Minutes of the Board Meeting of Durham Congregations In Action
March 15, 2005
Mt. Calvary United Church of Christ
1. In the absence of the President and Vice-President, David Winer called the meeting to order. He introduced Rev. J. C. Cheek, who blessed the food and thanked DCIA for bringing people together. He advised that Mt. Calvary UCC began in 1893 in a 3-room house, and has had only 5 pastors since its beginning. Currently Rev. Mark Pickett serves as co-pastor, and Mt. Calvary UCC and Pilgrim UCC are partner congregations. Rev. Cheek introduced the Kitchen Committee, and they received a warm round of applause for the excellent lunch they prepared.
2. The DCIA Affirmation was read in unison.
3. The Minutes of the February 15, 2005 Board Meeting were approved.
4. In the absence of the Treasurer, David Winer presented the Finance Report. Income and expenses are on target. It would be helpful if all member congregations could advise DCIA of their donation pledge for 2005.
In accordance with DCIA's finance policy, 4-1/2 months of operating expenses have been allocated from Operating Funds to Program Reserves. The remains a large amount in Operating Funds that is available for current projects. We anticipate that some of this can be used for initiatives to help Youth that are developed by the Work Teams.
5. Guests were welcomed:
Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas introduced Jillian Byrd, who will soon graduate from NCCU as a social worker and is interning with Families First.
David Winer introduced Nadeen Bir and Sergio Graterol who are Youth Coordinators for El Centro Hispano. We are very glad that they will serve on the Work Teams for Youth.
6. Announcements:
Jenny Shafer urged everyone to participate in CROPWALK on Sunday, March 20. Festivities begin at 1:30 with displays and music, and the walk starts at 2:30.
Kaaren Johanson advised that there is a Bake Sale at the end of the walk and proceeds will go to Urban Ministries of Durham.
7. Kaaren Johanson summarized the two Work Teams for Youth and circulated sign-up sheets, and many people agreed to participate. Team 1, concerned with Violence, Gangs, and Juvenile Justice, will be convened by Maryann Crea. Team 2, concerned with Education, Job Training, Skill Building, Leadership Development, and Entrepreneurship, will be convened by Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas. These Teams will identify programs in which congregations can collaborate to help Youth.
8. Rev. Laura Benson, Chair of the Seed Money Committee, circulated a sign-up sheet for people who want to apply for Seed Money. The deadline for applications is April 15 for this cycle.
9. Bob Newlin, Chair od the Communications Committee, urged people to check out the DCIA web site at www.dcia.org. Congregations and agencies affiliated with DCIA can be listed on and linked with the DCIA web site, and DCIA would like to be linked to theirs.
10. Donnie Phillips, Chief Court Counselor for the local Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, made an excellent presentation that:
a. Outlined how Youths in Durham are at greater risk for criminal behavior than most of NC;
b. Indicated the many needs local Youth have; and
c. Listed the assets and programs that can significantly help at-risk Youth.
Some of the facts presented about Youth who are at-risk or involved with the criminal justice system:
. Youth involvement with the life of a congregation can help. About 1/5 of troubled kids lack even a remote connection with the faith community.
. Gang affiliation of such Youths is about 10 times the State average. About half of them regularly associate with gang members or delinquents.
. About 25% of these Youths are below grade level, about twice the State average.
. About half need an additional mental health assessment.
. About 70% of the parents of these Youths have inadequate or marginal supervising skills.
David Winer will follow up with Donnie to obtain a full copy of the data presented, and will disseminate much of that to DCIA members. Donnie will be an excellent resource for the Work Teams for Youth.
11. David Winer, Executive Director, advised:
There are significant efforts to help connect unemployed and under-employed poor workers with low education and job skills with jobs paying a living wage. A group of clergy and agencies is designing a system, and meets tomorrow at 9 a.m. Skip Long has received a large grant for a program that engages the faith community in helping to make these connections – David will find out more about this and advise members.
Joe Harvard, Chair of DCIA's Committee on Interfaith Dialogue, hosted an excellent program at First Presbyterian Churchon February 27 with a talk by Professor Charles Kimball, an expert on Islam. People interested in helping to plan such events should contact Joe or David.
David provided copies of "A Cherokee Tale," which had much meaning for him and is enclosed. David saw this on a prominent wall of sayings at Urban Ministries of Durham.
12. Prayer Requests were offered for Jospehing Harris and Rev. Snipes, who are at Durham Regional Hospital; Lisa West of Urban Ministries of Durham who is also in hospital; and the mother of Sergio Graterol.
13. Rev. James Malloy offered the Closing Prayer.
Minutes by: David Winer
*** Check out the DCIA Web Site at: www.DCIA.org ***
A Cherokee Tale
An elder Cherokee was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them: "A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."
The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his
grandfather: "Which wolf will win?"
The old Cherokee simply replied:
"The one you feed."