Minutes of the Board Meeting of
Durham Congregations In Action
March 16, 2004
Covenant Presbyterian Church
1. Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark welcomed the
assembly.
2. Rev. Jimmie Hawkins gave an excellent
Power Point presentation about the history and ministries of Covenant
Presbyterian Church, which has occupied its new facility since last
November. The best slides were of Jimmie,
his wife Shenita and their baby Kayla.
Among many church ministries are a summer camp and after-school tutorial
program to help kids improve academics; and adult computer classes.
3. Rev. Linda Parker, Presbyterian campus
minister at NCCU, offered an opening prayer.
4. The DCIA Affirmation was read in
unison.
5. Minutes from the Board meeting of
February 17 were approved.
6. David Winer gave the Financial
Report. Donations through February, 2004
are less than last year's donations.
7. Guests: Rev. Scott Benhase introduced Chris
Ivy of DSS, who has worked with many
ministers over the years and is a new DCIA representative for St.
Philip's Episcopal Church. Rev. Lawrence
Johnson introduced Eugene Hebert, interning for a year at Reconciliation United
Methodist Church. Doris Smith introduced
Johnnie M. Love from Fisher Memorial United Holiness Church.
8. David introduced Dan Hudgins. Dan has directed Durham DSS for 27 years and is leaving to teach at UNC School
of Social Work and direct the Center of
Aging Research & Educational Studies there [CARES]. Dan grew up in a rural mill town in NC, and
after army service and education he worked for DSS in Polk and Mecklenberg
Counties before coming to Durham. He is
married to Judge Ann McKown, has two daughters and is an avid runner, having
completed more than 20 marathons. He has
been a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church for 20 years.
Dan thanked many of the people
present from the faith community and his staff for their work and collaboration
over many years. He is proud of the
community's support and DSS's many public/private partnerships, and DSS's
desire to do more than is legally mandated.
It is unacceptable that Durham, with
the 6th highest per capita county income in NC, also has such a high
child poverty rate. Related needs that
must be improved are homelessness, and the racial achievement gap in
schools. Child care is a growing need;
there are 1200 children on the waiting list and 400 others face termination due
to lack of funds. The quality of child
care has improved dramatically; accessibility and affordability need to be
addressed.
Dan is attracted by Durham's
diversity and hopes to stay involved with Durham. He would like the faith community and public
and private sectors to focus on three critical areas: (a) Poverty, (b) Education, and
(c)
Substance Abuse which are inter-related and impact on other concerns such as
crime, housing, employment and health.
There are many programs that target these three areas, but many who need
help cannot access them. The faith
community is doing much and can take the lead in doing more. Dan
thanked everyone for supporting him for 27 years.
Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark thanked Dan
for bearing witness to his faith in his professional work with DSS.
Rev. Haywood Holderness, Chair of
the Board of DSS, thanked Dan for his many accomplishments and ability to draw
people together into successful collaborations.
He pointed out that State evaluations rate Durham's DSS the highest in
NC.
9. Executive Director's Report:
a. A small faith group has begun meeting
at the initiative of Rev. Mel Williams and Rev. Haywood Holderness with a
vision to end poverty in Durham by 2025.
A nearer-term focus is to reduce unemployment among poor people by 50%
by 2015. Anyone interested, please
contact Mel, Haywood or David.
b. "America on the Move" is a
health-improvement initiative of a Durham consortium headed by Duke. Its focus is on walking.
c. David advised of a meeting hosted by
the Ar-Razzaq Islam Center between community members and the Jordanian
Interfaith Coexistence Research Center, which is seeking peace in the Middle
East.
d. David provided a Lunch Survey
[enclosed]. Please fill it out and
return it to DCIA if you didn't do so at the meeting.
10. Announcements:
Jeff Davis advised of a Conference
on Non-violence on March 25 at Durham Mennonite Church, sponsored by Piedmont
Anabaptist Church. Spencer Bradford of
Urban Ministries of Durham will be one featured speaker.
Donna Smith advised of opportunities
to (a) donate furniture to and
(b)
purchase furniture from New Beginnings Furniture. Urban Ministries of Durham, Interfaith
Hospitality Network and Housing for New Hope can all benefit from sales of the
furniture.
Carol Ayres advised of a tent on
Liberty Street to attract gang members for counseling and prayer, as part of
the Stop the Violence Crusade. Gang
members, when separated from the wolf pack, become puppy dogs. Many
commit to change and leave the gang.
Rev. Ferree-Clark advised that DCIA's
Executive Committee includes DCIA Officers, the Executive Director, and by
appointment Rev. Laura Benson, Kelly Skaggs, Bob Newlin and Rev. Jimmie
Hawkins. It meets monthly from 1-2 p.m. at DCIA on the Monday that is 2 weeks
before the Board meeting. All are
welcome to attend.
Marcia Owen advised of a training
session for the Reconciliation & Re-entry Ministry on Thursday, April 1 from 6-9 p.m. at Lakewood
United Methodist Church. Interested people
should contact Marcia or David.
Remember CROPWALK on Sunday, March
28.
11. Prayer Concerns and Thanks:
Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas thanks
IHN for the donation of 2 cars for client Partners of the Families First
ministry. The recipients are working
mothers who are delighted with this reliable transportation.
Prayers for:
Jessie Smith and others
incarcerated.
Mrs. Ulysses Deck, recently
deceased, and Tim Deck.
The family of Russell Fletcher, Sr.
12. Marcia Owen offered the Closing Prayer.
Minutes by David Winer
DCIA Lunch Survey
DCIA would like to know what foods
our lunch attendees Like or Dislike. To
help make our lunches more enjoyable, please answer the following by inserting
the designated letter:
1. Which foods do you Like [L], are
Neutral to [N], or Dislike [D]?
Chicken____ Beef____ Fish____ Vegetarian____
Soup____ Salad____ Sandwiches____ Pasta____
Fruit____ Cake/Pie/Cookies____
Please specify other food Likes and
Dislikes:
Likes:_______________________________
Dislikes:_____________________________
Other
Comments:____________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2. For several years we have held the cost
of lunch to $5. Costs are increasing,
and $5 often provides only a light lunch.
Would you be willing to pay $7
for a more substantial, balanced lunch?
Yes________ No________
Thank you. Please return this to David or Priscilla at
DCIA at 504 W. Chapel Hill Street, Durham NC 27701 or fax to: 682-3349.