Minutes
of Baltimore Yearly Meeting Interim Meeting
17 Sixth Month 2006
Hopewell Centre Meeting,
Clearwater, Virginia
I2006-32Opening: Baltimore Yearly
Meeting’s Interim Meeting gathered on the 17th of Sixth Month, 2006,
at Hopewell Centre Meeting House in Clearbrook, Virginia. Eighty Friends from 25 meetings signed in.
The
meeting opened with waiting worship. The Clerk of Hopewell Centre Meeting,
Carol Melby, greeted us on a lovely breezy summer day and thanked us for
providing Hopewell Centre “an opportunity to spruce up”. She asked that we thank Pam Smith for
organizing the generous welcome and plentiful food.
Jim
Riley, resident Meeting historian (best known as Josh Riley’s father), then
summarized the history of Hopewell Meeting House. Founded in 1734, Hopewell Meeting is the oldest continuously used
place of worship in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. The current Meeting House was built in 1759 and extended twenty
years later. During the 19th
century schism, a partition was built between the two halves of the building,
only to be removed in the early 20th century when part of the
original exterior wall had to be rebuilt.
In 1999 Hopewell Meeting united with Winchester Centre Meeting to become
Hopewell Centre Meeting.
I2006-33 Presiding Clerk’s Report: In response to the previous speaker, Lauri Perman, State College,
suggested that those with a gift for finding interesting stories and quotations
in old minutes share them with her throughout the year so that she might use
them at Annual Session.
The
last time Lauri was at Hopewell Centre was the first First Day after the death
of Tom Fox, Langley Hill, Christian Peacemaker Team member, in Baghdad,
Iraq. Tom lived in the Youth House
before he last went to Iraq. In
addition to that Meeting for Worship three memorial meetings for Tom were well
attended by Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) members and others: an interdenominational service on April 22
at Foundry Methodist Church, Washington, D. C., and two Meetings for Worship
under the care of Langley Hill in May.
A Memorial Meeting for Worship for Tom under the care of the Yearly
Meeting will be held at Annual Session, Wednesday afternoon, August 2, from
1:15-2:45 p.m.
For
Committee Clerks: Lauri requested only action items be brought
to the floor at Annual Session and that they be sent to her by the end of next
week, June 24, if possible. Committee
clerks and organization representatives are also reminded to send annual
reports to the office. Due May 15th,
only seven reports have been received.
A Committee Clerks’ workshop for all in-coming and out-going committee
clerks will be held at Annual Session Thursday, August 3 from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Personally,
Lauri shared her deeply rewarding trip with her parents to Slovenia, visiting
relatives and her paternal grandparents’ homes. Sadly, she and her husband Tom Ryan also experienced the death of
Tom’s mother in May, after nine years of helping to care for her.
In
closing, Lauri reported she frequently receives commiseration for the burden of
the work of being Yearly Meeting Presiding Clerk. In truth, it is a tremendous privilege and an incredible
gift. When we call Friends to serve in
Yearly Meeting, we call them to grow spiritually. She thanked the Meeting for the opportunity to serve.
I2006-34 Supervisory Committee
Report: Lauri Perman, on behalf of
Committee and Interim Meeting Clerk Michael Cronin, Friends Meeting of
Washington (FMW), reviewed the history and the process of the search for a new
General Secretary of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
(See Attachment A for I2006-34:
“Baltimore Yearly Meeting Supervisory Committee Process, 2006-2006” at the end
of these minutes)
Walter
Fry, West Branch, Clerk of the 1988 Ad Hoc Search Committee which named Frank
Massey, shared that committee’s final report with its detailed description of
the group’s process. The Recording
Clerk of Representative Meeting at that period, Eleanor Webb, also wrote useful
detailed notes about the deliberations.
In
order to permit a careful, participatory search, the Supervisory Committee
asked Howard Fullerton, Sandy Spring, to act as Interim General Secretary. By then, a letter from the Presiding and
Interim Meeting Clerks to Committee and Monthly Meeting Clerks offered queries
about names and criteria for an Ad Hoc Search Committee and about the selection
process. It included a position
description for the General Secretary and announced dates for a Called Meeting
in February.
On
October 22, Interim Meeting empowered Supervisory Committee to appoint an Ad
Hoc Search Committee for General Secretary.
The principle criterion for the Committee was that it be diverse and
inclusive in every possible way.
Monthly Meetings had until November 10 to submit names and criteria for
the Committee, and until December 15 to make comments about the position of
General Secretary. In January,
Supervisory Committee was able to send Monthly Meeting Clerks the names of
those to serve on the Ad Hoc Search Committee, a draft position summary, and a
reminder of the Called Meeting date.
On
February 25, the Called Meeting approved, with suggestions for improvement, the
Position Summary from which the Ad Hoc Search Committee would work.
Lauri
thanked all the Monthly Meetings and individuals who participated in the
process. She thanked the Ad Hoc Search
Committee for assuming the responsibility for the search.
Meg
Meyer, Baltimore, Stony Run, of the Supervisory Committee continued the
report. The search process required the
vision, input and consent of the members of the Yearly Meeting. The Called Meeting first wished candidates
and staff to be clear that the General Secretary works in conjunction and
cooperates with BYM committees. The
committees drive the process; the role of the General Secretary is to enable
and facilitate their work. Secondly,
the Meeting wished the General Secretary to be open to the leadings of the
Spirit. S/he should be able to fully
integrate Friends’ testimonies into business procedures and into all day-to-day
responsibilities. The wish for person
who works from and with compassion and other nuances were also woven into the
position summary.
The
Called Meeting charged the Ad Hoc Search Committee to bring the name of a
candidate to serve as General Secretary to the 17th Six Month 2006
Interim Meeting, bearing in mind that “God’s time is not necessarily our
time.” The charge included consent for
the Ad Hoc Search Committee to organize their process in any manner appropriate
to their needs and congruent with spiritual discernment and good personnel
practice. The Ad Hoc Search Committee
was to keep the Supervisory Committee informed about the process and all
considered decisions. The
responsibility of the Supervisory Committee was to establish the terms and
conditions of employment; the Ad Hoc Search Committee was to bring forward the
name. (See Attachment B for I2006-34: “Charge to the Ad Hoc
Search Committee”)
I2006-35: Ad Hoc Search Committee: Katherine Smith, Maury River, Clerk,
reported the Committee began its work in January with the charge authorized by
Interim Meeting 10th Month 22nd, 2005, nine pages
documenting the work of the General Secretary, a summary thereof, responses
from Monthly Meetings to the queries, and the summary and minutes of the
1987-1988 Search Committee. Later, a
distillation of deliberations of Friends gathered at the 2nd Month
Called Interim Meeting was added. The
Committee first met together at Interim Meeting day, 3rd Month,
2006, sharing personal histories and, in worship sharing, the talents and
experiences each brought to the work.
Francy Williams, Frederick, was recorder, and Michael Cronin acted as
staff. The Committee read their
charge. Qualifications hoped for in any
candidate were prioritized. The group
agreed to discuss in committee any knowledge or relationship they had with any
candidate, to hold the work confidential, and to communicate by postal service
in preference to e-mail or telephone.
