Friends United Meeting |
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April 2004
News from Friends United Meeting
FUM Plans Outreach Through Global Partnership
After a two-year planning and consultation process, the General Board of Friends United Meeting approved four priorities for its work for the next trienniums: evangelism, leadership training, global partnership and communications. In presenting the proposed priorities to the Board, Susan Kirkpatrick, clerk of the Priorities Committee, asserted that “the vision of Friends United Meeting in this new decade is to open new mission fields and proclaim the Gospel in a way that will bring new people into the fellowship of Friends.”
A “Vision and Strategy” paper commissioned by the General Board Program
Coordination and Priorities Committee stated this basic understanding of
Friends:
“Friends celebrate the wonder of God’s love and seek to reflect that love in
service to others. We rely on Jesus Christ for salvation and emphasize the
importance of listening inwardly to the living word of God. We have
discovered that communities of faith that center on Christ and practice a
listening spirituality begin to reflect the character of Jesus. The peace,
simplicity, equality, moral purity, and integrity that result offer hope to
a broken world. Transformed lives are the evidence that the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus have power to bring healing to this world. Friends
take seriously the prophetic vision of the world at peace. We believe that
the global community of the church reflects that vision. It is our joy to
share the love of God and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit with all
people everywhere.”
A Gathering Momentum
This statement of four priorities emerged when the Priorities Committee met last September and reviewed a decade long history of actions by the General Board and Triennial sessions. The Board agreed that the priorities reflect the direction that was implicit in the purpose statement approved at the 1993 FUM Triennial: “Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.”
The 2002 Triennial sessions held in Nairobi, Kenya, significantly moved Friends toward a paradigm shift in understanding mission work in the context of Global Partnership. The World Ministries Committee held two consultations to develop a vision for FUM’s future mission work. Those consultations worked on plans to shift the work of missions toward developing genuine global partnerships between the various regions of FUM and procedures to encourage the opening of new mission fields, rather than maintaining a single focus on sending resources from the United States overseas. A clear emphasis on leadership training also emerged from the consultations. It was encapsulated in this consultation statement: “FUM is called of God to disciple leaders. The focus of our ministry is to nurture faithful disciples and mentor servant leaders, world-wide, committed to gathering people into strong local fellowship and churches.”
Beginning in fall 2002, North American Ministries held a series of consultations to discern FUM’s role in outreach and evangelism. Recognizing that the fundamental work of evangelism is carried out by local Friends, it was decided that FUM’s role lay largely in the areas of mass communication and providing resources for groups that may emerge outside of the boundaries of existing FUM yearly meetings.
What’s Next?
Two key programmatic actions to implement these priorities include moving forward with plans to open a Friends United Meeting office in East Africa in the coming year, and to redesign the FUM website to make it a portal for seekers into the world of Friends. Brent McKinney, clerk of the FUM General Board, Retha McCutchen, General Secretary and Colin South, director of Global Ministries, traveled to Kenya immediately after the Board meeting to meet with the East Africa section of the General Board.
The Board also authorized staff to start working toward reorganization into three Departments: Global Ministries, Communications and Administrative Services. Reflecting the commitment to world-wide partnerships, the Global Ministries department will include both North American Ministries and East African Ministries. The Communications Department will coordinate the work of Quaker Life magazine, Friends United Press and the Quaker Hill Bookstore, along with Internet and media work. This reorganization is expected to be phased in over the coming year, as increased funding allows.
The July-August issue of Quaker Life magazine will focus in more depth on the vision behind these four priorities and look at their practical implications for ministry.
Mission Notes
Friends Theological College
Friends Theological College is working hard toward greater fiscal
sustainability through income-generating projects and by asking Kenyans to
provide support for the college. The first Donor Appreciation Day in
November 2003 was successful, with John Muhanji as the main speaker on the
topic of Church Leadership. Students presented a drama and during a worship
celebration the following Kenyan yearly meetings were recognized for their
significant financial contributions in 2003: Kakamega is a Patron (gift of
20,000 Kenyan shillings); Elgon East, Elgon and Vokoli are Sponsors (gift of
10,000 Kenyan shillings); Central, Chavakali and Tuloi as other donors (gift
of up to 10,000 Kenyan shillings); and East Africa was recognized for their
long relationship to the college, providing the college’s land and other
benefits. Contributions are already arriving in preparation for our next
celebration later this year.
