Quaker Earthcare Witness Annual Reports

The text of recently received Annual Reports are below, with the most recently received at the top and older reports below. To jump to a particular report, simply click the year listed below.

2021 Quaker Earthcare Witness Annual Report

No report received.

2020 Quaker Earthcare Witness Annual Report

No report received.

2019 Quaker Earthcare Witness Annual Report

This is an especially dynamic time for QEW as an organization and as a voice for Quakers speaking to issues of Earthcare, climate disruption and environmental justice. QEW is at a crucial point with great aspirations for our work in the 21st century. QEW needs more money as well as spiritual transformation to move forward, especially given the urgency of the challenges we face. These goals continue to guide the organization’s work and were reaffirmed at the April 2019 Steering Committee Meeting in St Paul, Minnesota.

QEW Aspirational Goals
In the Fall of 2017, an ad hoc committee was formed to look at the future of the organization. Over the following year, the committee’s work yielded a document of aspirational goals which includes:

• Improving recognition of QEW within the Religious Society of Friends and beyond.
• Reach out to young adult friends 18 - 40 years old
• Expand our network to include more people of color and focus on Environmental Justice concerns
• Expand our network of Monthly and Yearly Meetings
• Continue Steering Committee meetings as a place of inspiration and nurturance
• Develop projects for QEW network participation. Examples: UN Working Group and Mini-Grants Group
• Increase fundraising across Friends
• Getting the work done and evaluating it.

From the QEW General Secretary, Shelley Tannenbaum:
Earthcare is intertwined with peace and social justice work. Unfortunately, some do not recognize this. Evidence that QEW is gaining in recognition among the Society of Friends, is that there have been more requests for speaking engagements. QEW limited in what we can do in regard to attendance at meetings, talks, and publications. We need more funds to do these things, including development of the new website

From Publications Director, Hayley Hathaway:
Each issue of BeFriending Creation as a standalone issue for the newcomer and as a larger story for the work we do for all readers. We try to get diverse voices and issues. The website will be out of date in a year, so funds are still needed to support its redevelopment.

Steering Committee:
We met twice yearly to do the business of the organization. Our smaller committees met to discuss finance and development, publications, outreach, spiritual nurturance, and nominating issues. Our working groups focused on projects related to population concerns, work at the United Nations and the diaspora, mini-grants, Unity with Nature, and connecting with Friends Committee on National Legislation.

QEW has some exciting projects underway.

• • A third UN side event has been developed by the African Diaspora sub group of the UN Working Group and will sponsor Water: Reconnecting People of African Descent in July at the Salvation Army Buildng In NYC.
• The African Diaspora Earthcare Coalition, convened by Quaker Earthcare Witness and its United Nations Working Group, works to educate, advocate, and create solidarity networks supporting clean water, the retention of agricultural land, and food sovereignty for people of the African descent. The Coalition is comprised of organizations and colleagues from the worldwide African diaspora.
• A QEW Friend, Kristin Becker, at St Paul Meeting is developing zero waste guidelines and an info packet to help individuals and Meetings cut down and eliminate their consumption and waste. This will be distributed to Yearly Meeting Reps and can be available to all in the coming months.

From BYM Rep, Barb Adams:
This was a full year for me as your representative.

As one pathway to help fulfill the goals of improving recognition of QEW within the Religious Society of Friends and beyond, and expanding our network of Monthly and Yearly Meetings, I offered to create a film to share what moves Quakers to be a part of QEW and some of the deeper awarenesses that QEW members have on the issues of Earthcare, That film, Quaker Earthcare Witness: A Panorama was 18 months in the making and is now finished! I will be including it as I travel to Meetings in the BYM area to talk about empowerment in addressing earthcare issues and how QEW can partner with Meetings and individuals in this process. It will also be made available through the QEW website and you can also contact me directly.

In my developing role as liaison to Indigenous and Women’s Groups around the world addressing climate change and environmental injustice through the UN Working Group, I attended my second UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, April 21-27.

