wfn.org | Self-Development of People Committee Welcomes Six New Members

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26-September-1996 
 
 
96372     Self-Development of People Committee Welcomes 
          Six New Members And Holds Presbytery Dialogue 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
LINCOLN, Neb.--During its Sept. 20-21 meeting here, the national 
Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP) welcomed 
six new members and held a dialogue with several visitors from Homestead 
Presbytery. 
 
     The new members are the Rev. Michael E. Askew Sr. of Knoxville, Tenn.; 
Marge L. Booth of Dry Creek, W.Va.; Marianne J. Cashatt of Fisherville, 
Va.; the Rev. Duane C. Queen of Storm Lake, Iowa; the Rev. Arthur M. Smith 
of Chicago (all class of 1999); and Ruth Duba of Wilmington, Del.  (class 
of 1998). 
 
     They join Toshio ("Tosh") Akita of Hollister, Calif.; Mary Ann Walt of 
Solon Springs, Wis.  (both class of 1997); and Lea Ward of Sonorita, Ariz. 
(class of 1996), who joined SDOP during its spring meeting in May in Ocho 
Rios, Jamaica. 
 
     "We welcome all of our new members as we endeavor to carry out SDOP's 
mission and ministry," said the Rev. Fredric T. Walls, SDOP director. 
"Getting SDOP's message out will become more important as the gap widens 
between the rich and the poor economically. We have a unique opportunity as 
well as a challenge." 
 
     To help set its priorities for future years and increase awareness of 
local church needs, the committee held a dialogue with several visitors, 
three of whom are members of the SDOP Committee of Homestead Presbytery. 
 
     Visitors included the Rev. James P. Cooke, Homestead Presbytery SDOP 
Committee chair of Lincoln, Neb.; Nelsine Scofield, Homestead Presbytery 
SDOP Committee member and member of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in 
Lincoln, Neb.; and Fern E. Norris, Homestead Presbytery SDOP Committee 
member and member of Faith United Presbyterian Church in Walthill, Neb. 
 
     Other visitors were the Rev. Nancy Redman, associate pastor of First 
Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Neb.; Chelli Olsen,  member of the Eastridge 
Presbyterian Church Mission Committee, Lincoln, Neb.; the Rev. John Loudon, 
pastor of Eastridge Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Neb.; and the Rev. Ray 
Meester, pastor of Lincoln-Heritage Presbyterian Church, Lincoln, Neb. 
 
     Cynthia Joe of San Francisco, national SDOP Committee chair, said that 
discussing the mission of SDOP with folks at the presbytery level gives 
both groups an opportunity to meet one another and discuss their respective 
work. However, Joe said, more training is required by all SDOP committees 
to ensure congregations understand what SDOP is and how it functions.  
 
     "We understand that there are many people who remain unclear of the 
SDOP criteria for reviewing and funding projects," Joe said. "We want to 
ensure that we have sufficient training so that we can clarify this 
process." 
 
     Meester told the Presbyterian News Service that the dialogue helped 
him gain a better understanding of the work of the national SDOP Committee, 
particularly its requirements for disbursing grants for projects. He said 
that what he learned will help him interpret SDOP's mission to his 
congregation and show them "the good stuff  SDOP is doing. 
 
     "Evidently a lot of Presbyterians don't know what SDOP is," Meester 
said. "And I think if a lot more people knew of the good stuff they're 
doing, chances are they'd be more generous when it comes around to the One 
Great Hour of Sharing offering."      
 
     "[The dialogue] was helpful for me," said Redman, "because I got a 
better idea of how the whole SDOP process works in terms of projects being 
funded and the kinds of information they need to make this possible. I 
think  it really got the wheels turning for us here in Lincoln and we're 
hoping it will stimulate a project." 

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