The need for expanded collaborative partnership between the pastors of the Wesleyan Church in Guyana and the communities in which the churches are located

This project addresses the need for an expanded collaborative partnership between the pastors of the Wesleyan Church in Guyana and the communities in which the churches are located. The project analyzes the attitude of leaders in regard to relational cooperation with organizations, groups, and individuals within the communities, in order to determine their training needs and other factors that may hinder or support better collaboration. The ultimate thrust of the research is the transformation of communities and the restoration of lives. In this research primary and secondary qualitative data were collected using questionnaires, observations, interviews, and a training workshop. Out of a total of thirty-one pastors data were first collected from the reports of twenty-four pastors in order to determine their involvement in community development projects during the period 2012-2013. That secondary data informed the qualitative Appreciative questionnaires used to collect data from fifteen pastors from the five Administrative regions of Guyana. Pre-workshop implemented by the research included twenty-six pastors from six Regions of Guyana. Pastors from seven of the eight regions that house Wesleyan churches were in some way involved in the research.
The data were analyzed using a Thematic Analysis approach. Unstructured interviews, personal experience, literature, and observation were other sources of research methods used.
The desire to improve their knowledge of community development and to serve the communities was clearly seen from the pastors’ responses. However, activities were mainly centered on the development of personnel, the physical structure of the buildings, and the internal programs of the churches. The principle conclusion is that spiritual formation and the limited exposure to community development strategies are some of the factors preventing intentional collaboration efforts with the communities in which the churches are located.