God has given every one of us unique gifts so we might strengthen one another and be a blessing to the world. The Gift the World Campaign will help you discover your gifts and learn how you might use them on behalf of others. Over the next three weeks:

BE INSPIRED during worship to understand your giftedness, your call, and your opportunities to serve.

KNOW YOUR GIFTS in one of three ways:

• Sign up for a one-day Gifts for Ministry Workshop, Saturday, May19, 9 – 4 pm, or
• Sign up for a six-week Gifts for Ministry Small Group, Sundays, 4:30 – 6:00 pm, May 20 – July 1, and
• Click here to take the one-hour Gifts for Ministry online survey.

GIFT THE WORLD by using your gifts to serve the church and the world.  If you have questions, contact Reynolds Chapman.

Report on the General Conference 2012: Continuity and Change

Last Friday marked the conclusion of the quadrennial General Conference of the United Methodist Church.  This gathering is the legislative and decision-making body of our church, with 988 delegates sent from all conferences, in the United States and globally.  The General Conference is tasked with a wide variety of decisions, determining the direction of our church.  This year’s conference is significant for the scale and scope of challenges addressed on the agenda, in a time of change for the church globally, and this conference will be remembered both for the decisions made, and for those left undecided.

The major legislative items on the agenda for this General Conference related to the Call to Action and a proposed restructuring of the boards and agencies of the general church. The committee tasked with accepting and recommending a restructuring plan in the first week of General Conference failed to do so, sending no plan to the floor.  An alternative arrangement, called Plan UMC, was advocated from the floor during the second week, approved after much debate, and then sent to the Judicial Council for review, where it was ultimately declared unconstitutional, leaving the General Conference without a viable plan for restructure at the end of the gathering.  This contentious discussion and complex process results in uncertainty for the boards and agencies, because it effectively leaves them with the same structure, but a reduced budget, which had been approved with the expectation of a reorganized general church.

Additionally, the General Conference also decided to:

• Formalize the relationships with a number of historically African American pan-Methodist denominations, entering into full communion.
• Eliminate the guaranteed appointment of elders.  This is a controversial change, as it changes the relationship of clergy to the connection. An added amendment provides some guidelines and structure for this change. 
• Hold a service of repentance, acknowledging the abuse and disrespect given to native people, and move toward reconciliation.
• Make the United Methodist Women an autonomous organization, apart from the mission agency of the general church.
• Create a national plan for ministry to Pacific Islanders.
• Dedicated significant funds to theological education for clergy in the central conferences (global church).
• Remain as a member body in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
• Not divest from investment in Israeli military contractors. 
• Maintain the existing language in the Book of Discipline about homosexuality, acknowledging that all persons are of sacred worth, but denying ordination and marriage to gay and lesbian members, retaining language that states that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching.” This issue has been debated for the past 40 years in the United Methodist Church, and a proposed amendment that would have indicated that people of good faith disagree on this issue was not approved.

We were able to see more discussion and commentary in real time this year, thanks to social media and a live stream online (now recorded!) of many discussions and presentations.  If you are interested in learning more, check out the hyperlinks in this article, as well as the archives and articles on UMC.org or in The United Methodist Reporter.  The months to come will give a greater sense of what decisions made at General Conference might mean for our local ministry at Duke Memorial, as well as for the larger church.  The democratic process of General Conference can be messy and difficult, but it is our Methodist way of “holy conferencing” that unites people as one church with room for all.

Youth Mission Team Sells Stock and Makes Friends

Our youth (and adult) mission team will serve in two places this summer:

• Appalachia Service Project (June 16-23):  Two work crews will serve in Mingo County, WV, to build relationships and make homes warmer, safer, and drier.

•  Rockfish Service Camp (August 5-11):  Twelve youth and their advisors will work in service agencies in and around Fayetteville, NC, to care for God’s people and creation.  After hours, they’ll enjoy fun, fellowship, and adventure at Camp Rockfish.

To support these mission efforts, the team will sell stock and accept snack  donations before and after worship on Sundays in May.  Please consider investing in our youth and their good work.  For every $50 invested, stockholders will receive a Duke Memorial UMC t-shirt to wear proudly.

 Celebrating a New Candidate for Ministry

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee celebrates with Dustin Rawlings as he has become a recommended candidate for ministry in the United Methodist Church.  Dustin grew up in Durham and recently moved back with his family in order to attend Duke Divinity School.  He feels called to serve as an ordained United Methodist deacon, which will allow him to serve in full-time ministry in a setting that connects the church to the world and its many needs.  The SPRC is proud that Dustin was unanimously approved by our recent Charge Conference, and we hope the congregation will find tangible ways to support Dustin and his family in these years that he is a student on a track to ministry.

