Presbytery of Aberdeen Partnership Agreement with Blantyre

The Church of Scotland
Presbytery of Aberdeen

Partnership with Blantyre

The Presbytery of Aberdeen has entered into a Covenant of Partnership with the Presbytery of Blantyre City, The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi.

At signing ceremonies in Scotland and Malawi on Tuesday 4 November 2003 a commitment was made to pursue increased communication, occasional exchange of visits and mutual support and encouragement, particularly through prayer.

Covenant of Partnership

Aberdeen Pictures

Blantyre Pictures

Rev Ian Dick and Rev Misheck Nasiyaya sign the agreement in Aberdeen.

The signing ceremony in Malawi was attended by the Rev Robert Brown, Moderator of Aberdeen Presbytery, where a large and exuberant congregation welcomed the agreement with great joy. He took with him a gift of a silver Celtic Cross for the Moderator of Blantyre City Presbytery.

Pictures of Malawi

Bob Brown wrote about his trip to Malawi in his Christmas Message
[Read Message]

Rev Bob Brown (Moderator of the Presbytery of Aberdeen received a warm welcome in Blantyre.

In Aberdeen, former Moderator Ian Dick led the service of worship which was attended by the Rev Misheck Nasiyaya, Mrs Lovely Kamanga and Mr Freeman Mughogho from Blantyre City Presbytery in Malawi.

Rev Alison Swindells, Mrs Lovely Kamanga, Mr Freeman Mughogho, Rev Misheck Nasiyaya and Rev Ian Mclean.

The connections between Scotland and Malawi go back to the mid 19th century when missionaries such as David Livingstone and Robert Laws, who was born in Mannofield, brought Christianity to the country. Aberdeen Presbytery's World Mission and Ecumenical Relations Convener, Rev Alison Swindells, spoke about the years of discussion and careful thought which led up to the twinning agreement. The Rev. Misheck Nasiyaya, Depute Presbytery Clerk of Blantyre City Presbytery, brought greetings from his people and said that they had been looking forward to this day for a long time. He added that the signing ceremony was just the beginning and that each side has a lot to learn from the other. He also said that he was overwhelmed with joy that the agreement was taking place and was sure that it would prove to be fruitful.

Gifts of a painting of Aberdeen and two beautiful banners from Malawi were exchanged and an act of commitment took place in which both Presbyteries gave thanks for the ties which bind them together and looked forward to strengthening these through sharing their understanding of the Christian faith and learning from each other's experience.

More Pictures: [Scotland] [Malawi]