Belize
On February 9, Paul Chun, a past student of the Friends Boys School, was the
recipient of a new 10-speed mountain bike thanks to recent cruise ship
passengers from Indiana who stopped by our school. Paul, who is a Fourth
Form (senior) student at Toledo Technical College and a recipient of a
scholarship from Friends Boys School in May 2000, will graduate in June
2004. This bike will be of much assistance in helping him get to and from
school. Thanks to Wayne Bickle and his group for this gift.
Ramallah Friends Boys School
Jacob Kuntz has implemented a new subject into the curriculum: non-violence.
He writes:
I started this new subject of study on Martin Luther King Day
when I gave a speech to the entire school in chapel on the life and legacy
of Dr. King. They greatly appreciated the talk, so I taught six classes of
basic non-violence to my ninth and tenth graders. In the middle of each
lesson I handed out bits of paper and asked the students a simple question:
“Do you think non-violence would work in Palestine.” The survey was usually
followed by a lively debate. We had a good time talking.
I found that 40% of ninth graders and 46% of tenth graders believed that nonviolence would work in Palestine. Three out of four classes had a majority who believed it was a viable alternative to violence. I was a little surprised.
“Why?” asked one girl in tenth grade. “Do you think we like violence?”
It is a good question. It is a constant effort to keep my eyes and ears open to people. Often, the loudest people get their opinions heard, while truth masks itself in humility.
John Hishmeh Appointed to Ramallah
Appointed to the Friends Boys School in Ramallah for a two-year term, John Hishmeh leaves the week after Easter on a journey homeward. As a second-generation Arab-American, he will develop a school counseling program as well as become acquainted with relatives still living in Ramallah. Over 50 years ago, his grandparents immigrated to Kentucky and now he returns carrying the Light of Christ into a radically different environment.
A recent graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Counseling, John also has expertise in Christian theology and drama. He has also participated in domestic mission work, a short-term trip to Honduras and a confirming trip to Egypt where he sensed his call to be with the Arabic people.
“For years now,” John states, “I have watched as hatred has ravaged the lives of Palestinians and Israelis alike. More and more the children of that region are growing up in a world filled with violence and death. Until now, I have been sitting on the sidelines as lives and communities are exterminated. The huge weight in my heart for these people will no longer allow my conscience to be satisfied with cheap talk. How could I ever legitimately speak for peace if I’ve never lifted a finger to make it happen? Therefore, I go to join them in their suffering. I go to be an authentic Christian witness in a world filled with pain and violence. I go to live before them a life of reconciliation, forgiveness and mercy. I go to respond to the beckoning Christ already present.”
If you would like to help support John in his ministry or would like more
information, contact Friends United Meeting, 101 Quaker Hill Drive,
Richmond, IN 47374; phone (765) 962-7573 or email missions@fum.org. All
donations are tax deductible.
Internet Outreach Specialist Named
Friends United Meeting welcomes Curtis P. Hermann to its team in the new position of Internet Outreach Specialist. Curtis is a seasoned internet application developer with specialties in Flash and ColdFusion development.
“Curtis will be key to our emphasis on reaching out to the general public with the message of the Christian Quaker faith,” said Ben Richmond, Director of North American Ministries. “Until now our resources have been focused on serving our own community. The addition of this position is a shift toward interacting with a wider audience.”
In addition to managing his web development consulting firm, iindwell, inc., Curtis is currently serving as a technical editor and co-author of a forthcoming book, ColdFusion MX Development with Dreamweaver MX 2004 (Apress 2004).
“I am excited about using my technical skills to support people in the work of bringing seekers to Christ,” says Curtis. “I look forward to bringing Friends United Meeting’s yearly and monthly meetings, and seekers worldwide, together through this virtual community.”
