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Friends United
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November/December 2009
Sacred Moments by Sylvia Graves, FUM General Secretary
Quaker Life in 2010
Chwele Yearly Meeting Celebrates FUM Membership
Where Has Your General Secretary Been?
Epistle of the Yearly Meeting of Friends in Cuba
Iowa Yearly Meeting — Just What I Needed
Youth Outnumber Adults at North Carolina Yearly Meeting
Epistle from the Young Adult Friends of New England
Sacred
Moments
By Sylvia Graves, General Secretary
Several years ago, as a representative of our local professional teachers’ organization, I attended our state assembly. On the agenda was the selection of the association’s principles which would serve as the foundation of its work plan. Of the 100 resolutions we listed, there were two which I could not support. I knew several teachers who chose not to belong to the organization because of those two or any other two resolutions. So, the work toward the other 98 would not get the support of those teachers no matter how worthy those resolutions were in helping children, promoting healthy learning environments and raising educational standards.
You can, no doubt, give similar examples of “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” Perhaps someone doesn’t listen to public radio because of one or two views expressed there that don’t fit in his/her belief system. Therefore, the rest of the information and insight that might be gained is missed because the listener was irritated at some feature that was objectionable.
I witnessed a group of Quakers quickly turn against some very worthy efforts recently at the 2009 Canadian Yearly Meeting annual sessions. This is not meant to be critical of CYM, for Friends were able to temper their reactions in time to heal the hurt. However, this might serve as a caution to prevent our own tendency to reject the total cause because of being offended at some part of it.
A very moving account of several ways indigenous people of Canada are still being denied justice and equality as citizens was presented by Ellen Gabriel, a member of the Iroquois nation. She told stories of current practices that indicate prejudices against her people and lack of respect for their heritage by the Canadian government and citizens. Several Canadian Friends asked, “What can we do to help?” Ellen was glad to list some relatively simple actions that would make a difference: “Endorse the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, change curriculum in schools to tell the truth, erect monuments to our people, call us indigenous and not First Nation people, learn to greet us in our language…” Canadian Friends seemed ready to get started — until Ellen asked them if the Quaker Peace Testimony included room for self-defense.
As soon as she indicated that she was not aligned with the Peace Testimony if she couldn’t protect her loved ones against attack, it seemed that the whole body of Friends expressed reservations about supporting her and, therefore, about helping the indigenous people of Canada. Ellen’s hurt was reflected in her tears as she felt the seeming aggression of this group who, just moments before, were enthusiastic peacemakers. The meeting ended with apologies and hugs of reconciliation. Thank God that our Canadian Friends were able to catch themselves before “throwing out the baby.”
So it is with controversial issues. It seems to me that integrity in discernment includes looking at the big picture and seeing what we need to do for the greater good while we continue to labor tenderly with those issues that are askew in God’s kingdom.
Dear God, open my eyes that I may see the wider truth thou hast for me. Amen.
January/February................ New Kinds of Quakers
March/April........................ Friends Business Procedures
May/June............................ FUM/Yearly Meeting News
July/August......................... Spiritual Journeys
October............................. Quaker Lingo
November/December.......... Redemptive Beauty
In addition to our six regular issues in 2010, Quaker Life will also be publishing a special 50th anniversary issue in September, thus delaying the printing of the Sep/Oct issue on “Quaker Lingo” to the first of October. Information about pre-ordering your anniversary issue is forthcoming.
Chwele
Yearly Meeting Celebrates FUM Membership
By Joseph Mamai Makhoka
It was all joy and happiness on the morning of Saturday, August 8, 2009, at 11 a.m. when yearly meeting officials marched in a procession onto the Chesikaki Friends Primary School playing field. It was well decorated with different colored balloons, ribbons and a variety of flowers — a fitting scene for the ceremony.
