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FUM News

Sacred Moments by Sylvia Graves, FUM General Secretary
Alternatives to Violence in Belize
Some Dreams Do Come True
Participating in MUN Conferences
FUM Ministry of the Month: December 2011 — Kaimosi Hospital
Friends Theological College: The Mother of African Theologians, Church Leadership and Mission Work
Summary of the October 2011 North America General Board Meeting
Indiana Yearly Meeting
Latest Exhibit at Wilmington College's Quaker Heritage Center

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Sacred Moments
By Sylvia Graves, General Secretary

In 1959, we thought we were pretty savvy with technology when our junior high youth group took photographs, made a slideshow and coordinated it with a tape-recorded narration of the Christmas story that could be taken to our neighborhood shut-ins. We borrowed a real donkey from one of our neighbors for the picture of Mary and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem. A multitude of (about five) angels and a few guys in shepherd costumes piled in our station wagon to go out to a sheep pasture for authentic night scenes (but of course the camera flash frightened away the sheep after the first picture!). The cutest of all was when we dressed up a couple of sweet little blond-haired cherubs to kneel at the manger in an actual cattle stall in my dad’s barn. Those little girls were the youngest of 17 children in one of our church families and the dirt on the soles of their bare feet provided an extra element of humbleness in the nativity scene. It was an experience we’ll never forget. It is a story we’ll never forget.

We learned that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in a stable lacking luxury or even comfort. We had to bow down in humility to worship him. We risked walking in darkness to find him. And, as Mary and Joseph had to escape to Egypt, we felt the fear that comes from being pursued by destructive forces. Our journeys since then have reinforced those lessons. We are called to live simply like Jesus, sharing our abundance to empower others. We are to walk humbly, not seeking fame or fortune for ourselves but giving God the credit for the good things that happen. There are times when we take precarious steps as we seek him, but we can trust that he will guide us. We are called to avoid destruction by keeping our lives holy, productive and tuned to the will of the Master.

Technological gadgets and commercialism now seem to nearly cover up the meaning of Christmas with all the stuff requested on our Christmas lists, with all the cutesy electronic ways to play silly holiday songs, with our e-mail greeting cards and with the overspending of our resources on people who already have what they need. Yet Christmas provides a wonderful opportunity to teach the nativity story to our children, grandchildren, community children and all those other learners who get some very wrong messages about the meaning of Christmas. Let us be mindful that the priceless and eternal gifts we receive because of the birth of Jesus are the ones he wants us to give away. How will we package them? Who will receive them? How long will they last?

For nearly six years, it has been my privilege to be in the business with you of giving away these priceless and eternal gifts through our participation in the ministries of Friends United Meeting. My gratitude for this opportunity is beyond measure. May his Love, Joy and Peace be yours to give away this Christmas and beyond.

Alternatives to Violence in Belize
By Becky Barber, Belize Friends School Co-director

We learned during our first visit to Belize in the summer of 2008 that Belize City is a society with many people living on the edge of their emotional boiling point. Ever since we came to Belize Friends School we have been looking for curriculum or exercises to teach practical peacemaking skills to our students.

September 2010 was the beginning of a very difficult school year. When we shared that we were having behavior problems, Friends responded with a solution: we were informed about the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) and began making plans to have facilitators come to Belize. Originally we discussed having the AVP workshop in the spring of 2011. As the discussions continued it seemed better to wait until the new school year started so there would be more time to work with the students.

Just before summer break, we became aware of a Belizean woman who has wanted AVP to come to Belize for several years. We were able to combine our efforts and with donations from Friends we were able to get two facilitators. The people of Belize have become weary of the escalating violence and are anxious for an answer. This one central thought began to surface, “Perhaps AVP could forever change Belize.”

AVP workshops were held October 12-14 at the Belize Friends School. We had a wonderful time getting to know the two very capable facilitators that came to us. Audrey Mang came from Buffalo, New York, and Carmen Hamilton from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.

The training with our students was great and it helped them understand violence, nonviolence and the active struggle to work towards peace. The activities were fun, engaging and thought-provoking. It was also a great time to bond as a school community. I believe that we as staff are better equipped to help our students process the violence that happens. We also feel that our students have been presented with choices that they didn’t realize they had.

