Is retirement just about living in a permanent state of vacation? About sitting in rocking chairs and eating earlier? Surely there is more to retirement than this. Even in retirement, we desire to be people with a purpose. As we approach and enter the stage of retirement, new questions emerge: “What will I do? Who […]

Getting access to broadband in rural NC can be a huge issue- for faith communities, local governments, businesses, and families. But talking about broadband adoption is a conversation about access and also equity- and one that must address our individual relationships with technology and connection. Chat with Maggie Woods, Program Manager of the BAND-NC Digital […]

In March 2020, everything changed. As we reflect on the last 18 months, we find ourselves in a new and unfamiliar place. The world has changed. Our work has changed. We have changed. These have been months filled with trauma for people all over the world. Now we begin the task of finding our way […]

Dr. Ellen Davis (Duke Divinity School) and Rev. Jarrod S. Davis guide a study on Leviticus 25, seeking to understand the importance of Sabbath and Jubilee for the land and the community alike. How have our understandings of land ownership, indebtedness, and slavery shaped our modern world? Register for this webinar

Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century said today it willoffer a new webinar series to help leaders grow and transform their congregations and community.The aim is for clergy and ministry leaders, looking to impact their communities, to learn fromtransformational leaders with practical experiences and expertise. The Leadership ForwardWebinars will start Thursday, September 30, […]

God calls every Christian to a life of servanthood as a disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Lay Servant Ministries Basic Course, Sandy and Brian Jackson discuss processes to help individuals discern and respond to God’s particular call on their lives. They encourage each person to recognize and employ his or her spiritual gifts for […]

A down-to-earth, practical introduction to the ins and outs of preaching for lay preachers, bi-vocational pastors, and others newly arrived in the pulpit. Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the amount of financial resources required to support a full-time pastor in the local congregation. In addition, large numbers of full-time, seminary trained clergy […]

Helps seminary professors, leaders, ministers, mediators, facilitators, and conflict transformation consultants turn conflict from a negative force into a positive one grounded in biblical principles, love of God, neighbor, and self.Transforming conflict into a positive rather than a negative force is a spiritual pursuit and needs to be grounded in biblical principles: love of God, […]

This advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries focuses on the ministry of the Lay Servant who either regularly or occasionally leads a group, class, organization, or the congregation in worship. The course is grounded in the classic patterns of Christian worship and the practices of leading worship. Participants will come to understand more about Christian […]

Amy Oden will present on "Right Here, Right Now: Christian Mindfulness" and Jerry Webber will present on "The Parables as Spiritual Guides." More info. Register for the event

The annual Convocation & Pastors’ School is a conference that offers lectures, worship, and seminars for Christian leaders of all traditions. Led by scholars and practitioners from Duke University and beyond, this event is a cooperative endeavor with the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church, The Duke Endowment, and […]

Singing hymns brings such joy to believers. The deep theological messages and the familiar melodies speak to hearts as well as to minds, but could hymns be an even more crucial part of our spiritual lives? Yes, through meditation on hymns.   Learners will learn to incorporate this spiritual practice by exploring history and background of the composer and music, then will experience a recorded meditation […]