Friends in Chwele Yearly Meeting recall that when the Elgon Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Yearly Meeting, Lugulu, set us up to become a yearly meeting on February 3, 2003, we applied for membership into FUM and were accorded associate membership. The yearly meeting continued to pursue the status of full membership.
In April 2008, while the general secretary of FUM, Sylvia Graves, and immediate former clerk, Brent McKinney, were leading the FUM Africa Board in Kakamega, they conveyed the news of the North American Board proposing the approval of Chwele Yearly Meeting into FUM full membership, which the African Board accepted subject to approval by the Triennial in July 2008.
We were extremely grateful to FUM for inviting me to travel to the U.S. as a representative of Chwele Yearly Meeting. The Triennial formally approved Chwele’s application as full member.
I returned to Kenya, having cut short my USA visit due to the death of my elder sister Rose, and proceeded to the sixth Annual Conference, gathering at Lurende, to deliver the news of approval of Chwele Yearly Meeting as the 30th FUM member. The Representative Board of Chwele set this year’s seventh Annual General Conference as a special day to celebrate the membership of Chwele Yearly Meeting in FUM.
The day witnessed the biggest crowd (approximately 2,000 people) in the history of the yearly meeting. There were choirs from Chesikaki Quarterly Meeting Young Friends, Chwele Quarterly Meeting women, Busakala Quarterly Meeting women and Chesikaki Quarterly Meeting women. There were speeches from the planning committee chairman, J.G. Lusweti; clerk, J.M. Mamai; local councilor, Peter S. Bisakaya (representing the area Member of Parliament); and John Muhanji, the director of FUM Africa Ministries. Muhanji read congratulatory messages from both the general secretary and the clerk of FUM, which encouraged Chwele to forge ahead in the work of God for the Kingdom of Heaven. The messages, plus Muhanji’s personal advice and encouragement, were a blessing to all. The climax of the day was when a ceremonial cake was jointly cut by all three clerks: Mamai for the General, Racheal Lusweti for USFW and Jacob Chemuku for the young Friends programs.
We fully recognize the challenges that are ahead of us as equal and mutual partners in this global body of Friends despite the diversity of faith in Quakerism among our partnership, as we profess and proclaim Jesus Christ as our Savior and King. We envisage that this development will strengthen our relationship with other Quaker yearly meetings worldwide. Our local meetings can start searching to partner with other monthly meetings internationally to share our spiritual and social experiences. God bless FUM.
Where
Has Your General Secretary Been?
FUM General Secretary Sylvia Graves spends much of her summer traveling among Friends, visiting the annual sessions of FUM yearly meetings, providing workshops and sermons, informing you about the work being done on your behalf and listening to your concerns about Friends United Meeting. This summer was no exception! Following are her reports of Western, Baltimore, Jamaica and Canadian yearly meetings.
Western Yearly Meeting Seeks the Power of the Holy Spirit
Western Yearly Meeting’s 152nd annual sessions (July 31-August 3) were guided by the theme, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you … ” (Acts 1:8) Linda Cabe led the morning Bible studies centered on the power granted by God to help us worship, live right and serve. Carole Dale Spencer, teacher of Church History and Spiritual Formation at George Fox Evangelical Seminary, spoke on the “Essence of Holiness” during the Sunday morning worship service. She also presented the Quaker Lecture titled, “Holiness: The Soul of Quakerism,” which provided a history of the holiness movement among Friends and told of persons whose direct encounters with God had promoted visions of what Divine perfection might be.
Young Friends encouraged older ones to interact more deeply with them. Following an intergenerational worship service, several young folks invited “mentor” Friends into a large group conversation and asked questions such as, “Why don’t you talk to us? Why aren’t you asking how we think? Why are you not sharing more of your spiritual discoveries with us?”
Those attending the USFW and Quaker Men gatherings were richly blessed and inspired by pictures and accounts of the FUM work at Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, Kenya, presented by Ben and Jody Richmond. Having completed two years as principal there, Ben left from the sessions to travel back to Kenya for one month to help orient Ann Riggs, new FTC principal, to the college community. Offerings totaling $2,389 will assist with general operating expenses of the seminary.
