Friends Bulletin-Pacific, North Pacific, and Intermountain Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends-January 1994

16 Pages·1994·1.6 MB·English

Friends Bulletin
PACIFIC, NORTH PACIFIC, AND INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETINGS
OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Volume 62, Number 5 January 1994
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PAGE 74 JANUARY 1994 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Guest Editorial Calendar
&
Friends Bulletin - History Incorporation January 1994
byRob RoyWoodman,Clerk,Friends BulletinCommittee 15 College Park Quarterly Meeting, Berkeley
Friends Church, Berkeley, CA.
Friends Bulletin started over sixty years ago as a mimeo- 15 Steering Committee, North Pacific Yearly Meet-
graphed page published after a gathering of the Western ing, Multnomah Meeting, Portland, OR.
AssociationofFriendswhichlaterbecamePacificYearlyMeet- February 1994
ing. North Pacific and Intermountain Yearly Meetings then 4-6 Quaker Silent Retreat, Pacific Northwest
branched off from Pacific Yearly Meeting. All three yearly QuarterlyMeeting,CampHuston,GoldBar,WA.
meetingsadoptedFriends Bulletin astheirofficialpublication. 12 WillametteQuarterlyMeeting,UnitarianChurch,
As time went on. Friends Bulletin grew from a mimeo- Corvallis, OR.
graphed page toa newsletterand then amagazine. Through- 18-20 Continuing Committee, Intermountain Yearly
out,itspurposehasbeentoconnectus,notonlyregionally,but Meeting, Las Cruces, NM.
alsoto theworld communityofFriends, tofacilitate anactive 18-20 Southern California Quarterly Meeting Mid-
ministry ofFriends to Friends, and to make visible our faith, Winter Fellowship, Pacific Palisades, CA.
our history, and ourwork for peace and socialjustice. 18-21 Friends Conference on Religion & Psychology,
Organizationally, Friends Bulletin has remained much the Quaker Center, Ben Lomond, CA.
same. ItsoversightcommitteeisacommitteeofPacificYearly 25-27 Couples Enrichment Weekend, Quaker Center,
Meeting. In fact, most of the members are selected from Ben Lomond, CA.
College Park Quarterly Meeting ofPYM. March 1994
Some years ago it became obvious that the purpose of 5 RepresentativeCommittee,PacificYearlyMeeting,
Friends Bulletin could notbe well-served ifits oversight com- ClaremontMeeting,Claremont, CA.
mitteewere so geographically restricted. Italso seemed clear 11-13 TheDilemmasofQuakerService,QuakerCenter,
that other yearly meetings would not value a publication in Ben Lomond, CA.
whichtheyhadnostake.Thatresultedininadequatesubscrip-
tions and unequal sharing offinancial responsibility. YEARLYMEETING OFFICERS
Whena new editorwassought, theFriends BulletinCom- PACIFIC
mittee chose a person who wasnot from Pacific YearlyMeet- PresidingClerk: EllieHuffman [phone]
ing.NancyYamall,fromNorthPacificYearlyMeeting,opened POBox 136
CA
NPYM Rescue, 95672
acommunicationwith thatthecommitteehadnothad
AssistantClerk: Andrea English [phone]
before. As a result of this communication we now have two 1746Virginia
committee members from NPYM. Berkeley,CA94703
Thisnowgivesus twoNPYMmembers servingona PYM Treasurer: PhyllisJones [phone]
POBox493599
committee. But responsibility for Friends Bulletin is still not Redding, CA96049-3599
equallysharedamongtheyearlymeetings.Thecommitteehas NORTH PACIFIC
discussed what to do about this for the past three years. We PresidingClerk: MargeryAbbott [phone]
decided that the best thing to do is to incorporate, with the 1830NE Klickitat
boardmadeupofmembersfromallthreeyearlymeetingsthat Portland, OR97212
SteeringCommitteeClerk:
Friends Bulletin serves.
