St. Joseph's Episcopal Church (Durham, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
St. Joseph's Episcopal Church is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
. The church is located at the corner of Iredell and West Main Streets in Durham
, a short distance from Duke University
's East Campus.
St. Joseph's began as a Bible study organized by William A. Erwin before the turn of the twentieth century, and became a mission of the Diocese of North Carolina in 1908. Past clergy of St. Joseph's include its first rector, John Shelby Spong
(1955 to 1957), who later became bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark
. After 50 years as a parish (or self-supporting congregation), St. Joseph's became a mission again in 2006, when the church split over issues of human sexuality. With the support of Bishop Michael Curry, St. Joseph's called a new vicar, Rhonda Lee, in Advent
of that year.
Since 2006, the church has enjoyed new life as a small congregation, where laypersons play a vital role in the life of the church. St. Joseph's has strengthened its community ties, celebrating Ash Wednesday
, Holy Week
, and Easter
liturgies jointly with the Episcopal Center at Duke, and answering a new call to ministry with the church's homeless neighbors. St. Joseph's is a member of Durham Congregations in Action, and supports Housing for New Hope and Urban Ministries of Durham.
In May 2008, the church celebrated its centennial and launched its second hundred years with a weekend of worship and fellowship, attended by members and friends from across North Carolina and beyond.
In June 2010, Rhonda Lee left to fulfill a commitment to a Lilly Foundation grant. After a seven month search, the Rev. Karen Clay Barfield was appointed vicar in February, 2011.
Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, founded in 1817, roughly corresponds to the segment of the U.S. state of North Carolina between I-77 in the west and I-95 in the east, including the most populous area of the state. Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cary, and Durham are the...
. The church is located at the corner of Iredell and West Main Streets in Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, a short distance from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's East Campus.
St. Joseph's began as a Bible study organized by William A. Erwin before the turn of the twentieth century, and became a mission of the Diocese of North Carolina in 1908. Past clergy of St. Joseph's include its first rector, John Shelby Spong
John Shelby Spong
John Shelby "Jack" Spong is a retired American bishop of the Episcopal Church. He was formerly the Bishop of Newark . He is a liberal Christian theologian, religion commentator and author...
(1955 to 1957), who later became bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark
Episcopal Diocese of Newark
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America comprising the northern third of New Jersey in the United States...
. After 50 years as a parish (or self-supporting congregation), St. Joseph's became a mission again in 2006, when the church split over issues of human sexuality. With the support of Bishop Michael Curry, St. Joseph's called a new vicar, Rhonda Lee, in Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
of that year.
Since 2006, the church has enjoyed new life as a small congregation, where laypersons play a vital role in the life of the church. St. Joseph's has strengthened its community ties, celebrating Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter...
, Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
, and Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
liturgies jointly with the Episcopal Center at Duke, and answering a new call to ministry with the church's homeless neighbors. St. Joseph's is a member of Durham Congregations in Action, and supports Housing for New Hope and Urban Ministries of Durham.
In May 2008, the church celebrated its centennial and launched its second hundred years with a weekend of worship and fellowship, attended by members and friends from across North Carolina and beyond.
In June 2010, Rhonda Lee left to fulfill a commitment to a Lilly Foundation grant. After a seven month search, the Rev. Karen Clay Barfield was appointed vicar in February, 2011.
External links
- http://saintjosephsdurham.org/