Minutes of Baltimore Yearly Meeting

Interim Meeting

Third Month 23, 2002

Richmond Monthly Meeting

I2002-04 Opening: Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Interim Meeting gathered on 3/23/2002 at the Richmond Meeting House in Richmond, Virginia. 83 people from 28 Meetings signed in:

Adelphi: Ruth Flower (Takoma Park), Martha Gay, Arthur David Olson (Takoma Park), Jane Stowe; Alexandria: John Mason; Annapolis: Tricia Robinson; Baltimore, Homewood: Edith Ballard, Miriam Green; Baltimore, Stony Run: J. Michael Boardman, Ronald E. Mattson, Harry S. Scott, Jr., Marjorie F. Scott; Bethesda: Marion Ballard, Lee N. Foster, Edward Hawkins, Liz Hofmeister; Blacksburg: Jim Shotts; Carlisle: Stephen Davidson; Charlottesville: Gladys H. Swift, Aron Teel; Deer Creek: Betsy Wollaston; Frederick: John Darnell; Gettysburg: Margaret Stambaugh; Goose Creek: Janney Wilson; Herndon: Bonnie Stockslager; Hopewell Centre: Laura Nell Obaugh; Langley Hill: Sheila N. Bach, Steven Elkinton, Tom Fox, Claudia Weir, Laurie Wilner; Little Britain: Linda Coates (Eastland); Maury River: Peggy Dyson-Cobb, Kathy Fox, Philip Hyre, Katherine Smith, Dave Walsh; Nottingham: James Matsen, Ronald E. Stroud; Patuxent: H. Joseph Miller; Pipe Creek: C. J. Swet, Emily Swet; Richmond: Jean Jones Andersen, Scott Haugh, David Hines, Ron Lee; Roanoke: Bob Fetter, Susie Fetter; Sandy Spring: Florence Fullerton, Howard Fullerton, Betty Hutchinson, Joan Liversidge, Frank Massey, Trudy Rogers (Seneca Valley); Valley: Steve Keffer, Beverly B. Moore, Samuel P. Moore, Jeanne Tabscott (Augusta); Warwickshire: Felix Wedgwood-Oppenheim; Washington: Dick Bellin, Maurice Boyd, David Etheridge, Joseph A. Izzo, Susan Lepper, Carol Phelps, Riley Robinson, Ann Wilcox; York: Lamar Matthew, Ed Norton, Fran Norton.

I2002-05 Stewardship and Finance: Marion Ballard, Clerk of Stewardship and Finance, reported. At the committee’s recommendation, we APPROVED one-time use of the Yearly Meeting mailing list by Friends House for a mailing regarding its $2.5 million capital campaign.

I2002-06 Search Committee: Liz Hofmeister, Clerk of Interim Meeting’s Search Committee, reported. At the Committee’s recommendation, we FORWARDED to our upcoming Annual Session the following nominations: Lamar Matthew, Yearly Meeting Presiding Clerk for two additional years; Ron Mattson, Recording Clerk of Yearly Meeting for one additional year; Kevin Caughlin, Treasurer for two years beginning 1/1/2003; and Meg Meyer and Gretchen Hall, Supervisory Committee, for two years.

I2002-07 Indian Affairs: Flossie Fullerton, Clerk of Indian Affairs Committee, reported. The Support and Oversight Subcommittees for the work of Pat Kutzner with the people of the Torreon/Star Lake Chapter have been meeting and functioning well, as has a working group for camping exchanges with Torreon/Star Lake. The Torreon/Star Lake thrift store has been incorporated.

I2002-08 Friends World Committee for Consultation: Flossie Fullerton reported on Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). The next Triennial is to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2004; up to four people are needed to serve as Baltimore Yearly Meeting representatives to the Triennial. Flossie reported that Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s Mary Lord gave the keynote address at last week’s FWCC annual meeting.

I2002-09 Epistle: Bob Fetter, Clerk of Epistle Committee, reported. Bob read a draft epistle for the Friends United Meeting 2002 Triennial in Nairobi, Kenya. We heard a recommendation that a reference to Washington, DC, be changed to Arlington, Virginia. With this correction, we APPROVED sending the epistle to Friends United Meeting.

