Minutes of the Board Meeting of Durham Congregations In Action

December 13, 2005

St. Stephens Episcopal Church

 

1.         Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark called the meeting to order.  She introduced Rev. Bob Kaynor, pastor at St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

            Rev. Kaynor thanked DCIA for its ministries and reconciliation activities, and offered a beautiful blessing.

            He gave a brief history of the church since its inception in Durham almost 50 years ago, and invited the assembly to view the lovely stained glass windows after lunch.  The church is seeking ways to be more helpful in the community  and wants to be called upon.

 

2.         The DCIA Affirmation was read.

 

3.         The Minutes of the DCIA Meeting of November 15 were approved.

 

4.         Maryann Crea, Treasurer, gave the Financial Report.  Donations to DCIA from Member Congregations remain below budget, and Congregations are reminded to make donations by December 31.

            The Finance Committee has recommended a Budget for 2006 which is being reviewed by the Executive Committee and is expected to come before the  Board at the meeting on February 21.  This proposed Budget seeks to be balanced; based on anticipated income, there will likely be a reduction in costs represented by donations by DCIA to affiliated agencies.  The details remain to be discussed.

 

5.         Guests were welcomed:

            Pamela Broom from New Orleans who has been volunteering with the Interfaith Hurricane Task Force.

            Rev. Forrest Gale and Kirk Adams from Loew's Grove Baptist Church, which has been a faithful supporter of DCIA for 13 years and is officially joining as a member.

            Father Dan McLellan of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

            Bob Kaynor introduced Nancy Anderson, Janie Anderson, Jean Losse and Jack Hughes, all of whom helped with the luncheon.

 

6.         Announcements:

            A.        Dominique Davis, Coordinator for the Durham Literacy Center, advised that the DLC is forming a collaborative pilot with area Congregations to promote adult literacy.  There are 106 students on the waiting list, with a current reading level from Kindergarted to 8th grade.

            B.        Dick Chorley of Habitat for Humanity advised of Koinonia House Partners, which is ideal for Congregations who want to participate but cannot by themselves raise the $50,000 needed for a Habitat home.  Two or more Congregations join in the effort, and can also build the home together.  Contact Dick at 682-0516 x112 or rchorley@durhamhabitat.org

 

7.         Committee Reports.

            Nick McCoy, Coordinator for the Interfaith Hurricane Task Force, introduced Pamela Broom.  Pamela directed Reconcile New Orleans, Inc. which operated a café that trained out-of-school at-risk youth in food services.  Last weekend, she participated in a bus trip from Raleigh-Durham to Jackson, MS and New Orleans that included hurricane survivors from as far away as California and Washington State.  She witnessed the continued state of devastation in the Gulf, with virtually no infrastructure.

            Nick thanked Congregations for their assistance in linking displaced people with resources, and thanked DCIA for serving as an entity of  enable donors of furniture to receive a tax deduction.  There continue to be new displaced families moving into the area, and additional Congregational involvement is sought.

 

8.         David Winer, Executive Director asked for a vote on the enclosed Amendment to the By-laws to allow expansion of the Executive Committee.  The Amendment passed unanimously.

            David also announced Seed Money Awards.  For the Fall cycle, recipients included Calvary UMC for its Calvary Grows! Project; and The Capital Restorative Justice Project.  Details are in the enclosure.

            David advised that DCIA's Annual Meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17.  St. Philip's Episcopal Church has generously offered to host the event.  The keynote speaker will be Dr. Richard Broadhead, President of Duke University.  Letters of Invitation and Reservation Forms were provided.

            The Annual Meeting is the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Congregations are encouraged to advise David of ideas for Congregations to jointly celebrate Reconciliation in memory of Dr. King.

 

9.         Rev. Joe Harvard offered the following slate of Officers nominated to serve in 2006:

                        President                               Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas

                        Vice-President                      Rev. Duke Lackey

                        Secretary                               Ms. Doris Smith

                        Treasurer                               Mr. Bill Youngblood

 

            These nominees were elected by unanimous vote.