I learned of the horrific genocide against many indigenous peoples in Amazonia areas in South America by corporate and, in some cases, government militias, protecting extraction projects which are destroying water, land, air and sacred ways of life. Chieftains from a number of tribes attended the fFrum along with a contingent of representative of the Catholic Church Worldwide, to discuss a collaborative movement bring this reality to the Vatican and ask the Pope for intercession.

I learned of the shocking increase of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the US and Canada, especially related to fossil fuel extraction projects, and the transient workers/predators that avoid arrest and prosecution because of the limits of tribal police and non-cooperation of state police and local governments.

I was deeply moved to witness the release of a book of writings by Indigenous youth and their powerful, grounded wisdom shared at this event. I will be getting multiple copies once made available to the public.

I continue to feel Spirit-guided in my work in QEW and am grateful for the opportunity to represent BYM and look for more engagement and collaboration with the BYM Unity with Nature Committee, BYM Quakers and Meetings in the months ahead.

Barb Adams (Richmond), Representative to Quaker Earthcare Witness

2018 Annual Report

I assumed the role of BYM rep to Quaker Earthcare Witness after 2017 Annual Session, following Toni Hudson’s diligent service in the role for many years. As an alternate rep the previous year, I was able to learn from Toni, attend bi-annual QEW Steering Committee meetings and experience the workings of the organization.

In this first year as your Yearly Meeting representative, I have fully participated in the life and spirit of QEW. I have found it to be a group of Quakers with varying backgrounds, interests, skills and talents, all dedicating themselves to addressing climate change and environmental concerns, fostering right relationships and the renewal of our natural world. I look forward to continuing my growth in my own life and practices and discovering ways to create the best synergy of the BYM, Monthly Meetings, BYM Unity with Nature committee, other BYM committees, and QEW.

• QEW asks that Yearly Meeting reps join a committees and a working group and in the fall joined the Outreach Committee, thinking that might give me insights into ways other reps engage with their YMs as I help seek how BYM and QEW might have greater integration. I will work with the BYM Unity with Nature committee to help create a vibrant sharing and support that reflects all our interests. There is discussion about updating the QEW website which would facilitate more cross communication in the network of YMs and MMs under the QEW umbrella. UwN committee’s creative and engaging initiatives are definitely some that other YMs would want to know about.

• I identified a leading to do some outreach to college students, both Quaker and non-Quaker. Partnering with Max Thoburn, a YAF from my Meeting, we developed a framework for engaging with students on college campuses. We did a focus group with Friends at Virginia Commonwealth University and received feedback and great suggestions on how we might move forward.

• In the fall of 2017, I joined the UN Working Group, and following a leading, have been creating a role as a liaison to indigenous and women’s groups around the world addressing climate change and environmental and human injustice. As QEW, I have attended the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for the last two years. This leading is still unfolding, but some of the paths it is taking include collecting films by indigenous groups to share with the Quaker world and beyond; collaborating with local indigenous people to learn how they view and address environmental issues; and fostering greater understanding of Quaker history related to NA indigenous people. This spring, I attended the Truth and Healing: Right Relationship with Indigenous People, a rich experience that furthered my growth and understanding. I will connect with the Indian Affairs Committee and look for interface with QEW work.

• It seems there are still many BYM Quakers that are not aware of QEW and what it does. To help address this, I volunteered to make a short film about the organization that should be ready by mid-July. I will also seek more opportunities to share about QEW: making presentations in Annual Session business meetings, Interim Meetings, visitations to MMs, attending meetings of other Quaker organizations and at Quaker events.

QEW Steering Committee Meetings
The Fall Meeting at Pendle Hill, typically more public, was a dynamic meeting with a number of really inspirational presentations. As it was the 30th anniversary of QEW, there was a retrospective and celebration that included personal and phone sharing by those involved at the organization’s inception. A powerful presentation by a number of YAFs including Hayley Hathaway and Jamie Demarco, lit a fire for more discussion about Quakers being a more active presence in addressing environmental, and other, issues. Pamela Boyce Smith shared a new leading to move away from focus on the disaster mindset of environmental work and shift to living the vision of a new world of our design.

