Minutes Of Baltimore Yearly Meeting

Interim Meeting

Third Month 29, 2003

Langley Hill Monthly Meeting

I2003-1  Opening. Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Interim Meeting gathered on 3/29/3002 at the Langley Hill Meeting House in McLean , Virginia . The Presiding Clerk read a written message from Frank Massey telling of plans to return to Ramallah Friends Schools 5/6-22/2003. We received the regrets of Don Gann of Baltimore, Stony Run Meeting (Don is undergoing surgery) and Rachel Harrison of Adelphi. The presiding clerk reported on the availability of written material.

I2003-2  Interim General Secretary. Ronald Mattson, Interim General Secretary of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, reported. Ronald has taken delight from work with the Yearly Meeting staff. Ronald attended a Friends World Committee for consultation Conference on the historic Friends Peace Testimony and has visited Pat Kutzner at the Torreon/Starlake Chapter of the Navajo Nation; Ronald had the opportunity to worship with Santa Fe Friends. Ronald displayed posters on Quakers and peace; the posters are available from the Yearly Meeting Office for a nominal cost. Ronald noted that Paul Lacey, Mary Lord, Frank Massey, and Lamar Matthew are to speak at our upcoming annual session. Ronald thanked us for this opportunity to serve the Yearly Meeting.

I2003-3  Youth Secretary. Michelle Levasseur reported on plans to leave our staff shortly after our upcoming annual session. Michelle thanked us for providing 30 years of experience in 4½ years of service. The Presiding Clerk undertook to draft a letter of thanks to Michelle. Michelle reported significant growth in attendance at the Yearly Meeting’s Junior Young Friends events for middle schoolers.

I2003-4  Presiding Clerk of Yearly Meeting. Lamar Matthew, Presiding Clerk of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, reported. Lamar gave personal thanks to Michelle Levasseur. Lamar reported a request from the Baltimore chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that we accept its Thurgood Marshall Award; Lamar plans to keep us informed of developments. Lamar attended Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s annual session. Lamar encouraged people to attend our upcoming annual session; the agenda is already being prepared for the session; the theme is “Called to Be Peace Makers.”

Lamar reported on his travel with Frank Massey to Jerusalem and Ramallah under the auspices of the group pastoral visit, sponsored by Friends United Meeting. Lamar and Frank met with representatives of a number of peace groups and non-governmental organizations. They visited the Church of the Nativity; they were the first Westerners to have visited Bethlehem in months. Lamar noted the contrast between the layers of history seen in places of worship there and the plainness of our Quaker Meeting Houses. Lamar and Frank visited the Ramallah Friends Schools; some of the students there are American children of Palestinian parents who returned to Palestine so their children could be educated at the schools. The American Friends Service Committee has a project in Ramallah directed by a Dutch Quaker; Ramallah Friends seek to rehabilitate their Meeting House for use as a center for Quaker activity. Lamar and Frank are to report on their travel at our upcoming annual session.

Lamar noted that Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is accepting funds for rebuilding the Ramallah Meeting House. John Salzberg reported that Baltimore Yearly Meeting has raised about $5,000 for the Ramallah Meeting House project; the Yearly Meeting accepts donations earmarked for this project.

I2003-5  Indian Affairs.   Flossie Fullerton, Clerk of our Indian Affairs Committee, reported. A working group has been considering the long-range relationship between Baltimore Yearly Meeting and the Torreon/Starlake Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Flossie handed out copies of the group’s report:

Working Group with Torreon/Starlake

BYM’s responsibility for Patricia Kutzner’s work with a Navajo Chapter in New Mexico ends this August. Pat’s friends, both Quaker and non-Quaker, will keep in touch with her continuing presence there, contributing support spiritually and, probably, financially. This activity, however, will be completely independent of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

A long-range planning group proposes a continuing relationship between the Torreon/Starlake Chapter and BYM, that is, a new ministry developed from the opening of the past six years.

What would the proposed new working group do?

•       Provide two people who have a leading to work with Torreon/Starlake Chapter—preferably young adult Friends experienced with BYM youth work—to help the Chapter’s Youth Advisory Committee YAC expand its own youth program(s).

•       Continue, as appropriate, to bring Torreon/Starlake children to participate in our Camping Programs (specifics to be worked out jointly with Torreon ’s YAC) and bring adults to Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

•       Provide a group who can offer information about opportunities for service in Torreon , and can offer information, assistance with clearness, and oversight for BYM members with leadings to work with Torreon/Starlake people.

Who would do it?

A Working Group chartered by the Indian Affairs Committee. The Working Group would include some previously involved with Patricia Kutzner’s embrace and with Torreon visitors; it would also include newcomers with other interests and/or experience in this region or with Native American matters. The long-range planning group has begun to identify such people and more would be welcome. The names of members of the Working Group would be placed in the BYM Yearbook.

How would it be funded?

