Reprinted by permission 

Background

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if the Body of Christ would truly set aside all of its logos and egos to pursue together all that the Lord has planned? What would it be like to truly submit to one another and prefer one another in mutual trust and respect for the mission that the Lord has placed before us? Such were the questions and the discussion that led up to the formation of a partnership that grew to be called the Christian Partnership Cooperative (CPC).

Preparing

In 1990, six of the large, U.S. based, international campus ministries’ presidents had been meeting twice per year on an informal basis. Their desire was to develop relationships, learn from one another and have a forum to pray for and discuss issues with which they struggled. They also had a desire to see greater effectiveness and efficiencies in their respective ministries. They consequently authorized the forming of two other bodies of representatives: (1) the ministry directors, and (2) the chief operating officers of each of their organizations (meeting separately with fellow cohorts in a similar fashion to tackle various issues).

Sharing

We as a group of chief operating officers began to meet to get to know one another and seek the Lord for what He wanted to do through us and to us. It was extremely significant that the group had the sanction and authorization of the CEOs of the organizations. Initially, our sharing was superficial and very guarded. However, as we got to know one another and traded stories and situations, we, with the presidents’ prompting, decided to look at the different ways we might achieve cost savings and greater effectiveness in our ministries. We looked at situations where there might be significant duplication of effort, and we examined opportunities to streamline our operations. We looked at a continuum of possibilities ranging from merely networking together to boldly merging our support services into one entity. We developed a mission statement, articulated our core values, and outlined guidelines for working together. We began to trust one another more as our relationships deepened. We found it motivating to have a task that we were working on together rather than just passively talking about what could be done. We brought together our various department directors to share processes—finance, personnel, insurance, benefits, accounting, and the legal representatives. Yes, even the lawyers! We agreed that we would not try to hire staff away from a fellow team member’s organization; we determined that Kingdom benefits would supersede individual organization benefits; we agreed not to speak ill of another fellow organization or team member, and we decided to share ideas, experiences, policies, etc. which could be of benefit to the other organization members. We committed ourselves to one another.

Daring

As we continued to pray and share together, our relationships with one another were strengthened. These bonds were often challenged, as we experienced turnover in the various organizations and we occasionally had to begin afresh with a new team member. When we got together we would spend at least half of our time just listening and praying for each other. We wanted this partnership to work. As such a process continued we noticed that any original fears, resistance, and posturing began to subside, and we became convinced that this effort had value. Elements of the Co-Mission formulation (a joint missions effort into the former Soviet Union) grew out of these group efforts; other initiatives naturally came together through these relationships. Then we took another daring step and formed a legal entity called the Christian Partnership Cooperative. It was formed to have a shell corporation that could serve us for the future. This represented a daring, serious step for us toward truly partnering together.

Forbearing and Comparing

Now picture what has taken place over the last years as the partnership has matured. The hours of work and perseverance have produced worthwhile results, and the partnership group is always ready to compare any outside situation with what can be accomplished through the CPC. A mutual long distance phone contract has been established; joint software ventures have been developed; co-op buying power has been realized through interested vendors; strategic consulting services have benefited each of the ministries.

In addition to formal arrangements, many informal benefits have been realized. Service charge comparisons and practices, gift processing, accounting practices, personnel issues, comparing auditors and attorneys, and investment policy development have all been areas in which discussion has benefited all parties. There have also been studies to consider the possibilities of owning our own bank, having our own health insurance company, or running our own travel agency. There has been no authority to demand anything, nor has anyone dominated the others in the partnership. Ideas emerge and are developed based on mutual trust, a desire to see continuous improvement, and a desire to work together. This relationship has taken a lot of hard work, and it has always needed leadership to keep it going—done in a facilitating manner.

The group has no desire to aggressively market itself or try unwise exploits to gain attention of others. It does not operate in an aggressive mode; rather, it is committed to watch for opportunities as they naturally emerge. They are open for anything that has possibilities for greater cost savings, efficiencies, and effectiveness. Team members have demonstrated patience toward one another, there has been a pouring out of hearts for one another, and whenever someone has a question or dilemma there are (now seven) others there to assist.

Declaring

In reviewing this partnership, which continues to function 14 years after its inception, there are several observations to declare. Such a group needs the ongoing enthusiastic support of its top leadership; relationship needs to precede partnership; the changing composition of ministry representatives demands an ongoing building of trust and respect; prayer is important for success; it takes a lot of hard work to maintain a partnership, and even harder work to achieve success in a project; it is helpful to have a task on which to focus; someone has to keep the group going and therefore it requires facilitating leadership; the cultures of individual organizations must be respected and protected; size and economics make a difference in how organizations relate to one another and whether they desire partnership; in partnering each member needs to maintain its own identity and mission; a vision and purpose bigger than any one organization is a great factor in building a desire to partner together.

There are also outside factors that help precipitate the desire to partner. Such matters as the following are apt to bring organizations together for ministry: the economic situation affecting all of us is a key factor; persecution and pressure are factors that tend to unite us; the environment and surroundings are often affecting whether or how we will work together. We also learn that these difficulties that confront us often can be the motivating factors to stir us to greater works.

Jesus prays in John 17:21 that His desire is that we be one, even as He and the Father are one…that the world might believe that God sent Him to earth. It is worth it all, whatever the cost, to see Him lifted up in a lost world.

Copyright © 2004 by Steve Prensner