Cynthia Ellis-Topsey, a Belizean woman, lived in Buffalo, New York, for a while and was already trained in the methods of AVP. She was instrumental in organizing a basic and an advanced AVP training at the University of Belize after the training at the Belize Friends School. We were also involved in the workshops that took place at the university.

There were nearly 40 participants at the university, all of whom were professional persons from all over Belize. They seemed very excited about the practicality of the AVP program and were wondering when the facilitators could return and do more workshops. They also want to be trained as facilitators so that it can spread across Belize. Perhaps AVP is the conduit to “pass the Peace” across a nation.

Some Dreams Do Come True
By Joyce Ajlouny, Ramallah Friends Schools Director

As I write this, news channels are reporting on the Palestinian Prime Minister’s bid at the United Nations to upgrade the status of our international representation to a full-fledged state at the UN. While we all know that this is indeed a “symbolic” act, leaving the desperate situation on the ground unchanged, we are also exuberant knowing that the majority of the countries around the globe are enthusiastically supporting our just cause. Major cities including Ramallah saw much street activity during the past week with thousands demonstrating in support of their international legitimacy and right to statehood. Israeli settlers have intensified their actions with several reports indicating a heightened level of violence from settlers against Palestinian villagers. Our students have taken part in several activities in support of (and on some cases against) the UN bid and a healthy debate emerged. Despite the odds of success, this is a historic time for Palestine. We hope soon we will see Palestine back on the map again after 63 years of its disappearing. Thank you for your continued prayers for peace and justice in our land.

While we dream of a state to call our own, our Ramallah Friends School community continues to dream about improving our educational program. We are grateful that some of our dreams do come true. For one, our five-year-old youngsters entered their new classroom building on their first day back to school this September. Thanks to the efforts of our Engineering team and the school staff, the first floor of the new Kindergarten building is now complete. Students, teachers and parents are delighted to now have access to a new welcoming, sunny, airy and spacious educational facility. Thanks to the support of the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development (a total of $576,000) and our alumni and Friends in Dubai and abroad, the Kindergarten building and hall will be completed by June. The building includes three floors (Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten, assembly/ multi-purpose hall).

It gives me great pleasure to also announce that USAID/ASHA responded positively and very significantly to our grant application of 2010 and approved the amount of $1,000,000 for the Upper School (FBS) campus development. Our Board of Trustees and its Building Committee are working hard to plan for the proper implementation of this grant which will primarily aim at increasing the number of total students and decreasing the number of students per classroom.

Regardless of our diplomatic successes or failures in establishing the State of Palestine, our calling remains strong and dreams remain alive as we collectively serve a well-deserving community of Palestinian youth. Thank you all for your support.

Participating in MUN Conferences

The participation of Upper School students in Model United Nations (MUN) conferences is growing to become a tradition. This year, the members of the MUN club at the school worked all through the summer preparing for the first MUN conference in Palestine. The conference took place on October 7-9 on the school campus with participants from different schools in Palestine. In addition, many of our students are competing to participate in three international MUN conferences abroad. One of those conferences will be in India.

FUM Ministry of the Month

Each month through December 2012, we will focus on a different ministry of Friends United Meeting. This "Ministry of the Month" corresponds with the FUM wall calendar that is available for $15 from the Friends United Press Shopping Center.

December 2011
Kaimosi Hospital

When Friends United Meeting agreed to take over the management responsibility of Kaimosi Hospital in 2006, we knew it was a step in faith. Even though the hospital had been held in high esteem in its earlier history, the prior two decades had been rough and the hospital was on the verge of closing. East Africa Yearly Meeting turned to FUM for help. After all, the hospital is very much needed in this densely populated area of Kenya and is a great opportunity for Friends to answer Jesus’ call to care for the “least of these” in his name. (Matthew 25:31-46)

The General Board agreed to a subsidy of $50,000 a year for the hospital. They also appointed a task force to monitor progress and present regular reports. So far you have succeeded in meeting this commitment, but the need is still great! Prayers and financial support are requested for (1) the Kaimosi Hospital General Fund for medicines, utilities, etc., and (2) Adopt-A-Nurse, which helps pay nurses salaries.

More information will be available on each month’s ministry focus at www.fum.org, on Facebook and in your monthly donor receipts.

