Episcopal Press and News
Special Program Gets Underway
Diocesan Press Service. December 5, 1967 [60-1]
General Convention's Special Program to meet the needs of the poor will go into effect Jan. 1, 1968. Already, however, an interim unit, functioning within the Executive Council, has been appointed by Presiding Bishop Hines.
This unit is headed by Leon E. Modeste, who was previously associate secretary for community organization with the Department of Christian Social Relations of the Executive Council.
The first task of the new unit will be to complete detailed plans for implementing the Special Program. This Program calls for the expenditure of $3,000,000 a year over the next three years to aid the poor in changing their conditions. Two million dollars of this money comes from the budget of general church program and an additional $1,000,000 from the United Thank Offering.
The Special Program is specifically designed to enable the poor, particularly those in ghetto communities, to gain a more effective voice in decisions affecting their lives; to provide leadership in eliminating discrimination within the Church; and to encourage the use of political and economic power to support justice and self- determination. The program differs from work already being done in this field in that sizeable sums will be given directly to community organizations of the poor.
To receive grants community organizations must have purposes and objectives which come within the general aims of the special program; must indicate the capability to achieve their objectives and will be expected to exercise customary fiscal accountability. All programs must also be administered without regard to race, creed or ethnic origin. Such accountability as described above does not mean, however, that the Executive Council will directly control the program of the recipient.
Other members of the staff of the interim unit are the Rev. John Stevens, acting deputy director; D. Barry Menuez, to conduct consultative field services; the Rev. John Steidl, coordinator of training services; and the Rev. Quinland Gordon, to provide consultative services to church groups.
Also appointed was an Interim Screening and Review Committee which will consider detailed grant allocation policies and procedures. Members of the committee are the Presiding Bishop, chairman, Mrs. Cyrus Higley, Mrs. Nadine Winter, the Rt. Rev. Ned Cole, Houston Wilson, Mrs. Mattie Humphrey, Julius Hobson, Oliver O'Conner, Byron Rushing, the Rev. Quintin Primo, and the Rev. St. Julian Simpkins. Warren H. Turner, Jr., second vice-president of the Executive Council, will serve as the Presiding Bishop's deputy.