There
were nine applicants, seven of whom came from within Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Applications and supporting documents were reviewed and charted for ease of
evaluation and comparison. Two more
meetings produced three candidates to interview the first weekend 6th
Month. Each two hour interview began in
silence, proceeded to prepared questions and sharing, and ended with silence. After each interview, the Committee reviewed
the session. At the conclusion of all
the interviews, their findings were shared.
The
Committee is clear to bring forward the name of Robert H. “Riley” Robinson,
Junior, Friends Meeting of Washington, for the Interim Meeting’s approval to
serve as the next Baltimore Yearly Meeting General Secretary. (See Attachment C for I2006-35: “Report of the Ad Hoc
Search Committee for a General Secretary”)
Sounds
of approval were heard throughout the Meeting House.
Katherine
proceeded to introduce the Committee members: Nancy Clark, Baltimore Homewood;
Ramona Buck, Patapsco; Janet Eaby, Nottingham; and Katrina Mason,
Bethesda. Unable to attend were Andrei
Israel, Friends Meeting of Washington; Eric Uberseder, Dunnings Creek; and
Francy Williams, Frederick.
Riley
Robinson, currently attending an American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)
meeting, has agreed to have his name brought forward. Riley’s pertinent information includes: a member of Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW), Riley has served
on Baltimore Yearly Meeting committees on and off since 1983 and attended
Annual Session every year since 1986.
He initiated and kept going the Family Worship Sharing Group there. He has been with the Mid-Atlantic Region of
the American Friends Service Committee since 1993, and most recently, as Clerk
of its Executive Committee, he also attends the AFSC National Board. He is on Friends Committee on Legislation
Central Committee and has been on their annual meeting planning committee. At FMW Riley served as Alternate Clerk and
since 1991 as Administrative Secretary.
He has also attended the Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology
annually since 1987 and served on its committee since 1993. He has been to every Friends General
Conference Gathering since 1986. Riley
is truly a “value added Friend”. His
spiritual experience is deep.
Committee
members remarked on the many levels and the quality of listening in their
meetings, as well as the shared good humor and snacks which lightened intense,
serious moments.
Katherine
requested that the Ad Hoc Search Committee for a General Secretary be laid
down.
The
Meeting settled for a time, reflecting on the process described and the name
brought forward. Concern was raised
whether the Meeting would consider the package of compensation and
benefits. Administration is a gift of
the Spirit; the acceptance of it by Interim Meeting carries an obligation to
reciprocate with adequate compensation.
Michael Cronin, as Clerk of Supervisory Committee, reminded the Meeting
that Supervisory Committee is responsible for establishing employee
salaries. They have done as much
preliminary work as possible, and once the name is approved will move promptly. Riley has alerted the Clerk and certain
other Friends at FMW that his name was being presented and that he would accept
the position if offered. Howard
Fullerton inserted a reassuring historical point: on the yellow handout about Supervisory Committee Process, the
date of October 18 stood out. Howard
had found a letter to Frank Massey, signed by Howard Fullerton, Clerk of
Representative Meeting, dated October 18, 1988. This was Frank’s “letter of engagement”, although Frank was
approved as the new General Secretary at the Representative Meeting in August,
1988. Some of the financial information
requested should come forward to Interim Meeting in the fall.
Lauri
Perman clarified the question about whether Interim Meeting approves the
process and name or employs the General Secretary. The Interim Meeting minutes state Interim Meeting is to approve
the process and to accept the name brought forward to be the new General
Secretary. The Manual of Procedure includes among the functions of Interim
Meeting “to define staffing needs, set staff compensation policies, and be the
employer of record. Interim Meeting
selects, employs, and defines the responsibilities of the General Secretary”.
(p. 7) Once a year, Supervisory
Committee informs Interim Meeting of the salaries of the staff, which are
published in the year book. (See I2006-48 Supervisory Committee)
Katherine
Smith assured the Meeting that all the interviewees knew the salary range, the
offer on housing, and information from the personnel manual on health care and
opportunities made available to Yearly Meeting employees. All was discussed during the interview
process.
I2006-36 General Secretary: The Interim Meeting APPROVED the name of
Robert H. “Riley” Robinson, Junior, Friends Meeting of Washington, as brought
forward by the Ad Hoc Search Committee for General Secretary.
Riley
will assume his duties as soon as Friends Meeting of Washington can free him
from his work there. He will be present
at Annual Session as a well-informed newcomer on the block learning his new
responsibilities. He will continue to
convene the Family Worship Sharing Group.
Howard Fullerton will act as Interim General Secretary through the 2006
Annual Session.
Riley
has been the strategic planning officer for the plant at FMW; he makes it his
business to plan ahead for bids and the like, so the committees responsible for
work can make informed decisions. He
trained a whole generation of committee clerks for finance, ministry and
worship, membership, etc. He brings all
of that to BYM, but is taking all that from FMW. Friends Meeting of Washington needs to be able to begin to find a
successor. The Yearly Meeting wants
Riley full time as soon as he comes.
I2006-37 Ad Hoc Search Committee:
The Interim Meeting APPROVED laying down the Ad Hoc Search Committee for
a General Secretary with deep appreciation for the steady, even, fair,
confidential and timely action after the manner of Friends in finding a new
General Secretary. The Meeting is in
debt to the Clerk, Katherine Smith, and to all the committee members. The approval was accompanied by many silent
waving hands of gratitude.
I2006-38 Celebration of 350 Years of
Maryland Friends: Evamaria “Ria”
Hawkins, Bethesda/Annapolis, urged Friends to participate with Annapolis
Friends Meeting on the 4th of July, celebrating the beginnings of
Quakerism in America with the arrival in the Chesapeake Bay area of Elizabeth
Harris, a “Publisher of Truth”. The
goal is to raise awareness of local Quaker heritage and of the continuing
presence of Friends today, as well as to have fun. Friends of all ages, in appropriate colonial dress or T-shirts,
are needed to join Annapolis Friends showing that Quakers are now. (T-shirts are available from Annapolis
Friends Meeting at a discounted price of $10.)
Hybrid cars carrying “non-walkers” will bring up the rear of the
parade.
Those
present were encouraged to take at least one flyer to each Meeting to post and
include in newsletters. Hospitality
will be available for Friends coming from a distance.
A full
list of activities and contact information can be found in Attachment D for I2006-38“Friends and Families are invited to join Annapolis Friends
Meeting for a 350th Year
Celebration on the 4th of July”
I2006-39 Nominating Committee: Dorothea Malsbary, Sandy Spring, Clerk,
requested information about those who might be interested in serving on Yearly
Meeting committees and as representatives to Friends organizations beginning
after the 2006 Annual Session. In
particular need exists for those with interests and gifts suitable for
Trustees, Advancement and Outreach, Program, Religious Education, Stewardship
and Finance and Youth Programs Committees.
Also available are openings on the Friends House Retirement Community
and Nursing Home and the Sandy Spring Friends School Boards.
I2006-40 Embraced Ministry: Linda Heacock, Richmond, has an embraced
ministry through Baltimore Yearly Meeting in conjunction with Friends Peace
Teams and the African Great Lakes Initiative.
