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Friends United Meeting Press Release—March 1, 2007

Over a year ago, the North American members of the Friends United Meeting General Board started making plans for a first-time-ever meeting with representatives of the East African yearly meetings. On February 9 and 10, 81 people met in Kakamega, Kenya as a Global General Board with representatives from 24 yearly meetings and affiliate bodies, FUM staff and mission staff of Friends United Meeting. Six member yearly meetings were unable to attend.

Prior to the meeting, North Americans visited among a few of the Kenyan and Uganda churches. They worshiped with Friends at Ngong Road in Nairobi. They visited Kaimosi and Lugulu Hospitals, the Kakamega USFWI-sponsored orphanage and churches and schools in Uganda. After the General Board meeting, they attended the dedication of the new meetinghouse on the campus of Friends Theological College. The big group then divided into smaller groups. Some spent several days in the Turkana area. Some visited in Samburu. Others stayed in Kaimosi and worked at the hospital.

They learned first hand about the challenges to ministry due to lack of water and food resources, difficulties in transportation and widespread poverty conditions. They also learned first-hand about the hope and enthusiasm of the African Friends, their love for hearing the word of God and their respect for Americans who have been coming for over 100 years to share the love of Christ. There are now over 2,000 Friends churches in East Africa, mostly in the Western Province. There are also 200 secondary schools and around 1,500 primary schools supported by local Friends churches. Quakers in Africa are respected throughout the country and many hold state leadership positions.

The first day of the General Board meeting was devoted to the continuation of the Strategic Planning Process that was begun at the June 2006 meeting. Groups who had been formed to develop goals and strategies in the areas of Administration, Communication, Evangelism and Identity at the October meeting were asked to review and revise their plans with the help and insight of the African members. By the business meeting on Saturday, the strategic plan had been groomed for acceptance as a work in progress. It was noted by the clerk that the plan could not be approved in its final form because it will be reviewed and revised annually to guide the work of the organization.

In the Identity Focus Group's sessions, both in October and at this meeting, there were long and loving deliberations about the existing diversity of our member yearly meetings. Prompted by concerns about the FUM personnel policy that requires employees to be married or celibate, some yearly meetings have encouraged continuing dialogue about sexual ethics whereas others have asked that the issue be put to rest. With the input of the Africans, the voice for the latter seemed overwhelming, and with the affirmation of the Richmond Declaration of Faith by most of the attending yearly meeting representatives, a few Friends came away feeling that FUM was trying to push their yearly meetings out of membership. However, affirming the Richmond Declaration is not set as a requirement for membership and the freedom to remain in FUM without such affirmation still exists. Also, there are parts of the strategic plan still in place to channel some continued discussions.

Other items of business included:

• The acceptance of a Capital Improvement Partner Program in which a fund will be established for the purpose of granting financial assistance for building construction and/or improvement to non-North American churches. Guidelines will be made available at both the Richmond and Kisumu FUM offices.
• FUM Triennial Sessions will be held at High Point, North Carolina, July 9-13, 2008. The theme is from Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
• Africa Ministries Representative, John Muhanji, reported the work of the Africa Ministries Office since its establishment in 2005. He has worked to take a census of the African Yearly Meetings, begun work with the Quaker secondary school leaders to include Quaker values in the curriculum and has facilitated mission work on the part of the yearly meetings.
• Patrick Nugent, Friends Theological College Principal, presented a long-term capital projects plan, encouraged all the African Yearly meetings to bring their annual contributions of 10,000 Ksh to support the college and to adequately support the students they send there.
• Gabriel Wabuti, Administrator, presented the report for Kaimosi Hospital. The hospital is struggling to pay salaries in view of the low number of patients, but with the plans to refurbish and renovate the hospital with the help of donations from American churches and perhaps a USAid/ASHA grant, it is hoped business will soon pick up.
• Jacob Neyole, clerk of Friends Church Kenya, reported a spirit of cooperation between FCK and FUM. The major project for FCK is the establishment of Friends University Kenya, due to open later this year.
• Jane Mutoro, FUM representative to the World Council of Churches, expressed appreciation for support for her travel to attend the WCC meetings.
• Jason Wekesa, Chairman of Lugulu Hospital Board of Governors reported a desire for closer cooperation between Lugulu and Kaimosi Hospitals. James Grace reported that as soon as ASHA approves the list of equipment submitted for the hospital, the purchase will begin.
• Samson Ababu reported for Aquavis, the organization of Quaker businessmen who volunteer their service to the community. He thanked Friends for their support of Lindi School in the Kibira slum. The school aspires to provide a quality education to children and has had success in preparing students to pass the state exam.
• Roland Kreager, of Right Sharing of World Resources, offered a report of the "Best Practices" conference just held in Kakamega a few days prior to the General Board meeting. He said RSWR had provided 38 micro-enterprise grants of up to $5,000 each in 11 yearly meetings. Many of the recipients had been local USFWI chapters.
• John Lomuria and Richard Lomase presented a report from the Turkana Friends Mission. They urged Friends to prepare for full responsibility of the Kalokol Children's Home which will be turned over to them in 2009.
• Isaiah Bikokwah and Caleb Wangia began their report for Samburu Mission by honoring the memory of Alfred Waudo who died last June. They described the insecure situation which kept them from visiting in the Samburu region earlier and called for Friends to work for peace.
• Friends World Committee Executive Director, Nancy Irving, had been in Uganda for the meeting of the Africa Section. She spoke about the differences in the function of FWCC and FUM, but praised the close cooperation between them, especially with the Africa Ministries Office.
• USFW International President, Margaret Stoltzfus, invited all women and men to attend the triennial sessions in July of 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Presiding Clerk, Brent McKinney, read the following minute to close the meeting:

God is Good! All the Time! We have been richly blessed beyond measure during this Friends United Meeting General Board meeting. The fellowship among participants has been rich and the love among the gathered Friends has been evident. May God always find us being faithful, walking humbly, acting justly and searching for His will upon our lives. May we long remember this day and may we continue to uphold one another as brothers and sisters in the Light of Jesus Christ. As we depart, may we continue to encourage one another to the Glory of God's Kingdom. Praise God!