Durham Congregations in Action
The Congregation at Duke University Chapel is a member of Durham Congregations in Action (DCIA). DCIA is a cooperative, multi-faith network which offers care and support to the most vulnerable and forgotten in our community, while planting seeds for new initiatives to change lives in Durham. Its mission is to bring together congregations to promote understanding across boundaries of faith, race and ethnicity and to build an inclusive community of justice and peace.
NC Council of Churches
The Congregation at Duke University Chapel is a member of the North Carolina Council of Churches. The North Carolina Council of Churches, founded in 1935, is a statewide ecumenical organization promoting Christian unity and working toward a more just society. The Council’s mission is to enable “denominations, congregations, and people of faith to individually and collectively impact our state on issues such as economic justice and development, human well-being, equality, compassion and peace, following the example and mission of Jesus Christ.” While the Council itself is overtly Christian, many of the committees and task groups are interfaith, including members from non-Christian faith communities. Several committees also include members of Christian denominations which are not part of the Council of Churches. In its work, the Council strives to live its motto of “Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice.”
Local Grants
Every year the Congregation grants significant resources to nonprofits which serve the city of Durham. The Mission Committee has intentionally kept the number of agencies we support small, between ten and twelve, so that we can develop deeper connections with these partner agencies. Each year, the committee invites select agencies to apply for a grant; completed applications are followed with a personal interview. In the interview, the Mission and Outreach Committee seeks greater understanding of the work and challenges of the agency and looks for additional ways in which the Congregation can partner with the agency. The Congregation at Duke University Chapel supports local nonprofits with volunteer service, in-kind gifts, financial support, and prayers. For 2023-2024, total grants are $76,700 in grant funding. We also gave additional funds to Habitat for Humanity, as we partnered with others to build a house. We encourage our members and friends to volunteer with these worthy organizations.
| Agency | Mission | Volunteer Needs |
| Durham Literacy Center | The Durham Literacy Center is the leading independent organization dedicated to providing free literacy services to adults and out-of-school youth in Durham County. |
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| Families Moving Forward | Families Moving Forward offers a temporary home to families with children in the crisis of homelessness and guides families to self-sufficiency. |
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| Habitat for Humanity | Seeking to put God's love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. |
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| Meals on Wheels | Meals on Wheels enhances the quality of life for seniors, people with disabilities, and other eligible citizens in our community who are unable to provide proper nutrition for themselves. |
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| Reality Ministries | Reality Ministries creates opportunities for teens and adults with and without developmental disabilities to experience belonging, kinship, and the life-changing reality of Christ’s love. |
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| Religious Coalition for a Non Violent Durham | The Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham is comprised of individuals who as an expression of their faith and goodwill actively seek an end to the violence that is plaguing Durham neighborhoods. |
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| Ronald McDonald House | Built with love, the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and Wake offers a comforting home away from home and a community of support for seriously ill children and their families. |
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| Society of Saint Andrew | The Society of St. Andrew salvages fresh, nutritious produce from American farms – produce that otherwise would be left to rot – and delivers it to agencies that serve the poor. |
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| StepUp Durham | StepUp assists adults and children transforming their lives through employment and life skills training. |
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| Urban Community AgriNomics | Urban Community AgriNomics (UCAN) engages the community of Northern Durham with skills based in agriculture and providing a place for those within the community to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables. |
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| Urban Ministries | Urban Ministries connects with the community to end homelessness and fight poverty by offering food, shelter, and a future to neighbors in need. |
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| Total Local Mission Grants for 2023-2024: $76,700 | ||