She is in the process of raising funds to return to Kenya in September,
2006, to serve on a Peace Team of Kenyan facilitators with the Alternatives to
Violence Project to provide Quaker and other community leaders in Kenya with
alternatives to violence education and training. They will be working in rural communities with a history of
violence and with Quaker youth in Nairobi.
Contributions by individuals or
Monthly Meetings will go directly to the project. Materials on the organizations and on her embraced ministry are
available. Linda is also available to
speak at Meetings. (For details see 25
Third Month 2006 Interim Meeting I2006-19
Ministry and Pastoral Care Committee, and attached report, BYM
Embraced Ministry with Friends Peace Teams, Report of Ministry Activities/Plans)
I2006-41 Religious Education
Committee: Betsy Tobin, Frederick,
reported for Josh Humphries, Roanoke, Co-clerk of the Committee, that John
Calvi, Jennifer Elam, and Lisa Shirch will be present as Religious Education
Consultants at Annual Session to help Meetings and individuals with the
extraordinary experiences stemming from Tom Fox’s witness with Christian
Peacemaker Teams. John Calvi, New
England Yearly Meeting, will lead workshops and consult with individuals and
small groups, focusing on adults and teenagers. On the weekend Jennifer Elam will discuss children’s issues and
develop a Godly play lesson. Lisa
Shirch of the Eastern Mennonite University peace-building program will talk
about peace building as well as share with us the light Tom Fox revealed during
his time with the program. She was one
of Tom’s teachers.
I2006-42 Minutes of Appreciation: At the suggestion of a Friend, Interim
Meeting MINUTED its gratitude for Howard Fullerton’s service as Interim General
Secretary. The Clerk noted that one of
the big jokes in Supervisory Committee is that Howard works for two and one
half days a week.
The
Meeting also MINUTED appreciation especially for Jane Megginson, David Hunter,
and Hope Braveheart, professional staff responsible for programs, who have had
to assume much of the work that Frank Massey used to do.
Finally,
the Meeting MINUTED its thankfulness for the additional work which the
Supervisory Committee has done in the past several months.
The
minutes to this point were APPROVED with improvements.
I2006-43 Staff Reports - Youth
Secretary: Hope Braveheart, Sandy
Spring, spoke of the care being taken with the BYM Young Friends trip to
Ramallah, July 10-25. In addition to
the advisory committee of Friends seasoned in travel to Palestine and Israel,
she is in frequent contact with three persons in Palestine: Joyce Ajlouny, Director of Ramallah Friends
School; Kathy Bergen, Friends International Peace Center in Ramallah; and
Mohommad Salim, the group’s Palestinian coordinator. They have reviewed the recent serious incidents in Ramallah, but
see no reason to cancel the trip at this time.
Three members of the advisory board, Max and June Carter who are leading
a Guilford College work group two weeks before the BYM trip, and Maia Carter
Hallward, FMW, are all continuing with
their plans to go to Palestine.
Another, Lamar Matthew, Baltimore, Stony Run, will travel with Hope and
the Young Friends. Travel arrangements have been made to ensure accommodation
for security concerns. The trip will go
forward unless new discernment is made July 7 when Friends will review the
situation to make a final decision.
Hope
asked that we hold all the participants in our prayers both as they prepare for
the trip and travel.
The
parent of one of the Young Friends shared the youth’s concern: Why are they going? What good is it going to do? The situation in Palestine seems more
hopeless the more they learn about it.
All the Young Friends need our reassurance and encouragement. It is their presence which will speak; they
will not bring peace just by going.
There are other gifts which they take.
Being with the Palestinians and Israelis, listening to their stories
will increase the Young Friends’ understanding of the situation and of
themselves. They will be able to teach
us on their return.
We
need to hold these Young Friends in the Light, to listen, to reassure and to
encourage them prior to the trip.
The
five Young Friends are Katie Bellile, Richmond; Bennett Murry, Goose Creek;
Tory Smith, Langley Hill; John Stitzer, State College; and Mica “Rosie”
Whitney, Richmond.
Hope
gave thanks for the personal and Meeting donations to support the trip which
will cost a total of $15, 764; $140 remain to be raised. Gifts will still be gratefully received.
Trustees
will be given copies of all paper work and release forms involved with this
trip.
I2006-44 Youth Programs Committee: Hope then read a minute from the Youth
Programs Committee (YPC):
Youth Programs Committee, meeting at Hopewell Centre Meeting on 17
June 2006 heard a report by Hope Braveheart on recent consultations with
Friends in Ramallah regarding the current situation in Palestine. Knowledgeable individuals are continually
reviewing and advising Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM)’s discernment and
planning for the July 10-25 trip by five youth and two adult members of our
community. The Youth Programs Committee
is grateful for the experience and support offered. Furthermore, YPC affirms its continuing spiritual support for all
involved in discernment and accomplishment of this visit to our fellow Quakers
and others in Ramallah.
The
Meeting joined with the Committee and APPROVED this minute.
I2006-45 Travel Minute for the
Ramallah Visitors: A question was
asked about traveling minutes for our Young Friends. At the time of approval of the minutes, the Interim General
Secretary read a proposed travel minute:
For Tory Smith, Bennett Murray, Mica “Rosie” Whitney, Katie
Bellile, John Stitzer, Hope Braveheart, and Lamar Matthew, beloved members of
Baltimore Yearly Meeting, have opened to us their leading to travel among the
Ramallah Friends School Community to share with youth from a different
culture. They will travel in this
ministry between July 10 and July 25, 2006.
This Meeting unites with our Friends’ leading. We trust you will benefit as we have from
sharing their insights and quiet faith.
We commend our Friends to your care and hospitality.
Approved and minuted at our Meeting for Business held June 17,
2006.
Signed by Lauri Perman, Presiding Clerk.
The
Meeting APPROVED the travel minute for the Ramallah visitors.
I2006-46 Staff reports – Interim
General Secretary: Howard Fullerton
traveled with a group of Friends United Meeting board members to Israel and
Palestine in 2005. He noted that the
Palestinians appreciated their presence and their willingness to listen to the
Palestinians share their stories.
Howard
reviewed the available handouts, including the May Interchange. Those who did
not receive a copy were requested to let the office know. June 30th is the deadline for the
discounted rates for registration for Annual Session. Time to register is now.
He also mentioned that our Carey Lecturer Marshall Massey, a founder of
Quaker Earthcare Witness, is one of those who have changed modern
Quakerism. (See I2006-
Jane
Megginson is currently extremely busy preparing for the camp directors and
staff training. David Hunter is getting
some much needed rest after readying the camps.
The
BYM staff attended a Quaker Workers Retreat which included New England Yearly
Meeting staff and others. They then had
their own working retreat day at Opequon Camp.
The
office staff has experienced a fifty per cent change since the last Yearly
Meeting. Jane Megginson, David Hunter,
and Hope Braveheart who have been there the entire time have shouldered many
additional responsibilities. We need to
appreciate the hard work they are and have been doing. Margo Lehman, Sandy Spring, is now the bookkeeper
in conjunction with her mother Claire Inglis.
She is very much on top of bills and Monthly Meetings’ apportionment and
quarterly payments. She will also
follow up on outstanding student loans and stay in closer contact with students
who hold loans not yet due.
A new
administrative assistant has been hired.
