ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT Between the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands Introduction. I. Consensus on Faith, Church order, objectives and common history. I-1. The Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) The Protestant Church in the Netherlands is according to the Church Order manifestation of the one holy apostolic and catholic or universal Christian Church which, sharing in the expectation granted to Israel, looks forward to the coming of the Kingdom of God. Living by God's grace in Jesus Christ, the Church carries out the mandate of its Lord to hear and to proclaim the Word. Involved in God's turning towards the world, the Church, in obedience to the Holy Scripture as the one source and norm of the Church's proclamation and ministry, confesses the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In its celebrations, words and actions the Church continually confesses Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of the world and thus calls for renewal of life in culture, society and state. The Church bears witness before people, powers, and governments to God's promises and commandments and in doing so seeks the dialogue with other Churches. The Protestant Church in the Netherlands became a reality on May 1 st, 2004 by the unification of the Netherlands Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. I-2. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, as a people of God, is governed by a body of rules and principles which are based on the Scripture and which emphasise the supremacy and authority of Scripture and the centrality of GOD. These rules and principles are embodied in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana as part of the Universal Church as it is expressed in the second schedule (Faith and Order of the Church) believes in and worships one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She affirms her faith in the Gospel of the sovereign grace and love of God where through Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, Incarnate, Crucified and Risen, He freely offers upon repentance and faith the forgiveness of sins, renewal by the Holy Spirit and eternal life to all men and women; and commissions them to labour in the fellowship of faith and to call all men and women throughout the world to enter into the Kingdom of God. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana is the result of work of the Basel Mission Society which started sending people from Switzerland and South-West Germany in 1828 to what was then called Gold- Coast. In the second part of the 19 th century the Basel Mission recruited a group of workers from the West-Indies who belonged to the Moravian Church. This group was very important in establishing the work in those early days and is greatly respected in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. During World-War I the United Free Church of Scotland sent missionaries to the Gold Coast, to provide leadership in the Church during the period when German speaking missionaries were not allowed to work in the then English colony. They introduced the Presbyterian system of administering the Church. After the war the Basel Mission and the Scottish Church worked together. In 1926 this led to the official adoption of the Presbyterian style of organising the Church and in the choice of the name which reflected this. The Church has 445.000 members. The Church consists of 1865 Congregations and 400 Preaching Points. These are locations where a group of people is forming a Congregation (sometimes by meetings in houses) without being inaugurated as a Congregation yet. Congregations are grouped in Districts and 13 Presbyteries. From the fifties of the last century close cooperation with the Netherlands Reformed Church was established through the Board of Mission of the Reformed Church in the Netherlands. I-3. The PCG is member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) just like the PKN as well as of the All African Council of Churches. II. RELEVANT PKN REGULATIONS II-1. Constitutional regulation in the PKN
The Protestant Church in the Netherlands is according the Church Order a manifestation of the one Holy Apostolic and Catholic or Universal Christian Church called to seek and promote unity, fellowship, and cooperation with other Churches of Jesus Christ. Therefore the Church seeks and promotes this unity, communion and cooperation with other Churches at all levels. Apart from the cooperation with other Churches in Ecumenical organisations, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands can also enter into bilateral relations from Church to Church. II-2. Regulations regarding closer relations Closer relations can be entered into with Churches with which the Protestant Church in the Netherlands is connected by special bonds of confession and history Such a special relation can take shape - in a regulation regarding mutually granting guest-membership to the members of the Churches; - in mutual acceptance of letters of transfer for members; - in authorising Ministers to administer Word and Sacraments. - in sending deputations to each others General Synod, respectively General Assembly; - by other similar means. With due observance of the regulations established by the General Synod, it can also be decided that a Minister of the regarding Partner Church is authorised - to work in other activities within the PKN; - is authorised to seek a pastorate in the PKN. II-3. Regulations regarding an Association A yet further developed community of Faith- and Church) is possible with Churches, or Congregations of other Churches, with which there is sufficient agreement in faith and constitution; in such a case can be entered into an association-agreement with the Church concerned. Such an association-agreement contains - regulations regarding the possibilities to shape the special relations; - besides it can be agreed upon in which manner the official meetings of the Church can be participated in as observer, advising member or entitled to vote. The classis assemblies (presbyteries) have to be heard about entering into an association-agreement. III. Relevant PCG Regulations. III-1. Four models for