Extra Commitment Opportunities

There is a channel through which gifts can be designated for specific items that support the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s work around the world. These are called Extra Commitment Opportunities (ECOs). You can give directly to an ECO account online or by mailing your check designating the name and account number of the particular item you have chosen to:

PC(USA) individual Remittance Processing
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15624-3700

Your gift will go directly into the ECO Account designated, and you will receive a letter indicating that your gift has been received and will be used for the purpose intended.

Below are several Extra Commitment Opportunities related to Ukraine. For a more complete listing visit Mission Funding’s Web site and type Ukraine into the search box.

Church Development and Redevelopment

Carpath Ukraine  

The Reformed Church of the Carpath-Ukraine continues to rebuild from 75 years of Communism. This ethnic Hungarian community in the Trans-Carpathian region of western Ukraine now has 100 congregations served by 50 pastors and recently expanded its engagement with PC(USA). Gifts will support new church development, theological training for pastors, ministry with Roma (Gypsy) people, diaconal centers with outreach of soup kitchens, bakeries, and clothing, and two Reformed high schools needing additional teachers, textbooks and facilities.

Evangelism

Roma Europe PFF (Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship)

This fund assists a ministry to the Roma (Gypsies) of Europe. Funds will go to support the program expenses of Burkhard Paetzold as he works with the PC(USA)’s European partners to develop ministry that proclaims the Good News to the Roma in a holistic manner.

Mission Personnel

Gary Payton — Regional Liaison for Russia, Belarus, Poland and Ukraine

Based in his home in Idaho, Gary Payton is the PC(USA) regional liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland. He serves as a “bridge” between partner churches and other mission co-workers in the region and PC(USA) entities and individuals engaged in mission in the four countries.

Other Support

Regional Liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland — Expenses

Support to this ECO will enable the regional liaison for Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Poland to work with churches and organizations in the Slavic-speaking portion of the former Soviet Union. Funds will be used to defray travel and telephone expenses. The regional liaison’s responsibilities include support to missionaries on the field, congregational twinning relationships, support to theological education, support to Russian partner churches spreading the Good News to people who do not know Christ, and facilitating a variety of faith-based humanitarian projects.

Self-Development

Self-Development and Roma            

European societies and churches have always been struggling deeply with everything that smacked of heresy and loose morals. They felt threatened by anything that flouted their norms: Roma (also know as Gypsies) were unsettled, dark and spoke a different language; they were accused of being involved in witchcraft. It was easy to produce prejudices and for the bad images to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. During their long history Roma became enslaved, faced many problems including thousands of them being sent to concentration camps and to death by Hitler. (A recent report by UNDP, the development agency of the UN, described the situation of the Roma "as equally bad as in Sub Sahara Africa." But with an extra burden other than Africa — bitter cold winters.) One of the key elements that seem to be missing in the development effort of this community is the involvement of the Roma themselves. This ECO is to assist Roma communities to identify their own needs and to find their own starting point for a change.