Covenant Of Partnership

The effectiveness of our ministry rests on healthy relationships with our global partners. For us, healthy partnerships include mutual accountability and a dynamic inter-dependence.

Accountability
Many mission organizations feel that the only way to assure accountability of a ministry is to have control over it. However, sixty years of experience has taught Partners International that it is definitely possible to ensure accountability of an indigenous partner ministry without having to control it.

We have learned that the following six basic characteristics of a ministry can give us confidence that it will fulfill its commitments in a partnership with us

• An accountability structure, such as a board of directors or equivalent
• Goals and objectives that are clear, measurable and achievable
• Written policies and procedures to guide its staff
• Adequate personnel
• Local credibility
• Previous commitments have been met

Without mutual accountability a healthy relationship is not possible. So we take care to establish and nurture relationships with these principles in mind. They help us fulfill our promises to our global partners and they to us. This in turn helps us both fulfill our promises to our donors.

Dependence
Interdependence is a fact of life. The actions of any one person will ultimately affect others in some way. Families and organizations cease to function without simple dependence on others. Some dependencies create harm; alcoholism and dysfunctional families standing near the head of the list.

In order to prevent the growth of unhealthy dependence among our partner ministries, we follow these simple guidelines.

• We work with organizations that agree to pursue mutual accountability with us.
• We don't send money directly to individuals

• We don't directly finance pastors or local churches
• We don't give resources based only on need