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| A Publication of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends | September 2000 |
Reflections on Yearly Meeting in Session
"Welcome Friends to the 329th Annual Sessions of Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends. Once again we gather at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania situated along the Great Wagon Road that long ago carried Quakers to points south and west. Those early Friends carried with them testimonies to peace and justice, equality, simplicity and a witness to the Light that lights us all. That same highway has brought us back together. Today we bring with us those same testimonies and witness, not as historic baggage, but rather as a relevant, living understanding of what God wants for all of this beautiful creation."
So opened our session. All during the week it was apparent that the Spirit was present and working among us. It is truly amazing what a band of God's children, guided by the Light, can accomplish. As session closed, I felt it right to end session with this summary minute.
To parting Friends, "We have met once again in the warmth and beauty of a Pennsylvania summer. The countryside is as fair as the garden of the Lord, in sharp contrast to last year's parched vistas.
"We, the Children of the Light, have come together to see how truth prospers among us. We have labored mightily with concerns that seem insignificant to the world. We have been given more Light to guide us as we seek ways to embrace Friends who have been led to minister. Matters of same gender marriage, unity with nature, Friends in education and many other deeply held concerns have been entertained with our tender diligence and care which is so very peculiar to our Religious Society of Friends.
"We have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in and among us. We have delighted in each other's company and found 10,000 joys as we walked, talked and danced in the Light. We welcomed new Friends and visitors and invited them to join us in our seeking.
"We are ever grateful for the seasoned souls among us who have labored for so long to keep way open and bring Light to the paths that lead to a better place of love and understanding. Our young Friends are our present joys. They nourish us with their youth as we feed them with our dreams of a kinder, gentler world for all.
"We leave this place where the fountain of every blessing has so freely refreshed us. Our hearts have been filled with hope and love to share with those at home and abroad. Travel in peace until we meet again."
Lamar Matthew, Clerk
It is the responsibility of the Ministry and Counsel Committee to write the Spiritual State of the Yearly Meeting. This report is an annual reflection of the more than forty reports from Monthly Meetings, Preparative Meetings and Worship Groups. Many Meetings find writing the report a joyous challenge that provides them an opportunity to take an honest look at their spiritual growth.
The increasing numbers of new members and attenders have a great need to learn about Quaker process, the Bible and Quaker history. A variety of programs, classes, formal and informal groups are used to help F/friends in their search for understanding. With the increase has come more children. Finding the right curriculum for them and teachers to work with them requires much seeking. As more space is needed, some Meetings have found it necessary to modify their Meeting Houses or build additions. What is the best time to have First Day classes and Meeting for Worship?
The core of Quakerism is the community found in worship. Vocal ministry helps some while others find the richness of the silence a blessing. Getting to know each other in small groups, both formal and informal, deepens the flow of the spirit in worship. Opening our hearts and minds to all in love and understanding builds trust and honesty with each other and the Meeting.
Are we careful not to close the doors to newcomers and to each other? One First Day, as I sat in Meeting for Worship, a light breeze blew open our Meeting House doors, as if God were opening His arms to us. Just then a visitor walked through the doors. A warm feeling covered us as we felt the glow of community in God. As the doors closed gently, I felt as if we had been enfolded in God's love. Do we strive to keep open?
Meetings should be a reflection of God's openness to all in love. As we are open to the Light, we draw closer. We gather to worship the Lord and to seek guidance. Do we, individually and collectively, strive to make a difference to make our world a better place? In spite of different backgrounds, personal agendas and individual paths, are we able to come together in peace and prayer? Our lives can be blessed and enriched as a result of the community we build. It is comforting to know that through life's turbulent moments, we can have the love and fellowship of each other.
Is the spiritual state of the Meeting to be discerned on First Day or is the true spiritual state of the Meeting defined by our 'living these days' on Second Day through Seventh Day?
Miriam Green, Clerk,Ministry & Counsel
Friends, at BYM session, approved two minutes forwarded by the Peace and Social Concerns Committee and one by the Unity With Nature Committee.
Friends are deeply saddened by the effects of comprehensive sanctions on the people of Iraq. The U.S.-sponsored sanctions have lasted ten years. Inadequate supplies of food and medicine, lack of equipment to repair water and sanitation systems, and other results of the restrictions of the sanctions regime have had devastating impact on public health in Iraq. UNICEF estimates that the lack of potable water in many regions, destruction of the health care system, lack of basic medicines, and widespread malnutrition have resulted in the deaths of more than a million children under the age of five years.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends supports and endorses the Campaign of Conscience for the Iraqi people sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The Campaign of Conscience will send desperately needed humanitarian supplies and equipment to the Iraqi people. The Meeting is aware that participation or financial contributions might be interpreted as a violation of U.S. law with potential penalties.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting also encourages Friends to contact members of Congress as suggested by Friends Committee on National Legislation in support of HR 3825. This bill would, among other provisions, change US domestic law to allow export of food and medicine to Iraq.
The Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends at its 329th Annual Session, July 31 to August 6, 2000 at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, minutes its opposition to any action by the United States government to deploy a Missile Defense System instead of relying on arms control and multi-national diplomacy for the nation's protection.
Deploying a Missile Defense System violates the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, encourages the resumption of a worldwide nuclear arms race, and undermines our relationship with Russia and China, who see our deploying such a system as a threat to their safety.
The tens of billions of dollars a missile defense system would cost can be better invested in meeting human needs.
Protecting God's Earth and its fullness of life is of fundamental religious concern to the Society of Friends. The links among human activity, the dramatic rise in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, and the rise of average global temperature are now of sufficient concern to lead us to action. Climate change is apt to affect everyone and everything: food; water; air quality; bio diversity; forests; public health; social order; and world peace. It is therefore an issue of great importance for ecological sustainability, social and economic justice, and international diplomacy.
Because the United States uses much more energy per capita than any other nation, our policies to curtail greenhouse gas emissions will be crucial. We must consider not only the kinds of fuels used directly but also the energy embodied in all material goods we use. Our nation has long set a standard for others with its high levels of consumption; we must now provide an example by taking responsibility for the consequences of past and current behavior.
