Connect | Formation Groups

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Rev. Justis Mitchell

Minister of Adult Spiritual Formation | (they/he)

Email | Justis

Engaging Community

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Duke Memorial formation groups offer an opportunity for curiosity, learning, conversation, and relationship with a goal of journeying together towards better faithfulness. Duke Memorial offers a range of formation groups for people at various stages of life and faith.
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​Contact one of the leaders below or Minister Justis for more information. 

Worshipful Wednesdays

Whitford Hall
Worshipful Wednesdays are back starting on Wednesday, January 7th at 5:30PM! Wednesday evenings are a great opportunity to connect with faith families and grow in faith with others through programming for children and adults. We hope you'll join us!  ​Worshipful Wednesdays will be running through the Spring.

Short-Term Formation Groups

Animate: Faith Spring Study

Led by Rev. Stuart Harrell
Starting Wednesday, April 15th; Dinner at 5:30 PM, Study at 6:15 PM
Join Rev. Stuart Harrell on Wednesday Evenings this Spring (beginning April 15th) for discussions on a series of videos entitled Animate: Faith. In each Animate: Faith session, the group will watch a video featuring a leading voice from the Christian faith, spend time on personal reflection and journaling, and share ideas with the group. The list of topics and voices offered by Animate: Faith are as follows: 
1. God: Faith is a Quest with Brian McLaren- April 15th
2. Religion: Spirituality is Not Enough with Lillian Daniel- April 22nd
3. Jesus: The Revolution of Love with Mark Scandrette- April 29th
4. Salvation: Abundant Life Now with Shane Hipps- May 6th
5. Cross: Where God is with Nadia Bolz-Weber- May 13th
6. Bible: A Book Like No Other with Lauren Winner- May 20th
7. Church: An Imperfect Family with Bruce Reyes-Chow- May 27th

Join Here

Theology Café

Wednesday Nights During Lent | 6:15PM | Beginning February 25th
As we grow in faith, we are continually reviewing, revising, scrapping and reimaging what we believe in light of what we have since learned and experienced.  Come to five weeks of Theology Café to ask questions, consider scripture through a different lens, hear what others believe, and fall in love with God again or for the first time.  Come be who you are, where you are on the journey, as we explore who God is, who we are, and what that means for how we live our lives.  Led by Rev. Renée Burnette, retired United Methodist pastor and fellow seeker.
This space is designed for small group conversation and will be made up of no more than 10 folks. A waitlist is available if more folks are interested.
Hybrid option available and childcare provided.

Join the Waitlist here

​Mid-Week Formation Groups

Dinner Church

Dinner Church is a gathering where all the most important things happen at the table. Think of a good dinner party with a spiritual twist –good conversation and prayerful moments. We gather around dinner tables (or a restaurant's table) and join others as we break bread and get to know one another better. Our mealtime lasts from 1 hour to 1.5 hours each week.
​Click the link below to sign up and be added to the waitlist for the next Dinner Church Group!

Sign Up

The Seekers Connection

Wednesdays at 8:30am in the Commons
​The Seekers is a group that has been meeting on Wednesday mornings at 8 am since 2016 when we studied the book of Matthew. Since then, the reading has included the Bible as well as religion and spirituality in general and how it impacts our lives as Christians. We meet in the Commons each week. We are currently studying Everyday Contemplative by Roger Owens. All are welcome to our usually small group, so if you are a morning person, please consider joining us. We hope to see you there. 
Contact: Gary Boyd

LGBTQ+ Formation Group

Meeting times vary
Sign Up using Church Center →

​We are excited to offer a new formation group! We hope to create a safer space that we may come together in fellowship, heal from our past and present experiences, and grow into our better selves. This group is open to all, including allies, to explore faith and life together. In our first meeting we will introduce ourselves as well as dream about what kind of community we hope to create. Future meet-ups will be in various places across Durham and Raleigh.

​Wednesday Morning Women’s Group

Wednesdays | 9:30-11:0​0 AM | In-Person | The Commons
The Wednesday Morning Women’s Small Group will meet this spring on Wednesdays 9:30-11:00 am in the Commons, We invite you to join our merry group as we read, learn, share, and grow each week over coffee and snacks. We'll read Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey​, meeting each Wednesday morning 9:30 to 11:00 am in the Commons.
Contact Karalyn Colopy ([email protected]) with any questions.

Heart of the Bible
A Weekly Scripture Study

Join Online

Tuesdays | 9:00 AM | Zoom
Sign up using Church Center →
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Heart of the Bible Study meets on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am, via Zoom for one hour. Heart of the Bible is a more transformational than informational Bible study. There are lots of books, commentaries, and academics available if you want a scholar’s view of the text. We are inviting the Holy Spirit to open us to hear God’s word for us in this place, at this time, as we read and discuss the text together. The more people involved, the richer and broader the perspectives and interpretations we will hear. We share our thoughts and questions as we study the text without seeking to convince others of our answers. You are welcome whether you are new to the Bible or seminary trained or somewhere in the middle. Bring your curiosity, a Bible, and a willingness to be surprised by God.
Contact: Renee Burnette or ​919-451-3233

Living Into The Scriptures

JOin ONline

Join by Phone 
1) Call: 301-715-8592
2) Enter Meeting ID: 985 3396 2565
3) Participant ID: Press # to bypass
4) Meeting Passcode:  046720
​5) Use *6 to mute and unmute

Thursdays | 10:30 AM | Zoom
Living into the Scriptures is a small group that meets on Thursdays at 10:30 to study the Bible and pray for each other. We will be starting this fall on Thursday, September 18th, from 10:30 to 12 noon on Zoom. We are studying the Christian classic Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster. 
It is a wonderful book with chapters on meditation, prayer, simplicity, guidance, and celebration as well as others.  It gives you a path to spiritual growth.
We would love to welcome you to our group. Please call Ann Stallings Smith at 919-384-2981 or Miriam Anne Glover-Wetherington at 910-650-9008 if you are interested. 

Contact:  Ann Stallings Smith or Miriam Anne Glover-Wetherington  

Sunday Formation Groups

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​Journeys

Sundays | 9:45 AM | In-Person | Bradshaw Room
Has your faith journey been a roller coaster the last few years? Many of us are starting new stages of life, and feeling uncertain about what the future looks like. Let's talk about it! This class joins the short term Sunday School classes when they occur and is currently meeting in the Bradshaw Room. 
Contact: Rev. Justis Mitchell

Open Door Class

Join Online

Join by Phone 
1) Call: 301-715-8592
2) Enter Meeting ID: 985 2685 0304
3) Participant ID: Press # to bypass
4) Meeting Password: 532033
5) Use *6 to mute and unmute​

Sundays | 9:45 AM | In-Person & Zoom
We are a traditional Sunday School class meeting each Sunday from 9:45-10:45 to study Scripture and enjoy time together. We use the Adult Bible Study Series, video presentations about the holy land or biblical personalities, and enjoy the varied talents shared by our three teachers. We welcome those from 30 to 95+ (open to all).  The Open Door classroom is located on the second floor of the Education Building around the corner next to the elevator.
Contact: Nancy Lockamy

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