Ourplan,whichhasbeenapprovedbyPYMandNPYM,is P1a4u34l9a B1u8t9ztihWayNE [phone]
to incorporate in Oregon. We chose Oregon because it is less Woodinville, WA98072
expensiveandsimplerthanCalifornia,andwecurrentlyhave Treasurer: CharlieKimball [phone]
two committee members there. We are now waiting for ap- 04862OceOanRa Dr
Florence, 97439
proval ofour plan from IMYM. m INTERMOUNTAIN
PresidingClerks: [phone]
Editor's Note: BillaWnd GenieDurland
605 PineSt
Just like last year my new year's resolutions were to Trinidad, CO81082
exercizemore,eathealthier,andloseweight.ThenIsawEllen ContinuingCommitteeClerk:
Goodman's column, "Why not resolve to experiencejoy?" VickieAldrich [phone]
1517E Boutz Rd
"Yeah,that's it," I thought. "Experiencejoy and live each LasCruces, NM 88001
dayforitself. Thosearegood resolutions. Ihope Icanliveup Treasurer: JanMiller [phone]
to them." 5672SParkPI E
There'sjoy in this issue. Enjoy it. SaltLakeCity, UT84121
1
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FRIENDS BULLETIN JANUARY 1994 PAGE 75
Friends Bulletin Table of Contents
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TheofficialpublicationofPacific,NorthPacific,andIntermountain Guest Editorial by Rob RoyWoodman - 74
YearlyMeetingsoftheReligiousSocietyofFriends Quakers by Lena Amanti 75
1620 NW Menlo Drive, Corvallis, OR Impressions of Some Friends by BarbaraJanoe 76
97330-2055 Primary Spiritual Sustenance by Robert Levering - 78
Editor, Nancy Yarnall IMYM Continuing Committee 80
Claremont Meeting Hosts
[phone]
Representative Committee 80
Book Review Editor Same-Gender Marriage Advances in Hawai'i
—
Molly Bishop, PO Box 192, Duncans Mills, CA 95430 by Robert Stauffer — — 81
[phone] Membership byTom Farley —— -— 82
IMYM Corresponding Editors Prudent Living, Thoughtful Dyin—g
—
Mary Lou Coppock, 1127 E Belmont, Phoenix, AZ85020 by Robert Schutz 82
—
Jim Ray, 2520 S Ivanhoe PI, Denver, CO80222 MovingToward a Vision Step by Step
—
Alice H. Stokes, 1722 Saddle Hill Dr, Logan, UT84321 by Carla Hansen 83
—
Elizabeth Buckley& Deborah Richards, 13418MountainViewNE, Friendly News — —— 84-85
Albuquerque, NM 87123-2052 Report from Hawai'i by Robert Stauffer - 84
NPYM Corresponding Editors New Mexico Regional by Elizabeth Buckley 84
WA
Diane St. Marie, 1043057th Ave S, Seattle, 98178 College Park Quarterly Meeting by Patric—ia Silva 85
JimJohnson, 715 Lexington Ave, Butte, MT59701 Monthly Meeting Minute—s ———————— —— 85
Sheila Smith, 925PNYWM CMeorrrrieesDpro,nCdoirvnagllEisd,itOoRrs97330 MQeumeoerriQaulaMkienruMtiensu—te---—- ————-—-———— 8856
———————————
Bobbi Kendig, 3275 Karen, Long Beach, CA90808 Advertisements — — 87
— —
Patricia Silva, 16557 S HighlandAve, Selma, CA93662 Vital Statistics — —— 87
Bob Stauffer, 51-019 Lau PI, Kaaawa, HI 96730 Announcements — 88
——————————
Friends Bulletin Committee Starlightby Robert Murphy — 88
Clerk: RobRoyWoodman,2532Westemessee Rd, Davis,CA95616 Quakers
[phone]
by Lena Amanti, Pima Meeting Drawing
Molly Bishop, PO Box 192, Duncans Mills, CA95430
Annis Bleeke, 3111 NE Tillamook, Portland, OR 97212 Queries to guide your fifeby by
Langdon Elsbree, 400 UniversityCir, Claremont, CA9171 Unbroken silence Etta
Charlie Kimball, 04862 Oceana Dr, Florence, OR 97439 Aspire to live simply
Arden Pierce, 3498 South Ct, PaloAlto, CA94306 Kindheartedness toward all Marie
Alan Strain, 260 High St, Apt 1, SantaCruz, CA 95060 Equalityforeveryone
James,
Residence ofGod in all
SendallcorrespondencetotheCorvallisaddress.Deadlineforcopyisthe
firstofthemonthprecedingthemonthofissue.Wegladlyacceptcopyon Seeking spirituality through
Eastside
3 1/2”PCorMACfloppydisksinanywell-knownword-processorformat. Lena Amanti, aJuniorMember
Printed by Corvallis Web Press, Corvallis, OR ofPima Meeting, is a high
school student. Meeting.
• FRIENDSBULLETIN (USPS859-220)ispublished monthlyexcept Directory for Traveling Friends
February and August by Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends at 1620 NW Menlo Drive, Corvallis, Oregon The1994DirectoryforTravelingFriends,prepared
by Friends General Conference, will list Friends
97330-2055. Telephone [phone]. Second-class postage throughout the world who offer home hospitality to
paidatCorvallis,Oregon.
other Friends traveling with letters of introduction
• SubscriptionRates: $20.00peryearforindividuals,$16.00peryear fromtheirhomemeetings. Some"bedandbreakfasts"
for group subscriptions through Meetings. $14.00 peryear for a willbe included. The 1994 editionwillbe available in
student/low income subscription. First class postage $5.20 addi- May1994.Friendswhowishtoofferhospitalityshould
tional. Foreignpostagevaries. Individualcopies $2.00each. write for an application form to Friends General Con-
• Postmaster: Send address changes to FRIENDS ferenceTD,1216ArchSt,2B,Philadelphia,PA19107,or
BULLETIN, 1620 NW Menlo Drive, Corvallis, OR call [phone]. The deadline for applications is
97330-2055. February 15, 1994.
