Making a difference: Dubay ready to lead Koinonia through re-birth By Jack McNeely It took someone special – Clarence Jordan – to visualize and ultimately create Koinonia Farm here in southwestern Sumter County in 1942. Today the vast and fertile lands alongside Old Dawson Road are a quiet reminder of the conflict and controversy that helped shape the Christian farm community during the civil rights movement four decades ago. Bren Dubay, a Catholic with strong Irish ties, wants to follow in the peaceful strides of the Koinonia founder as its newest director. “I am drawn here by the people who are making a tangible difference. I am attracted to its legacy and potential for the future,” says the 53-year-old administrator and playwright. Based on a radical call to discipleship, Koinonia’s very presence confronted racism, militarism and materialism with its commitment to: Treat all human beings with dignity and justice. Choose love over violence. Share all possessions and live simply. Be stewards of the land its natural resources. Koinonia, by the way, is commonly referred to as the “Birthplace of Habitat for Humanity.” Habitat founders Millard and Linda Fuller gave away their worldly possessions to live and work at Koinonia from 1968-72. I had the pleasure Thursday of visiting Dubay at Koinonia Farm and its 100 acres of pecan groves and additional crops including blueberries, grapes, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and corn. She took me to visit Clarence’s Shack, a tiny building in the pecan grove where the founder spent many hours writing and where he eventually died in 1969. Like Jordan, Dubay loves to write. She completed a seven-year playwright residency at Rice University in Houston in 1997. She continued at Rice as a guest of Rice Players until May 2000. In 1995, Bulgaria’s Evmolpiada Theatre named Dubay resident playwright and opened Irish Mist. The play enjoyed a five-year run in Eastern Europe. Dubay’s recognized full-length works include Tom and Darla, Howling at the Moon Through Ice Cubes in a Glass, and Secrets. Prior to 1987, when Dubay began to focus primarily on writing, she spent 13 years in arts administration as associate producer of New Texas Theatre, associate producer of the Houston Shakespeare Festival, producer of the Children’s Theatre Festival, director of development at Alley Theatre, and producing director at Stages Repertory Theatre. Furthermore, she has taught seminars and workshops in fundraising, marketing, arts management, acting, directing and playwriting. So, what does this all mean for the non-profit Koinonia Farm? She’s quick to respond, “I want to focus my gifts and talents” in spirituality, literature and administration. “Koinonia is ready to give birth to something. We’ll find out what it is eventually.” Dubay looks forward to working as a part of the Christian community. She arrived at Koinonia a week ago today from Ankleton, Texas, nestled 15 miles south of Houston. Her husband, Jim, will join her at Koinonia after their youngest child, Evan Patrick, 17, graduates from high school and heads off to college later this summer. The Dubays have two more children, Dillon, 25, and Jillian, 21. That’s right, they have strong Irish names, she pointed out. “My husband is one of the reasons I’m doing this,” she said. Although majoring in English and one of a long line of mathematicians, Jim Dubay is a retired Houston firefighter. Dubay doesn’t know how long she will be at Koinonia. But she has a great attitude and philosophy. “I’ll be here until it’s time not to be here,” she said matter-of-factly. “Someone told me today that you should blossom where you’re planted.” Look at the faces of Koinonia employees and volunteers and it’s easy to see her roots taking hold in the time-tested soil of Sumter County.