Friends Bulletin- Building the Western Quaker Community Since 1929-September 2007

2007·4.4 MB·English

O
Editorial Deepening urSpiritual (Connections....
Friends Bulletin
The officialpublicationofPacific,
North Pacificand Intermountain uring a recent Yearly Meeting gathering I saw someone with a nametag
YearlyMeetings ofthe
thatseemedverystrange. Beneath his namewas the phrase“Isolated Friend.”
Religious SocietyofFriends (Quakers)
(Opinionsexpressedarethose Howcould a Friend be isolated, I wondered? What a sad fate! Then I realized that
oftheauthors, this phrase meant that this particular individual lived too far from a Meeting or
notnecessarilyoftheYearlyMeetings.) Worship Group to be a member, but none the less considered himself a Friend.
Thank goodness for Yearly Meeting! I thought. For at least a few days out ofthe
AnthonyManousos, Editor
3223 Danaha St year, this Friend can connect to a larger Quaker community.
Torrance, CA 90505 Deep in our souls, we yearn for connection. That’s why isolation (or “solitary
310-325-3581
confinement”) is considered an extreme form ofpunishment. To feel whole and
E-mail: [email protected]
www.westernquaker.net complete, we need to feel connected to each other, to our community, and ulti-
—
mately to something greater than ourselves the source oflife, and ofour inner
CorrespondingEditors
being, the Creator and Sustainer ofthe universe.
JeanTriol (Montana Friends) I am always happy to hear when new connections are formed, and saddened
(see addressbelow) when we fail to connect. That’s why I was pleased to hear that Intermountain
Joe Morris (PYM) YearlyMeeting decided to take the first steps towards affiliationwith Friends Gen-
2461 Santa Monica Blvd,Apt 131
SantaMonica, CA 90404 eral Conference (see p. 18). What better way to deepen one’s connection with the
larger world ofFriends than to be part ofthis extraordinary Quaker organization!
BoardofDirectors I am pleased to report that over 140 Friends from the three Western YearlyMeet-
FGC
Stephen Matchett (PYM), Clerk ings attended the most recent Gathering in Wisconsin. It’s good news to
824 Fell St hear thatWestern and Eastern Friends are finally getting connected!
San Francisco, CA 94117 Sad to say, IMYM decided it does notyetfeelreadyto have a formal affiliation
Tom Vaughan (IMYM),Treasurer
CR with Quaker EarthCare Witness (QEW), even though Friends clearly feel the
11795 39.2
Mancos, CO 81328 need to have a deeper involvement with the environmental movement. This was
Sandy Farley (PYM), Recording Clerk evident from the enthusiastic response to Doug Stewart’s play about global warm-
1301 HimmelAve
Redwood City, CA 9406 ing,“Mother Earth vs. theWorld’s People.”During this mock trial, Mother Earth
Polly Kmetz (IMYM) indicts human beings for wreaking environmental destruction on the planet (see
4233 E RanchoTierra Dr pp. 6-7). At the end ofthe play, Friends declared themselves “guilty as charged” and
Cave Creek,AZ 85331-7867
vowed to do something to change their behavior/Let’s hope this commitment leads
JeanTriol (NPYM)
139 River Glen Court Friends to connect and workwith other Friends who care about the environment!
MT
Kalispell, 59901 Deepening our connection with Nature is one way to feel more deeply con-
Rob RoyWoodman (PYM) nected with our true selves, since we and Nature (or as we moderns like to say, “the
2532Westernesse Rd
Davis CA 95616 environment”) are actually one. That’s why many Friends love attending yearly
, meeting at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM, which is one of the most beautiful
natural settings in the world (as Bruce Thron-Webber’s sumptuous cover photo
suggests). Experiencing such natural beauty sometimes comes with a steep envi-
Friends Bulletin (USPS 859-220)is ronmental price tag, however. To escape from cities and suburbs and connect with
published monthlyexcept February and
Augustbythe Friends Bulletin Corporation eachotheratGhostRanch, we must drive ourcars, orflyonplanes,longdistances. In
ofthe Religious SocietyofFriends at 3223 so doing, we use fossil fuel, pollute the atmosphere, and help raise the earth’s already
Danaha St,Torrance,CA 90505. Phone:
feverish temperature.