Ann Harker Whittaker is returning to this area. She has worked with Sandy Spring Friends
School, Friends Committee on Legislation, Friends World Committee for
Consultation and American Friends Service Committee.
Josh
Riley returned, between his graduation from Loyola University’s Pastoral
Counseling Program and his fulltime employment, to help in the office,
accomplishing tasks even before he was asked to do them.
The
Meeting MINUTED its gratitude to Josh Riley for the assistance he continues to
give the Yearly Meeting office.
Advanced
Reports are not available, in part because the staff is short-handed and in
part because reports are lacking. A
plea was made to send annual reports to the office as soon as possible. They will be available at Annual Session, complete
with proposed budget, Interim Meeting minutes, reports from committees, staff,
and affiliated organizations.
Copies
of the Faith and Practice of Baltimore
Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends sold out. One thousand replacement copies, roughly a
five year supply, have arrived. The
revised Faith and Practice should be
ready by the time they run out.
I2006-47 Intervisitation Committee: Ken Stockbridge, Patapsco, explained that
Walter Brown, Langley Hill, received a travel minute a year ago in anticipation
of attending Indiana Yearly Meeting last summer. The discipline is to have a new travel minute approved
annually. He read the minute from
Langley Hill Friends Meeting for Walter’s second trip to Indiana Yearly
Meeting. (See Attachment E for I2006-47: “Travel Minute for Walter
Brown”)
Concerns
were raised about the middle paragraph describing the Intervisitation program:
“This program
arose from the profound pain we felt as a Yearly Meeting when several of our
most public and beloved Friends were directly hurt by Friends United Meeting
(FUM)’s policies on sexual diversity.
Our pain awakened us to the fragility of relations among Yearly Meetings
and Monthly Meetings of FUM.
The goal of the BYM
Intervisitation Program is to encourage, prepare, and support Friends to travel
among Yearly Meetings with the faith that we can listen deeply, strengthen our
relationships, offer care for each other, build our faith community, and lay
the ground work for discussions around sexual
diversity and other difficult issues as they arise.”
Baltimore
Yearly Meeting is not in unity on the issues of the FUM personnel policy and
funding, or sexual diversity. Friends
were concerned that the language might cause roadblocks in building
relationships.
Friends
stressed the responsibility of a Monthly Meeting’s Clearness Committee to be
explicit that the purpose of intervisitation is to listen and to build
relationships among FUM Meetings. It is
not to raise issues or discuss personal positions.
The
Intervisitation Committee jointly discerned and prepared the paragraph in
question for inclusion in travel minutes.
The wording has been approved by Interim Meeting in the Intervisitation
Committee report and in earlier minutes, e.g. I2005-03. The basic purpose
of Intervisitation is building relationships and connections among us, but
BYM’s concerns have been openly stated.
The Committee feels acknowledging the background of the program’s
formation is part of building honest relationships with other meetings.
The
Meeting AGREED TO ENDORSE Walter Brown’s travel minute, mindful of his history
of visiting Indiana Yearly Meeting. The
Meeting also REQUESTED the Intervisitation Committee revisit the wording of
their recommended paragraph.
I2006-48 Staff Salaries and Benefits:
Michael Cronin as Clerk of Supervisory Committee noted that the Manual of Procedure requires Supervisory
Committee to put into the record annually the staff compensation for the coming
year.
Friends
APPROVED the insertion below:
|
Position
|
2006 Salary
|
|
Medical Ins
|
Retirement
|
Salary+Benefits
|
|
General Sec
|
$51,917
|
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
|
Youth Prog Sec
|
$36,693
|
|
$9,588
|
$1,101
|
$47,382
|
|
Camp Admin Sec
|
$37,703
|
|
$3,960
|
$2,262
|
$43,925
|
|
Camp Prop Mgr
|
$35,312
|
|
$9,720
|
$2,119
|
$47,151
|
|
Bookkeeping
|
to be set
|
|
|
|
|
|
Admin Assistant
|
to be set
|
|
|
|
|
|
Camp caretakers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Catoctin
|
$9,600
|
|
$9,360
|
$0
|
$18,960
|
|
Shiloh
|
$7,200
|
|
$9,360
|
$0
|
$16,560
|
Notes:
The General Secretary position has
been vacant since November 2005.
Howard Fullerton has served magnificently as Interim General
Secretary from November 2005 and will continue his superb service in this
position until the New General Secretary reports for work in late summer of
2006. Howard Fullerton has served BYM without paid compensation. In March 2005 Supervisory Committee set
the General Secretary's 2006 salary at $51,917.
A temporary bookkeeper was hired
in June 2006 at $16 per hour for as few as 24 hours per week; we anticipate the
rate and hours will increase July - December.
A new full time Administrative
Assistant has been recruited and will begin work in July at
a salary to be set by the Interim General Secretary.
I2006-49 Friends in Unity with
Nature Committee: Barbara
Williamson, Richmond, member of the Committee and Clerk of Quaker Earthcare
Witness, reported on the Carey Lecturer, Marshall Massey, Omaha (Nebraska)
Friends Meeting, Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative, and his leading to walk from
Omaha to Harrisonburg, Virginia. (See Attachment
F for I2006-49 “Marshall
Massey’s Walk from Omaha, Nebraska” below)
The
organization now known as Quaker Earthcare Witness grew out of Marshall
Massey’s address to Pacific Yearly Meeting in 1985, and took shape at the FGC
Gathering in 1987. Barbara shared that
Marshall has no problem overcoming Mid-Western politeness to speak truth as he
knows it.
He is
traveling for spiritual preparation and discernment under a minute from his
Monthly Meeting. He hopes to meet with
Friends from Conservative, Evangelical Friends International, Friends General
Conference, and Friends United Meeting Yearly Meetings. His concern is the nature of the Quaker
process of corporate discernment, which he tries to explore using two
questions: first, what sort of environmental testimony might God be calling us
to as Friends? — and second, how can we help Friends to unite in a common
testimony? (See the story of his trip
at http://journal.earthwitness.org ;
note there is no www.)
He is
still looking for assistance arranging visits and guest rooms with meetings and
churches between his current location and Harrisonburg. Company on his walk is always appreciated,
especially Friends, and Young Friends, from BYM. In addition to holding Marshall in the Light, Friends can help by
sending financial contributions to Omaha Friends Meeting, 10623 Cuming Street,
Omaha, Nebraska, 68114-2023.
I2006-50Naming Committee: Michael
Cronin reported for Susie Fetter, Roanoke, that the Committee suggests the
names of Rosalind Zuses, Sandy Spring; Jean Wilson, Gunpowder; and Rachel
Messenger, Alexandria, to serve on Search Committee, which names Nominating
Committee members and Yearly Meeting officers.
The meeting ACCEPTED those names with gratitude.
I2006-51Peace and Social Concerns Committee: J. E. McNeil (FMW), Clerk, requested that BYM join religious,
civil rights, and civil liberties organizations in signing a letter from the
Interfaith Alliance. (See Attachment G, I2006-51:
“Protect Separation of Powers and Religious Minorities’ Longstanding
Constitutional Rights: Oppose Final Passage of H.R. 2389”).
