Our Companion: The Episcopal Church of Panama Report to 2007 Diocesan Convention From The Companion Diocese Committee Of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark Episcopal Church of Panama + Companion Diocese Web Links + Report to 2007 Convention Companion Diocese Home Page + Diocese of Newark home page   2006 Activity Report of Companion Diocese Committee Thanks to the support of Convention, Council and the Bishop, 2006 was a year of extraordinary progress for the Companion Diocese Committee. In January, both Crossroad Camp directors as well as Ms. Kai Alston, Diocesan Youth Missioner, traveled to Panama and successfully forged a new relationship between Panama's and Newark's extensive youth programs. In February, co-chair the Rev. Robert Griner presented Newark's invitation for companionship in person to the diocesan convention of the Diocese of Panama. Our offer was unanimously accepted and our relationship formalized. In March, both co-chairs (Ms. Martha Gardner and the Rev. Robert Griner) engaged in a two year strategic planning session in Panama City with diocesan representatives there. The Diocese of Newark and Crossroads Outdoor Ministries hosted four Panamanians for ten days in July. In addition, a member of the Diocese of Panama was hired for the summer as a counselor at Crossroads (January's visit bearing fruit!) In August, Canon Carter Echols presented training on congregational development in Panama City to one of the largest gatherings of lay leaders and clergy in recent years. Canon Echols also provided an extensive assessment of diocesan structures in Panama to the Bishop and senior staff. Her recommendations were enthusiastically adopted and are being implemented now &endash; including the appointment by the Bishop of a clergyperson to focus on congregational development for the Diocese of Panama. The Companion Diocese Committee of the Diocese of Newark hosted two priests from Panama in October to evaluate our progress to date and to further define mutual goals. A parish youth visit to Panama took place in November. Plans for 2007 As we plan for 2007, we continue to be reminded of the original criteria of our companionship as approved by Diocesan Council: a sense of mutuality, recognizing that both partners have gifts to offer and needs to be addressed; opportunities fro young people; congregation-to-congregation ties; mutual accountability; projects and advocacy that arise out of the growing relationship, rather than defining it from the start; the commitment of the bishops, but also an openness to "grass roots" contacts. Some of the specific plans for 2007 include: o The Bishop of Panama, the Rt. Rev. Julio Murray, will participate in the consecration of Bishop-Elect Mark Beckwith. o A delegation of Newark youth will visit the Diocese of Panama. o A clergy exchange going both ways o A delegation of Panama youth visit the Diocese of Newark (summer) o Continued conversation between the two companion diocese committees, and conversations between the two dioceses' committees and commissions, about how to most effectively do ministry together. o Congregational development &endash; i.e, Canon Carter Echols will travel to Panama to "train the trainer" in congregational development models and methods. We need your participation! Whether you are interested in joining the companion diocese committee or participating in a particular aspect of the companionship, we need you! Please contact either of the co-chairs: Ms Martha Gardner or phone 973-378-5938; the Rev. Robert Griner or phone 973-383-2245. For more information about the Companion Diocese Committee and relationship with the Diocese of Panama, please visit the webpage at http://companiondiocese.dioceseofnewark.org/. Active members of the Committee include Ms. Kai Alston, the Rev. Esar Budhu, Ms. Martha Gardner (co-chair), the Rev. Robert Griner (co-chair), Ms. Bernice Mays, Mr. Don Roberts, and the Rev. Cork Tarplee. This page was undated on February 12, 2007