relationships of congregations of the PCG abroad have been developed. a. Non-Affiliated Model This model is for PCG Congregations abroad which prefer to remain unaffiliated to Churches in the country of residence even though they may have a relationship with a Host Congregation which, for example, provides the use of building facilities. They are considered to be as any PCG Congregation in Ghana and therefore maintain direct links with the PCG. The PCG will work at providing Ministers to serve in such Congregations. b. Affiliated Model This model is for PCG Congregations abroad which prefer to be integrated from the Congregational level and further into the administrative system of a Host Church. They maintain links with the PCG through the administrative system of that Host Church and report to the administrative system of the Host Church. c. Partnership Model This model is for PCG Congregations abroad who wish to be a PCG Congregation with preferably a PCG pastor within the administrative system of a Host Church. The PCG will provide a Minister at the request of the Host Church. The Host Church will support this Minister for a stated period. d. Ecumenical Model This is for PCG Congregations abroad which prefer to form a viable Congregation with other Ghanaian Churches, such as the Methodist Church for example. An other model is in development in the Netherlands. e. The Association Model
This model honours the historical and still existing relationship that bind the PKN and the PCG together in mission work in partnership in Ghana. Now that the PCG exists and works in the Netherlands, the same partnership is envisaged for work in the Netherlands. The model defines the close relationship between the PKN and PCG on national level to make it possible to work closely together on local level in the Netherlands. IV. Shared History between PCG and PKN IV-1 Relation on national level The Protestant Church in the Netherlands (or rather one of her predecessors, in this case the Netherlands Reformed Church) and the Presbyterian Church of Ghana have a relationship for many years. From the fifties of the last century relations were maintained through the Mission Board and Service Agencies. Since the formation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, cooperation with the Presbyterian Church of Ghana is mainly shaped with Kerkinactie (in cooperation with ICCO) in various projects for theological education, management training, education, medical work, agricultural work, work for children and young people etc. In these projects personnel and financial support is provided on request. IV-2. Relation on local level In 1999/2000 the two PKN Congregations in Amsterdam Gaasperdam and Bijlmermeer started worship services in the English language in the Church-centre De Drie Stromen (The Three Streams) in Gaasperdam. After a while about 80 to 100 people, mainly Ghanaians, members of the PCG, visited these services. This became a project supported by the PKN from the national level under the name Being-Church with different cultures. One of initially three Ministers was set free for this work for one third of his time, while both other Ministers were also involved in the execution of this project. After a few years the activities in the project concentrated on the developments within the Ghanaian Presbyterian group and the mutual relations with the Congregations of Gaasperdam and Bijlmermeer (mentioned above) with the result of: Formation of a provisional Ghanaian, elected, Interim-Committee consisting of 4 women and 4 men in order to establish a PCG Congregation Formation of a women s fellowship Formation of Bible-study and Prayer-group and Formation of a Church-choir. During the worship services in English a Children s Service was held using the Dutch language. Apart from the Ghanaian worship services there were combined services at fixed times and a combined Congregational day. The Ghanaian Interim-Committee and both Sessions of the Protestant Congregations agreed on a 3-party-model in which diversity as well as unity could be shaped and defined. All this resulted in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Emmanuel Congregation Amsterdam-Southeast when the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Samuel Prempeh, inaugurated this Congregation on October 19 th, 2003. Thus PCG-Amsterdam became an (overseas) Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. At this same occasion also a group of PCG members in The Hague was inaugurated as a Congregation within the PCG. Their relationship with the PKN Duinzicht Congregation can be further developed. With the knowledge of PKN and PCG an Association-committee, which was formed by the two PKN Congregations and the one PCG Congregation, started working with the objective of forming an association agreement between the PCG and the PKN on national level with the effects on local level. V. Taking in consideration that 1. There is a special relation in confession, history and unity in faith and Church Order. 2. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana as well as the Protestant Church in the Netherlands both share a Calvinistic/Reformed tradition. 3. There is a cooperation-relationship between the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and (a predecessor
