ABOUT KINDRED
Thoughtful & Inclusive
We’re an inclusive United Methodist community and an LGBTQ+ affirming church that meets in south Durham.
Meet Kindred Church
Kindred is a United Methodist congregation rooted in the historic Christian faith and shaped by the Wesleyan tradition. We hold to the core creeds of the Church while honoring a wide range of perspectives and experiences within our community. At the center of everything we do is Jesus, and we believe his life reveals an inclusive love that makes room for all of us. We fully affirm and celebrate women and LGBTQ+ siblings in the full life and leadership of the church. At Kindred, you don’t have to choose between your faith and your full self. We believe following Jesus is a journey, one that makes space for questions, honors differences, and invites each of us to show up as we are.
Lead Pastor
Daniel Childs
Our Lead Pastor, Daniel Childs, lives in South Durham with his wife, Kirsten, and children Caleb and Lydia. Daniel grew up in Chapel Hill, went to NC State for undergrad, then got his Master’s in theology from Duke. He enjoys watching sports (primarily the Wolfpack), working out, reading, watching Netflix, and spending time with the fam. If you’re interested, Daniel would love to connect with you over some good coffee or good food! The best way to reach him is by email.
Worship Director
Kandis Florián
Kandis Florián lives life with her partner, Donovan, their three children, her cat, and her jungle-sized collection of house plants. Originally from North Carolina, Kandis attended Appalachian State University where she earned her degree in Poetry and Gender Studies. She spent a few years in Nashville singing, writing, and recording music before moving to Durham where she diligently (and daily) learns the art of motherhood. Kandis enjoys off-the-beaten-path adventures, writing haikus, baking delicate confectionaries, and singing to her plants.
Children’s Ministry and Connection Coordinator
Bonnie Morrison
Bonnie Morrison lives in Cary with her husband, Bill, and two ginormous pups. Together they have five adult children (Tim, Emma, Kate, Seph & Nina) and are (mostly) empty nesters. Bonnie is a native of NC and has been in the Cary area for the past 27 years. Bonnie attended Campbell University where she double majored in Religion and Psychology. She has spent the past 30 years working in ministry. Bonnie enjoys laughing and playing games with her family, wrestling with her pups, listening to podcasts, upcycling furniture, and working in the yard.
Connections Coordinator
Olivia Brokaw
Olivia Brokaw comes to Durham from the mountains of Tennessee. Originally from South Carolina, she is excited to be back in the Carolinas after several years away. Olivia earned her degree in Humanities from Milligan University, where she discovered her passion for connecting others through volunteer coordination and fielded many questions about the purpose of studying literature and theology. Since graduating, Olivia has worked in nonprofit administration and volunteer coordination. Olivia enjoys reading, petting dogs, and studying theology. You’re likely to find her at a park or coffee shop with her skittish dog, Moose.
Our Core Focus
We embrace people with the inclusive love of Jesus and help them take their next steps of faith.
Our Core Beliefs
As a United Methodist congregation, Kindred is shaped by the Wesleyan theological tradition and firmly rooted in the historic Christian faith as summarized in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. That said, we are grateful to be the church home of people who hold a variety of beliefs and perspectives. The following Core Beliefs express several foundational theological convictions that inform our message and ministries:
Jesus is the Center.
Trusting that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15), we believe that he embodies God’s fullest self-revelation to the world. So as we seek to love God and love our neighbors, Jesus is our primary point of reference. We strive to orient our faith, our ministries, and our lives around him.
Inclusivity is Biblical.
The broad witness of Scripture reveals a God of radically inclusive love, and we always seek to interpret the parts of the Bible in light of the whole. For that reason, we take all of Scripture seriously, but we do not take all of Scripture literally. In particular, we reject modes of biblical interpretation that justify the subordination of women and the exclusion of LGBT+ persons from full participation in the life and leadership of the church. While a few isolated verses may appear to condone such stances, we find a literal application of those verses to be deeply unbiblical.
God’s Love is Unconditional.
Scripture reveals a God who loves each of us without condition. God sees each of us for exactly who we are. God sees our gifts and strengths, as well as our flaws and failures. And still, God is head-over-heels in love with us! Because God loves us, God has expectations for how we should live. But even when we fall short, we never lose the full measure of God’s love.
Faith is a Journey.
Faith isn’t just something you “have” or “don’t have.” Faith is the journey of following Jesus. And, as Jesus’ original disciples clearly demonstrate throughout the Gospels, faith is a journey that includes ups and downs. There may be times of uncertainty, questioning, and doubt. But such times aren’t to be avoided or suppressed, because they often give way to new insights, new experiences, and a deeper faith. Therefore, at Kindred Church, we don’t discourage questions and doubts. In fact, we welcome them as good and necessary parts of an authentic journey of faith.
Diversity is a Gift.
From the creation story in the Bible’s opening pages (Genesis 1) to the visions of heavenly worship at Scripture’s conclusion (Revelation 7), it is abundantly clear that God loves diversity. While diversity brings both opportunities and challenges, we believe it ultimately strengthens our church family. For that reason, we deeply value the diverse ethnicities, genders, orientations, theological perspectives, socio-economic classes, political views, and personality types represented at Kindred Church.
Our Core Values
Faithful Innovation
We strive to be faithful to the historic Christian faith while contextualizing our ministries to engage the people we feel God calling us to reach.
Missional Hospitality
We prioritize hospitality for newcomers–especially those who may feel like outsiders–so that we can show them they belong and help them engage.
Authentic Connection
Because God loves us unconditionally, we are free to connect with one another without pretense, as our whole selves.
Joyful Generosity
We practice generosity with our time, energy, talents, skills, and financial resources as expressions of Christlike love.
Intentional Invitation
We believe Kindred Church is worth sharing, so we proactively invite people to come and see if we’re the right faith community for them.
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