I2002-10 Manual of Procedure: Trudy Rogers, Clerk of Manual of Procedure Committee, reported. Trudy handed out copies of proposed changes to the Manual of Procedure:

Key: Underline = Addition

Strikeout = Removed

INTERIM MEETING

All members of Baltimore Yearly Meeting are members of Interim Meeting and are welcome to attend its meetings. Interim Meeting acts for the Yearly Meeting in the intervals between its sessions. It meets at least three times a year and on call as necessary.

In order to assure wide participation in Interim Meeting, each Monthly Meeting in the Yearly Meeting is requested to appoint one person attend Interim Meetings. Ordinarily, no person should serve consecutively as Monthly Meeting appointee for more than six years.

Interim Meeting is composed of:

1. one person appointed by the Monthly Meeting for each 100 members or fraction thereof, from each Monthly Meeting in the Yearly Meeting, to a maximum of three. Ordinarily, no person should serve consecutively as Monthly Meeting appointee for more than six years.

Others expected to participate in Interim Meeting are:

1. the officers of the Yearly Meeting: the Presiding Clerk, the retiring Presiding Clerk (for one year following retirement), the Recording Clerk, the Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurer. The Presiding Clerk of Yearly Meeting serves as an alternate to the Clerk of Interim Meeting and the Recording Clerk of Yearly Meeting serves as an alternate to the Recording Clerk of Interim Meeting.

2. the Clerk and the Recording Clerk of Interim Meeting.

3. the clerks selected by each of the standing administrative and functional committees of the Yearly   Meeting and the Clerks of Baltimore Yearly Meeting Young Friends Executive Committee and Young Adult Friends.

    4.    Friends selected to serve on the Search Committee of Interim Meeting and on the Supervisory     Committee.

Indian Affairs Committee

The Indian Affairs Committee consists of approximately 12 members nominated by the Nominating Committee and appointed by the Yearly Meeting.

In 1795 Quakers in the northern Shenandoah Valley, following the model established by William Penn in Pennsylvania, set up a fund to pay American Indians for lands Quakers had settled. Unable to locate survivors of the natives who had previously lived in the valley, these Friends set aside the monies for assistance of American Indians under the care of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Since that time the Indian Affairs Committee has distributed the interest income from this endowment to organizations which assist and advocate for Native Americans.

This Committee also stimulates interest in and activity for the concerning American Indians,. It cooperates with other Yearly Meetings and other Friends’ organizations in projects for the benefit of American Indians, and. It concerns itself with pending legislation on the national and local, regional and national levels involving Native American issues.

The ongoing work of the Indian Affairs Committee is inspired by its history. In 1795 Quakers in the northern Shenandoah Valley, following the model established by William Penn in Pennsylvania, set up a fund to pay American Indians for lands Quakers had settled. Unable to locate survivors of the natives, Friends over time have designated the interest income from this endowment to organizations which assist and advocate for American Indians.

This Committee recommends to the Nominating Committee each year one person for appointment by the Yearly Meeting to serve as the Yearly Meeting’s representative to the Associated Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs.

YOUTH PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

The Youth Programs Committee consists of eight to ten adults nominated by the Nominating Committee and appointed by Yearly Meeting and a two Young Friends appointed by Young Friends Conference Business Meeting, the Young Friends Conference Clerks and the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planners. The adult Co-clerks and the youth Co-clerks of the Young Friends Conference Subcommittee, the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planning Subcommittee, Young Quakes United Subcommittee, and of the regional youth oversight committees serve on this Committee. The regional youth coordinators, the Yearly Meeting YouthQuake representative, and the Associate Youth Secretary are also ex officio members. of the Youth Programs Committee.

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

1. Recruit, in conjunction with the Young Friends, 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. Review and revise as needed the health and safety standards for Baltimore Yearly Meeting youth events and procedures for dealing with physical, verbal and sexual abuse or harassment which have been brought to the Young Friends Executive Committee or the Youth Programs Committee. Revisions will be approved by a Young Friends Conference Business Meeting.

By providing retreats, workshops, and consultation, the Youth Programs Committee facilitates the training, nurturing, and support of adults who work with the junior high/middle school and high school youth of Baltimore Yearly Meeting,

The Committee meets twice a year or as necessary The bulk of its work is done through the Young Friends Conference Subcommittee, the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planning Subcommittee, the Young Quakes United Planning Subcommittee, the Regional Youth Programs Over sight Subcommittee, and other subcommittees as deemed necessary.