310-325-3581. Periodicals postage paid at
Whittier,CA90601-2222. Keynote speaker Marge Larrabee reminded us thatwe don’t need to travel far to
become connected with the Spirit. She quoted Isaac Pennington who said, “There is
Subscription Rates: $28 peryear for that nearyou which will guide you. O wait for it and be sure to keep to it.”The most
individuals. $21 peryearforgroup
subscriptions throughyourlocalFriends important thing we seek is within ourselves, ifonlywe are willing to connect with it!
meeting. $18 introductoryrate. Checkwith Ironically, Marge travelled thousands ofmiles to share this message. And I’m
editorfora studentorlow-income glad she did. I not only had the chance to hear her speak during the plenary ses-
subscription. Firstclass postage $10
additional. Foreign postage varies. Individual sion,I also had the privilege ofspendingtime with her and experiencingherwarmth
copies: $3.95 each. and wisdom. What a blessing andjoy it is to connect with Friends!
Postmaster: Sendaddresschangesto:
FriendsBulletin,3223 DanahaSt,
CA
Torrance, 90505.
September2007 Friends Bulletin. 3
FriendMargeryLarrabee’s talkat Intermountain Yearly
Meeting was not a typical keynote speech.
“It was as if she was chatting with each ofus over a
cup of coffee,” notes IMYM’s Epistle. Margery shared
—
various observations what she later called “seed
—
thoughts” inspired by her long experience as a Friend.
ManyFriends reported later that itwas as ifshewere speak-
ing directly to them and to their condition. I met with
Margery afterwards to help glean highlights ofher talk.
“How to begin this talk?” Margery wondered after
being introduced bythe clerk, Rebecca Henderson. Paus-
ing to reflect, she began:
“Coming to Yearly Meeting and seeing the natural
beauty ofGhost Ranch, I wondered: Is that not enough? MargeryLarrabeeandMaryWaddington,hertraveling ",'elder.”
Walking to the Plenary session with Friends this morn-
‘that ofGod’inyou,”she said. “Consider doing thatprac-
ing, I wondered: Is that not enough? On the walk, I saw
tice regularly.”
other Friends in their worship sharing groups, felt their She made a number of positive comments about
spiritual energy, and asked myself: Js that not enough?” IMYM’s developing Faith andPractice “This Faith and
:
She then quoted Isaac Pennington, who said, “There Practice presents a wonderful opportunity and resource
O
is that near you which will guide you. wait for it and be for looking at the questions that you have about deep-
sure you keep to it.” ening the spiritual life among you. Consider using the
She again wondered aloud: Is this not enough? Faith andPractice as a regular reference. Study it, share
“Perhaps I should now go to my closing prayer,” she and practice together.”
said with a smile. Everyone laughed and she continued. “Another practice to consider is expressing the ap-
—
Having felt very welcomed by the Yearly Meeting, preciation ofothers not to strengthen their ego but to
she—suggested that we see welcoming as a spiritual prac- discover and call forth their spiritual gifts in others.” She
tice welcoming the Spirit in others. She proposed an called this “good finding” and quoted the words ofGary
opening exercise: She asked us to greet each other by Zukav, author ofSeat ofthe Soul
:
saying, “I greet the Fight in you.”
Ifyou choose to focus your attention on the strengths
“Think ofthis as meaning, ‘that ofGod’ in me greets
Inside, this Issue 8 Epistles ofIntermountain 14 The Blue Beacon
YearlyMeeting by David Ray
3 Greetingthe Lightin Each
Other... 10 A HistoryofWar lax 17 Action Minutes from 2007
byMargery Larrabee Resistance in the US Annual Session ofIMYM
by Vickie Aldrich
6 Mother Earth Versus the 20 Memorial Minutes
World’s People 12 Intermountain Yearly
22 Calender
Photo spread by the editor Meeting in Pictures
22 Classifieds
4 Friends Bulletin. September2007
ofothers, the virtues ofothers, on that part ofothers tualbeings having a human experience.
that strives for the highest, you run through your sys- Margery recalled a passage from Wordsworth’s “Im-
tem the highest frequency currents of appreciation, mortality Ode” that is quoted by Elise Boulding in her
Pendle Hill pamphlet Born Remembering. “Not in entire
acceptance and love....Your energy and influence ra-
forgetfulness, and not in utter nakedness, but trailing
diate instantaneously from soul to soul. You become
clouds ofglory do we come from God who is our home.”
an effective influence ofchange.