of) the Protestant Church in the Netherlands covering a long period of time. 4. For the Protestant Church in the Netherlands as well as for the Presbyterian Church of Ghana applies that the administration and governance of the Church (including the Congregations) is entrusted to assemblies ( in the PCG called: courts). a. For the Presbyterian Church of Ghana as a whole this is the General Assembly, which has the task of supervision, care for missionary work and maintaining ecumenical relations and also has the task to, by themselves or with partners, establish and manage diaconal institutions. b. For the Protestant Church in the Netherlands this is the General Synod, which, apart from the care for the ecumenical work of the Church, has the task to accomplish the mission- and diaconal task of the Church. 5. Both Churches are part of the same inter-church and ecumenical organisations. 6. The PCG Congregations in Amsterdam and The Hague originated from the work with the PKN Congregations. 7. For the Congregations of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana the local assembly is the Congregational Session, which is responsible for, among other things, the worship services, administering the Sacraments, the discipline, the spiritual care and the relief ( visit the sick, the needy, the aged, the bereaved and the distressed ), the youth work and the care for the properties and the church-building of the Congregation. 8. For the Congregations of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands the local assembly is the Church Council, which among others has the care for the service of Word and Sacraments, care for the missionary, diaconal and spiritual work and the spiritual education, the discipline and the care for matters relating to properties of the Congregation. 9. In the Presbyterian Church of Ghana four ministries are defined: the office of Minister, the office of Catechist, the office of Senior Presbyter, the office of Presbyter. Thus the Session of a Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana consists of Minister(s), Catechist(s) and elected Presbyters. The diaconal work is part of the work of the presbyters; visit the sick and read to them the Word of God and comfort them; visit the poor and endeavour to help them to improve their conditions. 10. In the Protestant Church in the Netherlands three ministries are defined: the office of Minister, the office of Elder and the office of Deacon. Thus the Church Council of a congregation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands consists of Minister(s) and elected Elders (including Elder-church-administrators) and elected Deacons. the following is agreed upon A. (Guest)membership Granting Guest-membership. 1a. At their request members belonging to the PCG can be registered as guest-members by the Church Council of a Congregation of the PKN, of that Congregation observing the applying conditions of the Church Order of the PKN. 1b. At their request members belonging to the PKN can be registered as guest-members by the Session of a Congregation of the PCG, of that Congregation- observing the applying conditions of the Constitution of the PCG. 1c. At their request members belonging to the PKN who live in Ghana can be registered as guestmembers by the Session of a Congregation of the PCG of that Congregation-observing the applying conditions of the Constitution of the PCG. 2. Guest-members registered with observation of the provisions in item 1, can participate in life and work of the Congregation in question as if they were members of the Congregation. In the Congregation in question these Guest-members have an active and passive right to vote in the same manner as the members of the Congregation. 3. In the Presbyterian Church of Ghana respectively the Protestant Church in the Netherlands guest-members cannot be delegated to higher courts. B. Transfer of membership. 1a At their request and after presenting a certificate issued by the Session of the Congregation of the PCG, members of the PCG can be registered by the Church Council of a Congregation of the PKN, as member of that Congregation and as such as member of the PKN.
1b At their request and after presenting a certificate issued by the Church Council of the Congregation of the PKN, members of the PKN can be registered by the Session of a Congregation of the PCG, as member of that Congregation and as such of the PCG. C. Local Cooperation 1. The Session of a Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana situated in the Netherlands and the Church Council of a Congregation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands can decide to enter locally into close cooperation in various areas of religious life. 2. A decision to start such cooperation, in which has been agreed upon what work will be undertaken entirely or partly, under mutual responsibility, is taken after the members of the Congregations involved have been informed and heard. 3. The Sessions / Church Councils, as mentioned in item 1, decide to have as many combined meetings involving the Congregations as they consider necessary. 4. In case the cooperation consists of more than having combined meetings as intended in item 3 and organizing combined worship services as intended in D., the decision to such cooperation and the drawn-up agreement have to be put up for approval by the relevant bodies of the PCG and the PKN. D. Combined worship services 1. The Session of a Congregation of the PCG and the Church Council of a Congregation of the PKN can decide to have combined worship services locally. These combined services are under common responsibility of that Session and Church Council. 2. Those who are authorized to officiate in worship services in the PCG or in the PKN can officiate in combined worship services in accordance with the regulations in their own church. 3. Combined worship services may also include administering Baptism and the Lord s Supper, provided the Session and Church Council have reached an agreement as intended in item 1 regarding the admittance to Baptism and participation in the Lord s Supper. 4. The name of the person who is baptized in a combined worship service, is entered into the Baptismal register as Baptized member of the Congregation of the PCG or of the Congregation of the PKN on the instruction of the baptized person respectively the parents or caretakers. 5. The name of the person who has pronounced Confession of Faith in a combined worship service, is entered into the Membership-register as Confessing-member of the Congregation of the PCG or of the Congregation of the PKN, on instruction of the person involved. 6. In case of the blessing of a marriage of husband and wife in a combined worship service the names of the couple involved are registered in the Marriage register of the Congregation, where they (or one of them) are / is registered. 7. Office-bearers can be affirmed in combined worship service as office-bearer of the PCG Congregation or as office-bearer of the PKN Congregation after having been called, posted or elected according to the for them applicable rules. E. Ministers E-1. Mutual recognition of office 1. The PCG and the PKN mutually recognize the office of Minister in the Partner Church. 2. Ministers and retired Ministers of the PCG and Ministers of the PKN, as well as those who have maintained the right to administer Word and Sacraments, are authorized - to administer Word and Sacraments in the Partner Church and - to officiate at other official activities in the Partner Church, which also includes the ordination and the induction of Ministers, taking into account what otherwise has been agreed on in this agreement. 3. The mutual recognition does not include the authority to serve in worship services given to others than mentioned in 2. Dispensations for preaching, given according to special regulations of the PCG respectively of the PKN have no validity in the Partner Church. E-2. Officiating in the Partner Church