The Spring Meeting in Chicago, typically where more internal work is done, focused much discussion on how QEW can be more relevant and effective in accomplishing goals. From a leading related to concerns about civil and human rights violations in Virginia, I wrote a minute that was approved wholeheartedly by the organization. I will be sharing this with BYM Meetings as well as related minute written by Roanoke Meeting. Many times during this Steering Committee Meeting there was a sense of unity and community that galvanized my connection with the organization. Four new pamphlets were shared by committees and working groups: Food for a Healthy, Just, and Peaceable Planet; Adoption: An Option for Friends; A Friend’s Witness on Population; Divestment As Lived Faith.

I look forward to more interaction and discussion with Friends on ways we can all support each other to find what right relationship with, and love for, our natural world looks like.

Submitted by Barb Adams (Richmond)

2017 Annual Report

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) is a network of Friends in North America and other like-minded people who are taking action to address the ecological and social crises of the world from a spiritual perspective, emphasizing Quaker process and testimonies.

Each Yearly Meeting appoints a representative to the QEW Steering Committee. Currently, Toni Hudson serves as BYM's appointee and Barb Adams serves as the alternate. Barb attended the Fall 2016 Steering Committee Meeting at Pendle Hill. Neither Toni or Barb attended the 2017 Spring Steering Committee Meeting in Atlanta, Barb attending the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, as a representative from QEW held at the same time. BYM funds were used for travel by train and for registration.

The Fall Meeting included presentations and discussion on current aspects of the environmental movement and the Quaker perspective. Presenters included Ruah Swennerfelt, long-time QEW General Secretary, on the Transition Movement; Pamela Boyce-Simms, from NY Yearly Meeting and clerk of the QEW UN Working Group, on theories of environmental engagement; and a member of the Earth Quaker Action Team (EQAT) on Quaker activism. The UN Working Group decided on an initiative highlighting food and water sustainability issues and the African Diaspora, that will culminate in a side event at the UN in July 2017.

Quaker Earthcare Witness sees one of its roles as leading and coordinating Friends in participating in environmental activities and actions. The Steering Committee authorized Shelley Tanenbaum, QEW General Secretary, to visit the camps at Standing Rock, N Dakota, and deliver a letter of support for North American indigenous people peacefully acting to protect water resources and tribal rights.

In Spring 2017, the Steering Committee Meeting recommitted to maintaining a vibrant, two-way communication and outreach with Yearly and Monthly Meetings at this critical time of challenges to addressing climate change. Representing QEW, Barb Adams acted as a liaison to Indigenous and Women’s organizations around the world working to address environmental injustice, racism and infringement of rights at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in NY.

At the 2016 BYM Annual Session, the QEW display was of the poster from the website that focused on "Climate Change: A Spiritual Matter". It featured a description of climate change and the need to focus beyond simply technological solutions. There was a list of the many issues where the earth needs care and advocacy and a list of ways to respond. It also included many of the newly revised pamphlets and the application folder for the QEW mini-grants. Aligning with the theme of that year’s Plenary speaker, George Lakey, Unity with Nature distributed Next Steps, a thorough list of positive action steps for Friends and Meetings, to Quakers in attendance. This brochure was shared with QEW.

Friends are reminded that Quaker Earthcare Witness is a rich resource for all things environmental. A growing library of leaflets on many issues are available on the web site. All the leaflets on aspects of population have been updated this year. The current newsletter, BeFriending Creation, and past issues are also on the site. There are links to Facebook, Twitter and a discussion page. QEW is reaching out with more resources, ways to communicate and opportunities to address the ecological and social crises of the world. It is hoped that more BYM Friends will be able to connect with this environmental organization which is leading with a truly Quaker perspective.

Barb Adams (Richmond) Toni Hudson (Sandy Spring)

2016 Annual Report

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) is a network of Friends in North America and other like-minded people who are taking spirit-led action to address the ecological and social crises of the world from a spiritual perspective, emphasizing Quaker process and testimonies.

Each Yearly Meeting appoints a representative to the Steering Committee. Currently, Toni Hudson serves as BYM's appointee and Barb Adams serves as the alternate. Neither were able to attend the 2015 Fall Gathering which was held in Loma LInda, California. Both Toni and Barb did attend the 2016 Spring Steering Committee Meeting in Chicago. BYM funds were used for travel by train and for registration. The Spring Meeting included committee and working group meetings. Presentations by Steering Committee members included those who attended the FWCC World Plenary Meeting in Peru, members who questioned the distribution of funds from the US pledge of $750 million for those impacted globally by climate change that was initiated at the Paris talks, and the ad hoc Population committee that is now the Population Working Group. The Population Working Group brought forward a minute supporting Planned Parenthood that was written and approved by the Durango Monthly Meeting, as well as a revised educational pamphlet on the impacts of population on climate change. The Working Group plans to send the Minute to the Yearly Meetings to be shared with their local Meetings. Another piece of business: NY Friend, Angela Manno, asked QEW for organizational support as she begins offering her webinar "Ecospirituality and Action" to a wider audience. QEW will be writing a letter of support and will continue to discern other ways to offer support.

QEW, with Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and Quaker United Nations Organization (QUNO), prepared the original Quaker Shared Statement on Climate Change for the Climate March and UN Climate talks in New York in September 2014. The Statement has been carried forward to Yearly Meetings and their local Meetings. QEW has coordinated slight changes in wording and the collection of sign-ons to the Statement. Local Meetings continue to sign-on, as led, to the Shared Statement that acknowledges our role in climate change, particularly through burning fossil fuels.

Quaker Earthcare Witness sees one of its roles as leading and coordinating Friends in participating in environmental activities and actions. When Pope Francis came to Washington, DC to address Congress, QEW coordinated the Quaker presence. Friends gathered together under the QEW banner on the Mall lawn to watch the jumbotrons and hear the Pope's words. The night before the Pope's address, Barb joined Roy Taylor, the clerk of QEW, for the Interfaith Vigil arranged by Interfaith Power and LIght.

During the 2015 Annual Session, the QEW display focused on the divestment of fossil fuels. Taking such an action by Friends was likened to the actions of Friends with regard to slavery. On the table was the pamphlet, prepared by QEW, about fossil fuel divestment, including links to investments that are fossil free. Also available was a sheet with QEW's Three Challenges for local Meetings. One of the challenges is to go fossil free, both as a Meeting and individually.

Friends are reminded that Quaker Earthcare Witness is a rich resource for all things environmental. Pamphlets on many issues are available on the web site. All of the pamphlets on aspects of population have been updated this year. The current newsletter, BeFriending Creation, and past issues are also on the site. There are links to Facebook, Twitter and a discussion page.

QEW is reaching out with more resources, ways to communicate and opportunities to address the ecological and social crises of the world. It is hoped that more BYM Friends will be able ot connect with this environmental organization which is leading with a truly Quaker perspective.

Toni Hudson (Sandy Spring) and Barb Adams (Richmond)

2015 Annual Report

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) is a network of Friends in North America and other like-minded people who are taking spirit-led action to address the ecological and social crises of the world from a spiritual perspective, emphasizing Quaker process and testimonies.

Each Yearly Meeting appoints a representative to the Steering Committee. Toni Hudson serves as BYM's appointee and Eli Fishpaw serves as the alternate. Barb Adams is a rising alternate.