Margery then gave us queries to consider:
She advised us to decide not to be offended by our • Is the spirit in me answering the spirit in you, re-
differences. She told a story about a group ofwomen who gardless ofconditions and circumstances?
went toJan Hoffman, clerkofNew EnglandYearlyMeet- • Am I expressing the “fruits of the spirit”? (See
ing.Theywere concerned that inclusive language be used Galatians 5: 22.)
YM
in our sessions so no one be offended. Theywent on • Am I experiencing uneasiness, uncertainty, discom-
to say how they themselves turned to a feminine expres- fort? Ifso, this is something to embrace, thinkabout,work
sion of God, the Goddess, and would not think of ex- with. These feelings give us clues to explore further.
YM
pressing that in since it might be offensive to others. • Do I want to be in alignmentwith the Spirit? What
After they had shared their concern,Jan immediately gets in the way?
responded: Margery recommended the use ofa spiritual practice
—
Offend me.Tell your real experience. Ifyou don’t known as “examen [de conscience/’ to review the ways we
share your real experience, we don’t learn about each have been in alignment and ways we have not.
We
other and something is lost. can engage in an examen in the morning and night
of each day. The key query is: “Have I let God into my
The purpose is not to offend, but to be real.
life?”
She suggested other ways in which we can reflect on
Margery spoke of prayer: “As we pray together, we
our alignment: prayer,journaling, small groups, etc.
forge connections with one another, and with the univer-
She told a story about Henry DavidThoreau. On his
sal spirit. It’s a meeting place, the way we connect.”
death bed, a minister came and asked: “Are you at peace
She described various kinds ofprayer:
with thyMaker?”Thoreau responded, “I didn’t know that
• Prayer ofgratitude. The German mystic Meister I had an argument with Him.”
Eckhard once said that ifwe only say “thank you,” that “When I am in alignment, sturdy and clear about
prayer is enough. myself,” said Margery, “I can be welcoming to others re-
• Centering prayer: helps to clear out the chatter in gardless ofhowI am being treated.There have been times
our heads. when people have had disagreements with me, or have
• Affirmativeprayer: focus on God and spiritual real- had a strong emotional response.
ity- “After the storm is over, it’s helpful to find time to
• Holding in the Light: helpful in situations ofcon- reach out from a centered place, to find out how itwas for
flict. that person, then to tell them how itwas foryou.This can
• Layingon ofhands helps people to come into align- lead to learning, correction, and healing.The bottom fine
ment, to realize their true nature. is that we stay connected. The focus is on resolving the
issue, not changing the person.”
Shereturnedtothe themeof“goodfinding”andrepeated Margery sees spiritual realization as a process. “Liv-
part ofMarianneWilliamson’s famous quote that begins: ing a spiritual life requires a willingness to do innerwork,
Ourdeepestfearisnotthatweare inadequate. Ourdeep- to recognize our substance as well as our shadow,” she
estfearis thatwe are powerfulbeyond measure. It is our said. “Althoughwe alreadyare whatwe seekwe often need
light, not our darkness that most frightens us. guidance. So,we need to make a decision to do innerwork.
Margeryencouraged us to askourselves “Who am I?” It’s an ‘inside job.’”
She said that Thomas Kelley has been helpful. His
repeatedly and deeply. She said that when she asks this
language presents a hurdle for some, but expresses mean-
question in a workshop, people often first respond by de-
scribing their role: “I am a teacher, father, mother.”When ing for her. She quoted from Kelley:
pressed, they often describe their likes and dislike. It takes How then we lay hold ofthat life and power and five
time forpeople to recognize theirreal identity: wearespiri- the life ofprayer without ceasing? By quiet and per-
September2007 Friends Bulletin. 5
sistent practice in turning of all our being day and a place for themselves in the Friends’ community. It’s not
night in prayer and inwardworship and surrenderto- an attempt for the meeting to make a decision about the
wards Him who calls in the deeps ofour soul. person; it’s a opportunity for the applicant to make a de-
“‘Surrender’was a difficultword for me,”saidMargery, cision for him or herself. There are also situations where
“until I figured out what I was surrendering to.” both the meeting and the applicant mutuallyagree to post-
She went on to quote another passage from Kelley: pone or qualify the membership process for a variety of
good reasons.
