Self-Development of People to launch pilot program

SDOP to concentrate funding in Dominican Republic 2007 – 2010

The Self-Development of People (SDOP) ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has announced a pilot program that will begin in 2007 and concentrate a portion of the grants it awards to the economically poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people specifically to groups in the Dominican Republic. Groups who receive awards must document that the programs for which they are seeking funding are owned and operated by the group, and that the program will directly benefit and promote long-term change in their lives and communities.

In order to raise awareness of the pilot program, and the need for such financial funding in the Dominican Republic, SDOP invited all congregations who celebrated SDOP Sunday, March 12, 2006, to send in the worship bulletin from that day showing how they incorporated this ministry into their worship. All the bulletins received were put into a box and four were randomly chosen. Both pastors and lay people from these churches will be the guests of SDOP on a trip to the region May 16 – 21, 2006. In return the guests have committed to help interpret the work of SDOP, especially in regard to this region of the Caribbean, to Presbyterian congregations and groups upon their return.

Accompanying SDOP on the excursion are:

• the Rev. William A. Moses, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Havelock, N.C.;
• the Rev. Laurie Sponaugle, Bower Hill Community Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.;
• the Rev. Kathryn Keener-Han, Berkely-Hillside Presbyterian Church, Hillside, Ill.; and
• Ms. Mary Clizbe, Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church, Klamath Falls, Ore.

The Self Development of People Web site will feature articles by these four Presbyterians upon their return. Cynthia White, Coordinator for SDOP, explained that the pilot program, developed and approved by the SDOP national committee, “will concentrate a portion of the SDOP funds allocated for international grants to the Dominican Republic. Another part of the pilot program is to partner with six intermediary partners in different parts of the world.” She continued by saying that the Dominican Republic was chosen for two primary reasons. “First, the overwhelming desire the local people have to work at making themselves more self-reliant. Second, to make this pilot a success, we need to form a network of PC(USA) churches that can have relatively easy access to visit the region in order to support the efforts of the local people on many different levels.”

If you or your congregation are especially interested in the Dominican Republic, SDOP invites you to join a the new network of congregations. To join the network, or for more information send an email to our Associate for Church-wide Relations, Wayne A. Gnatuk.

The Self-Development of People ministry, started in 1970, has helped fund hundreds of projects around the world that promote human dignity, self-reliance and community growth. SDOP operates on restricted funds that it receives from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. SDOP receives 32 percent of the gifts received through this offering. The remaining gifts are received by the Presbyterian Hunger Program and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.