On Tuesday, September 12, clergy from across the North Carolina Annual Conference gathered to share in fellowship and worship together.
Dr. Jerusha Neal, Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Duke Divinity School, delivered a message rooted in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The Rev. Dr. Elaine Heath, Dean of Duke Divinity School spoke on her recent book, God Unbound: Wisdom from Galatians for the Anxious Church.
A question and answer session afforded clergy the opportunity to engage in dialogue with these strong leaders of our church and theological institutions.
Dr. Heath’s newest book, Five Means of Grace is published this month, a study of traditional means of grace we employ to experience a richer presence of God: prayer, searching scripture, receiving the Lord’s Supper, fasting, and conferencing (communion, fellowship).
Bishop Hope Morgan Ward encouraged clergy to continue reflecting on this work. In addition, she invites all clergy to join her and the Cabinet in reading The Sabbath by Rabbi Abraham Heschel. In just over 100 pages, Heschel brings a glimpse of the Jewish ritual practice of observing Sabbath in community. In The Sabbath, he “introduced the idea of an ‘architecture of holiness’ that appears not in space but in time.”
Bishop Ward will be visiting each district in the coming months. Please check your email for details. Special thanks to the pastors and congregation of Nashville UMC for hosting this event.