Vacation Bible School

Registration is now open for Vacation Bible School at Duke Memorial and will be held June 25th-29th from 9:00-12:15 each day.  Register today for VBS!

Summer Sunday School @ DMUMC

FOR ADULTS:  This summer we have some great teaching series ahead of us during our Sunday school hour!

• June 3-24: Roger Owens – “Spirituality in the New Testament”
• July 1-29:  Presian Burroughs – “Creation Care: Loving Our Non-Human Neighbors”
• August 12-26: Warren Smith – “The Lord’s Prayer”

FOR CHILDREN:  Summer Sunday school will begin on Sunday, June 17th.  Children in K-5th Grades will meet together each Sunday from 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m. for crafts, games and Bible stories as we learn more about God’s promises and explore the Vacation Bible School theme of SonRise National Park.

Wonderful Wednesdays!

The call for more food and fellowship has been heard!  So mark your calendar for Wednesday evenings during the summer for church-wide fellowship meals beginning June 20.  We will gather in Whitford Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. for an informal dinner and casual conversation, and we’ll end with a brief time of faith formation for all ages.  Donations will be requested each Wednesday to cover the cost of the meal.  Your RSVP will help us plan for the correct amount of food.  Those with gifts related to food, organization, and hospitality who would like to help make these dinners a success are asked to contact Ginger Thomas to discuss how you can help.

Interfaith Hospitality Network Update

One of our ten guests for IHN last week is a sixth-grader named Rashad. He wrote the following letter, which was published in the Durham IHN newsletter this spring, and it’s a better way for our congregation to see how we touch these lives than my own report would be.

“My name is Rashad and I’m 12. I have one brother and two sisters. My thing is drawing. I want to be a car designer. I LOVE CARS. They are awesome. I like the lotus coupe. They are fast, small and made for speed, like me! I like IHN because the IHN members are nice. About the churchs. Good peepz, Good service. All the churchs are nice and the food is Great!!! The day house director Mrs. Katherine is very nice and so is Mrs. Olive. When I need School stuff I can always ask Mrs. Olive or Mrs. Katherine. Leah is also an IHN helper and she is so fun. We made a crop walk banner. And she took me and my sis to go see a movie that was really kool.”

I pray God’s blessings on all who helped this ministry to homeless families to happen last week, and in the future!   Roger Loyd, IHN coordinator, Duke Memorial UMC

Dinner and Discussion: Housing and Homelessness in Durham

Come learn more about housing and homelessness in our city, and why this is important to us as Christians, at the next Dinner and Discussion. It will be Monday, June 4, from 6-8pm in Whitford Hall. CHILDCARE IS PROVIDED! Click here to RSVP.

10 Volunteers Needed on May 19th!

It’s our turn to supply Habitat construction volunteers again on Saturday, May 19 both in the morning from 8:30-11:30 and the afternoon from 12:30-3:30. We need four volunteers in the morning and six for the afternoon. You can contact Dustin.Rawlings or Laura.Barnard to get involved!  Help build a home for Belvalon Nicholson and her three children (ages 3-13).

Baptism Class

Join Rev. Ginger Thomas for a session about Holy Baptism on Saturday, June 2, from 10:00am – 12:00noon.  In this session, we will talk about the meaning of baptism, the baptism liturgy, and how to celebrate baptism and nurture faith in the years following the baptism.  Please RSVP by emailing Ginger.

Wesley Singers

Wesley Singers is back in action this Spring, and is looking forward to fun rehearsals and three performances in worship.  Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons in the choir room.  Children K-5th grade and their parents are welcome!  Click here for more information for the spring schedule.

Summer Office Help

As our summer volunteers go on long summer vacations, please let us know if you are available to assist us in the office.  We can use your help with coverage on Wednesdays during staff meeting as well as assistance stuffing bulletins and mailing out postcards!  We appreciate all our volunteers!  Thank You!

Ladder Needed

If anyone has an extra 22 foot ladder they can donate to the church, please contact Joe at (919) 683-3467 Ext. 114.

Contact Information

If you have recently changed your address, phone or email address, please let Patricia Marley (Office Administrator) know.  We are in the process of updating our database.  If you are not receiving the e-newsletter/announcements and would like to be included, send us your preferred email address.  Thanks!