Keep contactwith the outerworld ofsense and mean-
ings. There is no discipline in absent-mindedness. Taking space is one ofthe most helpfulways for deep-
Walk and talk and work and laugh with your friends. ening our connection to the ground ofour religious expe-
Butbehind the scenes, keep up the life ofsimple prayer rience and deepening our spiritual connection to one an-
and inward worship. other. We can take space to be receptive to the Spirit any
We
“Living the spiritual life is a process,” observed time, any place. are most likely to be familiar with
Margery. “Remember you don’t have to do it alone.” taking space in meeting for worship.
We
can remember that alignment with the spirit is
According to Margery, one ofthe practices that helps portable.
We We
us to keep in alignment is listening. She recommended can take space in our conversation. can say,
the Pendle Hill PamphletExpectantListeningbyMichael “Friend, I don’t feel comfortable expressing these critical
Wajda. “Being listened to can help us break through bar- comments.” Or, “I’d like to step back from this focus and
riers that keep us from being good listeners,” as Elizabeth think about what we need to accomplish. I need to have
We
O’Connor some space to reflect on this.” can take space in any
states.
Applying for membership in meeting often requires activity or situation that is challenging.
us to be especially mindful oflistening well to the appli-
cant. Margery also spoke ofcommunity, spirit-led eldering
Margery told the story ofan attender who regularly and forgiveness: “Community is important as it nurtures
“
gave messages about how there is no God. He did this individuals on their individualjourneys.
often, over several weeks. Initially this was absorbed into She quoted the German theologican Dietrich
silent worship, but then it became clear that this was go- Bonhoffer:“Whoever loves community, destroys commu-
ing to be a continual challenge. Members ofthe meeting nity. Whoever loves his brother, builds community.”
metwith him informally. She also paraphrasedJean Vanier: Many peoplejoin
Then suddenly, without the meeting understanding groups seeking to understand a certain form ofspiritual-
why, he expressed a desire to be a member. Ministry and ity.That is not community. That is a school. It becomes a
Oversight decided to sitwith this man for a clearness meet- community only when people start truly caring for each
ing to understand the situation. They set up an evening other and for each other’s growth.
that included supper. They asked questions that would “I think that it is critically important that as a mem-
allow him to share his story in full. ber or attender ofa Friends community, that we include
After being listened to he felt accepted and under- spirit-led eldering as a central part ofour life together.”
stood and came to a place where he could hear what She said that the verb “elder” is used for the exercise
Friends believe. Realizing his difference, he finally de- of spiritual leadership either to support and encourage
cided for himselfnot to be a member. members or attenders in their ministry, or to question and
discourage an individualwhose behavior is deemed inap-
When a committeewas considering queries for mem- propriate.
bership, a member suggested the following query: How “To not forgive is a decision to suffer,” Margery
did you come by your sexuality? This query created some oberved. “Forgiveness is something I choose to do with
shockand seemed too much to some. But itwas a thought- myselfso that I can be in a relationship with love.”
ful question to help people to come to know themselves Margeryconcludedwith awell known quotation from
more deeply, knowing their own truth. MotherTheresa, which ends with:
A woman said: “IfI had been asked this question, it Give the world the best you’ve got. It may not be
could have saved three marriages. It took me three mar- enough. Do good anyway.
riages to learn that I am not heterosexual.” In the final analysis it’s between you and God. It’s not
It’s for attenders to decide how they do or do not see between you and them anyway.
6 Friends Bulletin. September2007
COURT OF LAST RESORT
^aHW.B.!i!arawnnMiHiiRi!..niHRwm
Michelle Chrabot (Judge) and
John Gallagher (Bailiff)
Most
Perhaps the
Important Trial in the
History of Civilization!
Doug Stewart's new global warming-related
play was acted out by Friends at Intermountain
Yearly Meeting during their annual session this
summer. The work is based on the historic trial
in which Mother Earth brings charges against
World's People for “acting in ways that cause
me grievous personal harm and limit my inherent
civil rights to a fruitful existence."
The “jury" for this dramatic trial is the
play's audience. After hearing witnesses called
by Mother Earth and closing arguments by both
sides, the “jury" must decide if Mother Earth's
evidence is sufficient to find World's People
"guilty as charged."
Despite the play's serious theme, the comic
portrayal of earth's primal forces produced
much laughter (Peat Bogg's realistic belches
were especially effective).