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PAGE 76 JANUARY 1994 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Rpwdy teenagerofthe air, tumbling and
surfing on the uhnd. I’ve seenyou—
challenge thegreat ones ofthe air—
Q Mawf
olden Eagle, ‘Rgd-Eailed
daring them to turn onyou. Knoiving
they won't! I’ve seen the smaller Bloc
On the telephone zvire above our Birds do the same toyou.
‘Raven.
drive sits an aging ‘Eton school-
master, hands claspedBehindhis
headhunchedBetween
Backj.
shoulders.
American
‘Kestrel.
Some
impressions of Friends
by Barbara Janoe, Juniper Worship Group
00 ;• * #«
• t • '
>/
**V\*.y. •. v?
e
Qentle Quakerlady, allin l ''V-v. \ • • :f
*u
tones ofBeigeygray. Only in
startledflight does she show / jf/ Vsi • "v"
* . )
"jr?
herlacypetticoat andBright
W
pinfstockings! f:yV /A
\
Morning E)ove. vy
• • . ;*t X.j
O'y,
Stolidlittle house-frau ofthefeeder,
eating with determinedpersistence. I
rememberinyouryouth the wayyou
rose up Beakito Beakiagainstyoursister,
squabbling overaplace at thefeeder, a
fit ofseed.
Mouse finch.
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FRIENDS BULLETIN JANUARY 1994 PAGE 77
Elain-Jane ofthe Birdzvorldzvith
a voice like squeaky zvheel. you
suddenly astonish us zvith an aria
from Eosca ... Oris it S(igoletto?
Eozvnsend’sSolitaire.
‘Elegantformaldress ... zvhite _
linen, BCack^velvet, iridescentgreen
taffeta ... Seliesyour Boisterous
streetgang Behavior, you stealfood
frompets, calloutrageously to each other,
andeven harass the not altogetherinnocent cats.
Magpie.
Cheeky... Measure ...—Measure ... Checks Little eyeless
tzvittering-machine eyeless But not Blind. Mzvays
checking. Mzvays measuring. Checfandmeasure. Measure
andcheck- Loofar?Slop closer. Loo close?Slop apart.
Check Measure. Lake a Bite. Measure. Check Check-
- -
Measure ... Measure ... Checks
OregonJunco.
^
Shy andcautious,
this maskeddancersteps out daintily, then
standspoisedready toglide azvay at the
slightest hint ofsoundormovement.
Chukar.
BarbaraJanoe, ofJuniper Worship Group, is a member ofSalem Meeting and
the clerk of Willamette Quarterly Meeting. An accomplished artist, she also
designsclothing.She istheauthorofthechildren'sbook,DanielGoestoMeeting,
and co-author with Ed Janoe ofseveral books on family and relationships.
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PAGE 78 JANUARY 1994 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Primary Spiritual Sustenance losing our own identity as a viable religion. If someone
identifies Buddhism as her primary source of spiritual
by Robert Levering, San Francisco Meeting
strength,isn'tthatpersonaBuddhistratherthanaQuaker?
Pacific Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice revision Asthingsstandnow.Friendsriskpermittingthebeliefsof
committeerecentlyreleased thefirstdraftofthe "Coreof thenewestattendertodefinewhatwebelieveasaSociety.
OurFaith" sectionofournewbookofdiscipline (due for Is there any group or organization that can long survive
completionintheyear2000).Twosentencesintheirdraft on thatbasis?
gavemepauseon firstreading and they troubleme even We are not, nor should we try to be, all things to all
more upon reflection. people. Quakerism has a powerful message for many in
Thesentencesinquestionrelatetothedelicateissueof ourmodemsociety. Ours is notmerely "a communityof
PYM We
Christianity and the Society of Friends. It is delicate be- seekers,"asthe revisioncommitteeputit. arethe
cause the current edition of Faith and Practice sparked inheritors ofa tradition offinders. Much like the earliest
considerable controversy when it was first published in Friends, many of us don't and can't identify with the
1985. A number of Friends attacked the 1985 edition for Christianity around us. Probably an overwhelming ma-
being too "Christ-centered." jority of PYM Friends are, in fact, refugees from various
Thecurrentrevisioncommitteedraftedthefollowing: Christianchurches,andmanyofusaredownrighthostile
"We are a religious tradition rooted in Christianity and totheChristianityofourchildhood. Butthatdoesn'tmake
the centralityofthe teachings ofJesus. Yetmany Friends mostofusmuchdifferentfromearlyFriendswhowerealso
today do not identify theirreligious experience as Chris- refugeesfromthevariousformsofChristianityoftheirday.