The
bill, known as the “Pledge Protection Act”, threatens the First Amendment and
the separation of powers that is a fundamental aspect of our constitutional
structure. The legislature removes a
particular class of cases from the jurisdiction of all federal courts,
including the Supreme Court. It
deprives federal courts of the ability to hear cases involving religious and
free speech rights of students, parents and other individuals. It also undermines longstanding
constitutional rights of religious minorities to seek redress in federal
courts, for instance, in cases involving mandatory recitation of the Pledge.
The
letter quotes a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit:
“...the rights embodied in the Constitution, most particularly the First
Amendment, protect the minority --- those persons who march to their own
drummers. It is they who need the
protection afforded by the Constitution and it is the responsibility of federal
judges to ensure that protection.” Circle
School v. Pappert, 381 F.3d 172, 183 (3rd Cir. 2004).
The
Meeting APPROVED the letter being signed on behalf of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
I2006-52Peace and Social Concerns Committee: J. E. McNeil (FMW) presented a second request that a letter be
sent from Baltimore Yearly Meeting to the President of the United States (see
Attachment H, I2006-52 : “Letter to the President on the Humanitarian
Crisis facing the Palestinian People”)
This letter
concerns the urgent humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people and its
impact on progress to the goal of security and a just peace for both the
Israeli and Palestinian peoples. It
states that Friends (Quakers) oppose all forms of violence --- whether it is
suicide bombings, targeted assassinations, or the harassment of an
occupation. They seek to remedy actions
and conditions that produce violence as well as open violence itself. Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends opposes the economic deprivation and the starvation of the
Palestinian people caused by the end of aid from the United States and the
European Union and the withholding of taxes owed by Israel to the Palestinian
Authority. The result is tragic
suffering.
Friends
remind President Bush of his call for a negotiated two-state solution to the
conflict and share his vision of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state living
in peace with its neighbor Israel.
J. E.
McNeil requested that the letter be put on the BYM web site, and that copies be
sent to the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Senators and
Representatives of the geographic area covered by BYM.
It was
suggested that an introductory paragraph about BYM be inserted, and where
appropriate, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) be inserted.
The
Meeting APPROVED the letter with these changes, and directed it be sent as
requested and placed on the web site.
Individuals were encouraged to send personal letters on this subject to
those listed above.
I2006-53 Friends Wilderness Center: Sheila Bach (Langley Hill) announced that Saturday, June 24, a
work day will be held at FWC to fix the tree house steps. Opequon Camp uses this tree house during
camp sessions. This is an opportunity
to get a free lunch as well help.
Please let Sheila Bach know.
The minutes were approved.
I2006-54 Search Committee: The Interim General Secretary reminded the
Meeting that Search Committee has not reported all necessary names for the
Nominating Committee and for Yearly Meeting officers to Interim Meeting for
approval. On occasions when Search Committee was not able to report fully to
the last Interim Meeting, the Meeting has authorized them to report directly to
Annual Session.
The Meeting APPROVED a request to Search Committee to bring
names for Yearly Meeting officers and for the Nominating Committee to Yearly
Meeting at Annual Session.
I2006-55 Announcements and Closing:Betsy Wollaston (Deer Creek) invited
everyone to the Deer Creek Meeting Blueberry Festival on July 15, from 10 a.m.-
2 p.m. in Darlington, Maryland.
Nancy Clark (Baltimore, Homewood) asked those interested in
serving as Worship Sharing leaders for Annual Session to contact Don Gann
(Baltimore, Stony Run). A training
session will take place on Tuesday evening, 1st August, at 6:30.
The meeting closed with a few moments of worship at 5
o’clock.
Respectfully submitted,
Maria Bradley, Recording Clerk of Interim Meeting
Attachment
A for I2006-34: “Baltimore Yearly Meeting
Supervisory Committee Process, 2006-2006”
Baltimore Yearly
Meeting
Supervisory
Committee Process, 2005-2006
Upon receipt of Frank’s
resignation –
Supervisory Committee consulted Walt Fry, Clerk of the Ad Hoc Search Committee
that recommended Frank Massey 17 years ago.
Walt gave the Committee a copy of his final report, which contained a
detailed description of the committee’s process. Interim [sic] Meeting minutes
from 1988 were also very helpful.
October 6 – Supervisory Committee
decided to ask Howard Fullerton to serve as Interim General Secretary to permit
a careful, participatory search process.
Howard agreed and began working on October 19.
October 18 – Letter from Interim and
Presiding Clerks to Monthly Meetings with queries inviting input regarding:
· Names of Friends for the Ad Hoc
Search Committee,
·
Criteria to be
used in selecting the Ad Hoc Search Committee,
·
Suggestions
regarding the General Secretary position,
·
Suggestions
regarding the process of selecting the new General Secretary,
·
Announcing dates
for February Called Meetings.
October 22 – Interim Meeting empowered
Supervisory Committee to appoint an Ad Hoc Search Committee.
November 10 – Date by which Monthly
Meetings submitted names and criteria for the Ad Hoc Search Committee.
December 15 – Date by which Monthly
Meetings made comments about the General Secretary job.
January 12 – Letter from Supervisory
Committee to Monthly Meeting Clerks
· Enclosing draft Position
Summary
· Reminding Friends of the
February Called Meeting to approve the Position Summary
· Announcing the names of Friends
who agreed to serve on the Ad Hoc Search Committee
February 25 – Called Meeting approves
Position Summary. There are many
questions for clarification and suggestions for improvement. The Meeting empowers Supervisory Committee
and the Ad Hoc Search Committee to prepare the final position summary, taking
into account suggestions made at the Called Meeting.
Supervisory Committee is
grateful for all the Monthly Meetings and individuals who participated in this
process and made helpful and thoughtful suggestions along the way.
Attachment
B for I2006-34: “Charge to Ad Hoc Search
Committee”
Baltimore Yearly
Meeting
of the Religious
Society of Friends
Subject: Charge to Ad Hoc Search Committee
Name of Task
Group: Search Committee for General Secretary
Date: January 13, 2006
Appointed by:
Supervisory Committee of Interim Meeting, December 2005
Authorized by:
Interim Meeting, October 2005
Thank you for your willingness to serve the Yearly Meeting in this
most special capacity. Our future
depends on your listening to candidates for the position, to individuals and
meetings and most of all, to God. The Search Committee will be upheld in prayer
by the entire Yearly Meeting. May our
loving support and confidence under gird your work.
As a temporary committee
of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, you are expected to work within the good order of
Friends as illustrated in BYM’s Faith and Practice and Manual of
Procedure.
Mission:
The Search
Committee for General Secretary is charged to bring forward to June 17, 2006
Interim Meeting the name of a candidate to serve as General Secretary of
Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Authority and
Responsibility:
Search Committee
has the authority to organize the recruitment and selection process in any
manner appropriate to the committee needs and congruent with spiritual
discernment and good personnel practices.
Committee members
are asked to bring to the process their individual gifts and experience. We trust that each member will contribute to
the gathered wisdom of the group.