The Youth Programs Committee appoints a Baltimore Yearly Meeting high school youth as a representative to the Fund for Conscience Subcommittee of the Peace and Social Concerns Committee. The adult and youth Co-clerks of the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planning Subcommittee The Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planners serve on the Program Committee.

The Youth Programs Committee names an adult representative to serve on the Coordinating Council for Youth Programs. One adult representative to serve on the Coordinating Council for Youth Programs is also named by each of the following: Young Friends Conference Subcommittee, the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planning Subcommittee, and the Young Quakes United Planning Subcommittee.

Every three years, according to the YouthQuake 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 and works under the care of the Young Friends Conference Subcommittee to facilitate conferences. To encourage youth to participate actively in the affairs of Yearly Meeting, the Young Friends Executive Committee Clerk is a member of Representative Interim Meeting. Details of the procedures of the Young Friends Executive Committee and Young Friends Conferences can be found in the Young Friends Handbook, available from Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE (p. 34)

The Program Committee consists of nine persons nominated by the Nominating Committee and appointed by the Yearly Meeting, plus the following, ex officio: the Presiding Clerk of the Yearly Meeting, the Clerk of Ministry and Counsel Committee, the General Secretary and Associate Youth Secretary of the Yearly Meeting, the adult and youth Co-clerks of the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planning Subcommittee the Young Friends Yearly Meeting Program Planners, the clerk of Junior Yearly Meeting staff, and a registrar appointed by the Committee.

We FORWARDED to our upcoming Annual Session the Committee’s proposed changes regarding Interim Meeting. We DEFERRED consideration of the Committee’s other proposed changes until our 6/2002 Interim Meeting.

I2002-11 Nominating Committee: Ruth Flower, Co-Clerk of Nominating Committee, reported. We ACCEPTED the resignation of Jake Plant from Camp Property Management. At a second reading, we APPROVED the following people to serve in the indicated positions through 2004: Jennifer Morris, Advancement and Outreach; Mike Alemar, Camp Property Management; and Susie Fetter, Epistle. We NAMED Diane Younkins to serve on the Friends House Board of Trustees.

I2002-12 Task Group on Committee and Staff Structure: Howard Fullerton reported on behalf of the Task Group on Committee and Staff Structure. Howard handed out a report:

The review of committee structure at Fall Yearly Meeting Day did not result in strong support for grand consolidation of committees envisioned by the Task Group. However, there was some support for merging or changing some functions. As the Task Group looked at committees, it found five that generally met only once a year. We recommend that those committee functions now or in the future be handled differently.

Worship and Ministry: It is time for the Ministry and Counsel Committee and the Committee for the Nurture and Recognition of Ministry to combine. After a transition period, the new Committee would have nine members. However, we have asked other committees in the Worship and Ministry cluster if they would like to join this committee.

We have recommendations for six other committees.

Committee on Records: We recommend that this Committee be replaced by an Archivist with the technical skills to provide guidance to the Yearly Meeting officers and staff and to Monthly Meeting recorders.

Three fund-distributing committees:

Educational Funding Resources Committee: This Committee dispenses loans for secondary and post-secondary education. It is the responsibility of the Trustees to oversee the collection of the loans. We believe that the Trustees can disperse the funds. We recommend that they be given the flexibility to establish an ad hoc committee to help them if they deem this necessary.

Ethel Reynolds Fund Committee: This Committee dispenses grants from the income, and could from the principle [sic] of a bequest of Ethel Reynolds. This function could be handled by the Trustees, with an advisory committee if they deem this necessary.

Sue Thomas Turner Quaker Education Fund: The Committee dispenses grants from the Sue Thomas Turner Fund to support the understanding and practice of Quaker faith in schools and to support the growth of a life lived in the Spirit by members of the school communities. The process under which this Committee was established provides that a specific member of the Turner family convene the Committee until that person is unable or unwilling to continue. It is not appropriate for the Yearly Meeting ask that this arrangement be changed.

Publications Committee: This Committee previously was called the Proceedings Editing Committee. It gathered annually to copy-edit what is now the BYM Yearbook. It has copy-edited the Advance Reports in some years, without gathering as a Committee. With the Web Publishing Subcommittee, there has been some ongoing review, but the Committee rarely meets more than once a year. This year has been an exception. We propose that this be made an ad hoc committee, gathered by the General Secretary. Those who do editing for the Yearbook or other BYM publications should be recognized in the Yearbook.

Epistle Committee: This Committee has rarely met during the year, it generally gathers at Yearly Meeting Sessions. Often it has been augmented at Yearly Meeting because some members cannot attend. We recommend that this become an ad hoc committee, nominated by the Presiding Clerk.

The Clerk of Trustees reported that at present the Trustees are not enthusiastic about overseeing Educational Funding and the Ethel Reynolds Fund. The Clerk of Ministry and Oversight reported that the Committee is comfortable with a merger with Nurture and Recognition of Ministry; the Committee believes that the appropriate size for the new Committee is nine to twelve members. Howard noted the Task Group’s sense that the proposed Archivist would be a paid, part-time position. We heard a suggestion that we might have one fund-distributing Committee handling three funds (rather than three handling one each as at present). We DEFERRED further consideration of the Task Group’s work until a future Interim Meeting, at which time the Task Group may bring forward revised recommendations.

I2002-13 Religious Education: Chuck Fager, Clerk of Religious Education Committee, reported. The Committee has just published an issue of its Quaking Post newsletter and has planned activities for our upcoming Annual Session. The Committee is focusing its efforts on activities at Quaker gatherings.

I2002-14 Peace and Social Concerns: Betty Hutchinson, Co-Clerk of Peace and Social Concerns Committee, reported. The Committee is holding a networking day on 5/11/2002 at Friends Meeting of Washington from about 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Committee is considering proposed activities for our upcoming Annual Session. Betty reported that two peace delegations to Iraq are being assembled; Betty invited those interested in participating to contact her for information.

I2002-15 Faith and Practice: Howard Fullerton, Clerk of Publications Committee, reported. At the Yearly Meeting’s direction, the Publications Committee has prepared proposed changes to the Faith and Practice section on "Marriage Under the Care of the Meeting"; Howard handed out copies of these changes:

F MARRIAGE UNDER THE CARE OF THE MONTHLY MEETING

1 Questions to Be Considered by The Couple Before Application to The Monthly Meeting For Marriage Under Its Care

The covenant of marriage is solemn in its obligation and fundamental in its social significance. Therefore, the couple considering marriage under the care of a Friends’ Meeting should discuss honestly and frankly with each other the duties and responsibilities assumed in marriage and in establishing a home. Questions such as the following may be helpful:

1. Have we considered the traditional roles of husband and wife, our attitudes toward them and toward modern variations, and are we aware that one can impose a role expectation on another without being aware of it?

2. Do we know each other’s habits, likes and dislikes? Are we ready to make adjustments in our personal living to meet, with kindness and understanding, areas of possible conflict?

3. Do we have the willingness to listen to each other and to seek openness of communication?

4. Have we explored our attitudes and vision for family life including:

1. Our attitudes toward sexuality?

2. Whether we want children, and if so, how many?

3. How we might jointly plan and take responsibility for our family’s growth in size?

4. Whether we might consider adoption or foster care?

5. Our ideas about the sharing of family responsibilities?

6. The availability of family, Meeting and community support?

7. How our family might reflect Friends’ testimony of simplicity and concerns for the environment and world population?

5. Do we understand and have sympathy for, if not harmony with, one another’s religious convictions?
6. How do we feel about each other’s economic and cultural background? How do we react to each other’s parents, friends, and relatives? Have we discussed continuing close friendships with members of the opposite sex following marriage?
7. Do we share each other’s attitudes on earning, spending and saving money, and the handling of finances?
8. Do we share interests which we can enjoy together? Do we respect each other’s individual interests?
9. Have we considered together how we will work to reconcile inevitable differences? Are we willing to make a strong commitment to permanence in our marriage?
10. Are we secure in the knowledge of the guidance of God in our lives and in our plans to establish a home?
11. Do we know each other well enough to have considered all of the above questions frankly and openly? If not, should we wait—six months, a year—before proceeding with marriage?

When the couple has seriously considered the above questions and others arising from them, they may agree to ask the Monthly Meeting to have oversight of their marriage. The following additional questions should be considered in planning that step:

12. Why are we asking the approval and oversight of the Meeting? Are we aware that oversight of our marriage by the Meeting involves a continuing concern for our life together and the values established in our home? Will we welcome the continuing concern of the Meeting?
13. How significant to us are the promises made in the presence of God and of our family and friends as stated during the meeting for marriage?

