Mwombeki: Essence of partnership is friendship

Partnerships between German congregations or church circuits and those in the South should base on friendship and not money, UEM general secretary Dr Fidon Mwombeki said in Dresden, where he spoke at a partnership event during the German "Kirchentag".

Money gets too important

"The North wants to help the South financially to solve their problems", Mwombeki said. But then money gets too important, he added. Partnerships between chruches of the South show, what the essence should be: "People meet to exchange and to participate in each other's lives."

Contracts are not well-liked

For this reason many partners in the South do not understand the importance of contracts: "Even if they sign them after long debates and delays: They don't really read them or take them them seriously. How could you form a friendship by making a contract?"