Toni attended the Fall Gathering which was held at Pendle Hill. Barb attended the Spring Steering Committee meeting held at Ann Arbor Monthly Meeting. BYM funds were used for travel and registration. QEW Friends come from all over to gather, share stories, participate in committee meetings, and spend time in worship and fellowship. There are wonderful (and Earth-friendly) vegetarian meals, times of silence and celebration, and opportunities to learn about and discuss a wide range of concerns and emerging responses on behalf of our planet. The Fall Gathering featured leaders from EQAT, FCNL and QUNO who inspired and energized participants. They represented some of the Quaker organizations who signed on to the Shared Statement on Climate Change.

At the Steering Committee Meeting this spring, Barb focused on learning about the working process of QEW and the Steering Committee gathering. During the weekend, members participated in a series of Meetings for Worship for Business to discuss full and varied agendas and the outcome of breakout sessions of working groups and subcommittees. Discussions included the interface of technology during worshipful times; whether to sign - with FCNL - the letter opposing the Ryan-Hatch Fast Track bill; issues related to support for the UNFCC Green Climate Fund; and revisions of a number of QEW publications. Sharing meals and worship with Ann Arbor Meeting members, staying in the home of a Meeting member, and spending a day at the Ann Arbor retreat center added depth and fellowship to the experience.

QEW has updated and expanded its website to include access to its journal (Be-Friending Creation), an archive of its Eco-Bulletins, its pamphlets and Resources for Earthcare Action. Print copies of these can be ordered on-line, as well. The site now features a blog which encourages Meetings to share their environmental actions and is on Facebook and Twitter. At the 2014 BYM Annual Session there was a display that featured back issues of Be-Friending Creation, copies of the pamphlets and information about resources. When the Unity with Nature committee introduced their request for BYM to embrace the request for local meetings to discern their response to climate change, environmental degradation and resource depletion, Friends were reminded of the rich resources of QEW.

As a result of attending QEW gatherings, we have met many Friends who are working to bring about Right Relationship with Creation. These contacts have been a resource for BYM Unity with Nature Committee. At Annual Session the committee, as well as the Yearly Meeting, benefited from a workshop led by Roy Taylor, the clerk of QEW. "Transformation and Healing of Creation" prepared Friends for the request of local meetings to discern climate change.

A number of BYM Friends attended the Climate March in New York City on September 21. QEW coordinated the Quaker presence and led Friends with the Quaker Earthcare Witness banner. QEW has led a Quaker effort to present a Shared Statement on Climate Change and encourages Yearly and Local Meetings to sign on to it. Three Challenges have recently been prepared for individuals and local Meetings, with suggested actions to encourage Friends to set an example or witness to those outside of Meetings. These, we hope, will be shared with BYM on the Unity with Nature resource page.

QEW is reaching out with more resources, ways to communicate and opportunities to address the ecological and social crises of the world. It is hoped that more BYM Friends will be able to connect with this environmental organization which is leading with a truly Quaker perspective.

Toni Hudson, Eli Fishpaw, Barb Adams

2014 Annual Report

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) is a network of Friends in North America and other like-minded people who are taking spirit-led action to address the ecological and social crises of the world from a spiritual perspective, emphasizing Quaker process and testimonies.

Each Yearly Meeting appoints a representative to the Steering Committee. Toni Hudson serves as BYM's appointee and Eli Fishpaw serves as the alternate. Toni attended the Steering Committee Meeting this Spring and the Fall Gathering last October. QEW Friends come from all over to gather, share stories, participate in committee meetings, and spend time in worship and fellowship. There are wonderful (and Earth-friendly) vegetarian meals, times of silence and celebration, and opportunities to learn about and discuss a wide range of concerns and emerging responses on behalf of our planet. Both sessions were held in Chicago at the Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center and BYM funds were used for train travel and registration.

Each representative serves on a committee and a working group. Toni is on the Nominating Committee and the FCNL working group. John Hudson, a QEW member-at-large, is on the Outreach Committee, and serves a a QEW delegate to FCNL. Both Toni and John attended the FCNL Fall Lobby in Washington, DC. QEW participated in the revisions to the FCNL policy statement.

