PARTNER CONGREGATIONS
PARTNER CONGREGATIONS
WE ARE CONNECTIONAL CHRISTIANS
In addition to our denominational ties in the Chicago area, and around the nation, we also sustain meaningful congregational partnerships in Italy and Cuba.
Hope Presbyterian Church, Chicago
Our partner congregation in West Englewood, on Chicago’s South Side, is the city’s longest-serving Presbyterian church founded as an African American congregation. Its roots trace back to the Cumberland Presbyterian tradition and a group of believers who moved from Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Chicago in 1897.
The neighborhood has experienced both change and hardship over the years, yet this congregation continues to bring creativity and vitality to its ministry, engaging a community rich in heritage and hope. Over time, our partnership has included pulpit exchanges, shared choirs, youth activities, and joint outreach efforts.
If you feel called to help strengthen the urban/suburban connection, we’d love to have you join in. Please reach out to Pastor Brian Paulson to learn more or to share your ideas.
Presbyterian Reformed Church of San Nicolas de Bari, Cuba
Our partner congregation in the rural community of San Nicolás de Bari, about a half-day drive from Havana, has a long and faithful witness to Christ. Planted in the community before the Cuban revolution, they have continued to shine with hope and resilience through challenging political and economic times.
Church partnerships are at the heart of their life together. Over many years, members of our congregation have visited and shared in projects with them, including the expansion of their church campus—creating new opportunities for ministry in their community. They offer care and fellowship for older adults, welcome large numbers of children into joyful Sunday programs, and have nurtured young people who now serve as ordained ministers in churches across Cuba.
If you would like to learn more about this inspiring witness and discover ways to share your gifts alongside them, please reach out to Pastor Brian Paulson.
Waldensian Church of Milan, Italy
Our partner congregation in Milan is part of the historic Waldensian movement, which recently celebrated 850 years of witness to Jesus Christ and his servant love. Often described as the “Presbyterians of Italy,” they are now federated nationally as the Waldensian–Methodist Church of Italy. Their roots joined with the Genevan Protestant Reformation in 1532, yet their story began much earlier, in 1174, with a simple movement to share the gospel and serve the poor. Their devotion to Scripture and commitment to justice resonated deeply with the Swiss and Scottish traditions that shaped our own Presbyterian identity.
Today, although the Waldensians remain a small minority in Italy, they are recognized leaders in the cause of justice and are often at the forefront of creative ministries of welcome and inclusion. Our partner congregation is located in the heart of Milan, just steps from the historic Duomo cathedral and next to the University of Milan. For more than a decade, members of their congregation have visited with us, our youth have shared in service exchanges, and Dr. Paulson has preached and led worship in Milan. In turn, their pastors have also joined us in our pulpit.
If you would like to learn more about their story or explore ways to connect with our partners, please reach out to Pastor Brian Paulson.