In the end, Friends found themselves "guilty
as charged" and were given an appropriate
punishment, i.e. to reduce carbon emissions as
much as possible.
The skit was directed by Mary-Ray Cate of
Sante Fe (NM) Meeting. Actors in the skit not
pictured in this article include Ian Ford (De-
fense Attorney), Ruth Reames (Coral Reef), and
Erica Marken (Gulf Stream).
September2007 Friends Bulletin. 7
Sarah and Christina Medvescek,
Hurricanes Katrina and Zelda
The pictures in this article were enhanced with
Photoshop to convey what each of the charac-
ters represented.
Contact Doug Stewart for a copy of the script
and for more information at [email protected].
Pam Haigh, Rising Ocean
8 Friends Bulletin. September2007
es of
ELpistl
V
|ntermountain ear
*M
Meeting
Welive in the virtue ofthepowerandtheLightthattakesaway
the occasionfor war.
—
George Fox
Dear Friends everywhere,
Over meals, in interest groups and Early Days work-
shops, through music, on hiking trails, or in conversations
—
on old wooden benches on the lawn and ofcourse in wor- on National Legislation’s new staff position for border is-
—
ship 311 Friends ofIntermountain Yearly Meeting deep- sues.
ened their spiritual connections at Ghost Ranch, NM,June We were also happy to celebrate the 90th birthday of
10-17, 2007. American Friends Service Committee with several repre-
As though she were chatting with each ofus over a cup sentatives from that excellent organization.
ofcoffee, our keynote speaker, author and Friend Margery Manyfriends participated in and enjoyed the timelyand
Mears Larrabee, invited us to“greet the Light in each other.” humorous presentation of the play “Mother Earth vs. the
Friend Margery, from Mount Holly, NJ, challenged us to World’s People.”
embrace her practice of“good-finding,” “listening inwardly The “Worship Shearing” booth not onlyprovided hair-
and outwardly to the Spirit,” and “taking space.”The align- cuts forthosewho needed them but helped support ProNica,
ment with Spirit is portable, she reminded us. a group dedicated to improving the lives ofNicaraguans.
The theme of“Deepening Our Spiritual Connections” A minute proposed by Las Cruces (NM) Monthly
was continued in small worship sharing groups, a highlight Meeting in support ofwar tax resisters was adopted, along
IMYM
of for many Friends. with a minute welcoming Wyoming Friends to participate
This year’s meeting was plagued by two distressing in- in the life ofthe yearly meeting. The relationship between
juries. One Friend was hit on her bicycle by a truck days Wyoming Monthly Meeting and IMYM will be reviewed
before she was to present a workshop on Permaculture and after three years.
A
Sustainability.While hikingon ourbeautiful Kitchen Mesa, livelygroup ofchildren,juniorand senioryoungFriends
another Friend suffered a precipitous fall, breaking several blessed us with their energy.While several adults stepped for-
bones and cracking vertebrae. We found grateful connec- ward to work with the Senior Young Friends, we continue to
tion in the incredible cooperation ofthe rescue effort,which experience difficultyinfindingadultstoworkwiththeyounger
included Friends, Ghost Ranch staff and local emergency age groups. What are the obstacles to this ministry and how
personnel. Both injured Friends are recovering and we con- can we nurture our children responsibly andjoyfully?
tinue to hold them in the Light. Happily, way opened for two senior young Friends to
Wejoyfully threshed our brand new Faith andPractice join our adult representatives in attendingthe FriendsWorld
,
which will remain in the seasoning process until December Committee for Consultation Triennial meeting in Ireland
31, 2007. After 16 years ofworkbymany dedicated Friends, this August, 2007.
IntermountainYearlyMeeting’s FaithandPracticewill be in We go forth from IMYM in the hope ofcontinuing our
A
print and available June 2008. version is also posted on spiritual connections, as evidenced by the widespread inter-
our website, imym.org, for perusal and continuing input. est in and support ofour Spiritual Formation Program.
After several years ofdiscussion, we made the commit- We meet in a beautiful part ofour world where there is
ment to begin the process of affiliating with Friends Gen- peace and tranquility, but we recognize that much of the
eral Conference. However, we were not in unity about af- world is denied this gift, partiallybecause ofthe actions and
filiating with Quaker EarthCare Witness.That matter will omissions ofthe US government.
come up again next year. In lightofallofourpassionate concerns about ourworld
Much consideration and discussion on the topic ofMi- today, we continue to pray for and work toward an end to
grant and Border Concerns led to a decision to fund the war in Iraq and a world restored.
intrameeting visitation on the topic, as well as adding a line In theLight, RebeccaHenderson, Clerk, andPenny Thron-
item for additional contributions to the Friends Committee Weber, Assistant Clerk.
