The Companion Synod relationship of Western Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and the Southern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania exists for the purpose of strengthening one another for life and mission within the body of Christ. It offers us the privilege of participating in the life of another church through prayer, study, communications, and exchange of persons and resources. It opens our eyes to the global challenge that Christ offers us today through and involvement with a church of another culture and calls us to deepen our commitment and discipleship as individual persons and as a community of faith.

The Companion Congregation relationship exists for the purpose of strengthening one another for life and mission within the body of Christ. It offers us the privilege of participating in the life of another church through prayer, study, communications, and exchange of persons and resources. It opens our eyes to the global challenge that Christ offers us today and calls us to deepen our commitment and discipleship as individual persons and as a community of faith.

The companion church relationship exists for the purpose of strengthening one another for life and mission within the body of Christ. It offers us the privilege of participating in the life of another church through prayer, study, communication and exchanges of persons and resources. It opens our eyes to the global challenge that Christ offers us today and calls us to deepen our commitment and discipleship as individual persons and as a community of faith.

As member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) we affirm our common commitment to cooperative mission in the spirit of accompaniment both within the Lutheran communion and within the larger ecumenical arena. With gratitude for the abundant grace and gifts of God, we join together in this Covenant for Cooperative Mission and commit ourselves to a relationship of mutual respect as we seek together to hear, understand, and respond to God's call to mission.

Through ministry effectiveness and longevity, the church benefits when its pastors are allowed sabbatical time for professional and personal renewal. In order to make possible such times of leave, we enter together into the following partnership and covenant: