A relationship between The Methodist Church in Cuba and the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Affirming our common bond in Jesus Christ and our historical Wesleyan ties, we, the members of The Methodist Church in Cuba and the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, propose the "Methodists United in Prayer," as a relationship in Christ with one another. Noting Paul's words to the very diverse community gathering in a house church in Corinth, that "...we are partners in the work of service to our God..." (1 Cor. 3:9), we acknowledge our partnership for greater service to the mission of God and a stronger witness to the love of Jesus Christ.

To bring these visions to reality, we will hold the following values as the basis for our common ministry:

• God's love (John 3:16) For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
• Prayer (James 5:16) Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
• Spiritual Development (Col. 1:9) For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
• Mutuality (Romans 14:19) Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building.
• Respect (1 Thes. 5:11-12) Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. Bur we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you.
• Collaboration (1 Cor. 3:9) You are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.

As we imagine our work and uphold the values for common ministry, we envision the fruits of our common work. We pledge ourselves to focus our efforts on these priorities of our two Conferences:

• To pray for one another and develop a common study of Scriptures.
• To engage in the interchange of peoples of Cuba and Florida Conferences work teams, preachers, laity, caravans, study teams, professors, teachers and choirs.
• To respond to the priorities of the Methodist Church in Cuba.
• To build relationships between the Florida Conference and the Methodist Church in Cuba for mutual support and encouragement.
• To enable the training of pastors and lay people for the equipping of Cuban disciples.
• To mutually share the history, current events, culture and spirituality of both Conferences.

Approved by Bishop Timothy Whitaker, Florida Conference United Methodist Church and Bishop Ricardo Pereira, Methodist Church in Cuba - August 2009.