Friends Theological College: The Mother of African Theologians, Church Leadership and Mission Work
By Jestimore N. Musombi

One of the most popular selling American writers, Robert Schuller, has written a book titled Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do. The phrase speaks to the testimony of Friends Theological College (FTC). FTC has been and is still going through its journey of becoming a center for academic excellence in church leadership training and pastoral work in Africa. The survival of the college has always depended upon our Gracious Creator who cares and provides for his creatures and the ministry.

I want to thank FUM for coordinating and channeling the support that overseas (U.S.) Friends have donated towards the work in Africa and more specifically to FTC. Supporting FTC is like planting seeds that will never perish, but will result in eternal life. FUM’s mission to the entire world is to gather people with “one common interest from which our own is inseparable — that to turn all the treasures we possess into the channel of universal love becomes the business of our lives.” (John Woolman, “Plea for the Poor”)

Friends Theological College is the only center in Africa in the business of shaping and defining Quakerism and Quaker theology, as well as doing leadership training, evangelism and church extension. FTC is like a factory that manufactures high quality products that are highly demanded, not only to the Quaker church in Africa but to the family of believers worldwide.

In his “Plea for the Poor,” John Woolman goes on to say: “Men of large estates whose hearts are thus enlarged are like fathers to the poor, and in looking over their brethren in distressed circumstances and considering their own more easy condition, find a field for humble meditation and feel the strength of those obligations they are under to be kind and tender-hearted toward them.” So, if you feel called to take hold of every opportunity to lessen the distresses of the afflicted and increase the happiness of God’s creation, FTC is one of the places worthy of your investment.

Summary of the October 2011 North America General Board Meeting
By Sylvia Graves, General Secretary

In this first meeting of the 2011-14 Triennium, seven new members and 20 continuing members of the North America General Board arrived with eagerness to jump into the business of Friends United Meeting. Interspersed between business sessions, some board development activities helped members get to know one another and the expectations of an effective board. A mood of cooperation and respect permeated the days together and there was a whole lot of laughter shared as well.

A report from the 2011 Triennial committee indicated success in reaching these goals: (1) Those attending would learn about the work of FUM, (2) Most member yearly meetings would be represented and (3) The established budget would be followed without debt to FUM. A general review of the evaluations and comments from board members gave evidence that the sessions in Wilmington had been enjoyed by all and that everyone felt inspired by attending. The planning committee, Wilmington Yearly Meeting and the FUM staff were praised for their good work. Indiana Yearly Meeting’s invitation to host the 2014 Triennial was accepted.

Board members were invited to explore and interpret the theme for the coming three years, “A Great People to be Gathered.” They divided into five groups to discuss how FUM provides opportunities to be gathered for Worship, Service, Mission, Witness and Vision. The ideas gleaned from the discussions will be used in communications from the FUM office throughout the Triennium.

Also, the board agreed to do a book study, using text from When Helping Hurts, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, so that the FUM ministries might grow in ways that result in lasting and effective long-term empowerment in the Holy Spirit. New presiding clerk, Cliff Loesch, and new general secretary, Colin Saxton, will be leading this study in future meetings. Contributing to this effort was a document being drafted by Eden Grace and others who are putting together some “Guidelines for Charity” that will help donors select the most helpful ways to “equip and energize” (from the FUM purpose statement) those we hope will benefit from our work. Other items of discussion during the meeting included:

• The possibilities at Belize Friends School in regard to developing more ownership with local stakeholders and expanding the program.
• The serious problem presented by underfunded field staff accounts.
• The commercial development of a strip of land along the Ramallah Friends Boys (Upper) School into retail shops with the goal of increasing revenue for operating the school.
• The relationship between Friends United Meeting and Friends Church Kenya in regard to overlapping goals and the development of a Friends University in Kaimosi.
• The value of Friends United Press and the future possibilities to make it integral in the fullness of FUM and the formation of a Communications Committee.

The closing minute states, “The meetings ended with a sense of hope and enthusiasm for future ventures, relationships and programs amidst the concerns and hard work to be done.” It was a special blessing to have Colin Saxton present. He will officially start his role as general secretary January 1, 2012.

Indiana Yearly Meeting

Including:

• The Light of Hope: Pastor's Short Course by Max Huffman
• Whither Indiana Quakerism by Thomas D. Hamm
• Unbinding Ties by Margaret Fraser

From a Spirit-filled Pastor’s Short Course to discussions about realignment, much is happening in Indiana Yearly Meeting.