tian but rely on other sources for their primary spiritual From the outset, Quakers saw themselves as being
sustenance." different. They wrote dozens of polemics against the
The last sentence raises a number of questions. First, beliefsofotherChristiansand wereviciouslypersecuted
what are the "other sources?" Buddhism? Hinduism? inreturn. RobertBarclaycalledFriendsthe"thirdformof
Islam?Judaism?Goddessworship?Jungianpsychology? Christianity"todistinguishusfromProtestantsandCatho-
NativeAmericanreligions?NewAgephilosophers?Cre- lics on such important points as our understanding of
ation spirituality? Witchcraft? Pagan rituals? If other authority, the Scriptures, and Christ.
sourcesaresupposedlyonaparwithChristianitywithin Quakers have not, of course, been united in their
theSocietyofFriends,thenweshouldatleastknowwhat interpretations of the Christian Gospel. The numerous
they are. splits and schisms since 1828 attest to that. Yet until the
Thisraisesanotherissue. Areall "othersources"com- last decade or so, there has not been a question about
patible with Quakerism? Any committee trying to com- whether Quakerism as a whole is a Christian faith.
pile a list of "primary spiritual" sources acceptable to Inrecentyearstherehasbeenamarkedincreasewithin
Friends may find that they had opened Pandora's box. our branch of Quakerism of what Samuel Caldwell, a
Severalyearsago,therewastalkofaschisminNewYork formergeneralsecretaryofPhiladelphiaYearlyMeeting,
Yearly Meeting because of the practice ofGoddess spiri- calls"pseudo-universalism,"whichhedistinguishesfrom
tuality in a Yearly Meeting retreat. Some may feel that "Quaker Universalism."1 As Caldwell puts it, "Unlike
Hinduism is acceptable but feel uncomfortable about QuakerUniversalism,whichcallsforafaithcommitmentto
Islambeing listed because ofits historic positions on the aspecificreligiouspath,pseudo-universalismteachesnon-
roleofwomen. There isnoend topossible controversies. adherencetoanyparticularreligionatall,preferringakind
Yeton whatbasiscould thecommittee exclude any form ofsmorgasbord approachtoreligious ideasinstead."
of spirituality that some Friends considered to be the What makes the pseudo-universalist approach so in-
source oftheir "primary spiritual sustenance?" sidious isthatitiscouch—ed inthe language ofacceptance
"...Friends risk permitting the beliefs of and open-mindedness values Friends have always
the newest attender to define what we espoused. In thepseudo-universalistview, Quakerismis
firstandforemostareligionoftoleranceandequality,one
believe as a Society."
where any true seeker is welcome to share in the silent
Perhaps it may appear that I am only quibbling over worship and seek his/her Light within. Yetpseudo-uni-
the revision committee's choice of words, that another versalism is antithetical to creating and maintaining a
wording could eliminate the problem. I wish that were community of faith for two reasons: First, it cuts us off
true. ButI'mconvincedthatinitsapparentefforttoavoid fromourroots, ou—r Christianroots. And second, itoffers
offendingFriends, therevisioncommitteehaspointed to nospiritualpath onlythepromiseofmeaningfulspiri-
a critical problem within the Society ofFriends. Ibelieve tual insights from a variety ofsources.
wearebecomingsoacceptingofanyformofspirituality, By suggesting that Christianity is but one of the op-
particularlyifitisnon-Christian,thatweareindangerof tionsamongavarietyofprimaryspiritualsources,PYM's
.
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FRIENDS BULLETIN JANUARY 1994 PAGE 79
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revision committee is effectively adopting a pseudo-uni- commondenominatorQuakerism onethathasasuper-
versalist position. The Christian roots of Quakerism are ficialappealtoalmosteveryone,butchallengesnooneto
thus effectivelysevered foranyFriend who feels uncom- follow a committed spiritual life.
fortableeitherwiththeBibleorwiththethreecenturiesof Perhaps it is because ofmy familiarity with and con-
Friends whose journals, epistles, and tracts are loaded tinuing interest in non-Christian religions that I cannot
withChrist-centeredlanguageandBiblicalallusions.Those identify with the revision committee's apparent willing-
who choose the Christian option in this scheme ofthings nesstosuggestthat Quakerismissomethingotherthana
find themselves tobejustanotherminoritygroup whose form of Christianity. Yes, we can and should be open to
corporate function becomes like that of an antiquarian non-Christianreligiousinsights.Butweriskthedangerof
club within the Society. cutting ourselvesofffromourrichand dynamicheritage
Living organisms do not long endure once off from ifwepretendtostandoutsideofthetraditionthatmolded
their roots. And a communitywithout roots hasno com- us. As Dan Seeger, the director ofPendle Hill and one of
monlanguage, rituals,orvision. Beforelongitceasestobe theleadingsspokespersonsforwhatisknownasQuaker
acommunity andrevertstobeingacollectionofindividuals. Universalism, one wrote, "Genuine universalism is very
Some maysuggestthatsucha fateisnotlikelyfor the demanding of its practitioners .... The most likely path
SocietyofFriendsbecauseweatleastsharesomecommon toward an understanding of the significance of a multi-
beliefs. Ifasked whatbeliefswehold incommon, mostof plicityofreligionsistoencounterdeeplytheexperienceof
uswouldimmediatelyrespondthatQuakersbelieve“there onereligion,preferablytheoneclosestathand,whichfor
is that of God in every one." Yet this phrase is hardly a the most ofus would be Quakerism and itsJudeo-Chris-
bedrock offaith since ithas such awidevarietyofmean- tian heritage."