 

10.       The assembly broke into small groups to discuss the Summer of Opportunity Program for At-Risk Youth.  Before the discussions, Maryann Crea described the SOO Program and Marcia Owen and Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas spoke about how Faith Teams have worked in other ministries.

            Points made in the discussions include:

            Many Congregations are engaged with youth.  The Mosque, Masjid Ar-Razzaq, works with high school students on substance abuse and leadership development.

            The 40 students participating in SOO should have a commitment to teach other students what they have learned.

            Pamela Broom's café in New Orleans received significant funds from City grants; these had conditions and obligations that compromised the café's vision.

 

11.       Prayers for Those in Need:

            Marcia Owen: for all families of homicide victims.

            Mamie Alston: for those who are sick or shut-in.

            Mary Morris: for Vonnie Jones, recently released from prison.

 

12.       President Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark offered a Closing Prayer.

 

                                                                                                Minutes by: David Winer     

 

 

DCIA Annual Meeting – 6:30 p.m., January 17, St. Philip's Episcopal Church

 

 

Next Board Lunch Meeting – February 21

 

 

***    Check out the DCIA Web Site at: www.DCIA.org    ***

Proposed Change to DCIA By-laws

To be voted on at Board Meeting on December 13, 2005

 

Current Section 3:

          "The Executive Committee shall be composed of the current officers of DCIA, the immediate past president of DCIA, the Executive Director (as an ex officio member), and up to four (4) at-large individuals designated by the President from member congregations…."

 

Proposed Section 3 [added material in bold]:

          "The Executive Committee shall be composed of the current officers of DCIA, the immediate past president of DCIA, the Executive Director (as an ex officio member), the Chairs of unrepresented standing Committees, Task Forces and Work Groups,  and up to four (4) at-large individuals designated by the President from member congregations…."

 

          Please note: Under the current structure, the additional members of the Executive Committee would be Chairs of Programs, Communications, Dialogue, Seed Money, and the two Youth Work Groups. 

          The change would increase the potential size of the Executive Committee from 10 to 16.  In practice, with 10 members in the past year, the average attendance at Executive Committee meetings has been about 6 members.

DCIA Seed Money Grants

 

            DCIA’s Seed Money Committee reviewed eight worthy grant applications in the Fall of 2005.  Grants were recommended for two applicants, and approved by the Executive Committee.

 

            Awarded grants were:

 

1.         Calvary United Methodist Church for its “Calvary Grows!” Project.

            Amount: $2715.

 

            This Project will create a vegetable garden for the neighborhood in which the church resides.  The garden will bring together diverse community residents and some congregants to cultivate, plant and nurture organically-grown vegetables.

 

            Anticipated results are:

            .           building new working relationships within the neighborhood;

            .           providing availability of cheap, nutritious vegetables for people on                                                          fixed incomes;             

            .           teaching organic gardening to children and families;

            .           beautifying the community.

 

2.         The Capital Restorative Justice Project

            Amount: $4785.

 

            This Project will help families traumatized by homicide and death sentences to achieve healing and reconciliation by connecting them with helpful resources and providing supportive services.  The Project Manager has a Masters of Divinity with a concentration in social justice, and experience as a chaplain; her Assistant has worked extensively with neighborhood ministries.

 

            Anticipated results are:

            .           Creating a focus and institutionalizing the provision of help for the                                                            traumatized families to achieve healing and reconciliation.

            .           Increase community engagement in understanding, supporting and                                             publicizing restorative justice.

 

Seed Money Awards were provided earlier in 2005 as follows:

 

3.         Women-In-Action for underwriting a revived Durham Mediation Center.

            Amount: $2500.

 

4.         Another Way Ministries for scholarships/materials for Summer Enrichment Camp.

            Amount: $2000.

 

            The total of the four Seed Money Awards for 2005 is $12,000.  This is the amount budgeted for Seed Money Awards for 2005.