In 2008, West Richmond Friends Meeting, a member of Indiana Yearly Meeting, approved a “welcoming and affirming” minute in support of same-sex relationships. This led to a series of discussions between West Richmond and the yearly meeting, as the yearly meeting’s official position is that homosexual practices are contrary to the will of God. These discussions raised the issue of authority — does the yearly meeting have the authority to enforce doctrinal policies on its member yearly meetings, or are meetings autonomous?

A task force was formed, including a member of West Richmond Friends Meeting, to determine how to handle the “West Richmond controversy,” which they determined to be “but a symptom of deeper disagreements in the yearly meeting.” Four possible ways forward (models) were presented to the July annual sessions:

1) Agree to Disagree, coupled with redefining Indiana Yearly Meeting to emphasize support, de-emphasize authority;
2) Consistent Application of Faith and Practice;
3) Disciplinary Action (Censure) against West Richmond;
4) Division and Possible Realignment.

While Model 4 was recommended to the yearly meeting body in August by the task force, it was not approved. A meeting of the Representative Council was scheduled for October 1 to continue the discussion. The task force continued working and two weeks before the October 1 meeting was held, the task force submitted to local meetings “Model 5: Deliberative/Collaborative Reconfiguration.” A slightly modified Model 4, Model 5 emphasized maintaining relationships, inviting Western and Wilmington yearly meetings (which were set off by Indiana Yearly Meeting in the 1800s and are also struggling over issues, finances and membership) to join in the reconfiguration and taking a year to work together on what the new bodies would be based on (authority versus autonomy, for example). Model 5 was approved at the October 1 meeting of the Representative Council.

In a subsequent issue of the Communicator, Indiana Yearly Meeting’s e-newsletter, Superintendent Doug Shoemaker reminded us: “The New Testament includes the story of Jesus’ death, and the deep grief that accompanied it. It also includes the account of his resurrection, an unfathomable miracle that turned the disciples’ grief into amazement.” The clear implication of these words were that we have a choice whether we focus on the crucifixion side of the cross, or the resurrection side. We have a choice to look at Indiana’s “reconfiguration” as a failure, or to focus instead on what God still has planned for Friends. We have a choice to criticize the sense of the meeting that led to the approval of Model 5, or to work together in peace and love as we make our way forward.

The following reports go into more detail about Model 5, the “state of Indiana Quakerism” and a report from the October 1 sessions. We begin, however, with a report from the July Pastor’s Short Course in which Max Huffman shares his hope for the future of Friends and a challenge to us to continue to let our Light shine.

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The Light of Hope: Pastor's Short Course
By Max Huffman, Bear Creek Friends Meeting

The Indiana Yearly Meeting Pastor’s Short Course held July 4-7, 2011, at Quaker Haven Camp, was an illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit for many who attended. One person commented, “Do you know the Quaker picture of ‘The Presence in the Midst’? That is what happened here today.” Another person said, “God is about to give birth to something new among us.” Another response was, “For the first time in years, I have hope that Friends may be renewed and fulfill the mission God has for us.” Some were moved to tears as the message touched their hearts; others simply praised the Lord.

Our leader was Mike Perkinson, author, pastor and senior developer of the Praxis Center for Church Development. His theme was the multiplication of disciples based on Christ’s example and teachings. The core of his message embodied these commands: Love God, believe and follow Christ, love others as we love ourselves and make disciples as you go. He challenged us to allow Christ to energize our lives and ministries with his presence and power. He did not judge our failures; nor did he urge us to get on the band wagon of the latest church growth strategy. His message was simple, given with spiritual passion and used by God to give us direction and hope. We were called to make Christ the Lord of our lives and fulfill the ministry of reconciliation he has given to us.

Mike said very little that was new, but much that needed to be taken with new seriousness. The truth he shared embodied a fresh sense of hope for the future of Friends. He did not scold us for lapsing into a maintenance mode to preserve our esteemed heritage, nor did he challenge our Quaker distinctives or organizational style. He simply called us back to the truth that made Quakers strong in the beginning, “There is one, even Christ Jesus, who can speak to thy condition.” Christ is the Light of Hope giving direction not only to individual followers but to all who call themselves Friends.

