|
Friends United Meeting |
 |
March 2005
Commitments
Retha McCutchen
FUM General Secretary
Sitting in the Kakamega rain forest, Kenya, with birds singing and monkeys swinging, I am reminded of the creativity of God. Everything here is green, lush vegetation; it’s beautiful. Two days ago I was in Ramallah, Palestine, listening to birds singing. Bright sunshine brought warmth to the lovely, arid desert — also beautiful. As I write this article it is the mid-point of my sabbatical from Friends United Meeting responsibility, and God is surrounding me with evidence of the Spirit’s presence in the work of Friends worldwide.
The extremes in geographical creativity are the same extremes of creativity God uses as you and I are “knit together in our mother’s womb.” We are “wonderfully and beautifully made,” to quote the Psalmist. It is certain that all FUM Friends come to our faith differently. Some were born to Friends (Quaker) families and consider themselves “birthright” Friends. Others found Friends in a search for a spiritual home that moves Christianity into living a life of faith in Jesus Christ expressed in evangelism, social work, justice, pacifism… into a lifestyle that responds to the needs of our times. Some Friends were attracted to the quiet, nonjudgmental nature at the core of the Friends belief system.
Yet, all of us are called to be representatives of Jesus in a world out of control in ways that are the basis of Friends testimonies: simplicity, equality, peace, justice. Each of these words is loaded with meaning in the context in which you and I live.
There is diversity among FUM Friends. Diversity can be a healthy tension as we strive to respect Christ’s presence in each other. The foundation for who we are is that Jesus Christ is known, loved and obeyed as Teacher and Lord. With this guiding principle, we are free to allow one another to move forward in ways God is calling us as individuals, families, meetings, churches and yearly meetings, and to corporately accomplish the call given FUM through its general board (U.S. and Kenya): evangelism, leadership development, international partnership and communication. My prayer is that God will grant wisdom and peace in our work together.