Partners In Mission report for the year 2011

The Partners In Mission Committee continued its ongoing work with the Copan and Mayan Deaneries in our companion Diocese of Honduras during 2011. This work was carried out ably during the year by the PIM chair, Terry Koehler and the Rev. Brien Koehler who led the work in the Copan Deanery. PIM member Deborah Matherne leads the work in the Mayan Deanery. The clergy of Honduras no longer receive salaries from the diocese but are expected to be self-supporting through grassroots cottage industries. A small stake was given to each clergy person from the Diocese of Honduras to begin these various enterprises. The two deans of our companion Honduran deaneries have families to support as well as the shepherding of numerous lay leaders and congregations. This has been a particularly trying time for them. Our PIM committee and several churches in our diocese have supported the Honduran deans and their work in their mission fields.

In addition to its ties to Honduras, the PIM committee has ongoing prayer and mission relationships in Japan, Haiti and Africa. The Diocese of Rhode Island also has partnered with Louisiana in support of mission endeavors. Members of our PIM committee give updates on these partnerships at bi-monthly PIM meetings.

At the end of 2011, Terry Koehler stepped down as PIM chairperson following the retirement of her husband the Rev. Brien Koehler, former rector of St. Luke’s, Baton Rouge. At their last PIM meeting in December, the Koehlers showed a Powerpoint presentation recapping the years of work that has been accomplished in our companion diocese over their tenure with Partners in Mission. Members of the committee and Bishop Thompson credited much of the success of the partnership to the Koehlers and their dedicated work in the mission field.

Also during 2011, the Diocese of Louisiana received and sent donations totaling more than $40,000 for earthquake/tsunami relief work in the Diocese of Tohoku, Japan. Tohoku remains a longtime prayer partner of Louisiana. In April, The Sounds of Vespers, a group of Japanese Jazz musicians from Tokyo visited New Orleans to play at the French Quarter Fest. They also had play dates at Trinity, New Orleans and All Saints, River Ridge. The group gave all the proceeds from their musical events and sale of their Cds while in New Orleans to the relief effort in the Diocese of Tohoku. Additionally, Yumiko Takeishi, organist of the cathedral church in Sendai, Japan, accompanied the group and visited the Episcopal Church Women’s annual gathering at St. Paul’s, New Orleans, bringing greetings from Tohoku and news concerning the earthquake relief effort.

The PIM committee looks forward to continuing its relationships with Honduras, Haiti, Tohoku, parts of Africa and other mission opportunities that may arise.