Several Friends left Western Yearly Meeting with troubled hearts over the continuing struggles to find a peaceful resolution to the question of rescinding the recording of one pastor’s gifts of ministry, an issue which indicates deeper theological disagreements. The proposed rescinding was not approved and there are several who perceived that situation as an unacceptable condition for WYM.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting: Transforming Faith into Practice
The theme, “The Business of Our Lives: The Transformation of Faith into Practice,” provided many rich experiences at the 338th annual sessions of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, held at Frostburg State University, August 4-9. Two daily Bible studies were available, one led by Jackie Speicher of Right Sharing of World Resources and the other by David Fitz. The evening meetings included a talk by David Zarembka, who spoke of the vast opportunities for peace-building in East African countries, and the Carey Memorial Lecture presented by Daniel Snyder. A not-so-serious evening of games and crafts and ice cream cones added the dimension of delightful fun in the “All-Age Celebration.” Over 100 young people participated in the youth programs.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting was very rich in workshop opportunities. Such topics as simple living, Friends influence on Christianity, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and over 20 others offered many practical avenues for putting beliefs into real-life actions that could improve the quality of lives.
One last step in the seven-year process of revising BYM’s Faith and Practice was the distribution of draft copies for each monthly meeting to study in the coming year. Though there have been many opportunities for widespread involvement, the revision committee invited additional suggestions to be submitted yet this fall so that a final version can be approved at next year’s annual sessions.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Intervisitation Committee has been arranging and overseeing visits by Baltimore Friends to other yearly meetings as well as inviting Friends from other yearly meetings to attend and get to know Friends at BYM sessions. Each evening this group met to exchange information, perspectives and concerns. What was billed a 15-minute debriefing session at the end of the day most often resulted in lively two-hour discussions and some deeper relationships. The fellowship at BYM was very inspiring and welcoming.
A Warm Welcome at Jamaica Yearly Meeting
“Fulfilling Our Mission” was the topic chosen by Jamaican Friends for their annual sessions held again at Shortwood Teachers College in Kingston. Fourteen monthly meetings make up Jamaica Yearly Meeting. The attendance reached as many as 80 people out of the total JYM membership of around 300 members. Around 30 young people in attendance introduced every session with spirited singing accompanied by tambourines and clapping of intricate rhythms.
Noel Palmer, a native Jamaican now living in New York, presented a workshop on the Testimony of Integrity. Sylvia Graves spoke about Friends United Meeting channels that are available to “fulfill our mission.” An excellent presentation by Dr. Las Newman, head of the Caribbean Theological College in Kingston, raised awareness of the need for ministry to reduce the number of murders in Jamaica and address other such social ills.
Reports were presented by Friends Education Council (FEC), the trustees and the nominating committee. There has been little progress by FEC to re-open the Lyndale Girls Home and the Swift-Purscell Boys Home. JYM Friends seem discouraged not only about the troubles with the Lyndale and Swift-Purscell homes, but also regarding their dwindling membership, their small prospect of up-and-coming leaders and their lack of resources to do something about those problems. Friends United Meeting has offered assistance in defining a strategic plan but has encouraged JYM to take the lead in defining priorities and resources for Friends ministries in Jamaica.
Here’s an idea from JYM for your next yearly meeting: On talent night, each monthly meeting sent an individual or group to share a talent. When those presenting came forward, they also brought their monthly meetings’ financial contribution to the JYM General Fund. Between acts, the basket was passed for more contributions from the audience. The more you liked the talent, the bigger your donation. If the emcee started telling bad jokes or tedious stories, you could make him stop by giving a certain amount of money. And you could request people to perform with another donation, but they could refuse by doubling your donation. It makes for an evening full of laughs and surprises!