1. Ministers and retired Ministers of the PCG can be invited to officiate in a Congregation of the PKN in other ministerial work; taking into account what has been determined in the regulations off the PKN. 2. Ministers of the PKN and those who are authorized to administer Word and Sacraments, can be invited to officiate in a congregation of the PCG in ministerial work; taking into account what has been determined in the regulations of the PCG. 3. Before proceeding to invite a Minister of the Partner-Church to officiate at activities as mentioned in item 1 respectively item 2, the Board of the General Synod of the PKN respectively the General Assembly Council of the PCG makes sure that such a Minister - is sufficiently well informed about the life and work in the Partner Church, - that there are no other impediments to assign this task. E-3. Admission to the office of Minister and eligibility 1. A serving Minister and Proponent of the PCG is, after being admitted by the relevant body of the PKN to the office of Minister in the PKN, eligible to be a Minister in the PKN. 2. The relevant PKN body indicated, may attach conditions to the admission to the office of Minister in the PKN. 3. A serving Minister or Proponent of the PKN is, after being admitted by the relevant body of the PCG, to the office of Minister in the PCG, can be posted to be a Minister in PCG. 4. The relevant PCG body indicated, may attach conditions to the admission to the office of Minister in the PCG. F. Cooperation above local level F-1. Delegations 1. At the invitation of the Partner Church, the General Assembly Council of the PCG and the Board of the General Synod of the PKN can appoint delegates to attend a meeting of the Partner Church as observers. 2. The classis assemblies (Presbyteries) of the PKN can invite Sessions of Congregations of the PCG in the Netherlands to have a member of the Congregation of the PCG attend the meeting as observer. 3. (Future) presbytery Assemblies of the PCG can invite Church Councils of PKN Congregations to have a member of the Congregation attend the meeting as observer. F-2. Meeting and cooperation in inter-church respectively ecumenical organizations Congregations of the PCG and Congregations of the PKN are represented in a number of interchurch respectively ecumenical organizations. The representatives of both Churches / congregations who are appointed in diverse ecumenical organizations inform each other if necessary about the contribution of the own Church / Congregation in such organizations. F-3. Mutual information and cooperation The PCG and the PKN also allow each other to participate in each others religious life in any other way to promote a growing unity between the Churches with all means available to the Churches. This is generally done by exchanging information on important measures and on events and developments in their own field of work and their ecumenical context. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands also have the possibility of mutual personal assistance, at the request of either the Protestant Church of Ghana or the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. On behalf of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands Kerkinactie is responsible for this work. F-4 Other services and facilities The Congregations in the Netherlands of the PCG may use facilities and services of the PKN upon payment of the costs involved and vice versa. G. Final stipulations G-1 Further agreements and alterations
1. Further agreements, additions and changes of this agreement can be proposed in writing by the General Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and by the Board of the Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands and will be made after acceptance by both parties. 2. In case the effect of a stipulation or part of a stipulation lapses it will not effect the validity of the remaining stipulations. The Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the Protestant Church in the Netherlands accept the obligation to replace the lapsed stipulations by stipulations that are in accordance with the aim of this agreement. 3. Agreements different from what is indicated in 1, made by parts, meetings, organizations etc. off both churches and that are contrary to what is laid down in this agreement are invalid. 4. When stipulations of the agreement are not clear and in cases for which this agreement does not provide, the Assembly Council of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and the kleine synode (Board) of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands will in consultation decide about the meaning or about a necessary addition to this agreement. G-2. Dissolving the agreement 1. This agreement is made for an indefinite time and can be dissolved after a term of notice of one year before the end of a quarter. 2. After a period of four years the cooperation and the agreement therefore made will be evaluated and will - on the basis of the outcome of this evaluation - be reviewed to see whether this agreement needs to be adjusted, added to, or otherwise changed. G-3 Final stipulation This agreement takes effect on the date of Signed by: The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana The Chairman of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands The Secretary of the General Synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands