TUESDAY NIGHT: FIT FOR FREEDOM, NOT FOR FRIENDSHIP

Vanessa Julye and Donna McDaniel are presently working on a book chronicling the historical relationship between Quakers of European descent and African Americans, Quaker and non-Quaker, from pre-colonial times through the twentieth century. The research is under the care of the FGC Committee for Ministry on Racism and the FGC Religious Education and Publications Committees. The book will be published in 2005 by Quaker Press of FGC.

Vanessa, a former clerk of the Fellowship of Friends of African Descent, co-clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meetings Ad hoc Group on Racial Justice and Equality and a member of the FGC Committee for Ministry on Racism, has a traveling minute from her Meeting (Central Philadelphia) supporting the overall vision of her ministry to help humanity remember its wholeness. (For more information, see vanessajulye.quaker.org.)

Donna, a freelance writer and member of Framingham Meeting, has a long history of community involvement and public service rooted in a deep commitment to equality and racial justice. She is a member of New England Yearly Meeting’s Working Party on Racism and clerks her own Meeting’s committee working against racism.

They will share their exploration of the complex, often “arm’s-length,” relationship between Friends of European descent and African Americans Friends and non-Friends in the pre-colonial period, their often-dangerous work of freeing and educating the enslaved, the ambivalence surrounding Quaker abolitionist activities, and finally Friends’ participation and their lack of participation in the racial ferment of the 20th century. Vanessa and Donna offer lessons from our past to illuminate our future.

They will be available on Wednesday afternoon, to converse with Friends about the lecture, their book, and related concerns.

TONY CAMPOLO TO SPEAK FRIDAY NIGHT

Tony Campolo is founder and President of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE). He has worked to create, nurture and support programs for “at-risk” children in cities across North America, and has helped to establish schools and universities in several developing countries. Tony Campolo is a media commentator on religious, social and political matters, and has appeared on Nightline, Crossfire, Politically Incorrect, and CNN News. He is the author of 28 books, his most recent titles are Revolution and Renewal: How Churches Are Saving Our Cities, and Let Me Tell You a Story: Life Lessons From Unexpected Places and Unlikely People .

Tony has spoken at YouthQuake and Friends United Meeting Triennial (1996).

CAREY MEMORIAL LECTURE: SATURDAY NIGHT

Trayce N. Peterson holds a B.A. from Earlham College and a Masters of Ministry from the Earlham School of Religion. As Friends United Meeting’s first Quaker volunteer to Belize, Central America, she taught in a girls high school and helped develop a literacy program with the PetersonSisters of Charity in Belize City. She has provided leadership for various youth programs in the U.S. including Pendle Hill’s Summer Youth Programs. She served as the presiding clerk of the Chicago Fellowship of Friends Meeting. She led the Bible Half hour at Friends General Conference annual gathering and Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Concerns Mid-winter gathering. Trayce now works at Earlham College as the Director of Campus and Quaker Ministries.

She will lead the Bible study each morning, examining the Book of James: “Straw or Scandalous Message.” During her Carey Lecture, Trayce will explore ideas of living in authenticity, living in tension and love.