Melanie C. Gordon is an educator, minister, and advocate for the needs of children. In her 35+ year career, she has served as a teacher of children 3-18 years of age in both public and religious settings, as a school administrator, and as the national leader of ministry with children for the United Methodist Church for 10 years. Most recently, she was director of Bridges to a Brighter Future at Furman University, where she served as a chaplain and continues to teach in the Sociology Department. Gordon holds degrees from Clemson University and Duke Divinity School, and holds certificates in MotherRead®, HighScope®, The Way of the Child®, and Children Worship and Wonder®. She is an active United Methodist layperson and volunteers in educational settings throughout Greenville County—focusing on the developmental needs of children. Her most recent publication is Growing Spiritually with Our Children - An Ecumenical Guide for Parents and Ministers. 

“The presence of children’s voices in worship is a sign of hope and continuity, reminding us that our faith and the life of the church will live on.”

Fred Edie grew up on the Isle of Hope just east of Savannah, Ga. He holds a B.A. from Furman University, an M.Div. from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. from Emory University. Edie is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and has served congregations on both coasts in youth and educational ministries. At Duke, Edie teaches courses in Christian education, youth ministry, and practical theology. His research interests include exploring the relationships between Christian worship and Christian identity, creating rich contexts for the formation of Christians, and constructing “full-bodied” epistemologies.

Edie’s book, Book, Bath, Table and Time, explores what went on at the Duke Youth Academy and, in particular, suggests how congregational youth ministries may benefit from attention to corporate worship as a crucial zone of formation for youth.