Friends Bulletin-Pacific, North Pacific, and Intermountain Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends-October 1996

24 Pages·1996·3.1 MB·English

F
riends Bulletin
PACIFIC, NORTH PACIFIC, AND INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETINGS
OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Volume 65, Number 2 Building the western Quaker Community since 1929 October 1996
New
Attenders
—
—
PAGE 18 OCTOBER 1996 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Editorial Comments PACIFIC YEARLY MEETING
Going to Yearly Meeting Presiding Clerk: Eric Moon [phone]
For thepast six years I've gone to three yearly meetings each 2314 EightChASt, #B
Berkeley, 94710
summer. I've done this because itwas partofmyjob. Thebonus Assistant Clerk: Margaret Mossman [phone]
is that I've gotten to meet a lot of wonderful people and to feel PO Box 12806
CA
a part of three terrific groups. Going to Quaker gatherings has Berkeley, 94712-3806
become a part of my life. I can't think of anything more impor- Treasurer: PPhOylBliosxJ4o9n3e5s99 [phone]
tant than being with Friends. Redding, CA 96049-3599
Junior Yearly Meeting Clerk:
Yearly Meeting experiences I hate to miss Sarah House [phone]
• listening to inspiring keynote speakers 1326 S Delay
CA
• watching Friends thoughtfully and prayerfully consider Glendora, 91740
concerns
NORTH PACIFIC YEARLY MEETING
• being a part of gathered worship
Presiding Clerk:
• having contact with Friends from Latin America
AnnStever [phone]
• listening to discussions about future sites 1118 37th Ave
WA
• knowing who is going to speak on what issues Seattle, 98112
Steering Committee Clerk:
• observing Junior Friends, Senior Young Friends, Junior Helen Dart [phone]
Yearly Meeting 2675 Baker Blvd [email protected]
• watching the younger children grow older Eugene, OR 97403
Treasurer: Sylvie McGee [phone]
• meeting Friends in person that I've known only in print 12525 17th Ave NE [email protected]
WA
• visiting with different people at meals and over coffee Seattle, 98125
Junior Friends Clerk:
• catching up on people's lives from the past year
Dawnielle Braithwaite [phone]
• meeting special Friends at each yearly meeting who have 5824 SW Texas
become important to me Portland, OR 97219
Young Friends contact person:
You too can have these experiences if you go to your yearly Kathy Hyzy [phone]
meeting. Please do so whenever you can. 20409 NE 190th Ave
WA
Good-by Battle Ground, 98604
I'm going to miss being editor of Friends Bulletin. It's been a [email protected]
wonderful time in my life. Secretary: LexanNne Bumm [phone]
Do you remember the Martha, Mary, and Jesus story from 2342 5W0tAh St [email protected]
Seattle, 98103
the New Testament? Martha serves food to Jesus while Mary
sits at his feet, listening to his stories. I feel that I've been like
Martha, serving up literary food, all the while listening to Jesus INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING
and Mary talking. I've gotten much from both the serving and Presiding Clerk: [phone]
Chuck Rostkowski [email protected]
the listening.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity tobe your editor. 9O6g2de2n6,thUSTt 84401
Continuing Committee Clerk:
Jan Miller [phone]
211 Fifth Ave, #204
[email protected]
StateTmietnletooffPOuwbnleicrasthiionp:,FMraiennadgseBmuellnett,in.andPubCliirccautliaotnioNno: 859-220Fil(lRiengquDiarteed:b1y0/319/9U6..S.C.3685) Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Issued ten times ayear; ten issues published annually: $24 individual; $19 group. Known office of Treasurer: Tom Schroeder [phone]
publication,generalbusinessaddress,publisher,andowner:FriendsBulletinCorporation, 1620NWMenlo 715 E 400 N [email protected]
DHro,ldCeorrsvaOlwlinsi,nOgRor9H7o3l3d0i;ngEdiItpoerr,ceNnatnocrymYoarrenaolflT.otNaolkAnmoowunntBoofndBhoonlddse,rsM,orMtogratggeasg,eoers,OtahnedrSOetchuerritSieesc,urTihtey Wellsville, UT 84339
purpose, function, and nonprofit status ofthis organization and the exempt status for Federal income tax SeniorYoungFriendsCo-Clerks:
purposeshave notchangedduringthepreceding 12months.
