Conversation with Maria

A small group of Crescent Hill folks gathered Tuesday for pizza and conversation with Maria about her participation in last week’s Guatemala Mission Network gathering and her conversations with Ramiro and Pastor Gerardo from the Estoreño Presbytery. Unbeknownst to us, the presbytery was sending two representatives to the gathering at the evangelical Presbyterian seminary in San Felipe, some 10 hours from El Estor. Unbeknownst to Estoreño folks, a person from Crescent Hill church, Maria, was going to be there because of her leadership position in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) World Mission.

Maria said that at the start of the gathering folks introduced themselves and referred to partners there, and Ramiro and Gerardo were able to mention their partnership with Crescent Hill and point out Maria, and she was able to do the same about the Crescent Hill-Estoreño partnership and point out them. Later on the three of them talked, and Gerardo wrote up an information sheet and proposal whose text is posted on the blog.

Maria said it was important that, as representatives of a far-away, relatively disadvantaged Q’eqchi’ presbytery, that the Estoreño folks have us as a partner and that she – also as a national PC(USA) leader – was there. She told Ramiro and Gerardo that one of the first things that folks coming into our sanctuary see is a bulletin board with pictures of Estoreño folks Crescent Hill are praying for that Sunday and that week, and that we pray for Estoreño folks by name each week in worship.

Maria said that there was lots of discussions about partnership during the meeting. About financial transfers Maria mentioned the possibility of sending donations through the PC(USA), which asks for 5 percent administrative fees, and through the national church in Guatemala (IENPG), which also asks for 5 percent administrative fee. Going through the PC(USA) can slow things down, as they wait to transfer money, since it is expensive. Going through the IENPG in Guatemala should not slow things down much. Another option is to send money directly, but also to send 5 percent of the money to the IENPG, as a way to acknowledge them and remind them about the partnership.

Maria said national church folks were surprised about the number of partnerships. There were more Guatemalans at the gathering than North Americans. Most North Americans there had partners, but there were Guatemalans in search of partners.

Maria discouraged Crescent Hill from sending money regularly to Estoreño Presbytery. Sending modest amounts in response to specific needs (such as the storm) seemed OK.

Maria and others there also discussed a possible Kentuckiana visit by Estoreño representatives and possible joint/shared/parallel Bible study. She reviewed how PC(USA) folks could help us effect the visit, and suggested, in general, a relatively short theological reflection passage that we could send them.

The group also talked about the Walton funds, the seminary, the proposed Q’eqchi’ language theological training program, the La Patria schools, and some of the history and dynamics of the Guatemalan church and the place of Estoreño Presbytery and Q’eqchi’ Presbyterians in the church, reiterating the role Crescent Hill folks could play as allies of the Estoreño folks, just as Estoreño folks offer Crescent Hill folks many things.

Maria agreed to stay in touch and continue to be in conversation with other Crescent Hill folks interested in the partnership as we continue to move forward.

-- Perry