...to Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. This site includes information about Quakerism and the latest news of our faith community, which includes Central Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. We would like to invite you to come worship with us. All are welcome! Please visit these links to find out more about our faith, witness and fellowship:

• Learn about giving to BYM
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• Find out about Quaker Peace activities.
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• Find out about Quaker History in our area.
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  FGC General Secretary

Friends General Conference (FGC) has begun the search for a new General Secretary. Bruce Birchard, General Secretary since the fall of 1992, has announced he will retire in July of 2011. (more...)

FGC is in the last stages of developing a transformational business plan for the Publications Program, which will utilize the capabilities of new publishing technology and the proliferation of Quaker writers to bring more Quaker voices into publication. The Publications Manager will implement and manage this small publishing business for Friends General Conference. (more...)

Publication of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of Friends [pdf]
 

Winter 2010

We in Baltimore Yearly Meeting know who we are in many ways by our experience: We are nurturing worship, we are clarifying ministry, we are creative yet orderly committee work, and we are supportive witness in the world. (more...)

The theme this year is Leadings for Today: Lessons from History. Our discussions have provided us with the opportunity to examine many lessons from history; we have chosen to place emphasis on issues around race, racism and diversity. (more...)

Are you ready to think about summer yet? The Annual Session of Baltimore Yearly Meeting will be held at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland from August 2-8. For Friends who would like to spend a week with others from across Baltimore Yearly Meeting, or even just like cooler, dryer mountain weather, this is the place to be. (more...)

For decades, Friends United Meeting (FUM) has been where several North American Yearly Meetings have played out differences in their worship, beliefs and memberships. Each member Yearly Meeting has within it some or all of these differences, but the issues have surfaced primarily within FUM - often as though each Yearly Meeting is united in its own membership. (more...)

Thinking about traveling or hosting a visiting Friend? Serving on a clearness or support committee for a traveler? Just want to know where all the money is going? Need an excuse to visit the gorgeously renovated Langley Hill Meeting House? (more...)

In mid-November Bethesda Friends Meeting co-sponsored an interfaith forum on immigration reform. The program attracted more than 55 people including Friends from as far away as Annapolis and Union Bridge, Maryland. Baltimore Yearly Meeting's Peace and Social Concerns Committee has committed to working for immigration reform. (more...)

AVP conducts experiential conflict de-escalation and antiviolence communication workshops in prisons and community settings. Quakers have been at the heart of AVP since its inception at a New York State prison in 1975. (more...)

An Epistle Encouraging Quaker Engagement with American Muslims - 11/14/2009 (Aapproved by the FCNL General Committee at Annual Meeting in November, 2009) (more...)

Friends Committee on National Legislation Program Assistants are willing to give talks individually or as a pair or group about Israel/Palestine. Take them up on the offer! The Annual Meeting of FCNL last November was thought provoking and energizing. The number of speakers and range of topics was breathtaking. If you didn't make it, you don't have to do without! (more...)

Recently a new resident shared that she had never thought she would find an affordable retirement community until discovering Friends House. What a surprise to find that not only could she afford the entrance fee, but even with inflation she could afford the monthly service fee! (more...)

News of Ramallah, West Bank: Betsy Brinson and Gordon Davies (Quakers from Richmond, VA) are continuing their year of service with Ramallah Friends School. Their work includes digitizing and archiving of old and new photographs, collecting and documenting oral history in the hope of producing a pictorial account of school history. (more...)

On April 10, the Friends International Center in Ramallah will host an event to commemmorate the Centenial of the Ramallah Friends Meeting House. The event will be at the Sandy Spring Friends Meeting and the cost is $13.00 per person. Please RSVP by April 2 to John Salzberg at 202-258-0569 or john.salzberg@verizon.net. (more...)

This new study booklet from Quaker House is for those working to end torture and hold torturers accountable, or seeking encouragement in the effort. It was produced because, despite an initial flurry of reform, the new administration in Washington has left in place many of the interrogation policies and programs of its predecessors. (more...)

The Friends World Committee for Consultation Section of the Americas (FWCC) is holding its Annual Meeting within our Yearly Meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity for BYM Friends to learn about FWCC, to meet the representatives from several countries south and north of ours, and to participate in some special meetings. (more...)

Food, water and medical supplies are beginning to flow into Haiti, but the needs are immense. Friends' organizations are not generally at the forefront of disaster relief efforts such as pulling people out of buildings or giving immediate medical assistance, but they have good relationships with those that do. (more...)

The Miles White Memorial Scholarship may be granted annually to a member of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends for the purpose of undergraduate study at the college or university of choice. Decisions are made based on scholarship, character, and financial need. (more...)

Unlike the vast majority of advocacy groups, FCNL regularly and systematically seeks guidance from its constituents in shaping its lobbying priorities. Beginning now, we on the Policy Committee are asking you to help your Meeting or church participate in the process of setting FCNL's priorities for the 112th Congress (2011-2012). (more...)

Do you have a passion for outreach and the willingness to serve? Do you have fabulous ideas about how to explain the Quaker way to newcomers? If so, then WE NEED YOU! (more...)

The Religous Education Committee has scholarships for Monthly Meeting Religous Education Committee clerks to attend Annual Session. For information, contact MJ Foley, Clerk, Religious Education Committee.

At the December meeting of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting's Working Group on Racism, guest Eda Uca-Dorn was present from Hosanna People's Seminary (HPS) in Washington, DC. She told us that HPS is holding a learning/teaching circle on white privilege and the North American church. (more...)

December 31, 2009 marked the end of the first full year of our Development program. In 2009, gifts from households and Monthly Meetings exceeded $195,000! As a comparison, in 2008, donations totalled over $116,000. This substantial increase was due, in large part, to the challenge program made possible through the generosity of donors who offered a challenge up to $50,000 - and to the many Friends who responded. (more...)

Friends Service Weekends provide a great opportunity for individuals and families to come and enjoy our camp properties for a day or for the weekend. Of course there will be plenty of work projects to do but it is also a great time to come to camp and explore, play in the creek or enjoy a walk in some of the most beautiful places on earth! (more...)

Announcing... a conference for parents of teenagers! At last, you will get an inside peak at what makes a Junior or Young Friends conference special. Join us at Catoctin Quaker Camp from June 11 to 13 for community, fun, and spiritual nurture. (more...)

In October, Wayne Finegar joined the staff of Baltimore Yearly Meeting as the Administrative Assistant. He has been working to fill the shoes of Ann Whitaker. (more...)

We have heard from the following meetings:

Abingdon Annapolis Baltimore, Homewood Baltimore, Stony Run Bethesda Blacksburg Charlottesville Frederick Gettysburg Herndon Hopewell Centre Midlothian Patapsco Richmond Roanoke Sandy Spring Seneca Valley Valley Washington York

Join us for a taste of QUAKER QUEST, an exciting new program of Quaker advancement and outreach, created in England and spreading throughout the United States. This full-day preparatory workshop on April 10 will be facilitated by FGC staff. The workshop will begin at 9 am at Carlisle Friends Meeting, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. (more...)

Twelve years ago, at an FWCC workshop at New England YM, the Quaker Missions postage stamps project was born. Since then, Brad Hathaway and others from Mattapoisett Monthly Meeting have received and sold donated stamps to benefit FWCC, Right Sharing of World Resources and similar projects and organizations. Over the years, FWCC has received $10,000 from this ministry. (more...)