The energy for renewal is not in some novel new program, but in our personal relationship with the Head of the Church, who came to reconcile this world’s wayward children to their loving Father. Jesus taught that if we love God with all our hearts, minds and strength, we will welcome his Son as Lord of our lives. In our submission to him, his light and love will transform our minds and lives and provide new motivation to love and serve others. As partners with Christ, we share his mission and will be equipped by his Spirit for the ministry of making new disciples for God’s eternal Kingdom.

The message struck at our complacency and conveyed a new urgency to put Christ back at the center of our personal and family life which is where discipleship begins. In response to God’s abundant grace, we should yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit for personal sanctification and let him pour his love and energy into our ministries. In accepting our calling to be disciples, we are sent to make disciples among those touched by our lives. We must accept the cost of following Christ in this secular and rebellious world and be willing to suffer with Christ in the cause of the gospel.

This message struck a tender spot in my heart as I recalled listening to the “State of Our Meetings” report during Indiana Yearly Meeting in 1957. I was a young pastor and eager to see the Kingdom of God grow. At that time our yearly meeting had 92 local meetings with about 12,000 members. The report showed that we were losing members and very little was being done to reach the lost in our communities. With the Great Commission burning in my heart, I was so troubled by the report that I wept openly and without shame during that meeting. I was so moved that I determined to focus my ministry on helping others find new life in Christ. While that was my impassioned goal, my efforts tended to be for Christ in my strength much more than with him and in his power.

Membership decline continued and we now have less than 5,000 members in our yearly meeting. Several meetings have closed and very few new ones have been established. This loss is a concern which most of us share. The children of Quaker families are moving from rural farms to urban centers; others join larger congregations often of other denominations where they expect their religious needs to be better served. A more serious reason for loss may be that we have failed to disciple our own children so that their lives are committed to Christ and invested in fruitful ministries. There is no lack of potential disciples; nor have Christ’s love, truth and power lost effectiveness. The key is our willingness to connect with the Master and devote our energies to sharing his love and grace.

If we have the heart and mind of Christ and we love our neighbors as ourselves, he will reach out to them through us. Some will respond and come to him. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Our duty is to pray that laborers will be raised up and that the Spirit will give us an anointed message for the seekers of our generation. The ministry of discipleship begins with discovering who Christ is and what he came to do in our lost world. As partners with him, we are the light that breaks through their darkness and gives them hope for a brighter future. While encountering Christ is life changing, every new believer needs the loving support and practical training from the body of Christ.

There are even now signs of hope for Friends. Many of our yearly meeting leaders have a heart for God and are eager to follow the directions of the Holy Spirit. New disciples are being made in substantial numbers in some parts of our Quaker family. The heart and strength of our movement is that Christ has come to live in us and channel his truth and love through us. Our obedience to him is the key issue. Genuine renewal will come from changed hearts and lives that are yielded to Christ, not just changed meeting schedules, worship styles and program offerings. To the extent that we yield the throne room of our hearts to the Lordship of Christ, we shall be blessed and bear fruit.

New spiritual life and power will come to Friends if we are passionate to be one with Christ and be led by him. As did George Fox in the early days of the Quaker movement, so in these latter days we will find great joy in the Lord and our efforts with him will be enhanced by the power of his love. He will send us with the gospel to lost souls; he will use us to release those tortured by injustice and ravaged by poverty. We will show his love to those who are withering from a drought of family love. The reason why Jesus came to us is the reason why we go forth in his name and power. That is why the Church, and Friends as a part of it, is present in this dark and sinful world. With Christ living and working in us, the light of hope will shine for many.

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Whither Indiana Quakerism: Presentation at Indiana Yearly Meeting Representative Council, 10th Month 1, 2011
By Thomas D. Hamm, New Castle Monthly Meeting

PART I: PERSONAL

I am going to open with some personal reflections. They are the fruit of decades of participation in Indiana Yearly Meeting and of studying the larger Quaker world. They will help explain, I hope, how I came to join in the recommendation from the task force that you have received. I want to make it clear, however, that I will speak only for myself until I begin presenting the actual recommendations from the task force.