September2007 Friends Bulletin. 9
Children’s Yearly Meeting Yearly Meeting, tie-dying, and meeting with the keynote
speaker. After dinner the Senior Young Friends hiked up
ELpistle
the arroyo to sing campfire songs and hold Meeting for
Worship.
Dear Quakers around the world: In Business Meeting on Saturday, we selected our
At Ghost Ranch,just outside ofAbiquiu, New Mexico, FriendlyAdult Presences for nextyear,JonathonTaylor and
we played games with other CYMs and Bop theWeaselwas Kathi Sutton. This year in Senior Young Friends, we split
a fun game. Other things we liked doing were swimming, into small constantgroups forworship sharing and commu-
playing soccer with the Senior Young Friends, Crocodile nity building. TheJuniorYoung Friendsjoined our “family
We groups” onThursday night. Throughout the week, we have
River, and eating at the very large dining hall. also liked
enjoyed the company, wisdom, and love ofthe Young Adult
listeningto specialguestsMargeryMears Larrabee talkabout
equalityandJane Kroesen onAlternatives to Violence. Pep- Friends (but our skit is still better).
per Goodrich talked about Guatemala and Steve Fingerread In the Light, Intermountain Yearly Meeting Senior Young
We
us a story ofQuakers and the Civil Rights Movement. Friends
walked the Labyrinth, played foosball at the Cantina, and
We
played the games ofMission Impossible and Red Rover.
drew peace banners and other pictures. We went on two Junior Young Friends
hikes and caught grasshoppers and lizards, which was fun.
We would like to thank MacGregor “Marshmallow” ELpistle
(Ghost Ranch college staff) for being funny and nice, and
Eric Swanson (clerk for CYM’s) for putting swimming on Greetings, Friends,
our schedule and for all his hard work for us. We, theJunior Young Friends, look forward to IMYM
Inpeace Molly Madisen, Logan andAnastasiafor Childrens every year. We only get to connect once a year, and when-
, ,
Yearly Meeting. ever we do, we have a great time and have lots offun. Dur-
ing the early days, many JYFs felt that there were options
and freedom. NewFriendswerewelcomed duringthattime,
Senior Young Friends and on Wednesday night we decorated our space to make it
our own. The lowropes activities amplified teamwork. And
Etistle
theJYFs also enjoyedwaterfront activities on Abiquiu Lake,
which included canoeing, kayaking and swimming.
Greetings Friends, Mask making led by Eleanor Dart provided an oppor-
During this Intermountain Yearly Meeting a record tunity forJYFs to sculpt our faces and decorate them to our
We
number of Senior Young Friends attended Early Days (on liking. then brought our masks to life to discover the
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday) and took advantage of un- meaning ofthe masks and what they came to tell us. The
scheduled camaraderie and relaxation. We enjoyed the Low masks were talking from our spiritual center. Some people
Ropes course,hiking, artprojects, sunbathing, (when itwasn’t felt it was a weird experience, but it became more natural as
raining), and games. Also during EarlyDays,we held Meet- people got more into it.
ing for Worship for Business during which we recognized The Alternatives to Violence Project, an excellent pro-
the need for and created a Ministry and Counsel for the gram led by Patricia Morrison, included community build-
Senior Young Friends. A major adjustment this year was ing, cooperation and listening skills, in order to find alter-
our change ofhousing location from the Casitas up to the natives to violence.
Gym
mesa. While the housing itselfwas an improvement (sheets! After hiking two miles to Padre (Jim?) Bridge for
sinks!), we found our common space to be inadequate and our campout, we provided a feast for the insects and ants.
uncomfortable. We miss the old days in the Casitas, We had a good time anyway and managed a Business Meet-
Longhouse and Art House. ing.
