Some of the DYA crew enjoy fellowship time on the steps of Duke Chapel before evening worship as the end of the academy draws near. |
At a Glance
Theme:
Calling: Back to the Future
Faculty Speaker: Rev. Dr. Fred Edie, assistant professor of the practice of Christian education and director of the Duke Youth Academy for Christian Formation
Lectionary Texts:
Genesis 15:7-21, 17:17-22; Psalm 78; Luke 14:12-14; Revelation 22:1-51
Reflections on the Lecture
Dr. Edie began with an “oldie but goodie” excerpt from Bill Cosby’s interpretation on Noah’s call story.
Cosby’s humorous rendition captures the joys and fears of being faithful to God’s call. Edie makes the claim that we too are like Noah, Moses, Jeremiah and even Jonah as we try to discern who God is calling us to be.
Moses told God that people wouldn’t listen to him and that he was not a good public speaker; Jeremiah said he was too young; Jonah said he’d rather not go to the Ninevites. Dr. Edie reminded us that we are all called – the challenge is to think of how we are being called.
Like those called in the biblical narrative, we also deal with disbelief, ridicule, defiance and uncertainty. Yet our baptism calls us to faithful discipleship rather than selfish ambition.
The Gospel challenges the notion that we create ourselves, that we can be anything we want to be. Rather, as Christians, we receive life as a gift and because of that gift we are called to discern our God-given vocation.
In the final portion of the lecture, Dr. Edie reframed our understanding of ministry and vocation. Ministry does not only belong to those who “wear funny clothes” and get paid to be pastors – ministry belongs to everyone.
In order to convey a broader sense of ministry and to empower us all to live into our baptisms, Dr. Edie cited Frederick Buechner, “Vocation is where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep hunger.” Christian vocation calls all of us to profound joy while serving God’s good creation.
A few of Fred's fantastic quotes...
“The task is to find where you are to be engaged – and then the means to take it up.”
“Vocation and occupation are not necessarily the same thing – but we can’t be too quick to separate them either.”
“Christians do not claim to be self made, we receive life as a gift.”
“Christian vocation may seem laughable and dangerous to the world.”
“To be baptized is to be given a vocation for ministry.”
Evening worship and final covenant group meetings...
Elizabeth Ingram Schindler preached for our last evening worship service. She reminded us all that while we have encountered God in new and wonderful ways over the last two weeks, God will certainly go with us as we return home.
Covenant groups shed tears as they served one another Communion and got a glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth.
Tomorrow morning we go forth from the academy in the hope and knowledge that God goes before us, with us and after us.
As we sung each day after plenary sessions, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” We can go in the confidence that we too are in God’s hands.
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Duke Youth Academy
for Christian Formation
The Divinity School,
Duke University
Box 90966,
Durham, N.C. 27708-0966
919-660-3542,
DuYouth@div.Duke.edu | 