ings.Toso—meitisanaffirmationoftheinnategoodnessof Inthisregardweallmighttakeseriouslythefollowing
humanity aviewquitecompatiblewithsecularhuman- words written by Friends World Conference in 1952:
ism. To others it suggests the unity of all creation, that "While seeking to interpret our Christian faith in the
thereis thatofGod in everything and everything inGod language of today, we must remember that there is one
(pantheism). And tostillothers (likeGeorgeFox,origina- worsethingthanfailure topracticewhatweprofess, and
tor of the phrase), it requires a response to the divine that is to water down our profession to match our
potential in others because ofa clear understanding that practice."
there is also that not ofGod in everyone. 1 Samuel Caldwell's pamphlet, "That Blessed Principle:
RatherthanunitingusasFriends,suchcreedalcliches Reflectionsonthe Uniqueness ofQuakerUniversalism,"can
merely paper over our differences. And they point to an beobtainedfor$2.35fromtheQuakerUniversalistFellowship,
even more serious problem: the lack of a common spiri- QBoUxF2w0i1llRDals1o,Lsaennddeanbreelragt,edPpAa1m9p3h5l0.etFobryaDnoaudgdiGtiwoynanlc$a1l.l7e5d,
tual path. This I see as the greatest source ofconcern for "TheQuakerDynamic:PersonalFaithandCorporateVision."
thefutureofunprogrammedFriends.Ratherthanlooking
within our own spiritual tradition, many ofus look else-
whereforour“primaryspiritual sustenance." Thisissad Southern California Friends Conference
sinceQuakerismoffersan extremelyvibrantand distinc- on Religion and Psychology
tive spiritual path. It is one that involves not only a SouthernCaliforniaFriendsConferenceonReligionand
recognitionoftheexistenceoftheInwardLight,butmuch Psychology announces its thirteenth annual gathering, en-
more important, a faith based on following that Light titled "Yielding to theCenter: Quakersand Meditation."
(whichQuakershavetraditionallyidentifiedwithChrist) We will meet at Rancho del Cielo near Ramona, Cali-
ForearlierFriendsitwasnotmerely "theteachingsof fornia,ontheweekend ofApril8-10, 1994,and inviteyou
Jesus"thatwerecentraltotheirfaith.Ratheritwashislife, tojoinusinaGatheringtolistenbeyondtheanalogiesand
especially his willingness to "take up the Cross." Jesus behindthewordstoadiscussionandexperienceofmedi-
wasnotjustanothergreatteacher.Friendshavefoundhis tative practices. We'llbegin with Guided Meditation led
lifesignificantbecauseofthetotalityofhiscommitmentto byJudyLeshefka.SteveSmithwillinviteustojoinhimin
following God's will, even unto death. Or as the 1985 SittingMeditation. MaggieSheltonwillguideusinMov-
version ofFaith and Practice put it: "We are reminded by ing Meditation. Jane Peerswill take us on an exploration
Christ'slifeonearththatfaithandpracticeareone."That ofQuakerMeditation.Youwillexploreanddevelopyour
—
sentencetomerepresentstheessenceofQuakerism the ownmeditativepracticesinlargegroupand smallgroup
call to integrity in everything we do. settings. Yourchoiceofsmallgroupswillincludeeachof
Thisisahighcalling.Itisbestdonewithinasupportive themeditativepracticespresented,plusa sharinggroup,
communitythatearliergenerationsofFriendsfostered. It an art group, and a dream group.
would be a shame for us to flinch from cultivating this For information, contactJim Summers at 62535 Shaw
spiritual path and reduce ourselves to a kind of lowest Ridge Rd, San Diego, CA 92130.
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PAGE JANUARY
80 1994 FRIENDS BULLETIN
IMYM
Continuing Committee Claremont Meeting Hosts
Questions for IMYM Monthly Meetings: Representative Committee, March 5, 1994
1. Friends Bulletin Incorporation: byEllieHuffman, Clerk, PacificYearlyMeeting
Background: ... SinceFriends Bulletin is theofficialpublica- The first weekend in March will bring Quakers ofall
tion for Pacific, North Pacific, and Intermountain Yearly sizes and shapes, flying, riding, walking, running, and
Meetings,thecurrentFriendsBulletinCommitteeisseek- biking to Claremont Meeting House for the 1994 Repre-
ing IMYM's approvalforthis change [incorporation] and sentativeCommittee Meeting. LocalFriendsareprepared
also IMYM's representation on the new seven-member tohelpfeedandhousethesefriendlyfolks,whoareeagerto
board ofdirectors.... meetanddiscovertogetheraplanforourannualgathering.
