James Forman (1928-2005) was the great civil rights leader who served as the executive secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s. In 1969, Forman was one of the organizers of the Black Economic Development Conference in Detroit. At this conference, he played a major role in the writing of the “Black Manifesto,” which called for reparations from white churches for past injustices to black people. After the conference, Forman first presented the Black Manifesto at Riverside Church in New York City, and then at the annual conferences of various denominations.

When he shared the document with Presbyterians at the 1969 General Assembly of the former United Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which was meeting in San Antonio, Presbyterians responded by appointing a committee to study the matter. When the Committee reported back to the General Assembly in 1970, the Assembly adopted the Committee’s recommendation, thus starting the Self-Development of People ministry. The 1970 General Assembly gave Self-Development of People this mandate, reaffirmed and approved by the 1987 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): “The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People shall assist the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in carrying out its global commitment to work toward the self-development of economically poor, oppressed, and disadvantaged people who own, control and benefit directly from projects that promote long-term change in their lives and communities.” Since 1970, Self-Development of People has been financially supported by the annual One Great Hour of Sharing, receiving one-third of the receipts from this special offering. Self-Development of People has entered into thousands of partnerships both here in the United States and around the world. Through the ministry of Self-Development of People, community groups here and around the world have been able to take steps to enhance the quality of life for themselves and their families.