|
Friends United
Meeting |
 |
May/June 2007
Committed to God's Guidance
By Lisa Stewart
The overall impression I am left with is that we entered brand new territory, had fascinating experiences, saw two beautiful countries and met wonderful, friendly people. By the middle of the week I was on sensory overload because we had crossed nine time zones, eaten meals out of ordinary sequence and awakened in different places with unfamiliar names. At one point I didn't even know what day of the week it was, let alone where we were. The FUM staff saw to every detail with precision so all our needs and comforts were taken care of as well is possible in a foreign culture. Nothing was overlooked.
Most memorable was connecting with and spending quality time with our African brothers and sisters. I found them to be warm, friendly, eager to exchange ideas, very resourceful, patient and without the undercurrent of anger we have come to accept in the U.S. Many Kenyans and Ugandans are committing their lives to help their own people who are suffering. Because of a myriad of social, scientific and political reasons, thousands of children are orphaned and many villages are not only without medical services, but don’t even have water. Too many children cannot attend school because they cannot afford uniforms, the schools are without supplies and the lives of women are harsh. Thankfully, there are many NGOs doing what they can and planting seed money to help establish projects, but that is still not enough to meet the basic life needs we take for granted.
From what I saw, I think that the primary mission of FUM (“ through the power of the Holy Spirit, to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved and obeyed as teacher and Lord”) is very successful. Friends Theological College (FTC) is thriving with many nice buildings including a library. We had the good fortune to be there to witness the dedication of their brand-new, beautiful chapel. There appear to be thousands of Quakers all over Kenya and Uganda and hundreds of Friends churches and schools. We saw them everywhere we went. Our business meetings were attended by many enthusiastic Kenyan and Ugandan Quaker pastors, yearly meeting leaders and village meeting leaders who were graduates of FTC. And, in the villages we visited, Friends showed up in great numbers to greet us. It was clear that FTC has had an impact and that Global Partnerships seems to be working.
The peripheral projects, however, are in dire straits. The two projects I saw that are in the most desperate need are the two hospitals, Lugulu and Kaimosi. They have not been repaired or maintained since Independence and their current operating budgets do not meet their expenses. Consequently, they are understaffed and in deplorable condition. We saw ceilings that are wet and sagging and some walls covered in black mold. Beds and cabinets are rusting; one printer had been ruined by leaks; a lab technician doesn’t have the proper equipment to do the needed diagnostic work and relatives of the patients have to stay and help care for their basic needs because there are no nurses. Other needs are: an ambulance, drilling water wells (bore holes) in remote villages, school books, basic school supplies, medicines, clothes and educational materials about a broader spectrum of Quakerism.
Strategic Planning and General Board Meeting
The topic hanging unspoken in the air from the time we left Quaker Hill
last October until we gathered for the first Strategic Planning session
in Kakamega was how are we going to address the concerns, coming from
all sides, regarding the sexual ethics portion of the FUM personnel policy.
This had been addressed by the Identity subcommittee of the strategic
planning committee in North America.
It had felt like a divinely inspired miracle that the General Board had agreed last October to put the issue on the agenda and address it with integrity and authenticity, so I went to Africa with a positive feeling and an abundance of good will. I went with the support and prayers of my monthly meeting and went committed to allowing Quaker process to help us discern God’s will. I went with the belief that “Way will open.”
I should have realized things were not going to be easy when, on the day after we arrived in Nairobi, the pastor at church delivered a passionate sermon about the evils of homosexuality. Then, at the very first Identity Committee meeting it became apparent our African Friends are not as familiar with Quaker practice in “meeting for worship with a concern for business” as we are. The clerk tried to maintain a worshipful tone, but it felt more like a debate. We all gave input and actually did reach unity on some of our less emotional tasks. As for the hot button issue, it was useless.
A Friend suggested we lay this issue to rest, once and for all, by asking the General Board to reaffirm the Richmond Declaration, a lengthy document written 120 years ago. Those of us from unprogrammed meetings were stunned because this would indicate that our own spiritual practices were not acceptable and that our beloved gay and lesbian brothers and sisters would be considered by FUM to be less than worthy in the eyes of God. Plus, last October we already had agreed to affirm “The Christian Faith of Friends” by Ben Richmond and had thought that would satisfy the orthodox meetings. When representatives from unprogrammed meetings offered that their yearly meetings would have great difficulty accepting affirmation of the Richmond Declaration, others replied that those meetings that cannot accept the Richmond Declaration have the freedom to disaffiliate if they found it too painful. It seems not everyone was committed to struggling for unity, no matter how long nor how difficult.
We kept at it lovingly and patiently until all hours of the night. (We had to be in our rooms by 11:00 because that is when the guard dogs are let loose.) In spite of all the sermonizing and listening and prayer, it was clear that positions were entrenched and nobody was going to budge. Then, a very soft voice came from a Kenyan man who had not said much. He said, “My people are perishing while you squabble.” His people were perishing while we bickered! That hit me. A light went off in my mind with such impact that I felt strongly led to get out of the way and accept the sense of the meeting. The committee clerk also recognized the sense of the meeting and finally, before we went to bed, agreed to bring the recommendation that FUM reaffirm the Richmond Declaration to General Board the next day.
At the General Board meeting there was more discussion and more sermonizing. When the presiding clerk proposed that reaffirmation of the Richmond Declaration be approved, the overwhelming majority approved and wanted it done right then and there. It was not held over for seasoning nor was any attempt made to schedule further discussion in an attempt to find common ground where all could walk comfortably. It felt orchestrated.
Three yearly meetings (NYM, BYM and NEYM) stood aside. I, (SEYM) again, felt a powerful leading not to stand aside nor to stand in the way. Amid flowing tears I said something to this effect: “We have preached and sermonized to one another for two days and not one person has moved off square one. I am so committed to Quaker process and am always advising my meeting to trust the process and not hold onto a vested interest in the outcome. Now, I cannot, in all good conscience, ignore that process when it does not go my way.” I continued, “When one Friend said, ‘My people are perishing while you squabble,’ my heart was moved and something in my mind said with great force that I am supposed to get out of the way and allow FUM to do whatever it can for the greater good. Therefore, I will not stand aside.” I could barely finish.
I don’t know where God’s guidance will lead SEYM in the future nor do I know what all this means in the grand scheme of things. I only know what I was led to say and do; I just don’t know why. My prayer is that FUM will search for a more tender and tolerant path while continuing to thrive and do good works.
This all reminds me of the original splits among Friends in 1827 and 1845. Today it still feels as though, in spite of our lip service to our testimonies of Peace, Integrity, Equality and Community, we have not come very far in the past 120 years. May God grant us the wisdom and grace to hear His guidance.
Lisa Stewart is a member of Palm Beach Monthly Meeting, Florida and a representative from Southeastern Yearly Meeting to the FUM General Board.