Extentandnatureofcirculation; Avg. nocopies September 1996 Keil Mueller [phone]
Total No.Copies: 1,930 1,900 1840 Dover St [email protected]
Sales:dealers,carriers,streetvendors,counters 0 0 Lakewood, CO 80215
paidorrequestedmailsubscriptions 1.703 1,688
Freedistributionbymail 18 56
Freedistributionoutsidethemail 80 0 Alida Godfrey [phone]
Total freedistribution 98 56 5110 Burch Creek Dr
Totaldistribution 1,801 1,744
Copiesnotdistributed,officeuse; leftovers,spoiled 129 156 Ogden, UT 84403
Copiesreturnedfromnewsagents 0 0
Total 1.930 1.900
Percentagepaidand/orrequestedcirculation 95% 97%
Icertifythatthe.statementsmadebymeabovearecorrectandcomplete.Signed:NancyYarnall,Editor. Coverphotos: Staffphotos.
—
FRIENDS BULLETIN OCTOBER 1996 PAGE 19
Friends Bulletin Table of Contents
INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING
TheofficialpublicationofPacific,NorthPacific,and Intermountain 20-23
Yearly Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends Excerpted Epistles from Young People 22
5238 Andalucia Court On "Giving up the Will," by Jonathan Taylor 22
Whittier, CA 90601 The Palisade JSP, by Lena Amanti 23
699-5670 The Service Project, by Maya Wright 23
(310) NORTH PACIFIC YEARLY MEETING 24-27
[email protected]
Quality Control of God's Management 25
Anthony Manousos
Editor,
Seasoning Concerns, by Margaret Sorrel 26
This issue published by Nancy Yarnall,
Outreach and Visitation, by Betsy Griscom 27
assisted by Wayne Yarnall Excerpted Epistles from Young People 27
Book Review Editor PACIFIC YEARLY MEETING 28-30
Grace Buzaljko, 612 Albemarle, El Cerrito, CA 94530 Junior Yearly Meeting Epistle —29
[phone] PYM "God is by the six-to eight-year-olds 30
. .
IMYM Corresponding Editors Rebuilding Churches, by Ernest Bicknell 30
Maria Krenz, 10107 Gold Hill Rd, Boulder, CO 80302 SC Conference on Religion and Psychology 30
Amanda Skow, 851 E 600 S, #204, Salt Lake City, UT 84102 A Case for Organic Foods 31
W
Doris Tyidesley, 703 Meseto, Mesa, AZ 85210 Letter 31
NPYM Corresponding Editors What if We Were Pacifists? by Robert Levering 32
Jim Coates, PO Box 377, Red Lodge, MT 59068 Invest in Meeting Houses? by Robert S. Vogel 33
—
Ruth Evan, 477 E 32nd Ave, Eugene, OR 97405 What a Small Meeting Can Do, by Loren Lacelle 33
Diane Ste. Marie, 10430 57th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98178 Friendly News 34-35
PYM Corresponding Editors Colorado Regional, by Maria Krenz 34
John Fulbright, 3038-A Waipuna Rise, Honolulu, HI 96822 Montana Gathering, by Jim Coates 34
Bobbi Kendig, 3275 Karen, Long Beach, CA 90808 Arizona Half Yearly, by Doris Tyidesley 35
Ramona Silipo, 1613 Tyler St, Berkeley, CA 94703 Southern California Quarterly, by Bobbi Kendig 35
Book Reviews 36
Friends Bulletin Board of Directors
Memorial Minutes 37
Clerk: Rob Roy Woodman, 2532 Westernessee Rd, Davis, CA 95616
Calendar 38
[phone]
Announcements 38, 40
Recording Clerk: Randy Herrick-Stare, 501 E First Ave,
Denver, CO 80203 Advertisements 38, 39
Treasurer: Annis Bleeke, 3540 SW Corbett, Portland, OR 97201 Vital Statistics 39
Doll-Making Highlights, by Karen Reagan 40
Mary Lou Coppock, 1127 E Belmont, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Pat Daggerty, 625 E Grandview, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 PPrriinntteedd bbyy AAllbbaannyy PPrriinnttiinnggCCoommppaannyy,, AAllbbaannyy,, OOrreeggoonn..
