Minutes of Baltimore Yearly Meeting Interim Meeting
Tenth Month 20, 2001
Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting
I2001-1 Opening. Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Interim Meeting gathered on 10/20/2001 at the Sandy Spring Meeting House in Sandy Spring, Maryland.
Adelphi: Ruth Flower (Takoma Park Preparative), Martha Gay, Michele Levasseur (Takoma Park Preparative), Arthur David Olson (recording clerk- Takoma Park Preparative), Sharon Stout, Jane Stowe, Pam Tyng; Alexandria: Georgia Fuller, John Mason, Howard van Breemen; Annapolis: Nan Elsbree, Betty Hutchinson, Pat Schenck; Baltimore, Stony Run: Dellie James, Marjorie Scott; Bethesda: Lee Foster, Elizabeth Hofmeister; Blacksburg: Jim Shotts, Josie Shotts; Carlisle: Joan Anderson; Charlottesville: Frances Schutz, Gladys Swift; Deer Creek: Betsy Wollaston; Frederick: JoAnn Coates-Hunter, John Darnell; Gettysburg: Margaret Stambaugh; Gunpowder: Marshall Sutton; Herndon: Bonnie Stockslager; Langley Hill: Sheila Bach, Laurie Wilner; Maury River: Katherine Smith; Roanoke: Elizabeth Fetter, Robert Fetter; Sandy Spring: Annette Breiling (Seneca Valley Preparative), Kevin Caughlan, Jack Fogarty, Peggy Fogarty, Flossie Fullerton, Howard Fullerton, Betty Hutchinson, Victor Kaufman, Rich Liversidge, Elizabeth Meyer, Trudy Rogers (Seneca Valley Preparative); Friends Meeting of Washington: Neil Froemming, Joseph Izzo, Susan Lepper, Winifred Walker-Jones; Williamsburg: Cindy Frazier; York: Lamar Matthew
I2001-2 Peace and Social Concerns. John Rich, Co-Clerk of Peace and Social Concerns Committee, reported. A joint statement by the executives of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Friends General Conference, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation on military attacks on Afghanistan has been endorsed by the committee and was handed out.
We pray at this time for the people of the United States, Afghanistan, and the rest of the world. We hold in prayer those killed and wounded in the terrorist attacks of September 11, those being killed and wounded by the military strikes on Afghanistan that began on October 7, and all who grieve for them.
We regret the decision by our nation's leaders to launch military strikes against Afghanistan, and we call upon them to halt the bombing and other military attacks.
We recognize the responsibility of the international community to apprehend and try, under international law, those responsible for the recent terrorist attacks. We urge that such efforts be undertaken as a law enforcement action-not as acts of war-and with great care to avoid the killing or injuring of innocent people.
History teaches us that violence leads to more violence. We expect that these massive military strikes by missiles and bombers against this already devastated, starving country will almost certainly make it easier for the leaders of this terrorist struggle to recruit more people to their cause. We must break the cycle of escalating violence.
The struggle against terrorism will indeed be long. To succeed, it will have to undermine the ability of those who would use terrorism to recruit new people to carry out such attacks. This requires ending, or greatly diminishing, the tremendous anger and hatred toward the United States and its allies felt, in particular, by many in the Muslim and Arab world. This can only be done with prolonged, nonviolent efforts for reconciliation, justice, and long-term economic development. It cannot be done through massive bombing and military attacks.
As executives of organizations of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), we continue to be guided by our historic testimony concerning God's call to renounce war and seek peace. We commit ourselves to work and pray for the time of justice and peace promised by God when "peoples shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; and nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
Bruce Birchard, General Secretary, Friends General Conference of the Religious Society of Friends
Thomas H. Jeavons, General Secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee
Joe Volk, Executive Secretary, Friends Committee on National Legislation
We heard a concern that quickly-produced and -endorsed statements have caused difficulties within Monthly Meetings in the past, and a concern that endorsing the joint statement neither ends our responsibility nor sets us in the right direction. We heard concerns about a blanket call to end bombings, and a concern that characterizing current action as "bombing of Afghanistan" was inaccurately general.
We ENDORSED the spirit of this statement, Georgia Fuller and Rich Liversidge standing aside; the Presiding Clerk of Interim Meeting and General Secretary of Yearly Meeting UNDERTOOK to send it and a cover letter to congressional representatives for the Baltimore Yearly Meeting area.
John Rich noted that participation in monthly prayer vigils, lobbying congressional representatives, and outreach to Muslim groups are among the positive responses to recent events. John noted that Barbara Lee, a Representative from California, was alone in voting against authorizing military action in response to events of 9/11/2001; John asked friends to extend support to Barbara Lee.
John reported that the American Friends Service Committee is holding a 1/19/2002 meeting in Philadelphia on Iraq sanctions; we NAMED J. E. McNeil and Cathy Moran to represent us at this meeting.
John reported that Roger Wolcott has been led to travel to the Middle East as part of a Christian Peacemakers Team delegation; at the Committee’s recommendation we ENDORSED Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting’s traveling minute for Roger:
Our dear friend, Roger Wolcott, has a leading to be part of a Christian Peacemakers Team delegation in Israel and Palestine November 16 to 28. He is personally concerned about the engulfing violence in the region. He wants to find and show support to peace groups on both sides of the conflict and bring their messages back to this country.
Roger Wolcott is a valued member of Sandy Spring Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. The meeting wholeheartedly approves and supports Roger in this leading. We ask Friends whom Roger will visit to welcome him and to provide him with any assistance they can.
John reported Peace and Social Concern’s willingness to provide a home for a group focused on issues of diversity and associated injustice. We EMPOWERED the Committee to work in this area; John Rich is to report the names of participants in this work; Pat Schenck is to serve as contact for the group.
John encouraged us to contact congressional representatives regarding a Middle East peace providing justice for all parties to the conflict.
I2001-3 Indian Affairs. Flossie Fullerton, Clerk of Indian Affairs Committee, reported. New committees of support and oversight are being named for the work of Pat Kutzner with people of the Torreon/Starlake Chapter of the Navajo Nation. The third regional conference of northeastern Friends and Native Americans is to be held at William Penn House in Washington, D. C., 11/16-18/2001; the Indian Affairs Committee is hosting the conference.
I2001-4 Warrington Quarter. Margaret Stambaugh reported that the 11/18/2001 meeting of Warrington Quarter is to be held at Gettysburg.
I2001-5 Friends United Meeting. Rich Liversidge, a Baltimore Yearly Meeting Representative on the General Board of Friends United Meeting (FUM), reported. At the most recent of its three annual meetings, the Board had mixed success in considering broad issues such as the diversity of its constituency (where some Yearly Meetings are affiliated only with FUM while others are also affiliated with Friends General Conference). Rich noted that while Baltimore Yearly Meeting has the second largest membership of Yearly Meetings affiliated with FUM, it makes the third smallest North American financial contribution.
Rich noted FUM’s current plan to keep its upcoming Triennial in Kenya. FUM is seeking $2,200 from each North American Yearly Meeting’s travel budget to underwrite Kenyan and Ugandan travel and site costs for the Triennial. FUM is requesting that each Yearly Meeting write a letter of greeting from the Yearly Meeting to the Triennial, and is also requesting one or more (not necessarily original) songs. We EMPOWERED the Epistle Committee to write a letter of greeting to the Friends United Meeting Triennial.
We heard that Retha McCutchen is to serve as General Secretary of FUM through 2005.
I2001-6 Friends General Conference. Bob Fetter reported on activities of Friends General Conference (FGC). FGC’s Nurturing Quakerism program is engaged in a capital campaign, described fully in the most recent Baltimore Yearly Meeting Interchange. Bob noted the important role of volunteers in making possible FGC’s annual gathering and other activities. Next year’s annual gathering is set for Normal, Illinois.
I2001-7 Nurture and Recognition of Ministry. John Mason, Clerk of Nurture and Recognition of Ministry, reported. Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s most recent annual session referred to this Interim Meeting "Revised guidelines Embracing the Ministry of Friends." We ADDED the following as the last item of the list headed "Corporate discernment thus includes": "Working with other organizations, host communities, or individuals to be involved in the ministry to identify their understanding and expectations about the scope of the ministry, the financial and other support for the ministry, and Friends’ testimonies and practices." We DELETED the phrase "if needed" from the section "An Overview of Discerning and Embracing a Ministry." We EXTENDED a sentence reading "The Clearness Committee will labor with the Friend" to include "and with other entities to be involved in the ministry." We ADDED an item to a list headed "The nature of the Friends gift:" "The understanding of other organizations, host communities, and/or individuals to be engaged in the ministry of the work to be undertaken, Friends’ testimonies and practices, and these ‘Guidelines.’" we CHANGED a sentence starting "The Committee may suggest the individuals..." to start "The Committee may suggest the individuals and/or organizations..." We CHANGED a sentence including the phrase "other Friends willing to help" to include the phrase "other Friends qualified and willing to help." We MOVED a sentence beginning "Members of the Working Support Committee generally..." to the start of a paragraph previously beginning "They will be sought first among the members..." We CHANGED a sentence reading "Lay down the embrace and the ministry" to read "Lay down the embrace." We ADDED, before a sentence beginning "At least annually..." a sentence reading "The Oversight Committee will also communicate directly with other organizations, host communities, and/or individuals involved in the ministry." We CHANGED a sentence beginning "In some cases, the Oversight Committee may in consultation with the Friend, the Working Support committee and the standing BYM committee..." to begin "In some cases, the Oversight Committee may in consultation with the Friend, the Working Support committee, the other organizations, host communities, and/or individuals involved, and/or the standing BYM committee..."
We thanked Sharon Stout for her work on the guidelines.
I2001-8 Treasurer. Sheila Bach, Baltimore Yearly Meeting treasurer, reported. Sheila noted that Monthly Meetings have been sporadic in making regular payments of their apportionments and that the Yearly Meeting has had to secure a line of credit as a result. Sheila noted plans to write to Monthly Meetings about this, and urged those present to reinforce to Finance Committees the importance of regular payments.