Involvement by religious communities in education and advocacy will be needed if policies to address global warming are to succeed in politics or practice in the U.S. We unite in urging individual Friends, Monthly Meetings, and other Friends organizations to seek Divine Guidance in understanding how to:
These are essential steps to protect life on Earth as God creates and sustains it.
 Photo: D. Hines |
We talk to our children about responsibilities and privileges,
implying that they earn their privileges by taking care of their
responsibilities. There are a few things in life which are both at the
same time, attending BYM is one of these things. It is a privilege
to spend an entire week in spiritual community with F/friends old
and new. It is also our responsibility as Friends to participate in
the Annual Sessions where the business of our faith is addressed.
For me the most delightful part is being at a place where my high
school aged son, my elementary school aged son, my husband and I
can all enjoy activities that enrich our soul.
Betsy Tobin, Frederick Meeting |
Yearly Meeting sessions give me a chance to connect with the larger Quaker community. Living as I do in rural Virginia (where all three Quakers in the county live in my house), I treasure the experience of being surrounded by Friends for a week. I love the chance to meet Young Friends during Produce Department, to share meals with Friends a generation ahead of me, to catch up with Friends I only see once a year. In the workshops I always find something that assists me in my spiritual journey. And as Clerk of my Meeting, I am grateful to observe excellent clerking in action in the business meeting.
As important as YM is to me, it may be even more important to my children. They have come to YM since they were toddlers, and it gave them their first experience of Quaker community. Now their continuing contacts through Young Friends help them through times when their daily high school experience is discouraging and isolating. I am grateful to YM for giving my daughters something our small meeting cannot -- a wide circle of Quaker friends.
Betsy Krome, Williamsburg Meeting
The following letter has been distributed to Monthly Meetings from Baltimore Yearly Meeting Young Friends. Please consider this concern as you develop high school aged programs in your Monthly Meetings. Also, while not all Young Friends are in unity with the idea of conscientious objection, there is unity on the need for accurate and up to date information at the Monthly Meeting level. The Young Friends program will provide information to its attenders.
June 17, 2000
Dear Monthly & Preparative Meetings, & Worship Groups,
Many Young Friends feel led to become conscientious objectors, but are unclear how to go about this process. We feel that valid information about conscientious objection should be easily accessible at Monthly and Preparative Meetings, and perhaps at Worship Groups as well. Enclosed is a list of organizations from which conscientious objector information may be acquired, at your discretion. We request your prayer-filled consideration on this concern.
Love and Light,Resources
CCCO, 1515 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102; 215/563-8787, <info@objector.org> www.objector.com
Center for Conscience & War, (formerly NISBCO); (note new address and phone no.) 1830 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009; 202/483-2220
War Resister's League, 339 Lafayette St, NY, NY 10012, <wrl@ipc.apc.org>, www.nonviolence.org/wrl
AFSC YAM Program, 1501 Cherry St, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215/241-7176, www.afsc.org/youthmil.htm
G.I. Rights Hotline, Toll free: 800-394-9544
Baltimore Yearly Meeting, 17100 Quaker Lane,
Sandy Spring, Maryland 20860, 301/774-7663, 800/962-4766
*staff will be trained as CO counselors by the year 2001
The Ministry and Counsel Retreat before Yearly Meeting was a great success. Out of it has come the subject for the fall Ministry and Counsel Retreat that will be co-sponsored with the Committee on Nurture and Recognition of Ministry.
EVERYONE in the Yearly Meeting is invited to become part of the retreat. Save November 11, 2000 so that you can be with us to
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HEAR BETSY MEYER
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Your monthly meeting should have a copy of the registration sheet. OR call the Yearly Meeting Office at 800/962-4766 to tell them that you are coming.
Do it now, while you are thinking about it!
Miriam Green, Clerk
At Yearly Meeting the Peace and Social Concerns Committee met, reviewed the role of the Committee, and drafted a Minute of Opposition to the Missile Defense System and one urging that the Economic Sanctions Against the People of Iraq be lifted.
Ongoing concerns of the Committee are the Friends Peace Teams, Quaker Volunteer Service and Witness Network, Families Against Violence Advocacy Network, and the Fund for Conscience.
African Great Lakes Initiative, a project of Friends Peace Teams coordinated by David Zarembka, has selected a Peace Team for the Burundi Trauma, Healing and Reconciliation Center. They are Charles Berahino and Adrien Niyongabo of Burundi Yearly Meeting, as well as Brad Allen and Carolyn Keys as international team members. They will begin their work around October 1.
Quaker Volunteer Service and Witness Network, in which Mary Lord has been involved since the beginning, is negotiating with Earlham College to establish a permanent site for its headquarters.
BYM has representation in Parenting for Peace and Justice through Linda Heacock of Richmond Meeting. Families Against Violence Advocacy Network (FAVAN) is a component of Parenting for Peace and Justice.
President Clinton has decided not to deploy a Missile Defense System at this time. Momentarily, that is good news. However, that does not stop the 60 to 100 billion dollars going for research and tests for a program that is a backward step to world peace. There is no protection from nuclear weapons. A Missile Defense Systems risks a new arms race, violates the Anti Ballistic Treaty, is no protection against terrorist attacks, and many reputable scientists say it cannot work. What is needed for security is arms control, arbitration, and diplomacy, support for the United Nations and non-violence training and promotion.
Continue calling and letter writing to members of Congress and our two Presidential Candidates voicing your opposition to a Missile Defense System. These funds can be better used to strengthen health care, education, housing and meeting other social needs of the country.
Betty Hutchinson, Clerk
Since the last Interchange, the BYM web site has been expanded and, we hope, made easier to use. It is a convenient source of information for Baltimore Yearly Meeting Friends who have access to a computer. It can also support outreach to potential attenders at our meetings. If you haven't visited the site recently ( www.bym-rsf.org ), stop by and take a look. We remind Friends that the Web Publishing Subcommittee is happy to help meetings, schools, committees and other groups create web pages for themselves. If you know what you want to say, we're happy to do all (or some) of the rest.
The Directory of Meetings has been updated with all information that was sent to the BYM Office before September 13, 2000. Please check your meeting's listing, and if you find any errors, send a correction to the BYM Office or the Website Coordinator.
The URL for the BYM web site is now www.bym-rsf.org (the "/quaker/" that used to appear at the end of the address is no longer needed.) If users try the old address, they get a page that gives the new address, and then they are transferred to the new, simpler address. The simpler address is partly due to moving our site to a new service provider. If we ever move again, we can keep this new address. The URLs for meetings and schools that have web pages on our site have also been simplified (for example, Gunpowder Monthly Meeting is now www.bym-rsf.org/gmm).
In its meeting at Yearly Meeting Sessions, the Web Publishing Subcommittee of the Publications Committee approved a new design for the web site. Following some further review and refinement, the new design was installed in mid August. Features include (a) better groupings of topics for easier navigation, (b) a new Search capability that allows searching for pages in the BYM site that contain keywords or phrases that you specify, (c) a new Religious Education page, including the summer issue of the Quaking Post, (d) improved accessibility for visually impaired users, and (e) a new menu bar that appears at the bottom of most pages in the site. Minutes of the Annual Sessions and notes for Georgia Fuller's Bible Study should be available about the time you read this.
The Web Publishing Subcommittee welcomes comments and suggestions about the BYM web site and priorities for future additions. Send an e-mail to the Website Coordinator, Tom Ryan < tar@psu.edu>, or Howard Fullerton, Clerk of the Subcommittee <howard.n.fullerton@worldnet.att.net>
This year Young Friends will eagerly await by their mailboxes to find out about this schedule!!
Executive Retreat: September 22-24, Gunpowder
Fall Conference: October 6-8, Little Falls
Thanksgiving: Nov. 24-26, Homewood (unconfirmed)
Executive Meeting: January (unscheduled)
Valentine's: Feb 9-11 (or 16-18), Richmond (unconfirmed)
The April bus trip and June conference have yet to be scheduled.
The Junior Young Friends (7th and 8th graders) will meet at Opequon Quaker Camp on the weekend of October 13-15. Josh Riley will lead a work project, and we will set down our community gathering expectations, as well as get organized for the April conference and Yearly Meeting Session in August.
Young Adult Friends are planning a 2001 New Year's Celebration, and some exciting workshops for the spring. A work project with Pat Kutzner in New Mexico is also in the works for May 2001.
To get on the mailing list for any of these groups, call Michele at the Yearly Meeting Office.
At the 2000 Session of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Patricia Kutzner's status as a Friend Embraced in the Ministry was extended for one year. The extension was proposed by her Oversight Subcommittee of the Indian Affairs Committee, who had met joyfully with Pat's colleagues, the officers and staff of the Torreon/Starlake Chapter, Navajo Nation, and its related development corporation. The presence of these friends from Torreon marked a new opening in the relationship between the Yearly Meeting and the Chapter.
The following is a slightly abbreviated version of Pat Kutzner's report to the Yearly Meeting. "The past twelve months as a Released Friend have been filled to overflowing with memorable events and lessons, and many gifts", she noted. "Among the year's many joys for me, these rank high:
In addition to Miranda, several other visitors brightened this past year and provided volunteer services. Two personal friends from Germany camped for most of June near my casita. From the Yearly Meeting came Frank Massey, Edith Ballard, Peggy Dysenkopp, Jema Mayer and Lee Foster. I very much enjoyed showing them around and introducing them to Navajo friends and colleagues at the Chapter House. In September, I look forward to BYM visitor Mark Young and a friend traveling with him.
There is much to do in the coming year. The Community Jobs Fund needs additional funds to pay the labor that it hires (all financed from outside funds that, so far, I raise). These workers earn an income and get experience; they fix the houses of the specially needy but also can perform additional functions around the Chapter. At the gathering at Yearly Meeting of my Oversight Committee and the Chapter officers, it was agreed that they and the Yearly Meeting would attempt to find means and personnel (volunteer or paid) for more administrative support at the office. This would facilitate continuation of the core Jobs Fund activity, the thrift store and other development programs, while freeing me for grant writing for such purposes as solarization of homes too far from the power grid to get electricity economically. It would permit me to do more training and assistance in planning, as well as nurturing the youth program. And it would give me the time for discernment about what next directions are right for me as I facilitate a growing number of Friends who seem interested in bringing their talents and energy to the mission I have begun. With fresh resolve, I promise myself to seek what my time and energy is needed for most, and to have enough faith to let the rest go. So, I may find in my next report, have I served Torreon's needs the best."
Funds are needed to support Pat in her work and to finance related travel, including that of Torreon colleagues. Contributions may be sent to the Yearly Meeting office, marked "contribution to support Indian Affairs Released Friend."
Because this report is part of the larger presentation related to last week's 20th Triennial Session of Friends World Committee for Consultation, I will attempt to be brief. But because of the role BYM played a few years ago in encouraging Friends United Meeting to continue its participation in the World Council of Churches (WCC), the topic of ecumenical relations is exceedingly relevant to this particular yearly meeting.
Quite some years ago Henry Cadbury, after observing the unconventional approach that Friends take to ecclesiastical matters, noted that "in any ecumenical movement that is willing to include it and it is willing to join, the Society of Friends has a nuisance value quite out of proportion to its size."
To the credit of the ecumenical world, Friends--rather than being seen as a nuisance--have earned an uncommon respect through their participation. Although Canadian Yearly Meeting, Friends General Conference, and Friends United Meeting hold full membership in the WCC, FWCC with its global membership is recognized ecumenically as a "Christian World Communion" with associate member status. Except for being unable to participate in the WCC's decision-making process, many individual Friends outside our member bodies have been actively engaged in the work of the WCC. However, Friends assembled at the FWCC's 18th Triennial Session (1997) held in Birmingham, England, requested that FWCC engage more actively at the organizational level, thus leading to the appointment of a "delegated representative."
At least 18 Friends attended the 8th Assembly of the WCC held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in December 1998. At that time Eden Grace, of New England YM and a member of FUM's General Board, was elected to the Central Committee of the WCC. This appointment of a Friend once again speaks clearly of the respect in which Friends are held--especially when considering the large proportional representation of other denominations.
This particular appointment is not an isolated happenstance, however, for other Friends have served on previous Central Committees, thus influencing the work of the WCC during the seven years between its Assemblies. In 1994 Barbara Bazett, Canadian YM, along with the Church of the Brethren representative, drafted a proposal to establish a program to overcome violence--a proposal that was passed unanimously and led to the establishment of the current Decade to Overcome Violence. Eden Grace has already made her mark: named to a commission charged with proposing a radical restructuring of the WCC, she presented by invitation a paper on Quaker decision-making; the sub-committee united in its recommendation that decision-making by consensus be adopted at all levels of WCC governance as soon as possible. (See the May 2000 Quaker Life, p.5 for details.)
Our dear Friend Isaac Penington held a vision of ecumenical unity: "...It is not the different practice from one another that breaks the peace and unity, but the judging of one another because of different practices.... And here is the true unity, in the Spirit in the inward life, and not in an outward uniformity.... And oh, how sweet and pleasant it is to the truly spiritual eye to see several sorts of believers...every one learning their own lesson, performing their own peculiar service, and knowing, owning, and loving one another in their several places." (1659)
LauraNell Obaugh Morris
As an outgrowth of a series of spiritual healing weekends at Powell House, New York Yearly Meeting's conference center, we are collecting information for a Directory of Quaker Healers. The purpose of this Directory would be to facilitate information sharing and support among Quaker healers. We are also hoping that this will seed opportunities for networking and gatherings.
We are asking that members and attenders of Friends Meetings who are involved in healing and wish to be included in this Directory send the following information to our contact person, Rosalind Zuses (Sandy Spring).
Name; Address; Phone numbers; e-mail; Fax number; and involvement in healing, including modality or type of practice (Healers may be involved in hands-on-healing, traditional or alternative healing practices, meetings for worship for healing, prayer groups, etc.)
Please send to: Rosalind Zuses, 233 Ashton Rd, Ashton, MD 20861; 301/774-3543; Fax: 301/774-2038 <Quakerhealers@yahoo.com>
The re-establishment of Quaker elementary school education in the Northern Virginia area is a leading that was first entrusted to a handful of Friends. With the support of more Quakers within BYM, Northern Virginia Friends School will open in September 2001, serving students in pre-kindergarten through grade two. Our vision is to integrate Quaker testimonies and practices into our curriculum, instruction, and assessment and to emphasize balanced personal growth;seeking to develop both the inward and outward life of each child.
NVFS is a separately incorporated 501(C)3, under the spiritual care of Langley Hill Meeting. Please send your inquiries or tax-deductible contributions to Laurie Wilner, Clerk, 1106 Sugar Maple Lane, Herndon, VA 20170-2337 or call Laurie at 703-406-9539. Check out our website at www.QuakerEd.com.
Because we strive to be good stewards of both our leading and your contributions, we have worked carefully to learn from other Friends schools and to connect with the wider Quaker community. Our board, which began within Langley Hill, has included professional educators, business executives, students, parents, and an accountant. We are reaching out to other meetings and seeking to diversify our board of directors. We have hired a consultant, Georgia Fuller (Alexandria Meeting), who has over twenty years of experience as a group organizer.
We estimate pre-opening costs at $40,000 (for example, site work, staff, curriculum development, furnishings, materials, and computers). Since November 1999, NVFS has raised over $11,000. We have been gifted with several thousand library books. We are involved in an intensive site search, we have drafted job descriptions, and our board meets twice a month, with subcommittee work in between. This is a wonderful start, but it is just a start. Please help give concrete and mortar, desks and chairs to this Quaker vision!
Friends Historical Association Annual Meeting. November 13, 2000 in Philadelphia, PA. Speaker is Nathaniel Frank, NYU and New School for Social Research. Program Title: "A Gentleman's Work is Never Done: Public Service and Private Profit in the Early Republic." For more information or to RSVP, please visit us at www.haverford.edu/library/fha/fha.html Email: <fha@haverford.edu>, Phone: 610/896-1161.
Over 175 Friends from Baltimore Yearly Meeting were among the 1,800 people who recently attended the annual Friends General Conference Gathering which took place July 1-8 in Rochester NY. Friends from 17 yearly meetings in 36 states as well as Canada and several other countries participated. Six Friends from BYM served as leader or co-leader of week-long workshops during the Gathering. Seven other BYM Friends served as members of the Gathering Planning Committee. Twenty-four members of BYM work with FGC as members of Central Committee and its various committees.
The FGC Gathering included over 80 week-long workshops for adults, as well as full programs for the 300+ children and 143 teens. Lectures, concerts, worship opportunities, special exhibits field trips, and social events rounded out the very full program.
In honor of the centennial of Friends General Conference, Professor J. William Frost of Swarthmore College addressed the participants with a talk on the history and future of FGC and its member yearly and monthly meetings.
In 2001 the annual Gathering will be held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA from June 30 to July 7. Bob Fetter of Roanoke Meeting and Karen Stewart of Durham Meeting (NC) will be co-clerks of that Gathering. As "host yearly meeting" there will be many opportunities for interested Friends to help with planning and holding the 2001 Gathering centered around the theme "Stillness: Surrounding, Sustaining, Strengthening." The next planning meeting for that Gathering will be Oct. 13-15th in Chapel Hill, NC.
Friends General Conference is an association of Friends meetings from across North America. Over the past 100 years it has grown from the original seven yearly meetings to fourteen yearly meetings and associations of Friends meetings ranging from Florida to Alaska and from Maine to Texas. FGC, unlike traditional denominational bodies, exerts no doctrinal or administrative authority over its member yearly and monthly meetings.
In addition to holding this annual Gathering, FGC publishes religious education material and devotional literature, available through its bookstore. It also provides grants and low-interest loans for the construction of meeting houses, and encourages and coordinates travel in spiritual service by volunteers. FGC also sponsors regional gatherings and smaller conferences on a variety of themes of interest to Friends.
For further information, contact Trudy Rogers, 301/869-4564 or <jtrogers@erols.com>
CRC-Capital Area (also known as Children's Creative Response to Conflict) is seeking support of the wider Quaker community. We are a small, struggling branch of the national CRC which was founded by New York Quakers in 1972.
Gandhi wrote, "If we are to reach real peace in this world, we shall have to begin with the children." In order to begin well with children, we as adults, as parents or care givers, teachers or counselors need training in creative, nonviolent ways of conflict resolution so that we can model this peaceful way of solving problems. CRC provides this training to both children and adults.
We seek your Meeting's involvement in one or more of the following ways:
Our world, our nation, and our communities suffer from violence. The United Nations, responding to an appeal of Nobel Peace Laureates, has declared the year 2000 to be a year of peace and the first decade of the century to be devoted to developing a culture of peace and nonviolence for the children of the world.
All of us need to continue to develop skills in nonviolent conflict resolution and mediation. Further, we need to insure that all our children receive such training as a part of their education. Although some training has spread throughout the world since it was originated by Quakers, there is still much to be done.
Mattea Cirrincione, high school student mediator, wrote in a prize winning essay, "When I heard about the shootings at Columbine High School ... I ffelt frommy own experience in handling the sensitivities of kids who feel like ooutcasts thatthere had to be some Columbine students who knew how badgered these kids felt before they went over the edge. If there had just been someone who could refer them to a place where they felt safe to vent and be heard out, maybe tragic events wouldn't happen. Sometimes when a person feels distressed and helpless, the difference between a tragic ending and a positive one is simply someone lending an ear."
Sensitive, non-judgmental listening is one of the important skills which CRC programs provide. We look to Friends Meetings for assistance in this work and we thank you for whatever help you may provide.
Ruth Stern and Marjorie Ramphal
WQW announces its new 2000-2001 schedule! A work camp is a great place to join other Friends in a day of service work. (Monthly Meetings can schedule workcamps jointly with other Meetings.) This is also a very positive and spiritual way for high school aged participants to earn community service hours. The workcamps have been shortened to a one night format, and the price has been reduced to $55. (Scholarships are available.)
Wqw 2000-2001 Schedule
| October 13-14 | Southern MD | OPEN |
| November 10-11 | Southern MD | OPEN |
| December 15-16 | Martha's Table | OPEN |
| February 23-24 | Martha's Table | OPEN |
| March 9-10 | Martha's Table | OPEN |
| April 20-21 | Southern MD | FULL |
| May 4-5 | Southern MD | FULL |
| May 18-19 | Southern MD | OPEN |
The work sites offer a variety of workcamp experiences. At Southern Maryland workcampers have the opportunity to take part in building homes for low-income individuals. The work at Martha's Table includes preparing food for hundreds of homeless and poor people who live in Washington, D.C. Both sites offer overnight housing at or near the work place. WQW would also be happy to schedule a special date for your group if none of the above fits your needs. The average group size is around 15 people, including leaders.
WQW has openings for leaders for workcamps. Compensation is available. Leaders need not be experienced in the work, but rather interested in service work.
For more information, or to request a brochure or application, please call Michele Levasseur at the Yearly Meeting Office.
Camping Program Committee Friends feel strongly the loss of Barry Morely's leadership for Inward Bound. The Commmittee has not seen new leadership emerge for the program and feels the need to lay it down. However, if Friends feel a leading to create intergenerational family weekends for Memorial Day (Shiloh) and Labor Day (Cactoctin) in 2001, the camps will be available on those dates and the support of the Committee will be forthcoming. We would also support other adult or intergenerational activities.
Friends expressed a special thanks for all the efforts of volunteers who helped to get camp ready at Opequon during the spring and summer. There is still MUCH left to be done. The greatest expression of gratitude would be for F/friends to turn out in greater numbers next year!
The camps ran well this summer and just as the weather turns cold, we start planning for next summer! Keep checking the BYM website for updates. Please call Josh Riley, Camp Administrator in the BYM office if you have any thoughts, questions or concerns about the camping programs. See the next issue of the Interchange for a complete report from the summer of 2000.
The BYM Camping Program is looking for a Director for it's Teen Adventure Programs. Amy Williamson announced that she is stepping down as director of Teen Adventure. Her (and former co-director Ethan Williamson's) hard work and good leadership have encouraged the continuing development of our wonderful teen program. We are lucky to have had them leading the program.
Interested persons are encouraged to call Josh Riley in the BYM office for more information: 301/774-7663. Letters of interest and resumes may be addressed to the TA Director Search and mailed to Baltimore Yearly Meeting, 17100 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 by November 10, 2000.
This year I plan to start updating the camping program alumni database. I hope to begin publishing a camp newsletter as soon as the addresses are updated/entered.
Births: Brenda Gaskill and Frank Moore and son Austin announce the arrival of twins, Evan and Anna, 8/2/2000.
On September 10, 2000 Alexandria Monthly Meeting held a special called Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business to explore the topic "Who are We as a Meeting". Friends noted the wide diversity, depth, and generous opportunities for spiritual growth in our Meeting. As the Meeting continues to steadily grow we face the challenge of not only space and time but of continuing to strengthen our diversity and depth while maintaining our commitment to our traditional Quaker values.
On each evening of a scheduled executions in Virginia a candlelight vigil is held at the Meeting house.
Births: Born to Julia and Rob Shaw-Fuller 6/25/2000: Nathan Alexander Shaw-Fuller.
Fall's First Day School began in earnest on September 10, when Annapolis Friends celebrated the arrival of several of our children to the plateau of middle school by the presentation of personal Bibles. These Bibles will be used by our children during First Day School for study, personal enrichment and contemplation, and will be the basis for our study this fall of the Old Testament.
On September 23, Marge Larrabee will join us to facilitate a Saturday workshop on "Spiritual Friends". The morning session will be a general discussion, and during the afternoon, those who wish to participate will remain to form spiritual friendship groups.
Worship Sharing on September 24, will be on "Converting Faith into Service in our Community".
On October 29, we will hold our Children Welcoming during the last half of Meeting for Worship.
After Meeting for Worship on October 29, Marilyn Gilmore will present the first of two workshops on Personality and Spiritualism, exploring personality types as defined by the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Index. The second presentation will be at 9:30 on Nov. 12.
September started off with Meeting and community activities at the Meeting House almost every day and evening for the month. It was a pleasure to have three Friends from Gunpowder Meeting join is for the annual fall session of the Clerk's workshop. A Coming Home Day of special activities with individual invitations to members living at a distance was a wonderful time of joyful reunions with many who have been absent. One Friend came from Michigan.
At this writing we look forward to the annual camping weekend at Catoctin when over eighty plan to gather for fellowship and spiritual refreshment. The Meeting also looks forward to hosting Yearly Meeting Day on October 28. The IInquirers'Series is scheduled for First Day Forums this fall. A Meeting dinner, given in appreciation for the Trustees' service to Friends School of Baltimore, is on the calendar. On Thanksgiving Day Homewood and Stony Run Meeting will have their traditional joint Meeting for Worship at 10:00 a.m., this year at Stony Run.
Births: Emily Louisa Reed, 5/25/2000 to Michael Reed & Deb Baer; Aaron James Brick, 2/14/2000 to Kenneth & Juile Brick; (triplets) Amanda Mauren, Gabrielle Marie, & Kayla Dellie Bonner, 7/7/2000 to Strictland & Kim Bonner
Deaths: Katherine Witby, 1998
Marriages & Ceremonies of Commitment: Charles Gardner Mallone, III to Lisa Louise Janke, 7/3/2000
Births/Adoptions: William Bernard Capon, 5/24/2000 to Ross & Louise Capon
Deaths: Tomoko Flavin, 7/28/2000
Marriages/Ceremonies of Commitment: Carleton Ingram & Kate Scorza on 6/24/2000
This year we have lost two special members of our Meeting. Lee Strait died suddenly this winter, and Gerri Moss died of cancer this summer. Both Lee and Gerri were strong spiritual centers in our worship. They were also fun and had good senses of humor. We miss them both, and our meeting is lessened by their absence.
There has also been celebration of life. Dorsey Crocker has joined our midst and three other babies will join us before the end of the year. We are now getting back into the fall routine after a number of us attended the Gathering, Yearly Meeting and Quaker camps both as participants and workshop leaders/counselors. The children will be working with the theme of the death penalty this year in historical, spiritual and social contexts. The adults will be invited to join in by participating in a series of potluck/study evenings.
Births: Dorsey Crocker, 5/22/2000 to Kelly Ceppa & Bevan Crocker
Deaths: Maurice Lee Strait, 1/26/2000; Geraldine (Gerry) G. Moss, 8/20/2000
In May, several ladies traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Million Mom March for sensible gun control laws. We have deep concerns about the prevalence of gun violence in our society.
"Putting Peace in Our Daily Lives" was the program for Deer Creek Conference Day held in June. In the morning, Carol Ann Baker spoke very effectively on "Finding Peace". In the afternoon, four students from North Harford High School discussed "Peacemaking from the Student's Perspective". These young people discussed activities in which they have participated. They are obviously role models for their peers.
A spring barn dance, a bake table at the Darlington Herb Festival, and the 3rd annual Blueberry Festival were successful fundraisers for our building addition. These activities were exemplary teamwork and community fellowship.
The children's summer First Day School program opened with children and adults joined for a brief Meeting for Worship. During that period, a hymn was sung and a children's Bible story and query were read. Adults continued worship while the children went to their classes for activities related to the story. Volunteers taught the children.
September 10th was "Homecoming" at Deer Creek when the regular First Day School schedule resumed. Invitations were sent to previous guests. A picnic lunch followed Meeting for Worship. We were pleased to welcome everyone, especially the many children.
Deaths: Frederick Dewey Bennett, 5/13/2000; Johns W. Hopkins, 7/20/2000.
Members, young and old, have been enjoying our "Fifth Sunday" Intergenerational Programs 'n' Potlucks. Susan Williams plans the activities which all ages do with great enthusiasm. Our annual Breakfast Meeting at Shawnee State Park was held September 10. A foggy, but beautiful morning for the men to cook and the rest of us to enjoy.
Marriage/Ceremonies of Commitment: Amy Miller & Chris Scinta, 6/16/2000. Amy is the daughter of Don and Lynda Miller and the granddaughter of Bob and BetteLu Miller.
Death: Helen Davidson, 8/20/2000.
The Gettysburg Friends Meeting is planning an "Open House" for October 29th after Meeting for Worship at 10:30 a.m. in Glatfelter Lodge on the campus of Gettysburg College.
Last year a Friend had a child in the fourth grade. During the course of study about Pennsylvania history, Quaker history was discussed. In an effort to address this issue, the idea for the "Open House" evolved. It was hoped that by offering an opportunity to enrich the knowledge, on the part of teachers, it would enhance the presentation to the children.
Lamar Matthew, Clerk of the Yearly Meeting, will lead the discussion about Quakerism. Friends from other Meetings would be welcome to help us learn about their Meetings. The "history" of Gettysburg Meeting is relatively short compared to others in Baltimore Yearly Meeting. We welcome all suggestions. We are currently collecting handouts to offer.
A potluck lunch will be available. We can offer hospitality to anyone interested in spending the weekend in beautiful Adams County. Please call 717/642-6939 or email <mmgemmill@netrax.net for more information.
Goose Creek Friends have found themselves this year in a difficult and sometimes painful consideration of Yearly Meeting's minute regarding same-gender marriages. The issue has highlighted the diversity of opinion in the Meeting and has sparked an intense examination of who we are as Quakers and who we are as a Meeting.
But even as we have struggled with this question, there has been a growing realization that being faced with a difficult issue is having many positive results. We are learning to value the refining fire of Quaker procedure, and are stepping forward in faith, believing that with time our shared Inner Light will show us the way. We are also experiencing a deepening in our Meetings for Worship and a determination to embrace with love all in our worship community, regardless of where they stand on the issue.
To facilitate our discussion of the minute, Goose Creek is holding a series of discussions on Quaker approaches to the Bible. Each month, writings about the Bible by a prominent Quaker will be presented. The first four sessions are as follows: September 24th - George Fox; October 22nd - William Penn; November 12th - Robert Barclay; and January 14th - John Woolman. Each session starts at rise of meeting at 11 a.m. All are welcome.
Deaths: Harry Joseph Patton, 7/6/2000
We are now into our second year as a single Meeting, following the merger of Hopewell and Winchester Centre Monthly Meetings last year. We are finding ways to blend the heritage of the these two Meetings into a unified spiritual community.
This summer our Meetings for Worship were enriched by visiting young Friends from the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Quaker Arts Camp at nearby Camp Opequon.
Deaths: Arnold Barnes Vaught, 2/6/2000; George Sheetz, 3/12/2000.
Birth: Audrey Virginia Schwenke to Christine Lukas & Stephen Schwenke in 3/2000
Marriage/Ceremonies: Neil Anderson & Phoebe Biers Collier, 6/1999
Adult First Day programs have included Mark Young's exposition on the Bible, Ann Beauchamp's very moving spiritual journey, and George Amoss's continuing discussion of Buddhism.
Our community concerts this summer, one Bluegrass music, one of "easy listening" not only entertained us, but reached out to the community as well.
Quaker Quilters continue to ply their needles on Saturday afternoons. We make quilts for newborns, brides and others. Fortunately the demand is keeping up with, and surpassing, the supply!
The school committee meets on Monday evenings to discuss and plan for the establishing of a Friends Middle School in Harford County.
Jan Barbour, chairperson of the library committee, has generously given of her time this summer to work on further organizing the library. The library has provided information for the use of Rochelle, a Fallston historical home on the Cancer Society's annual house tour.
Virginia Remsberg attended the FGC Conference on religious education held at Massanetta Springs, August 17-20.
Thanks to Darcy and Mark Young, Little Falls was able to donate a video camera to the Torreon/Starlake Chapter of the Navajo nation.
Patapsco Preparative Meeting plans to hold its second annual retreat on September 29 and 30. The theme will be "Exploring Devotion: New Ways to Deepen our Spiritual Experience". All are welcome to attend. We continue to be amazed at the gaggle of energetic young children who attend each First Day. We will be holding a threshing session this fall on the best way to have children join in meeting for worship. We will have another threshing session on the possibility of buying or leasing our own building.
Patuxent Friends cosponsored the Spirit of Waters Festival at Piney Point State Park on 16 September. Participants at the historic site enjoyed a spectacular fall day on the Potomac River. In addition to a beautiful program of multi-cultural prayer, stories and music, activities included informative displays on many environmental concerns. Many people enjoyed walking a labyrinth to the stirring beat of Native American drumming. Friend Sara Ebenreck was instrumental in the leadership of this event, which was hosted by the Interfaith Coalition for the Environment in St. Mary's County.
Ministry and Counsel members worked cooperatively with the Religious Education Committee over the summer to discuss new directions for our First Day School program. The results have been gratifying. We have established the beginnings of a new syllabus, and we are scheduling pairs of Friends for month-long periods to ensure continuity of approach. Our initial sessions have included discussion of Bible stories and hands on activities focused upon bringing points of discussion into the context of modern day life.
Patuxent Friends are still striving to expand the visibility of our presence in the Southern Maryland area. We recently received approval of our new articles of incorporation. This confirms our legal entity and completes a major milestone in our plan to accept ownership and stewardship of the historic Hughesville Quaker Cemetery from Adelphi Monthly Meeting.
Autumn brings its usual round of activities and new beginnings. Our 2000-01 Religious Education program was launched on the second First Day in September. The roll includes about 75 children, almost half of whom are Young Friends. We plan a general focus this year on Quaker queries, but that topic will be taken in many different directions by various classes.
Friendly Eights, small groups of eight individuals who meet regularly on a subject of common interest, are also getting underway. Topics may range from birding to cooking to study of a particular book. The goal is to create community and deeper friendships through intimate gatherings.
The fall retreat will be October 14 at the Clearing. Professor Carson Brisson of Union Theological Seminary will be the facilitator, speaking generally about the many varied ways Christ has been perceived and his messages interpreted over the centuries.
For many years, crowding and space needs - particularly as they relate to our multipurpose building - has been a topic of interest and concern at RFM. Several studies and surveys have culminated this summer with the retaining of an architect who has been working with both the larger Meeting and a smaller planning group on renovation options. That work is continuing.
Roanoke Friends have begun a discussion series on Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today, by Elizabeth J. Canham.
Edwin Stephenson, who served in Civilian Public Service during World War II and in the post war effort to rebuild France and Poland, has been invited to speak at Roanoke College through the efforts of our member Mike Heller. Roanoke Friends have coordinated events with Valley Monthly Meeting and Lynchburg Indulged Meeting (under the care of Roanoke Monthly Meeting) as well as a pot luck in Roanoke for area meetings.
Two spring retreats enriched the Meeting. In April, the Religious Education Committee held a retreat to consider the First Day School Program. The retreat drew attendance from Religious Educations Committee members, teachers, parents and other interested members of the Meeting. It was a time to step back from the usual busyness of religious education activities in order to consider larger goals. In a worshipful spirit, Friends raised questions and shared stories and ideas. In May, a men's retreat encouraged participants to listen to their bodies. The men shared spiritual journeys and sampled various spiritual practices including qugong spiritual healing and a spiritual practice from ancient Mayan culture.
