Partners in Christ's Service
International Partnership of the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse and Pyongyang Presbytery of Seoul, Korea
April 2000 to April 2008

Presbytery Mission Partnership

In April 2000, the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse (currently 44 churches in four counties) and Pyongyang Presbytery (230,000 members in 200 churches throughout South Korea) entered into a Covenant Agreement as mission partners in Christ.  In this Partnership, we
--are "mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Romans 1:12) as we worship, break bread, and share faith stories together;
--share ideas and information, experiencing the unity of the church by learning from one another as well as teaching, by receiving as well as giving;
--engage in joint mission projects in areas we wouldn't reach alone;
--personalize our international mission and express the unity of the church throughout the world;
--celebrate the relationship between American and Korean Christians begun by American Presbyterian missionaries in the 1800's; and
--build deep and lasting relationships with our current Korean brothers and sisters in Christ.

Since 2000
--over 100 people representing all 44 churches in C-S Presbytery have been involved in the work of the Partnership;
--76 people, including adults, 14 youth, and Korean War Veterans, have traveled to Korea as part of one youth and nine adult exchanges;
--25 churches have been represented by delegates to Korea; and
--our two presbyteries continue the ministry begun by American Presbyterian missionaries in the 1800's.

The Work of the Korean Partnership
During the past eight years, a number of themes and projects have evolved out of the interests and concerns of both presbyteries.

Exploring Korean spirituality/evangelism/stewardship. 
Participating in Korean worship services and talking with our Korean partners in both formal and informal settings, we have witnessed and experienced the deep spirituality of our Korean partners, and learned from each other as we explored similarities and differences in theology and practices for evangelism and stewardship.

Sharing models of educational ministries through teaching a Korean Sunday School class in the style of Young Children and Worship, visits to Korean schools and colleges, and participation in a home Bible study.
Comparing models of youth participation in worship and local mission by worshiping together and in discussions with youth, educators and pastors.
Sharing models of the role of women as ordained pastors and elders in the PC(USA); visiting Korean women's shelters and discussing domestic violence and its prevention and other women's issues.

Hosting youth exchanges.  In 2001, 12 students from Pyongyang Presbytery attended Triennium and visited CNY and 12 students from C-S visited Seoul.  C-S hosted two young adult Global Partners from Seoul to Triennium in 2004 and four in 2007 with home-stays in CNY.  In 2007 our Global Partners were guest speakers at a confirmation retreat at Vanderkamp Center.

Offering topical presentations on issues such as hunger, U.S. environmental conservation problems and solutions, the experience of foreign brides in Korea, and the passion of Pyongyang Presbytery to minister to the people of North Korea.

Printing Bibles for Christians in North Korea.  Both presbyteries financially supported this project, co-founded by the Korean Presbyterian Church of Cayuga-Syracuse, which raised $20,000 nationally.

Providing an English immersion and cultural experience for 24 Korean children ages 9-15 who were hosted by 42 families around our presbytery for a month in the summer of 2002.

Sending aid to Malawi.  In response to severe hardships on land and people subsequent to the 2002 drought in Malawi, the partnership contributed a combined total of over $16,000 to Malawi hunger relief., and P-P donated $3000 for home construction and 10,000 t-shirts for children and adults through the Blantyre North Relief Project.  One C-S family donated a new roof for a home for orphans.  In 2007 the partnership (including  $11,310 from 8 churches and 60 individuals in C-S) contributed almost $18,000 to provide three wells for BNRP!

Training Lay Pastors for service in China.  In 1995 Rev. Eui Jung Kim and Rev. Han Jo were commissioned by the Presbyterian Church of Korea as missionaries to work in Macao where they provide training for Chinese lay pastors.  Cayuga-Syracuse hosted Rev. Kim and Rev. Jo for 18 months in 2004-2005 while Rev. Jo attended Syracuse University.  Over $38,000 has been contributed by Cayuga-Syracuse churches to purchase textbooks and training materials for this mission which has trained approximately 10,000 Lay Pastors.  4,500 persons in Unnam and Kuiju provinces are currently waiting for the two-year training course.

Supporting Presbyterian Disaster Assistance relief efforts on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.  Pyongyang Presbytery donated $18,000 towards the work of PDA.

Honoring Korean War Veterans on return trips to Korea.   Pyongyang Presbytery has hosted two special delegations including Korean War Veterans as a way to honor and express their gratitude to the men for their service and their sacrifice in the fight that secured for those living in South Korea the freedom to flourish as a people and to worship as they choose.  A delegation in June 2006 included nine Veterans and a delegation in April 2007 included seven Veterans.  These two visits were particularly meaningful, for the Veterans, for those who accompanied them, and for the members of Pyongyang Presbytery.

Looking Ahead

The Partnership is currently making plans for:

Hosting a delegation of pastors, elders and women from Korea in May 2008 and showing them the mission of Cayuga-Syracuse
Providing a four-week English as a Second Language experience for four girls and four boys from Korea in the summer of 2008
Sending Korean children and their adoptive American families, Korean War Veterans and members of C-S to Korea in October 2008. More information here: October 2008 Trip to Korea
Providing homes for orphans in the Blantyre North Relief Project
Supporting the China mission project for training lay pastors
Doing whatever "new thing" God call us to do!

Linda S. Russell, Convener
Korean International Partnership M&M Team
April 1, 2008