Canadian Yearly Meeting Reflections
About 200 people attended sessions of Canadian Yearly Meeting, including approximately 35 young people from college-age down. The nine-day sessions were held at an agricultural college at Kemptville, Ontario, about 35 miles from Ottawa. Covering the widest geographical area of any yearly meeting in FUM, it is quite an accomplishment for Canadian Friends to come together at all. They are composed of 25 monthly meetings spread from east to west to north, but nearly double that number of worship groups who meet with fewer than a dozen Friends each. The number of Canadian Friends listed in their record book for 2008 is 1,176.
Some of the many positive aspects of CYM include the competent and efficient clerking, both presiding and recording. Impressive was their thoroughness in composing minutes and that minutes were read and, if needed, altered to the satisfaction of all present before the end of each business session. It was apparent that there are many professional and discerning people in CYM who are steeped in Quaker business process.
Canadian Yearly Meeting Friends have several important social and environment justice issues which have been given much attention. They are concerned for the wasteful and expensive process of gleaning oil from the tar sands of Alberta that not only destroys forest areas, but is suspected in an increased rate of cancers. They are keenly aware of the continuing exploitation of the indigenous people of Canada. The mining and export of uranium and its use for nuclear weapons is a grave concern.
The family night entertainment was superb! The level of talent, the elements of humor and the depth of content in the music and poetry made it well worth attending and a memorable experience. People from age 9 to 94 shared their talents. Next year’s meeting will be in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Please consider inviting Sylvia to be a speaker or worship leader at your monthly or yearly meeting in the future. Other FUM staff members are also available to visit your meetings, including Quaker Life editor, Katie Terrell; program manager of Global Ministries, Terri Johns; and development officer, Kim Newlin.
Epistle
of the Yearly Meeting of Friends in Cuba
To the World Quaker Community:
Greetings with an embrace which labels and distances cannot hinder, with our desire that the communion of the Spirit be with everyone.
On the night of February 19, the ringing of the bells called together the delegates to the Yearly Meeting of the Church of Friends in Cuba to meet in the church building in Gibara for our 82nd general sessions. The central theme of this meeting was: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
We were grateful for the renewed gathering of the community and the chance to talk together about the future of our Church and to lay out strategies for the work, to re-enliven our covenant with the God of justice and peace.
In these days we have lived new experiences in which we recognize that God is the source of all, and that together we should tear down the walls which separate us and establish paths of prayer and commitment.
The God who is for us is not the god who is on the side of power, but rather the one who becomes known in crisis, the God who opposes stagnation and empowers us to break through preconceptions and to move forward and feel the divine presence.
Although we have lived through hard times due to Hurricane Ike, we still note improvements in our facilities, and we thank God for the generosity of many brothers and sisters, for the prayers and the great love which renews our hope. We remember the words of the hymn which we sang, so that you may have it in mind: “Under the powerful arm of God’s love and mercy, I am saved in the shelter of the Rock.”
The presence of Marigold Best of Britain Yearly Meeting of Friends brought us the fragrance of fellowship and the strength of Friends in the world which only God can give us.
This is the 10th anniversary of the work in our country of the Alternatives to Violence Project, through which we are planning new strategies to develop a culture of peace in our society. And so amid challenges and dreams we make our plans, with the certainty that “God is with us.”
Iowa
Yearly Meeting — Just What I Needed
By Nathan McCracken
Following yearly meeting sessions in Oskaloosa this year, I slumped down in my old truck and headed home. I was tired, worn down from the late nights and early mornings of the weekend, but this was a different kind of tired. While my body was weary, my spirit was soaring.
The verses of 1 Peter 2:4-10 bounced through my head, almost memorized from the many times it was read during the four days, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9). What a wonderful reminder for a man who seems to be constantly forgetting that I belong to God, not the world, and it is for his glory that I was called into his wonderful light!