IMYM
Wednesday, we greeted the new arrivals, talked, and This year at we learned to deepen our spiritual
played into the night. Thursdaywe began Intergenerational connections within ourselves and connect with that ofGod
Worship Sharing with members of the adult meeting and in each other.
later spent time with the Junior Young Friends. Recording Clerk: Damon Motz-Storey
Friday in Meeting for Worship for Business, we chose Clerk: Maggie Perry
our co-clerks for the next two years, Henry Easterling and Co-Clerk: TaylorHoldaway
We
Sara Motz-Storey. had a busy afternoon with
IMYM
Intergenerational Worship Sharing, soccer with Children’s See p. 18to see action minutes.
]
10 Friends Bulletin. September2007
WORK
A YOU
History of
IF
War Tax FOR PEACE
Resistance the
in
United States
A
by Vickie Aldrich
[During thisyear’s annualsession Intermountain Yearly Meet-
13
ing approveda minute supporting “those in ourYearly Meeting f
whofeelcalledto war tax resistance”(seep. 19). Vickie is a war i
tax resister.
STOP
It is against current US lawto refuse to pay all or part of PAYING
one’s income tax as a protest againstwar, yet throughout the
FOR WAR.
history ofthis country, individuals and at times groups have
made this choice.
Wartaxresistance has alonghistoryin the United States.
The first recorded tax resistance was by the Algonquin tribe
in 1637,when the Dutchwanted to impose a tax on them in as a protest to the Vietnam War. By the early 1970s the
order to build a fort. When Quakers arrived and founded number of income tax resisters was estimated at around
the colonyofPennsylvaniain the 1650s theystarted the prac- 200,000, up from 275 in 1966, with many more refusing to
tice ofrefusing either collectivelyor individuallyto paytaxes pay the telephone tax \a 3% excise tax which was originally
for war. In the 1700s one Quaker-led legislature refused to imposed in 1898 to helpfund the Spanish-American war; this
fund awar expedition to Canada. Some Quakers were actu- tax was rescindedby Congress in 2006\. In 1969 the WarTax
ally disowned for paying war taxes during the Revolution- Resistance organizationwas formed. In 1973 PeaceTax Fund
ary War. During the Mexican War, Henry David Thoreau legislation was first introduced in Congress to allowpeople,
refused to pay his taxes and made the following statement: led by conscience, an alternative destination for their taxes.
“Ifa thousand people were not to pay their tax bill this year, In 1978 the book, People Payfor Peace by a Friend named
,
that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would William Durland, was published by the Center on Law and
be to pay them, and enable the state to commitviolence and Pacifism. With the end ofthe Vietnam War war-tax resis-
shed innocent blood.” tance ebbed until President Reagan began aprogram to build
Before WorldWar II, only a small number (as low as 3 up the military in the early 1980s. According to the War
percent) ofthe population paid income tax. In 1943 the em- Resisters League web site (warresisters.org): “A national stir
ployer-withheld income tax went into effect, and income was created in 1981 when Roman Catholic Archbishop
tax began to impact most ofthe population. At a 1948 con- Raymond Hunthausen ofSeattle urged citizens to refuse to
ference on “More Disciplined and Revolutionary Pacifist pay 50 percent oftheir income taxes to protest spending on
Activity” held in Chicago, the Tax Refusal Committee was nuclear weapons. Letters ofendorsement ofhis stand were
formed. This was the first organization oftax resisters. Be- made by other religious leaders in Seattle and elsewhere
tweenWWII and the Vietnam Waronlysix individualswere around the country” (peacetaxseven.com/history.html).
imprisoned for war-tax refusal. They were James Otsuka, In 1982 the WRL published a new guidebook for war-
Maurice McCrackin, Juanita Nelson (who lived in New tax resisters. At the same time they began to produce their
Mexico for a period), Eroseanna Robinson,Walter Gormly, yearly pie chart showing the distribution ofour tax money.
and Arthur Evans (with whom the author stood on vigil The 1980s also saw the formation ofthe National WarTax
lines in the 1960s). All were imprisoned for some form of Resistance Coordinating Committee (NWTRCC), which
non-cooperation during the trial process. currently sends out a quarterly newsletter and can be ac-
The 1960s and early 1970s were the height ofwar-tax cessed at its web site: www.nwtrcc.org. At the end of the
resistance. In 1963 an organization called Peacemakers pub- 1980s, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the
lished a book on tax resistance. Then in 1965 Joan Baez ColdWar, many pacifists hoped for an end to the war taxes.
announced that she would withhold 60 percent ofher taxes Just as people relaxed, the GulfWar was launched, and