QEW has updated and expanded its website to include access to its journal (Be-Friending Creation), an archive of its Eco-Bulletins, its pamphlets and Resources for Earthcare Action. Print copies of these can be ordered on-line, as well. The site now features a blog which encourages Meetings to share their environmental actions and is on Facebook and Twitter. At the 2013 BYM Annual Session there was a display that featured back issues of Be-Friending Creation, copies of the pamphlets and information about resources.

As a result of attending QEW gatherings, we have met many Friends who are working to bring about Right Relationship with Creation. These contacts have been a resource for our BYM Unity with Nature Committee. Two Friends, who are heavily invested in their leadings, came to us to share their expertise and enthusiasm in workshops at the 2013 Annual Session. Ruah Swennerfelt, who lives in Vermont and was the General Secretary of QEW for many years, is now involved in the Transition Movement. The Movement seeks to have communities find ways that they can prepare for a future without fossil fuels. The other Friend, Ed Dreby, came from Philadephia Yearly Meeting to share the Growth Dilemma Project. He and other Friends share through the Project the need for a new way to deal with our economy - one that does not rely on continuous growth in a world of limited resources. BYM funds helped to pay for these Friends registration, travel and accommodations.

QEW is reaching out with more resources, ways to communicate and opportunities to address the ecological and social crises of the world. It is hoped that more BYM Friends will be able to connect with this environmental organization with a truly Quaker perspective.

2013 Annual Report

Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) is an organization that draws Friends from across the U.S. and Canada who are concerned with living in Right Relationship with all Creation. Supporters have a wide variety of interests and expertise that are shared at two face-to face-meetings each year, in print publications, on the web site and by e-mail discussion groups. QEW works to put its concerns in the context of the Quaker testimonies, especially the truth that human aspirations for peace and justice depend upon restoring the earth’s ecological integrity.

Each Yearly Meeting appoints a representative and alternative to the Steering Committee. Both BYM appointees, Toni and John Hudson, attended the late June 2012 Steering Committee meeting in Boston, hosted by Cambridge Monthly Meeting. BYM funds were used for train travel and registration.

This was the first year that QEW coordinated its meeting with the Friends General Conference Gathering. The Gathering was held in Providence RI just as the Steering Committee meeting ended. It was hoped that more QEW members could be a presence at the FGC Earthcare Center. In 2013 QEW will meet in Greeley CO prior to the FGC Gathering there.

The Steering Committee meeting was focused on personnel issues this year and was very intense. One of the three employees, the editor of BeFriending Creation, was retiring. Most of QEW business is done via Skype calls and the internet and this was an opportunity to be in worshipful meeting for business.

Each Steering Committee member serves on a committee and a Working Group. Toni is on the Nominating Committee and John serves on Outreach. Both are on the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Working Group and attended both the FCNL Fall Lobby in November and the Spring Lobby on Climate Change in March.

At the 2012 BYM Annual Session, Eli Fishpaw replaced John Hudson as the BYM alternate to QEW. Eli, Toni and John traveled to Chicago in October for the QEW Annual Meeting. Eli and Toni’s train travel and registration were partially funded by BYM. At the meeting John was named an At-Large Representative. Eli was given the opportunity to explore committees and working groups.

The highlight of the 2012 Annual Session was the celebration of 25 years of QEW. Some of the original group of Friends gathered to tell stories of how Friends Committee on Unity with Nature (FCUN) began at the Friends General Conference Gathering at Oberlin College. FCUN would later be called Quaker Earthcare Witness.

As a result of attending QEW meetings, we have met many Friends who are working to bring about a Right Relationship with Creation. These contacts are a resource for our BYM Unity with Nature Committee. This year the committee was able to arrange for Ed Dreby from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to do a workshop on the “Growth Dilemma Project” and Ruah Swennerfelt, former QEW General Secretary, to do a workshop on “Quakers in Transition”. BYM funds are helping with travel expenses, bringing a little bit of QEW to BYM Friends.

Toni Hudson, (Sandy Spring)
BYM Representative

2012 Annual Report

No report received.