Individual
members receiving charge:
Katherine Smith,
Maury River Ramona Buck,
Patapsco
Nancy Clark,
Baltimore-Homewood Janet Eaby,
Nottingham
Andrei Israel,
Friends Meeting of Washington Katrina Mason, Bethesda
Eric Uberseder,
Dunnings Creek Francy Williams,
Frederick
Clerk of
committee: Katherine Smith
Time Frame:
We hope that the
committee will be able to fulfill its charge by mid-June. We recognize that God’s time is not always
our time. Close on-going consultation with Supervisory Committee should include
discussion of the time frame for presenting a candidate.
Resources
allocated to enable the committee work:
Financial: Baltimore Yearly Meeting will provide
funding for advertisements, to prepare and distribute materials, hold
conference calls and meetings, phone and/or transport candidates to
interviews. Howard Fullerton, interim
General Secretary will facilitate financial arrangements, and office
support.
Administrative: Michael Cronin, clerk of Interim Committee,
has offered to serve as “staff” to the committee, providing administrative
support and consultation. This support
includes, but is not limited to, collecting useful documents, placing ads,
etc.
Documents:
·
Minutes of the most recent
previous General Secretary Search Process (1988)
·
October 18, 2005 letter from
Presiding Clerk and Interim Committee clerk announcing the vacancy and initial
steps in the search process and providing preliminary queries to Monthly
Meetings plus all responses received from monthly meetings
·
Draft Position Summary (for
broad circulation); for the committee’s use: Job Description of previous
incumbent; and draft detailed job functions as prepared by Supervisory Committee
in December 2005
Groups
receiving reports and responsible for review of the committee:
Supervisory
Committee and Interim Meeting
Reporting will
include monthly update to Supervisory Committee with more frequent consultation
as needed; a report to Interim Meeting March 25
Who is
consulted as committee proceeds?
·
Monthly Meeting consultation
has been requested by Supervisory Committee, and is to be completed by
mid-February. The results will be
available to Search Committee
·
Supervisory Committee will
consult with Yearly Meeting Staff prior to February 11. A report will be available to the Search
Committee.
·
Called Interim Meeting
February 11 (snow date February 25) for individual and meeting consultation,
for approval of the Position Summary, and permission given to Search Committee to
implement changes in the Position Summary as directed by Interim Meeting,
subject to approval by Supervisory Committee.
·
Clerks of Interim Meeting and
Baltimore Yearly Meeting should be informed and consulted with faithfully as
the work of the search committee proceeds.
Additional
information:
No member of the
search committee shall be a candidate for General Secretary.
Public
advertisements have been placed in Friends
Journal and Quaker Life;
information will be on the BYM web site and other electronic venues as
appropriate.
Supervisory
Committee will establish terms and conditions of employment.
Attachment
C for I2006-35:
“Report of the Ad Hoc Search Committee for a General Secretary”
Report of Ad Hoc Search
Committee for a General Secretary
Reported to Interim Meeting
June 16, 2006
Baltimore
Yearly Meeting’s Ad Hoc Search Committee for a General Secretary began its work
in January when our papers came through.
These included our charge as authorized by Interim Meeting 10th
month 22nd, 2005, nine pages documenting the work of the general
secretary, a summary of this; responses from monthly meetings to queries
generated by Supervisory Committee, and the summary and minutes of the
1987-1988 Search Committee. Later we
received a distillation of the deliberations of Friends gathered at the 2nd
month called Interim Meeting.
We met
together for the first time during Interim Meeting Day, 3rd month,
2006 at Baltimore Stony Run. Over
lunch, names, faces and personal histories came together. Then, adjourning to our assigned room, we
disclosed in worship sharing what talents and experience each of us would bring
to the work outlined for us. Francy
Williams, Frederic, agreed to serve as our recorder. We read our charge and reviewed the qualifications hoped for in
any candidate. These we
prioritized. We agreed to discuss in
committee what, if any, knowledge or relationship we had with any candidate, to
hold our work confidential, and to communicate by postal service in preference
to email or phone. We accepted with
gratitude Michael Cronin’s offer to serve as our staff.
Eventually,
we received nine applications, all but two of these being from persons within
our yearly meeting. Copies of these,
and supporting documents, were mailed to each committee member. From them, we
filled in charts for ease of evaluation and comparison. During our next two committee meetings, at
Hopewell Centre, we considered each candidate, eventually, choosing three to
interview.
We
were able to schedule these at Friends House on 3rd and 4th
of 6th month. In
preparation, we compiled questions to put to these candidates. We met for about two hours with each one,
gathering in silence, then moving to questions, to sharing, and returning to
silence. We reviewed each interview at its conclusion, and then, at the
conclusion of the three, to share our findings.
We are
clear to bring forward to Interim Meeting 17th of 6th,
the name of Riley Robinson, Friends Meeting of Washington, for your approval to
serve as our next general secretary.
Committee
members: Katherine Smith (Maury River), clerk; Nancy Clark (Baltimore,
Homewood), Andrei Israel (Friends Meeting of Washington), Eric Uberseder
(Dunnings Creek), Ramona Buck (Patapsco), Janet Eaby (Nottingham), Katrina
Mason (Bethesda), and Francy Williams (Frederick),
Attachment
D for I2006-38“Friends
and Families are invited to join Annapolis Friends Meeting for a 350th Year Celebration on the 4th
of July”
Friends and Families are
invited to join
Annapolis Friends Meeting for a
350th
Year Celebration on the 4th of July
In
2006, AFM is planning special events to celebrate the arrival of Elizabeth
Harris, a “Publisher of Truth”, to the Chesapeake Bay in 1656 and the
beginnings of Quakerism in America. Our
first event is the Annapolis 4th
of July Parade to raise awareness about local Quaker heritage and about the
continuing presence of Friends today (and to have fun!) WE
NEED FRIENDS AND FRIENDS OF FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE!
We
will be parading with the theme “Quakers Then, Quakers Now”. “Quakers Then” will be wearing colonial
costumes and riding in a horse drawn carriage or walking along side. If you have Quaker garb, or a Quaker bonnet,
please bring it. “Quakers Now” will be marching wearing Quaker T-shirts
(available at a discount price of $10 from Annapolis Friends Meeting). In order to focus on Quaker heritage and
common ground, we request that T-shirts which may be construed as political,
partisan, provocative or distracting be left in the drawer for another day. Shirts which promote special causes – Quaker
or others – are not appropriate on this occasion. “Quakers are Friends” or Quaker Camp T-shirts – fine... Bringing up the rear will be hybrid cars
carrying “non-walkers”.
Please accept our invitation to
join the following activities on July 4th:
1:00 Potluck Picnic at
Annapolis Meeting House
Located on 351 Dubois Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
Bring a dish to share! Free car wash for all hybrid vehicles
2:00 George Fox: the Unshakeable Quaker
Presented by Wes Stone, Historical Actor/Interpreter
4:00 Marshalling for
the Annapolis Parade Begins
Carpooling from Meeting House to downtown, decoration of carriage
and parade preparation (Cars may be left at the Navy, where shuttle buses from
downtown will be running after the fireworks).
5:45 Parade from
Maryland Hall to City Dock
“Quakers Then” and “Quakers Now” (in spiffy Quaker T-shirts)
riding and walking, and accompanied by a convoy of hybrid cars (Bring
yours!) Distance: Approximately 1.5 miles of easy walking
(downhill). Water bottles provided.
7:30 Concert by the
Naval Academy Band at City Dock
9:00 Fireworks over
the Annapolis Harbor
Shuttle buses will be running from
downtown back to the Stadium parking lot.
Questions? Need more information? Suggestions?
Call
Careen Mayer at (410) 757-3457
Attachment E for I2006-47: “Travel Minute for Walter Brown”
We at
Langley Hill Friends Meeting commend our member Walter Brown to your care. He is traveling among Friends to build
bridges of understanding. He is a life
long member of this meeting, who has shown himself to be a well grounded and
spiritually centered Friend with good listening skills. He is a student of Quaker history and
theology and has a strong interest in deepening his understanding of the
diverse world of Friends. He feels
called to travel among Friends on behalf of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting
intervisitation project.
The
purpose of the intervisitation program of Baltimore Yearly Meeting is to
strengthen the Religious Society of Friends and open us to a clear sense of
what it means to know and live in the beloved community of Friends in the
twenty-first century. We assume that
intervisitation will be in all directions and those interested will offer and
receive hospitality.
This
program arose from the profound pain we felt as a Yearly Meeting when several
of our most public and beloved Friends were directly hurt by Friends United
Meeting (FUM)’s policies on sexual diversity.
Our pain awakened us to the fragility of relations among Yearly Meetings
and Monthly Meetings of FUM. The goal
of the BYM Intervisitation Program is to encourage, prepare, and support
Friends to travel among Yearly Meetings with the faith that we can listen
deeply, strengthen our relationships, offer care for each other, build our
faith community, and lay the ground work for discussions around sexual
diversity and other difficult issues as they arise.
Walter
has been active among Friends all his life.
Recently he has served on our Overseers and Family Relations and
Ministry and Worship Committees. He
currently serves on the Advancement and Outreach Committee for Baltimore Yearly
Meeting and the Advancement and Outreach Committee for Friends General
Conference. He is also on the Central
Committee and the Executive Committee for Friends General Conference.
Walter
travels with our hopes and prayers and we trust that you will find his time
amongst you fruitful, prayerful and enriching.
In the
Light,
Doug
Smith,
Clerk,
Langley Hills Friends Meeting
Attachment
F for 2006-49: “Marshall Massey’s Walk”
Marshall Massey’s Walk from
Omaha, Nebraska
To Baltimore Yearly Meeting’s
Annual Session
In Harrisonburg, VA
In May
2005, Marshall Massey was invited to speak at the 2006 Annual Sessions for
BYM. In October, Marshall talked to me
abut his leading to walk from his home in Omaha, Nebraska to the site of BYM’s
Annual Session. I was surprised by his leading to take on this walk; not
because I did not believe he was Spirit led but because I wondered why a man in
his mid-50’s, with more than a few pounds to lose, bad feet, and no regular
exercise routine was being led to walk 1,150 miles without a clear idea of why
God had given him this leading. As
Marshall reminded me, this concern spoke more to me than to his leading. As I am sure we will hear in August,
Marshall has no problem overcoming his Mid-Western politeness to speak truth,
as he knows it.
Marshall
is traveling for spiritual discernment under a minute from his monthly meeting,
Omaha Friends Meeting, Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative). His obligation is to listen and learn rather
than to preach. He will have an
opportunity to meet with churches and meetings that represent Friends General
Conference, Evangelical Friends International, Conservative and Friends United
Meeting Friends. He hopes to meet with
Friends, ask questions, listen carefully, and with them seek God’s guidance on
how Friends of all persuasions can work together on ecological matters. He also sees his walk as spiritual
preparation for his speech at our Annual Session.
As
Marshall prepared for his journey he received financial, practical, emotional,
and spiritual support from Friends from all corners of the United States,
including Quaker Earthcare Witness; Illinois, Western (FUM), New England, Ohio
Valley, and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings.
Individuals from Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California,
Colorado, Florida and other states were also supportive.
Early
in the preparations for his walk, messages Marshall sent to F/friends indicated
that raising the funds to meet his budget requirements would decide whether or
not he would make his walk to Harrisonburg.
Those of us who know Marshall had no doubt that the walk would happen if
the money to fund basic needs (food, water, laundry, and related expenses) were
raised.
Marshall’s
original plan was to make a 10-week journey beginning in the mid-west and
walking 15 to 20 miles a day, alternating between staying at Friends’ homes,
small town motels, and camping as he progressed eastward. As the date for beginning his walk grew
closer, he increased the time to 11 ½ weeks.
He left Omaha on Saturday, May 13th, and today he is east of
Urbana, Illinois. By the end of June,
he expects to be in Richmond, Indiana.
Marshall hopes to begin the West Virginia leg of his walk by
mid-July. He plans to arrive in
Virginia (after leaving Franklin, WVA) at the end of July and be in
Harrisonburg for the beginning of our Annual Session.
Marshall
is keeping a journal that begins approximately a month before the start of his
trip. As he recorded in his journal, he
started his trip on Saturday, May 13th with his wife and neighbors
seeing him off on his journey. In the
first two days of his journey, he realized he wasn’t in shape for his walk and
by the end of the second day blisters on his feet were bothering him. Taking a rest day his feet greatly improved
but a few days later he began to be bothered by raw spots on his hips from the
seams of his pants and the belt of his backpack. After receiving medical treatment in two different towns, he
decided at the end of his first week to return home to give his feet and hips
time to heal and get new apparel. One
week later on Sunday, May 28th, he restarted his walk in Fairfield,
Iowa. In an email to me on Thursday,
June 1st, Marshall felt the walk was going well and expressed a
continuing desire to have BYM Friends join him at the end of his journey. He was experiencing some problems with his
heels and ankles but was in good spirits.
In Burlington, Iowa he met a reporter who shared his walk as he crossed
the Mississippi River into Illinois. On
Tuesday, June 6th, in Galesburg, IL he saw a doctor about his ankles
and heels; based on that doctor’s diagnosis he decided to return home to see
one of his own doctors. Back in Omaha
on Saturday, June 10th, Marshall wrote that he was determined to
continue his journey even if he couldn’t walk all the way, as he had originally
planned. . . .
On
Tuesday, June 13th, Marshall started out from Normal, IL on the next
leg of his journey. By Thursday
evening, the 15th, he was in Urbana, IL and met with Friends at the
Urbana-Champaign Monthly Meeting.
Friday morning he continued on his journey eastward toward Ogden, IL.
All
along his journey Marshall has been meeting with Friends and has gained much
from his time with them. I believe that
you will find that reading his journal entries, particularly those relating to
his meetings with other Friends, quite interesting. You can read about the details of his trip on his blog at http://journal.earthwitness.org (Note: No www).
“What
can BYM do for Marshall Massey, our Saturday night speaker at Annual Session?”
- Help arrange visits and a guest room with meetings and churches
between his current location and Harrisonburg, VA; particularly in
Deerwalk, Goffs, Alum Bridge, Excelsior, Job, and Judy Gap, West Virginia
and Rawley Springs, Virginia.
- Marshall would always appreciate company on his walk. He would especially welcome young
Friends from BYM joining him.
Note: Stan Becker is considering joining Marshall toward the end of
his journey.