Curtis and his wife, Maria, live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with their two children, Emily, 6, and Gabriel, 10 months. Maria works in the Africa department for the Mennonite Central Committee. The Hermanns attend Lancaster Monthly Meeting of Friends.
2005 FUM Triennial Logo Selected
The Triennial theme, “The Lamb will overcome them,” is reflected in the newly approved logo seen here. The theme was selected from Revelation 17:14: “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
Other business of the Triennial Planning Committee which meet receding the February General Board Meetings included the preliminary approval of a budget, workshop leaders to be contacted and publicity.
The 2005 FUM Triennial will be held in Des Moines, Iowa from July 13-17, 2005 at the Airport Holiday Inn. Watch Quaker Life for additional information and articles leading up to the next FUM Triennial!
Hope For Children in the Slums
By Darcy Drayton
In the Kibera slum live hordes of children. Prior to Kenyan independence in the 1960s, people in the countryside were barred from moving to the cities. Nairobi is now host to thousands of people flocking to the city in search of a better life.
Housing is inadequate to accommodate this new influx of humanity. The people cannot afford much, certainly not a modern cinderblock apartment. Wattle and daub, sticks and mud, are cheap and readily available materials. One room after another crowds together, each no more than 10 by 10 feet, sheltering a family of four or more.
In Kibera there is one main road for a section of city occupied by nearly one million people. All the other roads have been built on, so desperate is the need for housing. Most dwellings have no water. There is one latrine for every 40 families. What these paltry facilities do not accommodate is put into plastic bags and flung out the door.
Last year I walked through this slum many times. Garbage is the substructure of all paths, ground deep into the dirt and mud. A network of cement drainage ditches slope down the hill to one of the most polluted rivers I have ever seen. The sewage water from the slum has a hard time finding its way around all that has been thrown into these ditches, and in the rainy season they overflow. The foul water, with no proper bed, may sweep through the shacks looking for a downward path to the river.
God gave children an important job, that of playing. But how do children play in such a place? I tell you they do! Rag and plastic bound with string serves as a soccer ball. But one image stands out for me:
A woman is standing by the entrance of her home. She is thin, her forearm placed across her brow. Her eyes stare out at nothing I can see. At her feet are two of her smallest children. One is just a baby. They are playing with some small sticks in the water that is trickling by their feet. As babies will, he puts the stick to his mouth seeking to learn about the world he has been born into.
The children who attend the Lindi Friends Primary School live here. Poverty stands in grim watch over families who struggle to provide for their children. Most jobs are casual, which means you are hired only day to day at very low wages.
The teachers at the Lindi School state it is not unusual for children to come to school without having eaten breakfast. In Kenya most school children go home for a long lunch break. Most at the Lindi School do not. They have brought no lunch and, more significantly, they have no water since the school has not been able to afford to pipe water in. For many children, their only meal is the one they eat in the evening and, at times, even that is not adequate.
The coveted school uniforms are used and often in bad repair. Many children do not have proper shoes, a real hazard in such an environment. Schools supplies are meager and nothing of the least value can be kept overnight because the wattle, daub and tin school cannot be secured from theft.
All the children I met desperately want to go to school. With the election of President Mwai Kibaki last year, the government is trying to provide free primary education for all Kenyan children, but there are not enough schools or trained teachers to do the job. The Kibera Friends Church, with the help of Africa Quaker Vision (AQUAVIS), is trying to raise money to build a school the government will recognize as a proper education facility. This will enable the Lindi Friends Primary School to obtain financial support for certified teacher salaries. Last year, Quakers in New England, New Jersey and Kenya raised money to purchase the necessary long-term lease of land to build this school. The next step is raising funds to construct a permanent school building.
The Lindi Friends School building has been designated as the FUM Vacation
Bible School project. A VBS curriculum is available from FUM at 101 Quaker
Hill Drive, Richmond IN 47374; phone (765) 962-7573 or email info@fum.org.
Donations are gratefully accepted at the previous address.
Darcy Drayton is a member of Weare (NH) Monthly Meeting of New England Yearly Meeting. Working with Aquavis in Kenya, she carries a concern for Quakers in the Nairobi slum.
Copyright (c) 2004 Friends United Meeting
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