The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) has approved grants totaling $402,900 to communities in the United States and internationally to date in 2020. The money is from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The national SDOP Committee enables members and non-members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to form partnerships with oppressed and disadvantaged people in order to help them achieve self-sufficiency. Read more »
September 22, 2020
Connecting and equipping communities and congregations
The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) has approved grants totaling $402,900 to communities in the United States and internationally to date in 2020. The money is from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. The national SDOP Committee enables members and non-members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to form partnerships with oppressed and disadvantaged people in order to help them achieve self-sufficiency. Read more »
The Revs. Kate Murphy and Eulando Henton have been friends and colleagues in ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina, for more than a decade. They speak to one another each week about the joys and challenges of leading intercultural congregations — Murphy has for almost 12 years been pastor of The Grove Presbyterian Church and Henton was called three years ago to be the first African American pastor at a historically white congregation, Derita Church. 
During the holidays, so many of us can suffer for all kinds of reasons. The magnitude of our weary world weighs on our hearts and minds. We wrestle with chronic pain, broken relationships, shattered dreams, fragile faith, and unexpected losses. Our grief and sorrow feel particularly acute when compared to the festivity and joy everyone else seems to be feeling. More and more churches are acknowledging this fact with “Blue Christmas” services (also called “Longest Night” services) and offering resources to give particular support and comfort to those struggling during the “most wonderful time of the year.” 
The Rev. Dr. David Esterline, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s president and professor of Cross-cultural Theological Education, has announced his retirement effective summer 2021. 
There is a significant difference between being born “white” and “whiteness,” according to author Kerry Connelly, and she discussed that and other white supremacy concepts during last week’s webinar presented by the Presbyterian Outlook and sponsored by the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. 
Churches that have embraced Matthew 25 are committed to eradicating systemic poverty and to building God’s beloved community together. 
Using a question-and-answer format, a longtime Presbyterian pastor and an inquirer in Sacramento Presbytery offered a workshop Saturday during the 2020 Intercultural Transformation Workshops. 
Through plenary and breakout sessions — and by listening to Presbyterians who are making strides toward building intercultural faith communities — the 2020 Intercultural Transformation Workshops got underway Saturday with about 90 people aboard virtually. 
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will celebrate Native American Day by hosting two of the first events in an ongoing series. 
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is helping with response to the wildfires in the Presbytery of the Cascades in central and western Oregon.