Minutes of the Board Meeting of Durham Congregations In Action

September 20, 2005

First Chronicles Community Church

 

 

1.       Rev. William Lucas and Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas welcomed the assembly.  The name of the church came to Rev. Lindsay-Lucas one night while reading moving verses in Chapter 29 of the Biblical Book of 1st Chronicles.

          The church is 5 years old, and has 140 members.  Its theology is still unfolding.

          The church is engaged with the neighborhood and broader community.  It is forming a partnership with the 7th  Day Adventist Church across the street.  It allows young people needing a place to stay to sleep in a room at the church, and has worked with the Reconciliation & Re-entry Ministry to house people recently released from prison.  It provides developmental activities for NCCU students who do internships at the church.

          William and Pebbles are grateful for the Seed Money grant provided by DCIA for its summer camp that provides academic and character enrichment for young people.

          Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark thanked them for all that they do.

          Rev. Lindsay-Lucas offered an Opening Prayer.

 

2.       Announcements:

          Joe Moran advised that Rev. Jimmie Hawkins' son James has made good progress in recovering from meningitis.  James is 6 months old, and receiving intense therapy at a hospital in Greenville.  Keep James in your prayers.

          Marcia Owen advised: (1) On Monday, October 3 there is a day-long conference – "Connecting the Dots" – on domestic violence and related issues.  Fliers were provided.  (2) The Religious Coalition for a Non-violent Durham meets on September 22 at noon at Lakewood UMC.

          Nancy Cox advised that on Sunday, October 23 at 3 p.m. there will be dancing  and music by youth at the NC School of Science and Mathematics. For tickets, call 683-6503 x228.  All proceeds go to teachers to help fund programs.

          There will be Blessings for Animals at 3 p.m. on October 2 on the lawn in front of Duke Chapel.

          Rev. Joe Harvard announced that for "Durham Reads Together" there will be a panel discussion on September 29, 7-8:30 p.m. on "The Color of Water."  The panel includes Rev. Ferree Clark, Rabbi Friedman, Rev. Lindsay-Lucas and Imam Waheed.  Joe will serve as moderator.

          Rev. Harvard also advised that there is a coordinated response to the plight of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina who have temporarily relocated to Durham.  Deputy County Manager Carolyn Titus is leading the government effort, and for the faith community Rev. Laura Benson, Rev. Lindsay-Lucas, Rev. Michael Page and Joe are taking a lead role.  Ms. Titus is identifying the needs of evacuees already here, assisted by two experienced social workers who will be contacting Congregations on how they can help.  There are presently about 300 evacuees in Durham, representing about 190 family units.

          As more information becomes available, please let Bob Newlin know so that he can keep the DCIA web site current on this issue for easy reference.

          Nancy Love advised that the Council for Senior Citizens can help evacuees.

         

3.       Guests were welcomed:

          Rev. Kate Spire from Peace Covenant Church of the Brethren.

          Rev. Scott Hovey, Associate Pastor for Temple Baptist Church.  He grew up as a member of Watts Street Baptist Church.

          Erica Giles, Adveeda Lindsay and Robin McCauley, social work interns from NCCU working with Rev. Lindsay-Lucas.

          Bonnie Flynn, a member of Congregation at Duke Chapel, and retired from a successful career as an economist in Africa and Asia.  She is energetic and seeking a place where her expertise could be useful.

 

4.       Reports from Teams and Committees.

          Rev. Laura Benson advised that October 15 is the due date for applications for Seed Money.  She provided a sign-up sheet to obtain an application and information.

          Bob Newlin advised that the Seed Money Application is on the DCIA web site.  If anyone has items to be disseminated to DCIA representatives, please send them to dcialist@dcia.org.

          Kaaren Johanson advised that both Youth Work Teams have met and are making progress.  Anyone interested in helping to identify goals and strategies for DCIA to undertake for youth is welcome to be part of either Team.  Please contact Kaaren at karenlisa@hotmail.com or 451-7203,

 

5.       Executive Director's Report:

          a.         David Winer advised that the DCIA Interfaith Storytelling Group had a successful first session.  Stories were told by Jean Arlow, Dilys Hale, Rev. Pebbles Lindsay-Lucas and Rev. Mark Rutledge.  Buddhist, Islamic and Christian traditions were reflected.  A curious development was that each story appeared to raise a question for which an answer was provided by another story.  The session revealed the unintentional yet startling power of stories to connect experiences and people.

          The second session is scheduled for September 21.  Anyone interested, please contact David at dwiner@nc.rr.com or 699-2036.

          b.         Durham Public Schools, Durham Public Education Network and DCIA are co-sponsoring a Back to School Faith Breakfast on September 27 from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.  This free event will include discussion on how well the schools are meeting community goals, and in particular how Congregations are helping and have additional opportunities to help.

          c.         The DCIA Nominating Committee is meeting at noon on September 26.  If interested in helping to recommend Officers for 2006, please contact Rev. Nancy Ferree-Clark or David.

 

6.       Presentation by Chris Rice and Bishop Emmanuel Katongole, co-directors of the Center for Reconciliation at Duke.

          Bishop Katongole is a Native of Uganda, a Catholic Priest from the Diocese of Kampala, and an Associate Professor at Duke Divinity School.  Uganda is a beautiful country but is intensely broken by poverty, war and AIDS.

          Chris Rice has a passion for reconciliation shaped by his experience as volunteer in Mississippi.  He arrived as a college student in 1981, planning to stay 6 months, but remained there for 17 years.  This experience taught him what it means to be a Christian in a community racially integrated in housing and worship.  The privileged and the poor can live together.  He has also experienced much pain in his journey, including the deforming power of racism and how to practice forgiveness.

          Chris and Emmanuel have learned that the way things are need not be the way they have to be.  They have shared experiences in studying and practicing reconciliation.  They provided a booklet, "Christian Witness in a World of Destructive Conflicts," which is the outcome of a conference earlier this year that they were part of and engaged 47 Christian leaders from areas of intense conflict around the world.  The conference included experiential modules such as pairing people representing different sides of a conflict and having them wash one another's feet, as an act of worship, not performance.

          They approach their mission of reflection, teaching and action toward reconciliation as Christians, but are receptive to joining with people of other faiths in these efforts. 

          Their convictions include:

a.       Reconciliation is grounded in Scripture.  God wants us to be reconciliators.

b.       We lament the brokenness of the world.

c.       Reflection linked with action is needed.  There is a danger of acting too quickly, or settling for shallow, cheap grace like a one-day-a-year celebration.

d.       The Church itself is broken.  It can promote violence, or divisiveness such as White Church world and Black Church world.

e.       There are signs of hope.  Sharing our stories of hope makes peace and reconciliation imaginable.

          They want to learn more about Durham, and perceive DCIA as a good resource in that regard as well as being a potential partner in reconciliation activities.  They respect DCIA's history and accomplishments.  They want to do research into Durham's history, divisions and collaborations; and then be involved in programs centered on the faith community.

          It was agreed that David Winer would work with them to set up a meeting between representatives of DCIA and the Center for Reconciliation to explore issues and activities of mutual interest.

          They also have available books they have authored: "More Than Equals" and "Grace Matters."

 

7.       The Minutes of the August 16, 2005 Board Meeting were approved.

 

8.       The current monthly Financial Report was made available.

 

9.       Prayers Requests were offered for James Hawkins for a speedy and recovery from meningitis.

         

10.     Doris Smith offered a Closing Prayer.

 

The next DCIA Board Lunch Meeting is October 18

at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

 

Minutes by: David Winer     

 

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