The renewed hope and strengthened spirit that I was driving away with that afternoon could only come from my God. It didn’t seem to matter where I went that weekend, the presence of the Lord could be felt. Of course we had our share of work to do. We attended meetings, workshops and studies, but even during those times of business while we shared our concerns, praises or fears, there was God. He was working, moving and very much alive in the hearts of our Iowa Yearly Meeting.
What has the Lord laid upon our hearts this upcoming year? Planting a church in Des Moines, continuing to seek him for new leadership in our yearly meeting and staying true to the calling of our God to make disciples and unashamedly proclaim the life and Truth that can only be found in him.
Youth
Outnumber Adults at North Carolina Yearly Meeting
By Kim Newlin, FUM Development Officer
The 312th sessions of North Carolina Yearly Meeting gathered at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Friends met under the theme, “Sowing Seeds, Bearing Fruit, Blessing Others.”
On Friday night, speakers Kelly and Kathy Kellum spoke from the parable of the sower, challenging Friends to sow seeds boldly and nurture each in the place where it lands. All in attendance were offered corn seeds to carry and share as a reminder of the work to be done.
Business sessions were filled with reports of the wonderful work being done by NCYM. Vacation Bible School was again held in Jamaica and Matamoros, Mexico. In Mexico, teams completed work on a youth building, created a playground and helped make improvements on a neighbor’s home. Work at the MOWA Choctaw center in Alabama continues under the direction of NCYM field staff.
The yearly meeting’s intern program has been very successful and continues to expand its year-round work. The SOUL (Serving Others, Unleashing Love) team will take on two separate projects next summer at the MOWA center and in Mexico.
The vibrancy of North Carolina’s youth programs was evident in the youth attendance at sessions. For the second year in a row, youth registration outnumbered adult registration! Young Friends met under the theme: “Scattered!” (Matthew 13:1-23) with guest speaker Katy Palmer from Western Yearly Meeting.
Epistle
from the Young Adult Friends of New England
Beloved Friends Everywhere,
We hold you in the love and light of the Spirit. Young Adult Friends (YAFs) met for our Annual Sessions at Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, from August 1-6. This year, we are called into jubilee, a time of freedom and spiritual renewal, a time that “shall be to you a Sabbath of complete rest.” (Leviticus 23:32a NRSV) In preparation for Jubilee, YAFs worked to minister to each other and the wider community of Friends. We sought to define our expectations as YAFs and to support our yearly meeting in its conversations about sexuality and spirituality. Our worship together led us forward in love, and we felt the blessing of each other’s ministry in all of our endeavors.
In worship together this year, YAFs felt called to examine the expectations we hold together as a community. Friends agreed that a legalistic set of rules would not serve to quicken or enrich our retreats, yet Friends also felt moved to form a working party that will examine the expectations and values we hold together as YAFs. We encourage Friends everywhere to review their expectations for worship, ministry and personal conduct. Be unafraid to lay down what is no longer required. Rejoice in the work that you are called to do. Trusting upon our experience of the Divine, in which we see that of God in all people, Young Adult Friends have found unity to reaffirm our support of same-sex marriage. We are enriched by the ministry of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Friends. We celebrate and support all loving relationships in our community.
We continue to feel the pain caused by a Friends United Meeting (FUM) personnel policy that we find to be incompatible with our experience of God’s love. We are dismayed that an organization, of which we are a part and whose work and overall ministry we support, has continued a discriminatory policy. Friends support the work FUM has done to enrich the broader community and its efforts to end patterns of colonialism and paternalism. We are holding this concern in the Light and encourage and prayerfully support continued dialogue and intervisitation. … YAFs were called to work with older adult Friends on the continuing struggle to support all the forms of love that we see in our community and to confront the challenge of how to faithfully engage with the process of budgeting contributions to FUM. In consideration of the work that has been done on this issue, we strongly felt the presence of the Spirit. We gratefully recognize that the healing and discernment witnessed would not have been possible without the gentle ministry of the Spirit in our midst.
YAFs closed our Sessions together with worship and celebration. We send our love and encouragement to Friends everywhere.