Questions:(a)DoFriendssupportseparateincorporationfor As Friends we continue to search for responses to the
theFriendsBulletin?(b)DoFriendsrecommendtheappoint- uncertainties of the present. Transitions, the teaching of
mentoftwo IMYM members totheBoard ofDirectors?... distrust, the pain ofviolence, personal loss or chaos, the
2. Friends Center in Moscow: agony offriend against friend in countries tom apartby
their very freedom what do these challenging condi-
Background:EachMonthlyMeetingshouldreceivemateri- ...
tions mean to us as Friends, in both our individual and
als regarding the Friends Center in Moscow....
corporate lives?
Question:WillFriendsconsiderthematerialstheyreceived
andreporttoContinuingCommitteeregardingtheirreac- Representative Committee will be a time to create a
vision for an annual gathering that responds to our per-
tions as to the possible extent of the involvement of the
sonal,spiritual,andmutualneedsinsuchatimeofconfu-
yearly meeting in such a center?
sion, change, and, for many, fear. Can we grasp the big
3. Long Range Planning: picture and find our rightplace? How dowe accomplish
Background:TheIMYMMinute92-4freedtheLongRange thisthroughourrelationshipswithoneanother,ourrela-
Planning Committee from ... near-term site selection and tionships with the children ofourMeetings, ourwilling-
charged it with thinking creatively about the future, in- nessandstrengthaswefacetheshadowsinourownlives
cluding the possibility ofdeveloping our own site.... and meetings?
Question: Ifyou were to dream up a permanenthome for How do webringjoy and laughter into our lives and
IMYM, what would you envision and where? thosearoundusaswitness toourfaith? Canwecreatean
4. Ministry & Counsel for IMYM: opportunitytoexperiencethefullnessoflife,inawaythat
Background: A proposal for a Ministry and Counsel Com- encourages growth and enriches our lives?
mittee... (1)toassisttheclerksinpursuingtheircallingin Letusseektogethertofindourdeepestspiritualcenter
aspiritualmannerand(2)tobeavailabletomembersofthe and discover new energies to uncover opportunities for
IMYM during the annual meeting... shared understanding and experience.
Questions: (a) Does your Monthly Meeting have anysug- MayGod illuminate the wayas wecreate a vision for
gestionsintheformationofaCommitteeonMinistryand our annual gathering to be held in Chico, California,
CounselfortheYearlyMeeting? (b)Aretheremembersof August2-7, 199—4.
yourMeetingwhofeelcalled toserveonthisCommittee? Old Format New Content
PYM
5. Faith and Practice: for August Representative Meeting
Background:AttheIMYMannualmeetingin1993aminute PYM 1994 will be held at CRAIG HALL, Chico, CA,
was passed establishing a procedure for developing a August2-7, 1994. WalkerCreekRanchfounditnecessary
Faith and Practice for IMYM. ... tohonorapreviouscommitmentforuseofits facilitythe
Questions:(a)Hasyourmeetingformedagroupornamed week ofPYM '94.
a coordinatortoworkonaFaithand Practice? (b) Inwhat Requests forPYM time, interestgroups, sharing groups,
aspects ofFaith and Practice is your meeting interested? and other scheduling matters shall be given (or sent) in
6. Speaker for IMYM 1994: writingtotheClerkorAssistantClerkbyMay 15, 1994.
Representatives will:
Background:OurspeakerattheIMYMannualmeetingin1994 1)Conductbusinessthatdoesnotrequireactionofthe
willbeDorianBaleswhosefocuswillbeQuakerCommunity. Yearly Meeting (ifin doubt, check itout);
Questions:(a)WhatdoFriendsinyourMonthlyMeetingor 2)Reachagreementonthewayinwhichbusinesswill
Worship Group think is meant by the phrase "Quaker beconducted atYearlyMeetingand onthesubjects tobe
Community?" (b) Inwhatways is yourMonthlyMeeting heard in plenary sessions;
or Worship Group a "Quaker Community?" (c) Do we 3) Create a vision ofPYM '94based onvital concerns;
expectourYearlyMeetingtobea"QuakerCommunity?" e.g.. Social Order Committee wants us to look at the big
Ifyes, then in whatways? picture for greater understanding and leadings.
VickieAldrich is Continuing Committee Clerk. Be prepared to think new!
