![]() This was probably one of the most difficult undertakings as we engaged colleagues from offices and divisions in the church not used to collaborating. We deliberately sought to bridge the traditional separation between social justice ministry, overseas mission partnerships and mission personnel deployment within the PC(USA) itself. Alexa Smith later came onto staff and helped sharpen the focus on community organizing and advocacy to help networks address specific issues. She eventually joined the staff of PHP and became one of the architects of this new program, instrumental in recruiting churches to participate in it. Lynn McClintock (Connette) helped us define the theological underpinnings for the new approach. and overseas to be strategic in the development of global campaigns. Lionel Derenoncourt and Alexa Smith challenge partners in the U.S. We might just have stopped there and introduced some cosmetic changes to our existing program if there had not been a real drive for reform from within PHP and the office that was known as the PC(USA) Worldwide Ministries at the time. The study highlighted the need for a coordinated grassroots response to the ravages of globalization and the drastic austerity measures imposed by International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on developing countries. We are indebted to the Rev Thomas John from Kerala India, the Rev Louise Tappa, from FEMEC, Cameroun and Michael Torrens, former PC(USA) mission coworker in northern Colombia for their help with this study. We also collected background information about some of the issues that we needed to address. We found that our partners were looking for accompaniment beyond just grants. In 1997 PHP began conversations with and a methodical study of partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In numerous countries, PHP had a wide variety of partners from churches to grassroots organizations, both Christian and those of other faiths. It was clear that it was an advantage to have a network such as this.įirst, we needed to understand how our current partners viewed PHP and what they expected from us beyond funding. People started discussing the intersection of theology and politics and their impact on their work.Įvery time I met with these local groups, I came away rejuvenated, excited and enriched. ![]() This allowed for the cross-fertilization of ideas, experiences and best practices. Local groups were excited to come together and discuss their projects and approaches. It quickly became clear that we were on to something. ![]() Lionel meets with partners in India in 1999 discussing how to partner in a new way. The relationship helped us to verify the legitimacy of requests and the effectiveness of methodologies used. Thomas John and some of his colleagues helped PHP to begin a relationship with some partners in South India, both to process the numerous funding requests we were receiving from the region and to coordinate what was happening locally. Abraham, a theologian from India, and Thomas John challenged the PHP advisory committee, and me (formerly the associate for international hunger concerns for PHP) to consider whether we were satisfied giving small gifts here and there, or whether developing deeper relationships with local partners would lead to a more impactful partnership. Thomas John, while serving as missionary-in-residence with the Presbyterian Church (USA), invited PHP to look beyond the small grants that we were giving to churches and grassroots groups around the world. Dozens of applications were submitted twice a year from countries like India, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the Philippines, and many others.Īt this time, the Rev. We were receiving hundreds of requests from groups unknown to us. In 1993-94, the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP) was drowning in international funding requests. Lionel Derenoncourt with Chenoa Stock and the Rev. ![]()
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