Section 2. Duties of Friends Appointed to Determine Clearness For Marriage

1. To give them [the couple] detailed information concerning the procedures of a Quaker wedding. This should include:

1 discussion of the marriage certificate, its purpose, wording and procurement (see following Sections 4 and 5); and

2 discussion of the wording of the vows they will exchange, presenting the customary wording:

The Committee believes this wording is not prescriptive; the emphasis of the committee should be on "Divine assistance" not "husband/wife." If "wifelhusband" is not appropriate, the clearness committee and the couple should follow the procedure described in Section 5. The Publications Committee does not recommend any change in wording for this section. It would be wise for Ministry and Counsel to maintain a list of alternative words; at some point we may want to add such additional words to this section and to Section 4.

Section 4. The Form of The Marriage Certificate

The form of the certificate shall be substantially as follows the traditional form:

Section 5. Procurement of The Marriage Certificate

2^nd paragraph:

A couple wishing a certificate with different wording from the standard form contained in this appendix should make this known as early as possible to the clearness committee or committee of oversight. If this committee feels the changes are substantive, they should be brought to the attention of the appropriate standing committee of the Monthly Meeting for approval.

We heard a suggestion that a section regarding "continuing close friendships" should reference fidelity and that it might reference only "close friendships" rather than "continuing close friendships." Howard asked that Friends with concerns and suggestions write to the Publications Committee; the Committee is to report again on this matter at a future Interim Meeting. We DIRECTED the Clerk of Publications Committee to send the proposed changes to Monthly Meetings along with a request for their insights. We RECOMMENDED to our upcoming Annual Session that it consider filling Faith and Practice Revision Committee, with the Committee to consider revisions to the document.

I2002-16 Equal Rites Conference: Aron Teel announced a "Quaker Conference on Marriage and Same-Sex Couples" to be held in Charlottesville, Virginia on 4/20/2002.

I2002-17 Travel Minute: The Presiding Clerk noted that she had prepared a travel minute for Laura Nell Obaugh and Felix Wedgwood-Oppenheim. We APPROVED giving the minute to Laura Nell and Felix.

I2002-18 Presiding Clerk of Yearly Meeting: Lamar Matthew, Presiding Clerk of Yearly Meeting, reported. Lamar asked that Committees with business for our upcoming Annual Session notify him by 7/1/2002, and that advance reports be at the Yearly Meeting Office by 5/17/2002.

I2002-19 Peace Testimony: Ed Norton reported that only six responses had been received from Monthly Meetings asked to consider revisiting our peace testimony. Ed asked those present to nudge their Monthly Meetings.

I2002-20 Friends United Meeting: Howard Fullerton reported on behalf of Friends United Meeting (FUM). Dennis Mills is now FUM’s Director of World Ministries; Patrick Nugent now heads the Friends’ Bible College; and there is a new person handling finances. Howard reported that FUM has developed a prototype discipline for 14 East African Yearly Meetings; six of these Yearly Meetings are to become members of FUM if they unite on disciplines based on the prototype. Howard noted that FUM’s most recent audit was a clean audit.

I2002-21 Friends General Conference: Bob Fetter reported on behalf of Friends General Conference (FGC). FGC’s Annual Gathering is to be held in Normal, Illinois 6/29-7/6/2002; Bob advised Friends to register by 4/10/2002 to get desired workshops.

I2002-22 Supervisory Committee: Marjorie F. Scott reported on behalf of Supervisory Committee. The Committee held a retreat to consider issues before the Yearly Meeting.

I2002-23 General Secretary: Frank Massey, General Secretary, reported. Legal work on a conservation easement has been completed; the Yearly Meeting is to receive a $250,000 payment shortly. Frank reminded Friends that reports from Monthly Meetings on apportionments, officers, and spiritual state of the Meeting are due. Frank reported that renovations to the Yearly Meeting Office have been completed under budget. Frank noted that in the last week the Yearly Meeting received letters from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding funds not paid to the IRS from Frank’s pay. Frank is to report at our 6/2002 Interim Meeting on plans for his sabbatical.

I2002-24 Closing: The Presiding Clerk congratulated the University of Maryland men’s basketball team. We thanked Richmond 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 6/15/2002 at the York Meeting House in York, Pennsylvania.

Marjorie F. Scott, presiding                             Arthur David Olson, recording

 

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