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FRIENDS BULLETIN JANUARY 1994 PAGE 81
Same-Gender Marriage part ofmany people. Numerous Friends' bodies, for ex-
ample,remainnonunitedoverwhethertowelcomesame-
Advances in Hawai'i
gender marriage ceremonies. The Court naturally does
by Robert Stauffer, Honolulu Meeting not address this internal religious concern, as individual
churches, temples, and meetings have the right to cel-
When I was bom (1951), most people, most leaders, ebrate the marriage ceremony as they wish. After all,
and the laws in two-thirds of the states all agreed that it couplesnototherwisewishingorfindingareligiousbody
waswrong(andafelony)tohavehomosapiensofdiffering for their ceremony can always have a secular wedding
skinpigmentbegrantedtherighttoenterintothegovern- performedbyajudge.ItishopedthatFriendswillremain
ment-recognized marriagepartnership. This was notthe standingfour-squareforthepropositionthatpeopleshould
first issue on which Friends generally (and Hawai'i spe- be allowed to legally marry whom they want.
cifically) went against the tide, ofcourse. A legal technicalityprevented the Hawai'i Court from
On the one hand. Friends weren'thistorically all that sanctioning same-gender marriages immediately. These
interested in government-sanctioned marriages. On the might be legalized in a year or two, depending on how
other, we stood four-square fortheproposition thatcon- quickly certain court and political procedures can be
senting homo sapiens should be allowed to legally marry completed.
whom theywanted. The Federal government traditionally has not issued
Thingscametoaheadinthe1960swhenahomosapiens marriage licenses, choosing instead to recognize those
couple with differing skin pigments (the aptly named issued by the states. Even when most of the country
Lovings), with theirmarriage recognized by a Districtof banneddifferent-racemarriages(whetherthecouplehad
Columbia marriage license, moved a few miles south to a valid license from a "free" state or not), couples with
Virginia and promptly got arrested, convicted of the valid licenseswereacceptedbyFederalauthorities (such
felonyofbeingmarried,andeachsentencedto25yearsin as military base commanders). Whether such a liberal
jail. Wrote the trial judge in upholding the concept of Federal tradition would continue to be practiced with
miscegenation: "Almighty God created the races . . . and licensesfromHawai'iisanunansweredquestionandone
he [s/c] placed them on separate continents. . . . The fact around which Friends maywish to search their recogni-
that he separated the races shows that he did not intend tion of the Light and speak out.
for the races to mix." The case was appealed to the Currently all other states recognize marriage licenses
Virginia Supreme Court, which upheld the law, convic- from Hawai'i. Efforts are already being seen in some
tions and sentences. statestoendthispracticeifHawai'ilicensessame-gender
We can laugh at all this now (while we quietly shud- marriages. Again, Friendsmaywishto searchoutDivine
der).Yetwearewisetorememberthatthesewerestrongly Will on this matter and then speak out themselves.
held personalviews, supported in the Light (as theysaw The State's Governor, John Waihe'e, has chosen to
it) by tens of millions of our fellow citizens. But for the offer a compromise of full legal rights to same-gender
Grace of God in 1967 (and the quirk of having a histori- commitments,aslongasatermdifferentfrom"marriage"
cally rare liberal majority on the U.S. Supreme Court), is used. But this would mean that the licenses issued
these miscegenation laws would remain the law of the would not be binding on the Federal government or the
land in a good many states today. otherstates. HonoluluMeetinghaswritten theGovernor
NowtheHawai'iSupremeCourt,followingtheleadof askinghimtosimplydrophisoppositiontofullandequal
—
that Warren Court, has taken another step for human rightsforsame-gendermarriages theGovernorcould,at
dignity, equality and tolerance. It has said that homo his option, drop his legal resistance and the marriages
sapiens of the same gender should be granted the same would become fully legal tomorrow.
right to enter into the government-recognized marriage Incidentally,togetaHawai'imarriagelicense,Hawai'i
partnership. Inshort,based on the Equal Rights Amend- law requires a ceremony to be performed locally by a
ment contained in the Hawai'i constitution, the Court locally licensed church, temple, meeting, or judge. This
ruledthatsuchgender-baseddiscriminationis,onitsface, lawremainsineffectwhetherornotamarriageceremony
unconstitutional. hasalreadybeenperformedelsewhere.Soasame-gender
Commented the Hawai'i Court, "We do not believe couple wishing to come to Hawai'i to be granted a mar-
thattrialjudgesaretheultimateauthoritiesonthesubject riage license, once same-gender marriage is legalized
of Divine Will, and [as the final Federal outcome of the here, must make arrangements for a local ceremony,
Lovingcaseamplydemonstrates] constitutionallawmay either religious or secular.
mandate, like it or not, that customs change with an ManyofuslookforwardtoHawai'ibecomingthefirst
evolving social order." "free" state in this arena. Because of the interconnection
Like the earlier issue of the color of one's skin, this between the states, a wave of progress should be seen
matter serves toprovide deep feelings and beliefs on the acrossthelandonceheadwayisseeninjusttheseIslands.^
—
PAGE 82 JANUARY 1994 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Membership Prudent Living, Thoughtful Dying
by Tom Farley, Palo Alto Meeting by Robert Schutz, Redwood Forest Meeting
Membership in the Religious Society ofFriends exists MarieandIarejoiningtheFriendsHouseCommunity
only through membership in monthly meetings and is (Santa Rosa, California) nextspring and looking forward
integralwithfourbasicpurposesofmonthlymeetings: 1) to the next-to-last move in our odyssey. We have an
toprovideforcorporateworshipinthemannerofFriends; advantage over many who would think about this move
2) to provide forcorporatewitnessbased inworship and becausewehavehadahandinplanningthatcommunity.