Indiana, Western and Wilmington yearly meetings are in trouble. While membership and attendance statistics are not the sole measures of spiritual health, they tell a troubling story. Membership has declined by at least two-thirds over the past century. Far more congregations have been laid down than have been established. And demographic and economic trends are not encouraging. While the Indianapolis area is growing, Friends there are not. In the crescent running from Kokomo to Richmond — that for a century-and-a-half has taken in much of Indiana Quakerism — economic and social decline can be seen on every hand. The same is true of the chain of communities that once embraced thousands of Friends between Springboro and Leesburg, Ohio.

Just as worrisome and, for some Friends, more painful, are the theological stresses that have emerged over the last three decades. Differences aren’t new. Friends in these yearly meetings have shared in most of the separations that have taken place since the 1820s. In the past century, Friends have held apparently irreconcilable views on evolution, theological modernism, the Peace Testimony, the National Council of Churches, politics and Earlham College, to name just a few issues. But since 1980, perhaps because of the apparent decline, the disagreements have become more noticeable. Wilmington is seemingly deadlocked over revisions in Faith and Practice. Western Yearly Meeting has been rent by conflict over the ministry of Phil Gulley. We are here today in what may be our last, best chance to prevent disagreements over same-sex relationships doing the same thing in Indiana Yearly Meeting.

Inherent in these conflicts is a profound disagreement on the nature of a yearly meeting’s authority. Wilmington, Western and Indiana yearly meetings are in the Orthodox tradition, which sees the yearly meeting as ultimate authority, with responsibility to maintain certain standards and safeguard Friends against dangerous ideas. Over the past century, however, that authority has eroded, as the yearly meetings have become in creasingly congregational. Deviations that in the past brought swift sanctions — such as use of outward sacraments (in the more evangelical churches) or questioning eternal punishment (the Gulley controversy) — are now effectively tolerated because the yearly meetings in session have not been able to reach unity on an appropriate response. This disagreement has caused a division in Western Yearly Meeting whose end is not clear. The West Richmond controversy threatens the same in Indiana.

“Realignment” is an idea that Friends of various outlooks have floated from time-to-time, most often along the lines of separating pastoral and unprogrammed congregations, evangelicals and liberals. Such proposals have foundered on the reality that many Friends do not see themselves or their congregations neatly falling into such categories.

Perhaps the time has come for Friends to stop thinking in those terms. If we allow theology to become the determining factor, we are probably heading toward a dead end. Friends in these yearly meetings are too diverse to fall into neat categories.

Instead, Friends should ask themselves: “What do we want in a yearly meeting?” Here some lines of demarcation are beginning to appear. Most Friends in Indiana Yearly Meeting have, thus far, indicated that they favor a yearly meeting that sets bounds. They see it as an ecclesiastical authority with the power to discipline those in error, whether monthly meetings or individuals. Western, more tentatively, appears to be moving in the direction of seeing a yearly meeting as a body of Friends who come together for certain common purposes, but who no longer try to enforce common standards of faith. Wilmington is unclear.

Coming back to Indiana, it is clear to me that an irresistible force has met an immovable object. Since yearly meeting sessions, the task force has heard from a number of Friends who express deep grief at the prospect of division. They say with conviction that a sundering cannot be the will of God. But for us to continue as one body, someone will have to yield. Either West Richmond will have to revoke the welcoming minute, or other Friends will have to decide that at least tacit toleration of West Richmond’s position is a price worth paying if it maintains unity, or God will have to reveal some other way that, up to this point, has not been made clear to any of us. The task force does not rule out this last possibility — indeed, it would be the answer to many prayers. But, thus far, it has not been clear what it would be.

PART II: TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATION

It is in this conviction that the task force offers its recommendation, what we have labeled, for convenience, “Model 5: Deliberative/Collaborative Reconfiguration.”

We recommend that, on October 1, Friends of Indiana Yearly Meeting commit ourselves to a year-long process of seeking a future that honors each other’s consciences and understandings of scriptural guidance and that is life-giving for all of our monthly meetings. This process would include (but not be limited to) the following elements:

1. The West Richmond welcoming minute is, in our opinion, but a symptom of deeper disagreements in the yearly meeting. One of these is the question of the yearly meeting’s authority over its monthly meetings. We ask Friends to discern whether they want to be part of a yearly meeting that, as our current Faith and Practice provides, has the power to set bounds and exercise authority over subordinate monthly meetings; or whether they wish to be part of a yearly meeting that is a collaborative association, with monthly meetings maintaining considerable autonomy and allowing great freedom in matters of doctrine.
2. A monthly meeting may choose to opt out of the early phase of this process and wait until the reconfiguration is underway before deciding the yearly meeting with which to affiliate. Depending on the outcome of the reconfiguration discussion, the yearly meeting of its preference may be largely the one in which it is currently located.
3. Inviting Western and Wilmington yearly meetings to join in this process of discernment, with the potential for reconfiguring our three yearly meetings into two bodies per the above delineated kinds of yearly meetings.
4. A process for appointing a task force, representing the variety of perspectives and interests in Indiana Yearly Meeting, to carry out this discernment work, both within our yearly meeting and, potentially, with parallel bodies of either or both of the other two yearly meetings. It would include, but not be limited to the following responsibilities:
   • Maintaining valued relationships, both as the process unfolds and as yearly meetings are reconfigured;
   • Clarifying a way to go about such a reconfiguration, including how to proceed if Western and Wilmington decline the invitation to join in this process;
   • Determining how to share our responsibilities for and connections with Friends United Meeting, White’s Residential & Family Services, Friends Fellowship Community and Quaker Haven Camp;
   • Identifying and addressing legal implications, such as meetinghouse ownership.

We offer this recommendation in the full knowledge that Friends have many sad feelings about Quaker separations in the past, and wishing to avoid the hostility and alienation that has rocked the Quaker community at such times (forms of which sometimes re-emerge these days when we experience our differences). We have come to recognize that factors which enabled Indiana Yearly Meeting to succeed as a “big tent” 50 and more years ago are no longer present. With more convinced Friends (a good thing!) we have fewer family ties across meetings. Styles of worship vary widely from one congregation to another. Some of us identify closely with the wider Religious Society of Friends and sister peace churches, while others of us find our kindred spirits within the wider evangelical movement. Quarterly meetings have diminished and are much less effective in connecting Friends from different meetings.

We trust that there can be a healthy self-differentiation and movement into new forms of relationships that free each meeting to be faithful to, and supported in, the leadings that they have.

We seek for Friends to bless one another in our differing journeys, affirming that we all are following Jesus’ call to the Kingdom of God. Thus we encourage Friends to look to the model of three of our long-ago spiritual forebears from the Hebrew Scriptures: Ruth, Orpah and Naomi (Ruth 1:1-18). These women had come to a moment when, through no fault of their own, their way of life was no longer sustainable and they had to make a momentous decision about how to proceed. At first, all three set out to seek a new life in Naomi’s native land of Judah, but then Orpah took Naomi’s advice and decided to stay in Moab and return to her family home. The three women wept, kissed one another and parted with love and respect, wishing each other a good future in their differing journeys.

May we do as well, if Friends feel led to accept the recommendation of Model 5, and all thrive in faithfulness in the land to which they are called.

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Unbinding Ties
By Margaret Fraser, Friends of the Light

Friends outside the U.S. are often baffled by the tendency of yearly meetings here towards schism. The Hicksite/Orthodox separations of the 1820s, the Gurneyite/Wilburite and later Holiness and Evangelical separations among the Orthodox are part of our history, as are some of the later reunifications which occurred when the grandchildren could not understand what the grandparents had been quarreling about. Last week I was present when a little more of that history was made, setting in motion a schism that may reach further than the boundaries of one yearly meeting.

The Representative Council (which functions as the Indiana Yearly Meeting’s decision-making body when the yearly meeting is not in session) met in Muncie, Indiana, on October 1 to “help the yearly meeting in its discernment of a way forward regarding our current tensions.” The outcome was the choice of “Deliberative/Collaborative Reconfiguration.”

A task force of members has been laboring to present the issues and to offer guidance. Part of their work has been to name issues, holding up a mirror to this diverse yearly meeting. They presented four options to the yearly meeting sessions in the summer, with a recommendation for Model 4 — “Division and Possible Realignment.” Friends were not ready to have this as the only option to be considered at the October Representative Council.

Taking into account feedback after yearly meeting sessions, the task force met again and modified Model 4. A new option, Model 5, was sent to monthly meetings. This was worded “Deliberative/ Collaborative Reconfiguration.” The outcome would be essentially the same — schism — but included provision for a year-long process of seeking a future that honored each other’s consciences and understandings of scriptural guidance.

