategic partnerships. Our presence will provide a much needed faithful voice in the economic growth and development of our three states. 

The Connecticut Business & Industry Association is the voice of business in Connecticut, with thousands of member companies championing change at the State Capitol, shaping debate about economic competitiveness, and fighting for a better future for all.

 

 

 

The MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, located in Framingham, Massachusetts, is a regional, not-for-profit business association serving more than 500 member organizations ranging from sole proprietorships and small/mid-tier businesses to Fortune 100 enterprises, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations in Greater MetroWest region.

 

 

The Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber (CTGLC) provides valuable business development opportunities, financial access and educational resources to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and others (LGBTQ+) and allied business community in the greater Connecticut area. As the official affiliate chamber of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), CTGLC is the voice of hundreds of LGBT-owned businesses and actively promotes and creates supplier diversity and procurement opportunities for its growing base of corporate partners and business members.

 

Ecumenical Partnerships

An example of forming partnerships with other religious traditions is the Together We Thrive  initiative focused on clergy leadership & development, funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.  It is a  collaboration between the Southern New England Conference UCC, The Episcopal Diocese Of Western Massachusetts, And The New England Synod ELCA, Lutheran.

The five-year initiative offers 4 programs: Professional Coaching, New Communities of Practice for ELCA and Episcopal clergy, Tending the Fire retreat series, and additional educational gatherings and events.
 

International Partnerships

The historic conferences of Southern New England each came into the new conference with existing international partnerships. 

Haiti

 The Haiti Task Force (originally known as the Rhode Island Haiti Task Force) was founded in 1990 when the late Rev. Dr. H. Daehler Hayes, historic Rhode Island Conference Minister, partnered with The Rev. Jean Dorisca, the founder of the Mission Evangelique Baptitise Bethesda (MEBB) churches.  Numerous groups have traveled to Haiti and the task team continues today, more dedicated than ever to its mission.  

CONASPEH Partnership was founded  In 1986 with a group of 50 pastors from very poor Protestant churches in Haiti, under the leadership of  Rev. Patrick Villier,  working with Global Ministries (the mission arm of the United Church  of Christ and Disciples of Christ).   

Learn about the work of both groups here.

Korea

The Connecticut Conference of the United Church of Christ formed a covenanted relationship with the Kyung-Ki Presbytery in South Korea in 1994.  The churches committed to build a relationship with one another, learn about each other’s culture, and grow in faith together. Some local churches partner with one another, and delegations from each country have regularly visited one another.   Find out more. 

Chile

In 1985, the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ entered into a Mission Partnership with the Pentecostal Church of Chile (IPC), an independent denomination founded in 1947 under the leadership of Bishop Enrique Chavez.  From 1996 until 2016, Mission Co-Worker Elena Huegel served in Chile through Global Ministries to support and facilitate the relationship with the church of the Massachusetts Conference.  Find out more.

Colombia

The Connecticut Conference has worked in an ecumenical partnership with Evangelical Council of Colombia since 2001. That relationship has been facilitated by Mission Co-Worker Michael Joseph.   Find out more.

Hands on Tree Photo by Shane Rounce on Unsplash