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Friends United Meeting |
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June 2002
Commitments
By Retha McCutchen
Friends United Meeting is about a month away from its first Triennial held outside North America. It is fun to imagine what those Quakers who gathered in 1902 with the vision that created Five Years Meeting (FUM) would think. Their vision was challenged as they began the first Friends outreach to Kenya. Willis Hotchkiss, Arthur Chilson, and William Smith spent months on board a ship before they reached the shores at Mombasa. And they didnŐt enjoy a one hour flight from Mombasa to Kisumu. It tooks days, weeks or even months to arrive in Western Kenya, where today we celebrate with 13 FUM member yearly meetings. The contrasts are extreme.
The challenge remains. God is a God of extremes. God is placing before FUM Friends a vision to reach outside our traditions, rituals (yes, we have them!!!) and fears to be and do new areas of ministry. One core principle of the Christian Quaker faith is peace. Inner peace centered in Christ must lead us to speak peace to situations in our world.
The crisis in the Middle East today sits at the center of who we are. We are emotionally and physically grounded in this conflict through 133 years of Quaker presence in what are now called the Ramallah Friends Schools. We must not take this responsibility lightly. The World Ministries office is organizing a program of presence and partnership with friends in Palestine. In small groups Friends can spend vacation time being a part of this community rebuilding. We need hundreds of people willing to join hands across the miles in the next months and years.
I am inviting??? challenging??? each yearly meeting general superintendent and presiding clerk to accompany me on the initial visit. As church leaders, you will have the opportunity to visit and listen to church leaders who have experienced war and the destruction of their ministry. In contrast, we will try to visit an Israeli settlement to hear stories of immigrants who feel God has called them to this place. You will walk the halls of both Friends Schools in Ramallah, talking with students, teachers, administrators and board members. Open sessions with community and parents will be insightful. Worship with F/friends at Ramallah Monthly Meeting will be a privilege. Presence brings peace.
This invitation is a challenge to each yearly meeting worldwide to raise the funds and send their representatives. The investment will reap eternal rewards.
Copyright (c) 2002 Friends United Meeting
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