- Financial contributions are still needed. They can be sent to Omaha Friends Meeting, 10623 Cuming Street,
Omaha, Nebraska, 68114-2023.
- Hold Marshall and his leading in the light.
Attachment
G for I2006-51: “Protect Separation of Powers
and Religious Minorities’ Longstanding Constitutional Rights: Oppose Final
Passage of H.R. 2389”
June
7, 2006
Dear
Representative,
We,
the undersigned religious, civil rights, and civil liberties organizations,
urge you to oppose H.R. 2389, the “Pledge Protection Act,” misguided
legislation that would strip all federal courts, including the Supreme Court,
from hearing First Amendment challenges to the Pledge of Allegiance and from
enforcing longstanding constitutional rights in federal court.
The
signatories to this letter include organizations that supported the court
challenge to the constitutionality of including “under God” in the Pledge of
Allegiance, organizations that opposed that challenge, and organizations that
took no position on the matter. We are
united, however, in believing that H.R. 2389 threatens the separation of powers
that is a fundamental aspect of our constitutional structure. Beyond this, while the legislation
ostensibly responds to the controversy surrounding “under God” in the Pledge of
Allegiance, this legislation sweeps far more broadly, with potentially severe
constitutional implications for religious minorities who are adversely affected
by government-mandated recitation of the Pledge.
First
and foremost, we are opposed to H.R. 2389 because this legislation, by entirely
stripping all federal courts, including the Supreme Court, of jurisdiction over
a particular class of cases, threatens the separation of powers established by
the Constitution, and undermines the unique function of the federal courts to
interpret constitutional law. This
legislation deprives the federal courts of the ability to hear cases involving
religious and free speech rights of students, parents, and other
individuals. The denial of a federal
forum to plaintiffs to vindicate their
constitutional rights would force plaintiffs out of federal courts, which are
specifically suited for these federal claims, and into state courts, which may be hostile or unsympathetic to
these federal claims, and which may lack expertise and independent safeguards
provided to federal judges under Article III of the Constitution.
In
addition, as drafted, the bill would deny access to the federal courts in cases
to enforce existing constitutional rights for religious minorities. Over sixty years ago, the
Supreme Court decided the case of West Virginia State Board of Education v.
Barnette, 319 U. S. 624 (1943). In Barnette,
the Supreme Court struck down a West Virginia law that mandated schoolchildren
to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Under the West Virginia law, religious minorities faced expulsion from
school and could be subject to prosecution and fines, if convicted of violating
the statute’s provisions. In striking
down that statute, the Court reasoned:
“To believe that patriotism will not flourish if patriotic ceremonies
are voluntary and spontaneous instead of a compulsory routine is to make an
unflattering estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds. . .
. If there is any fixed star in our
constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high, or petty can
prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other
matters of opinion.” 319 U.S. at
639-40.
Moreover,
a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, holding
unconstitutional two provisions of a Pennsylvania law mandating recitation of
the Pledge, said, “It may be useful to note our belief that most citizens of
the United States willingly recite the Pledge of Allegiance and proudly sing
the national anthem. But the rights
embodied in the Constitution, most particularly the First Amendment, protect
the minority --- those persons who march to their own drummers. It is they who need the protection afforded
by the Constitution and it is the responsibility of federal judges to ensure
that protection.” Circle School v.
Pappert, 381 F.3d 172, 183 (3d Cir.
2004).
H.R.
2389 would undermine the longstanding constitutional rights of religious
minorities to seek redress in the federal courts in cases involving mandatory
recitation of the Pledge. As a result,
this legislation will seriously harm religious minorities and the constitutional
free speech rights of countless individuals.
H.R.
238 also raises serous legal concerns about the violation of the principles of
separation of powers, equal protection and due process. The bill undermines public confidence in the
federal courts by expressing outright hostility toward them, threatens the
legitimacy of future congressional action by removing the federal courts as a
neutral arbiter, and rejects the unifying function of the federal judiciary by
denying federal courts the opportunity to interpret the law. We strongly believe that this legislation as
drafted will have broad, negative implications on the ability of individuals to
seek enforcement of previously constitutionally protected rights concerning
mandatory recitation of the Pledge. We
therefore urge, in the strongest terms, your rejection of this misguided and
unwise legislation.
Sincerely,
American
Civil Liberties Union, American Jewish Committee, Americans United for
Separation of Church and State, Anti-Defamation League, Baptist Joint
Committee, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Disciples of Christ, Friends
Committee on Legislation, Human Rights Campaign, Jewish Council for Public
Affairs (JCPA), Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Legal Momentum (formerly
NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund), National Council of Jewish Women,
National Council of Negro Women, Inc.,
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, People for the American Way, The
Interfaith Alliance, The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring, Union for Reform
Judaism, United Church of Christ, Unitarian Universalist Association of
Congregations.
Attachment
H for 2006-51: “Letter to the President on the Humanitarian Crisis facing the
Palestinian People”
Dear
Mr. President,
We
write to you regarding the urgent humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian
people and its impact on progress to the goad of security and a just peace for
both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
As
Quakers, we oppose all forms of violence --- whether it is suicide bombings,
targeted assassinations, or the harassment of an occupation. We further seek to remedy the causes of
violence.
Palestinians
are suffering severe economic deprivation every day as a result of the cut-off
of U. S. and EU assistance, and Israel’s withholding of taxes owed the
Palestinian Authority. Assistance from
Arab states has been stymied by U.S. pressure on Arab financial
institutions. Funds are desperately needed
to pay the salaries of some 150,000 government employees, teachers, policemen,
and health care providers. With
families averaging 7 people in number, the sanctions directly affect
approximately 1 million men, women and children, and indirectly those
businesses that depend on their trade.
The PA administers the public school system, many hospitals and health
clinics, and provides grants to humanitarian non-governmental
organizations. The World Bank report of
May 7 states that if the current sanctions continue the “Palestine Authority is
unlikely to provide basic services or maintain law and order.” It cites prospect of an “impending famine”
and prospects of the dissolution of the PA.
We
question the morality and the effectiveness of punishing all of the Palestinian
people in an attempt to alter the political position of Hamas. In addition to the tragic suffering already
experienced and the impending worsening of the situation, the indiscriminate
financial and commercial sanctions undermine progress towards a just
settlement. The crumbling civic
infrastructure damages all Palestinians.
Nothing
will destroy a people’s motivation for a peaceful settlement more effectively
than a growing realization that there is nothing more to lose. We believe that the reopening of commercial
channels and continuing aid to the Palestinian Authority is essential for the
well-being of the Palestinian people.
This is critical for maintaining civil order and essential services and
a political entity capable and willing to negotiate a settlement.
In the
immediate crisis we maintain our perspective on the goals and processes of a
viable settlement. We commend and
strongly support your call for a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict,
and we share your vision of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state living in
peace with its neighbor Israel.
Reinforcing
our earlier statement, we Quakers oppose actions and conditions that produce
violence as well as open violence itself.
We respectfully request that you give these thoughts serious
consideration.
Sincerely
yours,
Clerk,
Interim Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
(Quaker)
Cc:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Senators and Representatives in the
Baltimore Yearly Meeting geographic area