Programs and ministries are not funded through the apportionment process. The Working Group would apply for grants as needed, and could request use of the Yearly Meeting mailing list for contributions under the usual process. The Working Group needs Yearly Meeting permission to set up a fund to receive gifts and grants and to spend the monies. It is hoped Torreon would share in costs.

Why would BYM do it?

We have established friendships and have a cross cultural opening. Torreon/Starlake wants our help to work with their youth. The Working Group will continue the work begun with the Torreon YAC. In addition, Quakers of all ages who have met the Navajo—hosted them in their homes, toured and talked with them—have experienced the joys of getting to know, indeed developing friendships with, people from a different culture. Part of this joy is the hope and the challenge for better living out our own practices through working with another people. We may also hope to assist in making the life of some of the earliest peoples of North America better known throughout our country, to the end of promoting our nation’s progress toward becoming a peaceable kingdom.

We heard a concern that the suggested project might overburden our camping program and a sense that the program could bear the burden. We heard a concern that the working group may have assumed that we should have a project. We heard a concern that the work being done may be an individual leading rather than a corporate leading, and a concern that events with participants from both Baltimore Yearly Meeting and Torreon/Starlake have not always gone comfortably. We heard concerns about the confusion resulting from dealing with, on the one hand, “completely independent” future efforts to support the work of Pat Kutzner in particular and, on the other hand, a proposed group within the structure of the Yearly Meeting to work with Torreon/Starlake in general.

Flossie and Howard Fullerton undertook to arrange for the working group to prepare a mailing on this matter to our Monthly Meetings in time for consideration before our next Interim Meeting.

I2003-6  Peace and Social Concerns. John Salzberg, Co-clerk of BYM’s Peace and Social Concerns Committee, reported. The Committee met this morning, spending the bulk of its time focused on the current war in the Middle Est and responses to it. John noted a daily vigil from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 16th and H Streets NW in Washington , DC . The Committee plans a networking day in conjunction with our next Interim Meeting (when the Committee is to meet next). John reported that the Committee is sending Jeff Patyk, Ann Wilcox, Georgia Fuller, and John to the Friends United Meeting consultation on the Peace Testimony, 5/2-4/2003 in Richmond , Virginia .

I2003-7  Friends United Meeting. Rich Liversidge and Howard Fullerton, BYM Representatives to the Friends United Meeting (FUM) General Board, reported. Rich described the process leading to the FUM General Board’s minute on the War in Iraq :

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 KJV

Let us then try what love can do. William Penn

The government of the United States proposes to protect democracy by means of preemptive violence against the people of Iraq . Friends United Meeting calls it members—and all who know the love of God—to deny the possibility of a “just,” “necessary,” or “holy” war.

We believe there is another way to address issues of injustice and oppression because the root causes of injustice and oppression, such as greed, thirst for power and lack of mercy, cannot be solved through violence. We must examine our own entanglements in these roots.

Jesus shows us the way of service, humility, and non-violent intervention—substituting courageous acts of compassion for domination. The teachings of Jesus are clear: Feed the hungry, heal the sick, take care of children, love each other, forgive each other, return good for evil. In His life, His death, and His resurrection, we can see a way through our fears which is not the world’s way.

The citizens of the United States continue in turmoil by messages of fear and terror from all directions; we pray that they do not succumb to the temptation of believing in the security promised by military might and action. Only a false security comes through armies or weapons or creating fear—thereby hatred—in others. We recognize that following Christ’s way carries risk. Yet, our experience of life under God’s power keeps us on this path of love and compassion. We know that there is not—and never has been in this world—any safety except the safety that is found in hearts that have been touched and tendered by the Holy Spirit.

Friends United Meeting says to the governments and peoples of the United States, Iraq, and all the world once again, “The spirit of Christ by which we are guided is not changeable, so as to once to command us from a thing as evil, and again to move into it; and we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world.” George Fox, 1660.

Howard noted that the next Friends United Meeting (FUM) Triennial is set for 7/17-21/2005 in Des Moines, Iowa, taking as its scriptural text Revelation 7:14: “And the lamb shall overcome.”

Rich reported on FUM General Board's continuing consideration of our concerns (Y2002–30, Y2002–43, Y2002–55) arising from events at the 2002 Triennial; the General Board has directed the Executive Committee to work on a response to these concerns; the Board is skipping its 6/2003 meeting, so a reply from the Board will take additional time. Rich reported appreciation by these Friends for the manner in which our concerns are being presented, “loving disagreement” rather than “railing.” Bonnie Stockslager, Clerk of the Ad Hoc Committee on Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Concerns, reported that the Committee had approved a minute on this matter at is meeting this morning. We United with the Committee’s minute. Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Interim Meeting is disappointed to learn that there will not be a formal response in time for the 2003 Annual Session from the Friends United Meeting General Board to Minute Y2002-43. We once again encourage the Yearly Meeting to continue to labor tenderly with Friends United Meeting.

