Berichte
God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9,7
The weight will be carried on more shoulders
Die Kommission Partner sein: Urs Müller, Anne-Marie Kaufmann, Peter Grüter, Ioan Livius Jebelean, Franz Peter Murbach, Anne Loch, Nassouh Toutoungi, Robert Amstutz
With a total of CHF 261000 Partner sein has this year supported 35 projects in seven countries. Now it is in the middle of a major personnel change. Long serving members of the Board, who have significantly influenced the course of the charity over many years are retiring and being replaced by new people.
Among the Old Catholic world, Partner sein is the largest charity. Four years ago, in Wettingen, it celebrated its 50th anniversary. In November 2014 Rev. Christoph Schuler, who had been general Project Leader since 1999, well connected, reliable and a tireless worker, retired from the commission. At the same time, Rev. Klaus/Heinrich Neuhoff, who had supported the charity in theological matters pertaining to ecumenical matters also retired.
In July 2005, our bookkeeper, Peter Hagmann retired after 5 years on the Board. He is replaced by Anne Loch who, like Peter Hagmann. is also the finance manager of the Old Catholic Diocese in Switzerland.
At the beginning of 2015 Nives Hagmann handed over responsibility for Asian projects to Rev. Ioan Jebelan. Nives Hagmann not only managed Asia for 7 years with much engagement, but had a flair for fruitful projects with our partners in the Philippines and HongKong. Under her presidency the charity developed well. Per July 1, the presidency has been assumed by Urs Mueller, an Old Catholic from the Frick valley. Nives Hagmann officially left the Board at the Annual General Meeting in November along with Christian Binz, who has held numerous functions within the charity in his 11 years as Board member, the last 6 as Vice President. Rev. Anne Marie Kaufmann is the new Vice President.
Now we have a secretariat
It is not easy to find volunteers ready to invest many hours in volunteer work. Working people need to find the right balance between paid employment and voluntary work, especially when it not only concerns short term issues. Even for the unpaid volunteers it makes sense that their time involvement in their challenging role, which requires much initiative and firm dealings with others, is manageable. If much work lies on few shoulders, as has been the case in previous years, it is more difficult to find new potential Board members. The Board is therefore grateful to the Synod for agreeing to support Partner sein with a 10% secretariat. Rev. Peter Grueter, Rheinfelden, is the Secretary to the Board since January 2015. His administrative skills will assist the efficiency of the Board as well as provide a central contact point for the individual parishes. He will also be responsible for the German web pages of our charity.
3 Project leaders instead of 1
Previously, Rev. Christoph Schuler had been project leader for all of Africa. With the change of personnel we will now have 3 project leaders. As previously mentioned, Rev Ioan Jebelan will be responsible for Asian projects. Franz Murbach, a well known face in the Old Catholic church, joined the Board early 2015 and, as a Francophone, takes responsibility for Congo. Robert Amstutz, the Swiss Anglican Synod delegate to Partner sein, joined in 2011 and, as a native English speaker,has assumed responsibility for projects in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Zambia.
Do good things well
This new organisation, with a wider spread of responsibilities, does not only bring advantages. Responsibilities and interfaces must be properly defined. The coordination effort is greater and it will require more discussion. This however must be seen as a chance since development work is not an exact science. The spectrum is wide and there are various aspects where differing conclusions mazy be drawn.
To consider and discuss various matters is important for an organisation such as ours which has as targets more fairness, solidarity and social equality. Money given to Partner sein should not simplify be seen as a way of easing ones conscience rather than as a means of providing for people to in order to help themselves. This help should encourage our recipients to develop their own initiatives and in the medium term for the projects supported to become self supporting, This is a big challenge fr a small charity such as Partner sein since we cannot afford to employ a full time on the spot local project manager. We are therefore reliant on competent and reliable local partners. Conscious of this, Partner sein concentrates it efforts on a limited number of countries. In our opinion, it is not enough to do good, but do good things well.
In July 2005, our bookkeeper, Peter Hagmann retired after 5 years on the Board. He is replaced by Anne Loch who, like Peter Hagmann. is also the finance manager of the Old Catholic Diocese in Switzerland.
At the beginning of 2015 Nives Hagmann handed over responsibility for Asian projects to Rev. Ioan Jebelan. Nives Hagmann not only managed Asia for 7 years with much engagement, but had a flair for fruitful projects with our partners in the Philippines and HongKong. Under her presidency the charity developed well. Per July 1, the presidency has been assumed by Urs Mueller, an Old Catholic from the Frick valley. Nives Hagmann officially left the Board at the Annual General Meeting in November along with Christian Binz, who has held numerous functions within the charity in his 11 years as Board member, the last 6 as Vice President. Rev. Anne Marie Kaufmann is the new Vice President.
Now we have a secretariat
It is not easy to find volunteers ready to invest many hours in volunteer work. Working people need to find the right balance between paid employment and voluntary work, especially when it not only concerns short term issues. Even for the unpaid volunteers it makes sense that their time involvement in their challenging role, which requires much initiative and firm dealings with others, is manageable. If much work lies on few shoulders, as has been the case in previous years, it is more difficult to find new potential Board members. The Board is therefore grateful to the Synod for agreeing to support Partner sein with a 10% secretariat. Rev. Peter Grueter, Rheinfelden, is the Secretary to the Board since January 2015. His administrative skills will assist the efficiency of the Board as well as provide a central contact point for the individual parishes. He will also be responsible for the German web pages of our charity.
3 Project leaders instead of 1
Previously, Rev. Christoph Schuler had been project leader for all of Africa. With the change of personnel we will now have 3 project leaders. As previously mentioned, Rev Ioan Jebelan will be responsible for Asian projects. Franz Murbach, a well known face in the Old Catholic church, joined the Board early 2015 and, as a Francophone, takes responsibility for Congo. Robert Amstutz, the Swiss Anglican Synod delegate to Partner sein, joined in 2011 and, as a native English speaker,has assumed responsibility for projects in Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and Zambia.
Do good things well
This new organisation, with a wider spread of responsibilities, does not only bring advantages. Responsibilities and interfaces must be properly defined. The coordination effort is greater and it will require more discussion. This however must be seen as a chance since development work is not an exact science. The spectrum is wide and there are various aspects where differing conclusions mazy be drawn.
To consider and discuss various matters is important for an organisation such as ours which has as targets more fairness, solidarity and social equality. Money given to Partner sein should not simplify be seen as a way of easing ones conscience rather than as a means of providing for people to in order to help themselves. This help should encourage our recipients to develop their own initiatives and in the medium term for the projects supported to become self supporting, This is a big challenge fr a small charity such as Partner sein since we cannot afford to employ a full time on the spot local project manager. We are therefore reliant on competent and reliable local partners. Conscious of this, Partner sein concentrates it efforts on a limited number of countries. In our opinion, it is not enough to do good, but do good things well.
Changed: 31.07.2016