Our Meeting community was shocked by the sudden death of Barry Morley on August 11. In the weeks that followed, we found comfort for our mutual grief in gathered Meetings for Worship. We feel Barry's continuing presence in the many ways that God worked through him to speak to us. More than 500 people attended his memorial service on September 2.
Deaths: Ann Cope, 5/1/2000; Elizabeth Fautz, 8/1/2000; Barry Morley, 8/11/2000; Pauline Stabler, 4/10/2000
Marriages/Ceremonies of Commitment: Jeanne Snyder & Larry Strong, 6/3/2000; Michele Clark & Ziyad Hopkins, 7/29/2000
On May 13, Friends and other well wishers joined at Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church for the marriage of our member, Erin Tabscott to Gregg Staebell. The marriage was accomplished in good order according to the guidelines of the Faith and Practice of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Overseers were Sam and Bev Moore and Samuel and Margaret Johnson.
Rose Flory, longtime and valued attender was received into membership during the May Meeting for Business.
Friends are saddened by the death of Floyd Arnold on July 8. A member of Goldsboro Monthly Meeting, he has been an involved sojourner since 1988.
An awards presentation honoring those who had attained certain educational goals was held on May 28.
Two open houses were held in June. On June 4 we acquainted the community with our newly acquired building and on June 21 we thanked Friends who had helped us to purchase it.
Second hour programs have been suspended for the summer months. There is no scheduled First Day School study but other activities have involved our children and youth.
Harrisonburg Friends Meeting has changed their name to Valley Friends Meeting. A change of name was felt to be in order since we were no longer located in Harrisonburg. We followed the process used by Strawberry Creek Meeting Nominating Committee as reported in a recent Friends Journal article. This is truly a valuable tool for Friends.
Marriages/Ceremonies of Commitment: Erin Tabscott and Gregg Staebell, 5/13/2000.
Deaths: Floyd Arnold, 7/8/2000; Stanley Schiffer, 9/11/2000.
Meeting members with mental health training have organized a "Training for Trainers" for representatives of all committees in the Meeting on "A Friendly Response to the Emotionally and Mentally Challenged." The session, facilitated by Dr. Christine Wiley and Dr. Ellen Cronin, addresses applying Friends' beliefs and principles to our treatment of visitors, attenders and members who suffer from disorders of thought or mood. Those who have received the training are to return to their respective committees and instruct the membership of the committee in what they have learned.
The Meeting sent a letter to the United States Attorney General objecting to her decision to seek the death penalty in three cases to be tried in the District of Columbia on two grounds: (1) taking a life is abhorrent and absolutely contrary to God's wish and (2) the Attorney General's action is contrary to the will of the citizens of the District of Columbia--expressed emphatically through referendum--that there be no death penalty in the District.
The July-August edition for the FMW Newsletter broke with a 43-year tradition by displaying a new view of the Meeting House on the front page. The old image in the upper left corner of the front page of Meeting House as seen from the corner of Decatur Place and Florida Avenue was replaced with a new image of both the Meeting House and Quaker House as seen along Decatur Place. The new image was drawn by attender Mary Belcher and runs across the entire top of the front page. Quaker House, having been part of FMW for 30 years and having housed Sunday child care and worship for the last 15 or so years, the Newsletter Editor decided to boldly show what had not been shown before.
Death: Sara Pettit Cory, 9/12/2000
Marriages/Ceremonies of Commitment: Albert John Hartley & Lucy Bradbury "Brady" Lee on 5/27/2000; Stephen Hugh Longmire & Kelley Robben Tucker on 9/9/2000
Lib Porter, a long time member of Williamsburg Monthly Meeting, will be relocating from Hampton, Virginia to Foulkeways, Pennsylvania on October 18th. Lib will be joining this retirement community which will be placing her in close proximity to friends and family. Williamsburg Monthly Meeting will miss her.
Marriage: On September 3, 2000, Ann Anderson Williams and Daniel Edward Duncan were married under the care of the Williamsburg Monthly Meeting . The marriage occurred at the ARE Camp at Rural Retreat, Virginia.
CALENDAR OF EVENTSOctober
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Baltimore Yearly Meeting
17100 Quaker Lane
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
Baltimore, Stony Run Friends will provide hospitality Friday and/or Saturday night and lunch and dinner on Saturday. Coffee and cider will be available Saturday morning. It is important that you let the host know if you plan to attend so that overnight accommodations and meals can be arranged! Please return forms by October 18th to Baltimore Stony Run Meeting. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR CHILD CARE AND HOSPITALITY
| Committees Scheduled to Meet: | ||
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Advancement and Outreach Indian Affairs Camping Program Criminal and Restorative Justice Nominating (closed) Nurture and Recognition of Ministry Peace and Social Concerns Records Right Sharing of World Resources |
Search (closed) Stewardship & Finance Trustee Unity with Nature Youth Programs Ad Hoc Committee on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns Web Publishing Subcommittee |
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SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
9:30 Coffee & Rolls
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Committees meet
12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Committees meet
3:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Representative Meeting
Childcare is available during business meeting and committee meetings if requested in advance.
FIRST DAY SCHEDULE
Baltimore, Stony Run Friends Meeting
| 9:30 a.m. | Meeting for Worship (scent free*) | |
| 11:00 a.m. | Meeting for Worship | |
| 11:00 a.m. | First Day School | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Annual Halloween lunch/party at Friends' Burial Ground (or Meeting House if inclement weather). All are invited |
(*We ask people not to wear perfumes, scented hair spray, etc. as there are those who are sensitive and/or allergic to strong scents.)
DIRECTIONS TO THE BALTIMORE, STONY RUN FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE
FOR FALL YEARLY MEETING
Beltway (I695) Exit 25 South for Charles Street. The Meeting House is located 4.3 miles south of I695 Charles Street exit, on the right side of Charles Street, immediately after Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (south of Northern Parkway).