At a Glance
Theme:
Introduction to Baptismal Theology & Life
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:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Psalm 119:1-8, 33-48,129-144; Romans 6:3-11; John 6:26-36
Student Walnes Cangas enjoys an afternoon of play
with friends |
DYA students work together to accomplish their team's task during community games |
Reflections on the Lecture
In our first plenary session we began by defining theology as a conversation about God and the relationship between God and God’s people. At DYA, we’ll engage theology through the act of Christian worship. Specifically, we will be looking at theology through the practices of “Holy Things,” practices which open us to the presence of God. These “Holy Things” consist of:
- book (engaging Scripture)
- bath (baptism)
- table (Eucharist)
and the holy patterning of time.
Exploring baptism more deeply, we brainstormed the human significance of water concluding that:
- water can have multiple layers of significance that are sometimes contradictory
- water has the power to evoke emotional responses.
As we continued in our imaginings we brainstormed about the biblical significance of water concluding that, as demonstrated by the stories throughout the Christian Scriptures, water is intimately intertwined with God’s unfolding the story of salvation. As baptized people, we inherit this story and are given a new identity, family history and future.
We discovered together that as a result of our baptism we have been commissioned for ministry in the world. We ended with the question “What form will your ministry take?”
Quotable Quotes
“To be baptized is to be given a story and an identity, a history of God’s people and a future of God’s people.”
— Dr. Fred Edie in plenary
“Why did Jesus need to be baptized?”
— A DYA student in plenary
Other Activities
In addition to our first plenary session, our first full day together brought lots of activity outside. We had games on the Chapel quad, free time playing basketball, board games, a walk in the Duke Gardens, and other activities to get to know one another. We welcomed Faculty Director Fred Edie and Divinity School Chaplain Sally Bates as our leaders in worship, after which we gathered in mentor groups to reflect on the day.
What’s Ahead...
Tomorrow we welcome Dr. J. Kameron Carter, an associate professor in theology and black church studies at the Divinity School, who will lecture on the theme of creation. We’ll experience our first Arts Village session, in which our professional artists-in-residence will help us to experience God through the creative arts. We’ll also have our first Hospitality Meal, hosted by Urban Hope, a Durham organization which helps youth to develop entrepreneurial skills.
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