Friends' historic testimonies; 3) to support and guide Marie has been the volunteer librarian there since the
similarly based personal witness; and 4) to support and beginning, and we have many dear friends there. But
guidepersonal spiritual growth. similar advantages can be attained by almost everyone.
Quaker meetings for worship are open to the general For example, many of our friends point out that we
public.Inwitness.Friendsmayjoinwithotherswhoshare havebeenlivingfortwentyyearsinawonderfulcommu-
a concern. Monthly meeting business, however, is con- nity, Monan's Rill. It's in the country with clean air, a
ductedbythosewhorecognizethebasicpurposes,accept terrific garden, meetings, and caring you wouldn't be-
Friends' testimonies, and commit themselves to making lieve. How can wepossiblyleave thatsetting ofour own
thebusinessprocesswork.Quakerprocessisnotbasedon and others' creation? Ah, but there are hills to climb and
rights, prohibitions, and privileges (the checks and bal- work to do. We don'tdislike either,butwelike tobe able
ancesofworldlyorganizations),butinunity,responsibil- todoourshare,andlittlesignsareshowing.Theotherday
ity, and truth. The conduct ofbusiness in the manner of when I was digging glad bulbs, my hands hurt with
Friends is learned through participation and practice. arthritis for two days afterward, a new experience. And
ParticipantswhoacceptFriendstestimoniesandbusi- thereareotherswaitingatthegate,withenergyandverve,
nessprocessareencouragedtoformalizeparticipationby tofillourplacesasweleave.WearesatisfiedwithMonan's
being recorded as members. The membership clearness Rill and revel in our memories there. It will go on well
process is a search for unity that the responsibilities are without us.
understood and the commitment truly made byboth the ThecommunityatFriendsHouseisclose,thereisworkto
participant and the meeting. The action of a meeting for do,servicetorender,entertainmentbytheyard,andhealth
business does not create membership. Rather it records care on the premises. And we won't be a burden to our
that the membership relationship has already begun. children. Theywilllovetovisitus, andwethem,atFriends
Meetingsdonotoffermembership;itmustbeappliedfor. House, and wecango to thenearbycountryatanytime.
Meetingshave no formal mechanism for recognizing com- I would urge you, my older Friends, to consider our
mittedparticipantswhohavenotapplied formembership. course.Wealltendtothinknothingwillhappentous. But
Recorded membership is a tool meetings use to iden- my close observation of many lives shows that the odds
tify those who are committed to the meetingprocess and areagainstourbodiesbeingthewonderfulone-hossshay.
included in the mutual care of the meeting community. Thingshappenallthetime,someofthemlittle, somebig.
Reduced participation due to age, health, family needs, There is security in knowing that all of those things, big
work, ordistancefrommeetingmayattimes occurwith- and little, are taken care of at Friends House. Do be
out changing the membership commitment. When com- prudent and thoughtful of your future; move while you
mitment lapses, however, soshould membership. Whena have the zip to enjoy it.
member who has withdrawn from participation in and The Friendly atmosphere is compelling at Friends
commitmenttothemeetingremainsrecordedasamember, House.Andtheadministrationwantstokeepitso.Staffis
themeetingneedstoexaminethecontinuationofthatmem- all importantto thatatmosphere. So thisisaplea, also, to
bershiprecord.Eachmonthlymeetingisresponsibleforthe Friendstojointhestaffofseventy,inwhichthereisalways
truthaswellas theaccuracyofitsmembership records. some turnover. The pay is good, opportunity is equal,
Membershipdefinestherelationshipbetweenanindi- conditions superb, and Santa Rosa is a very fine place to
vidual and a meeting, not the relationship between a live. You can easilymove tojoin us from anyplace in the
person and God. The recording of membership is not a country.Wehopewe'llseeyouthere,enjoyingandtaking
Quaker substitute forbaptism or confirmation. No spiri- care ofus.
tual test or affirmation of creed is required for member- Robert Schutz was theFriends Bulletin Editorfrom 1974-78.
ship, and no spiritual status is obtained. Friends do not
regard themselves as a spiritually elect or elite group Continuedfrompreviouscolumn.
whicheveryone ought to aspire tojoin. Quakerism isnot Friends recognize the same ministry active, as well, in
"The Way" to worship God. Given the diversityin meet- many non-Friends and see its potential in every human
ings,itisonlyminimallyaway. Rather,Quakerismis the life. Membership is open to all. Friends are committed to
reverse. EachFriend isawayGod ministersto theworld. the principle that it is possible, but not necessary, for
Continuedin nextcolumn. anyone to become a Friend.