We invited Brent McKinney, Clerk of Friends United Meeting, to attend our upcoming annual session; the Presiding Clerk of Interim Meeting undertook to extend the invitation.

Howard noted that most donations to FUM are earmarked for its missions; the question of how to fund its administrative costs is under consideration; FUM may be asking more of Yearly Meetings in general and BYM in particular; it is not doing so at this time.

I2003-8  Friends General Conference. Trudy Rogers, Representative to the Executive Committee of Friends General Conference (FGC), reported. Trudy noted the upcoming Friends General Conference annual gathering, 6/28-7/5/2003 at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown , Pennsylvania ; the 2004 gathering is set for Massachusetts and the 2005 gathering is set for Virginia . Trudy reported that FGC has established an electronic service at http://quakerfinder.org for locating Quaker Meetings. Trudy noted the importance of Yearly Meeting intervisitation in strengthening ties within FGC and between FGC Yearly Meetings and those of other Quaker bodies.

I2003-9  Manual of Procedure. Trudy Rogers, clerk of the Manual of Procedure Committee, reported. Trudy handed out copies of proposed changes to the manual.

Youth Programs Committee

The Youth Programs Committee consists of eight to ten adults nominated by the Nominating Committee and appointed by the Yearly Meeting and the Young Friends Conference Clerks, the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planners and two Young Friends appointed by the Young Friends Conference Business Meeting. The regional youth coordinators, the Yearly Meeting Youth Quake representative, and the Youth Secretary are ex officio members.

The Youth Programs Committee oversees and coordinates all Yearly Meeting youth programs-for junior high/middle school and high school youth, with the exception of the Camping Program and Junior Yearly Meeting. It provides advice and support for the Youth Secretary. To do these things the Committee will:

1.     Recruit and mentor adults in Baltimore Yearly Meeting who have a leading to work with Young Friends in the Yearly Meeting.

2.     Support the Youth Secretary in the coordinating and communicating with Junior Yearly Meeting and other Yearly Meeting Committees involved in youth programs.

3.     Ensure that the Young Friends Handbook is reviewed on a periodic basis (at least every three years) by the Young Friends Executive Committee and revised as needed. The Youth Programs Committee will review sections of the Handbook that pertain to the spiritual and physical well being of the Young Friends and suggest revisions as needed. All revisions to the Young Friends Handbook will be approved by a Young Friends Conference Business Meeting.

The Young Friends Yearly Meeting Planners serve on the Program Committee.

Every three years, according to the Youth Quake cycle, the Youth Programs Committee recommends the name of an adult to the Nominating Committee for appointment by the Yearly Meeting to serve a three-year term as the Yearly Meeting representative to the YouthQuake Planning Committee.

The Young Friends Executive Committee is nominated and appointed by the Young Friends Conference business Meeting. To encourage youth to participate actively in the affairs of the Yearly Meeting, the Young Friends Executive Committee Clerk is a member of Interim Meeting. Details of the procedures of the Young Friends Executive committee and Young Friends Conference can be found in the Young Friends Handbook, available from Baltimore Yearly Meeting.                           

We Forwarded to and Recommended to our upcoming annual session the proposed changes to the Youth Programs Committee section.       

I2003-10  Camp Administrator . Josh Riley, BYM’s Camp Administrator , reported. Josh noted the need for book store workers and people to play piano for hymn singing at our upcoming annual session. Josh reported that the Yearly Meeting’s database is being updated to ease electronic communication. Camp acceptance letters are in the mail. Josh and the camp directors held a weekend retreat earlier this year. David Hunter has been hired as Camp Property Manager; David begins work 7/1/2003 ; Patty Nesbitt is doing the work on an interim basis. A survey of youth within the Yearly Meeting is in progress; the survey is designed to help plan for future needs and to provide an opportunity for people to comment on the current program. Josh invited people to take part in upcoming work days at the camps.

Howard Zuses, Trustee, may sign on our behalf the Forest Conservation and Management Agreement for Catoctin Quaker Camp.

I2003-11   Audit. The Presiding Clerk of Interim Meeting reported that an audit of the Yearly Meeting’s finances has been completed.

I2003-12  Friends General Conference. Katrina Mason reported on the need for housing for those attending the FGC Board Meeting 5/2-3/2003 in Washington , DC .

I2003-13  Gatherings. We heard of a 4/26/2003 Advancement and Outreach meeting in Frederick and a 4/26/2003 Stewardship and Finance meeting in Washington , DC , on apportionments.

I2003-14  Closing. We Thanked Langley Hill Friends for their hospitality. We heard, corrected, and Approved these minutes, along with the attachment of written versions of reports given. We Adjourned, to gather next on 6/21/2003 at the Annapolis Meeting House in Annapolis , Maryland , or at the call of the Presiding Clerk.

Marjorie Forbush Scott, presiding              Arthur David Olson, recording