I2001-9 Sabbatical. Marjorie F. Scott, Presiding Clerk of Interim Meeting, reported General Secretary Frank Massey’s request for a six-month sabbatical beginning 1/2003, as provided by our personnel policy.
I2001-10 Nominating Committee. Ruth Flower, Co-Clerk of Nominating Committee, reported receipt of the following resignations: Ada Hammer from Program Committee; Helen Laskovac from Manual of Procedure, and Kathy Wright from Right Sharing. We ACCEPTED the resignations.
At the Committee’s recommendation, we NAMED Rich Liversidge to the Nominating Committee and Howard Fullerton to the New Business Committee of Friends United Meeting Triennial.
At this second reading, we NAMED the following people to the indicated positions and terms:
Advancement and Outreach
Debbie Legowski, Sandy Spring (01)
Criminal and Restorative Justice
James Matsen, Notthingham (01)
Stanly Berkemeyer, Langley Hill (01)
Prisoner Visitation and Support Representative
Victor Kaufman, Sandy Spring (01)
Indian Affairs
Byron Sandford, Hill Country Mtg (TX) (01)
Ministry and Counsel
Georgia Fuller, Alexandria (01)
Nurture and Recognition of Ministry
Angelina Woo, Williamsburg (01)
Program
Liz Hofmeister, Bethesda (01)
Religious Education
Allesa Giampaolo Keener, Baltimore, Stony Run (01)
Mary Yeaney, Langley Hill (01)
Right Sharing of World Resources
Maurice Boyd, Friends Meeting of Washington (01)
Stewardship and Finance
Dick Bellin, Friends Meeting of Washington (01)
Jeanne Wilson, Goose Creek (96) [Class of 2002]
Unity with Nature
Fred Ceppa, Alexandria (01)
Judith Ceppa, Alexandria (01)
Youth Programs
Jen Schneider, Adelphi (01)
FUM Triennial
Lamar Matthew, York
Mary Lord, Adelphi
We heard first readings of these nominations: Susie Fetter, Epistle Committee; Jennifer Morris, Advancement and Outreach; Mike Alomar, Camping Property Management.
I2001-11 Friends United Meeting. Rich Liversidge handed out copies of a statement from Friends United Meeting on responses to events of 9/11/2001 and the aftermath:
In response to the cruel attack on civilian airlines resulting in devastation in New York City, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania, Friends United Meeting expresses our grief for the victims and counsel one another as we look toward healing in the aftermath of this fearful reality.
Friends United Meeting, headquartered in the United States, has an international constituency. A large percentage of our membership is in Kenya, where many suffered in the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi in 1998. We also have a school in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, and the local Ramallah Friends operate a play center for children in a nearby refugee camp. For many years, they have suffered the effects of war and terrorism directed against civilians on both sides of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
We are, therefore, familiar with the emotions of anger, violation, fear, grief, and the desire for justice and even revenge that have swept the United States in the last week. We are also grateful, through these experiences, to have seen people of faith, rooted in confidence in the grace of God, respond with compassion, mutual care and loving service that crosses lines of supposed enmity.
In his Journal, the seventeenth century Quaker, George Fox wrote: "I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness. And in that also I saw the infinite love of God..." We desire and urge all peoples to live in awareness of the infinite love of God. Friends have long sought to find ways of dealing with evil that recognizes that the enemy is not this person or that nation, ethnicity or faith. Rather, the enemy is sin, dwelling in the hearts of people in rebellion against God. We have found the reality of redemption in Jesus Christ, who commanded those who would follow Him to love their enemies. (Matthew 5:44) We recall the words of Paul, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world." (2 Cor. 10:4)
We, therefore, pray the nations will pursue the cause of justice and peace in ways that do not foster future violence. We are asking our own members to remember George Fox's historic counsel that "the Spirit of Christ, by which we are guided... will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons...." Instead, we encourage one another to find ways to reach out in love across walls of enmity that separate us and "overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
We ENDORSED the spirit of this letter; the Presiding Clerk of Interim Meeting and General Secretary of Yearly Meeting UNDERTOOK to send it and a cover letter to congressional representatives for the Baltimore Yearly Meeting area.
I2001-12 General Secretary. Frank Massey, General Secretary, reported. Frank has spoken with various groups on the Quaker response to events of 9/11/2001. Our next Interchange is to contain a full report on this year’s camping program. Frank reported that the Yearly Meeting has received correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on taxes owed by the Yearly Meeting because of money not sent to the IRS in 1997 and 1998 from Frank’s wages because of Frank’s conscientious objection.
The Presiding Clerk thanked the General Secretary and staff for their work.
I2001-13 Closing. We THANKED Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting for being such wonderful hosts. We heard, corrected, and APPROVED these minutes, along with the attachment of written versions of reports given. We ADJOURNED, to gather next on 3/23/2002 at Richmond Meeting House in Richmond, Virginia, or at the call of the Presiding Clerk.
Marjorie F. Scott, presiding Arthur David Olson, recording