Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors
St. Philip's Episcopal Church
1. Rev. Nancy Ferree Clark welcomed the assembly.
She
introduced Rev. Scott Benhase, and apologized for the
lack of food. Rev. Benhase
advised that St. Philip's Episcopal Church is named
after the Deacon mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, who had a wife and 4
daughters and baptized an Ethiopian official as reflected in the church's
stained-glass window. The church started
in
The church
has been working with children at the Urban Ministries next door on a garden
for residents of the shelter. This
garden will be blessed at
Rev. Benhase said that Ada Foxworth, a beloved kitchen volunteer for many years at Urban Ministries, died suddenly. Please keep her in your prayers.
Rev. Benhase offered an opening prayer.
2. The DCIA Affirmation was read.
3. The Minutes of the May 18 meeting were approved.
4. Maryann Crea gave the Financial Report as of May 31. Donations from member Congregations are down from last year.
The Finance Committee met and recommends the following:
a. The Guideline for DCIA reserve funds should be 4-1/2 months of the operating expense budget. This currently equates to $36K.
b. Begin the budget process for 2005 in September, with much input from the Strategic Plan that is in progress. This budget process will consider the ratio of Seed Money to donations to Agencies.
c. Keep funds invested in Self-Help Credit Union. It reinvests accounts in the local community, and pays competitive interest rates.
d. Don't do an outside audit at this time because the high cost is not justified by any apparent need. Seek volunteers who might assist in an internal audit to review books and processes. Volunteers should contact Maryann at:682-3449.
These recommendations were approved by the Executive Committee. The Board approved them also.
5. Guests were introduced: Andrew Bentley, a Duke Divinity student interning with National Farm Workers Ministry; Beverly Markham, a Duke Divinity student interning with Westminster Presbyterian Church; John Fitzpatrick, pastor with One Love Ministries; Rudy Henkel, a parishioner with St. Paul's Lutheran Church; Geneva Boland, a parishioner with Epworth UMC; Shirley Vaughn Cameron, a parishioner with Mt. Calvary UCC; George Ragsdale, Youth Minister at Congregation at Duke Chapel; Becky Ballard, who is interning with him through the Pathways Program; Elizabeth Clark, a rising High School Junior;Tom Holcomb, Manager for the shelter at Urban Ministries; Billie Brown, a parishioner with Pilgrim UCC and interested in peace work and impressed by the movie at the Carolina Theater about Iraq; and Cynthia Lane, Kenneth Rouse, Betty Redwood-Davis, parishioners with Compassion Ministries of Durham.
6. Rev. Laura Benson discussed a new program from the national office of Interfaith Hospitality Network: "Just Neighbors – Helping Communities of Faith Help People in Need." This is a curriculum for adults and older youth that assists Congregations in understanding and addressing poverty – daily struggles, problems and solutions. Its goals are to educate, enable congregations to be advocates for poor people, and spur congregations to take action. The website is: familypromise.org
The curriculum is a series of interactive videotapes and discussion outlines, and a step-by-step Guidebook for Facilitators. It can be purchased for $150, and Rev. Benson is glad to lend it out for a short trial.
7. Rev. Benson advised that the Seed Money Committee has been formed and is devising an application process.
8. Bob Newlin advised that the Strategic Planning Committee has met several times. It has done a SWOT analysis [Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats] and identified Critical Issues. It is focusing on defining a major area or project in which all DCIA Congregations could participate. It is also seeking to improve communications with members.
If anyone
would like to further the work of this Committee, please feel free to contact
Bob at 451-7839. The Committee meets next
at
9. Rev. Carl
Kenney of Compassion Ministries of
His church
is 2 years old. Rev. Kenney also writes
a weekly article in the Durham Herald Sun, and has written a book:
"Preacher Man." He came to
DCIA in 1989, and has been a leader in helping
From writing his weekly column, he has perceived that class and economic status are larger issues than race. Privileged people keep others in their place, and privileged status is protected by institutions.
He views Youth Ministry not so much in terms of age groups – Elementary, Middle and High School – but in terms of a generation. Young people do not function in ways we assume, and develop in different ways. Adults, including church leaders, try to force their ideas on youth but they are in a different place and culture, and unresponsive to that approach.
How can the church reach the hip-hop culture? First, we have to listen to their voices and their music, which is an enormous influence on them. There are messages about God in this music; young listeners discover their spirituality in it. The music is not limited by race; most buyers of it are not Black.
Christopher "Play" Martin was a rap music hip-hop star of the 1980's. He is a friend and fellow parishioner of Rev. Kenney. Together they are trying to reach hip-hop youth, especially those who are part of or near to gangs. They bring youth together in a gathering called "Remix," creating a space for the hip-hop culture to interact with the culture of older generations. This space is a holy space, enabling young people to talk about God.
The starting point of these meetings is the development of trust between the generations. A Remix gathering looks like a hip-hop party, with lots of discussion among different generations and recognition of commonalities.
Hip-hop culture keeps changing quickly. It feels alienated from institutions of privilege and traditional religion. Most churches see hip-hop as a threat to their ministries. Rev. Kenney says that we must accept the music, and make the culture of the community the culture of the kingdom. God is found in hip-hop as much as in traditional icons. Don't demoralize or demonize youth, but have faith that good will emerge from this culture. Let young people use their creativity within their culture.
10. David Winer, Executive Director, reported on a recent celebration of the Reconciliation & Re-entry Ministry and provided a handout on it. Both Faith Teams and Partners have been uplifted by their relationships and successes. David also mentioned that much enthusiasm has been stirred about a Job Partnership Model that effectively lifts people out of poverty through work.
11. Announcements:
Jeff
Gillette, of Lutheran Family Services, advised of an urgent need to resettle
60-80 refugees from
Rev. Jimmie Hawkins advised that Durham Partnership for Children, which allocates Smart Start funds, is offering Congregations an opportunity to raise revenue by providing transportation to children [$20 per child per month].
Pastor Carol Ayres advised that her church erects a tent on Rochelle and Holloway Streets to help keep young people away from gangs in the area. They need donations and staff to help. Call her at 471-2879.
12. Prayers were offered for: Ada Foxworth, Jessie Smith, Vannie Jones, Gabriel Smith and George Williams, Fran Devitt, Kermit Parker, Linden Parker II, Carl Kenney Sr., Amy Archer, Jamie Francis and the Owens Family.
13. Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas offered the Closing Prayer.
Submitted by: David
Winer