The task force pointed out deep differences, ranging from how Friends regard, interpret and use Scripture; differing world views; differing identifications: those who identify most closely with the wider Religious Society of Friends and the other Peace Churches and those who identify most closely with other Evangelical churches. It acknowledged deep disagreements on the yearly meeting’s authority over congregations. It asked meetings to discern if they wanted to be part of a yearly meeting that has authority over subordinate meetings, or if they wished to be part of a yearly meeting that is a collaborative association. After the period of discernment, meetings would be expected to state their preference for the yearly meeting to which they would wish to affiliate. Model 5 included inviting neighboring Western and Wilmington yearly meetings to join this process of discernment.

The process would involve appointing a new task force to clarify implementation and determine how to share responsibilities for Friends Fellowship Community, FUM, Quaker Haven Camp, White’s Residential & Family Services and to address legal issues such as meetinghouse ownership.

There were proposals from the floor to continue to work towards reconciliation, and models of family life and family systems theory were used — both to make a case to stay together and work through differences and to separate (as “healthy self-differentiation”). However, the sense of the meeting was that staying together locked in conflict was distracting the work that churches and meetings felt called to do, and possibly inhibiting them from being fully authentic. Out of this, Representative Council took the decision to separate, as recommended in Model 5.

A few personal observations: Care had been taken to frame the Representative Council meeting as a Meeting for Worship with an earnest desire to seek God’s will for the yearly meeting. From the choice of hymns to Doyle Penrose’s painting of “The Presence in the Midst” projected onto the wall throughout the session, it was a gathered meeting. I know we were being held in prayer from many different places, as well as those of us who had attended with the single intention to hold the whole process in prayer.

I heard “new Light.” For instance, among our “deep differences,” some of us derive energy and greater connection to God when encountering difference; others are discouraged by it. But above all, I think I heard weariness over protracted conflict, fear of further loss of numbers if the decision were delayed and a deep desire not to inhibit the ministry of others.

I also heard from a member of the task force that, while we might get along “ecumenically,” we could not get along “denominationally.” I take that to mean that respectful dialogue and friendship is possible between people in different faith traditions when each is speaking out of a clear sense of their own identity and not asking the other to be more like them. This is also the basis of effective interfaith dialogue. It makes sense to me in the context of my work, professional and volunteer, with FWCC. However, as a member of the yearly meeting, it is harder to wrap my head and heart around it. Indiana Yearly Meeting was my door into Friends in the U.S. 18 years ago. West Richmond Friends Meeting became my faith community, but my circle was wider, especially through accompanying young Friends to visit other meetings within the yearly meeting and through attendance at yearly meeting sessions. To unravel the tapestry that is this yearly meeting — to pull out threads that were put in during the earliest days in order to be monochrome — is heartbreaking.

While I expect that there will be suggestions that those churches and meetings that prefer a more collaborative polity could join existing FGC-affiliated yearly meetings, I believe that this would not be an appropriate option, since most if not all of our meetings are Christ-centered, semi-programmed and pastoral, which can present problems to some (but not all) Friends who are not. So during the year of discernment it is likely that a “shadow” structure may emerge for a new yearly meeting or association, and it may work as part of, or alongside, the Indiana Yearly Meeting task force.

The decision to separate was not without challenges in the afternoon to both content and process, and not without deep grief. The proposal to sing “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” did not sit well with those who were feeling ties torn apart, and was quietly dropped. While it may prove to be the best decision in the circumstances, the ties are not simply “fellowship,” but deep ties of history, generational connection and, above all, identity. Grief is appropriate.

The latest exhibit at Wilmington College’s Quaker Heritage Center — Transforming Lives: The Work of Friends United Meeting — held its opening reception during the FUM Triennial in July. The exhibit will be up through December 16, 2011. The exhibit invites you to learn about FUM’s partner projects, the people who support them, the people on the ground who make them happen and the way that work transforms lives through the Friends’ witness. In communities around the world, Friends United Meeting partner projects are making a difference, and now you can explore them all without a passport! Quaker Heritage Center curator, Ruth Brindle Dobyns, knew that not everyone would be able to make it to Wilmington to visit this display. Her solution: make it a traveling exhibit! Beginning in 2012 the exhibit will be available to your monthly, quarterly or yearly meeting, USFW or missions group, for display in your area. Contact the FUM office for more information or to reserve the FUM exhibit: (765)962-7573.