Principles of
Development - Authentic Partnership
We will build authentic relationships with our colleagues and partners, which involves joint participation, shared goals and mutual accountability. We also affirm our interdependence and our willingness to yield autonomy as necessary for the common good. We are defining partnership as a sharing of power, resources, information and experience based on equitable arrangements regarding trust, accountability and exchanges.
Partners come together willingly out of a common set of values and a mutually held vision. They bring to the relationship a spirit of openness and cooperation, since competitiveness and secrecy are out of place. We recognize that each partner has valuable contributions to make including financial resources, time, expertise, experience, and all are valued equally. These contributions are made without reservation, out of a commonly held commitment to stewardship and transparency. Partnership by definition is a two-way flow of power and other resources even when the partners may not have equal resources to contribute to the relationship. The sharing of power and other resources is a commitment to equity within the partnership, and it must by consciously pursued through arrangements which deliberately foster it. Each partner should have equal access to information and decision making authority at all stages of the relationship. The relationship should characterized by frequent and open dialogue. The relationship should be built on the strengths of each partner, promoting each one’s autonomy, while recognizing that neither person can fulfill their mission apart from the other.
Equity and sharing of resources can effectively occur only within a context of trust and respect. Openness and vulnerability are difficult to achieve if either partner is feeling threatened. Trust cannot be imposed in the partnership. It must evolve over time, and emerge out consensus regarding the desired nature of the relationship so that trust can grow out of a common appreciation. Trust cannot be cultivated in a relationship driven by urgency.
Each partner has a vested interest in the other partner fulfilling its role effectively, since partners are engaged in a common mission and ministry. Acceptable standards of performance should be agreed upon, adhered to and monitored by all parties. When this does not appear to be occurring, there ought to be freedom to challenge one another and clear mechanisms for conflict resolution should be in place.