Students Engage Racial, Economic Divisions Through Summer Placements
June 21, 2006
Five Duke Divinity School students are spending much of this summer working and learning with Christian organizations that specialize in addressing social, racial or economic division.
The 10-week placements, which include a community for the disabled in Ontario, Canada, an inner-city church in Washington, D.C., and a community development ministry in Jackson, Miss., are part of the “Teaching Communities” program developed by the divinity school’s Center for Reconciliation and Office of Field Education. The center, launched in 2005, develops Christian leaders who work to address racial, tribal, ethnic and other conflicts and to promote peace and justice.
“This is quite exciting, immersing five promising Duke pastors-in-training in leading church-based communities which make their home in geographies of acute social brokenness,” says Chris Rice, co-director of the center. “These interns live, work, worship, and learn alongside neighbors and seasoned practitioners in the forefront of reconciliation.”
The students, all pursuing the master of divinity degree at Duke Divinity School, are Terrence Hagans of San Diego, Calif., David Hollis of Jackson, Tenn., Victor LaMonte Lane of Pittsburgh, Pa., Courtney Michel of Chagrin Fall, Ohio, and Christian Peele of Goldsboro, N.C.
The placements include:
- L’Arche Daybreak Community in Ontario, Canada, part of an international federation of communities for people with intellectual disabilities and assistants who share life, worship, meals and activities in family-like settings.
- Voice of Calvary Ministries & Fellowship, John M. Perkins Foundation, Jackson, Miss., a partnership that supports a multi-racial, multi-income-level community through ministries in economic development, housing services and health services.
- Church of the Saviour in Washington, D.C., an ecumenical Christian community that pursues ministries ranging from after-school arts programs for children to hospice for women with AIDS.
- Circle Urban Ministries & Rock of Our Salvation Church, Chicago, Ill., a multi-racial ministry with programs in education, legal aid, health care and mentoring.
- New Song Ministries & Church, Baltimore, Md., a congregation that focuses heavily on housing, neighborhood development and education.
The students each receive a stipend to help them with tuition as well as living expenses, Rice said, but the experience they are gaining this summer is far more important.
“There is no way to anticipate the great adventure God has in store for each of them,” he said. “Without a doubt, each of the students will be transformed by these places and the people they encounter there.”
Read reflections and stories by the students about these summer experiences.
To learn more about the Center for Reconciliation, please call 919-660-3578.