WA
Lucy Fullerton, 411 N 90th St, #402, Seattle, 98103
Arden Pierce, 3498 South Court, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Send all correspondence to the Whittieraddress. Deadline forcopy isthe
firstofthe month preceding the month ofissue. We gladlyacceptcopy on
3 1/2” PC or MAC floppy disks in any well-known word-processorformat.
We appreciate receiving copy by e-mail (address above).
• FRIENDS BULLETIN (USPS859-220) ispublished monthlyexcept
February and August by the Friends Bulletin Corporation of the
NW
Religious Society of Friends at 1620 Menlo Drive, Con/allis,
Oregon 97330-2055. Telephone [phone]. Periodicals
postage paid at Corvallis, Oregon.
•
Subscription Rates: $24.00 peryearforindividuals, $19.00 peryear
for group subscriptions through meetings. Check with editor for a
studentor low-income subscription. Firstclass postage $10.00 addi-
tional. Foreign postage varies. Individual copies $3.00 each.
• Postmaster: Send address changes to FRIENDS
BULLETIN, 1620 NW Menlo Drive, Corvallis, OR Eric Moon, Presiding Clerk, PYM, and Margaret Sorrel, Presiding
97330-2055. Clerk, NPYM. Staffphoto.
—
PAGE 20 OCTOBER 1996 FRIENDS BULLETIN
INTERMOUNTAIN YEARLY MEETING
Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado
Epistle June 19-23, 1996
Good Friends All:
We met Sixth Month 19th to 23rd, 1996, at Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado. The swirling, flashing, crashing
thunderstorms interspersed with periods ofcalm sunshine seemed an appropriate setting for this year's guiding theme:
We
"Maintaining your spiritual base inbusy times." are grateful that it rained, because a large area of the Southwest has
been experiencing a drought.
Many Friends have come from afar, fatigued, lacking passion, hoping for renewal. With the mountains as abackdrop,
theworship-sharing, personal discussions, renewing ofold friendships, and the sense ofsafety to speak one's mind have
encircled us all with nurturing support. The elders appreciated the wisdom of the young during intergenerational
worship, as we sat in circles on the grass.
In a keynote address early in the meeting, Douglas Gwyn offered food for thought on spiritual maintenance. Sister
CoritaKentwasquoted,cautioningusnottotakeresponsibilityfortheentirekingdom,butrathertoacceptanassignment.
Doug reminded us that seeking for the inward Light opens the way for the seed ofGod in each ofus to transform concern
into convincement, enthusiasm to ecstasy, and resentment to reconciliation.
Young Friends enjoyed a trip toTrimble HotSprings and, while in transit, had a rousing discussion aboutGeorge Fox,
Lucretia Mott, and Obadiah. The young Friends showed an impressive knowledge ofQuakerhistory, a credit to the First
Day School programs of our monthly meetings.
Again this year, we find ourselves a yearly meeting in transition, struggling with the formalities of a structured
gathering and seeking to establish an institutional memory to help future coordinators. Through the diligent efforts of
Continuing Committee, pointed suggestions from coordinators, and concerns expressed at meeting for worship for
business, we are tackling the obstacles of formality and look forward to smoother sailing at future gatherings. Financial
aid for the coordinators and officers continues to be a concern and is finding support in the yearly meeting.
Interest groups were plentiful this year, with topics on "Verbal Ministry in Meeting," "Anger and Personal
We
Relationships," and "Religious Education for Children and Adults." continue to be concerned about the rise of hate
crimes, especially the recent burnings of black churches and gay bashings in the United States. Also, there are issues,
concerns, and unresolved differences regarding our relationships southoftheborder. Different levels ofenthusiasm and
effort arebeing devoted to creation of a first draft of an IMYM Faith and Practice. Some members of the meeting continue
to search for a yearly meeting location that would foster a wider participation and deeper spiritual growth. A growing
number of young adult Friends (ages 20-30) are seeking their place in IMYM. May we hold them in the Light.
Reports from IMYM/AFSC joint Service Projects were very positive this year, with hope and light carrying Friends
into service at the Hopi and Dineh lands, as well as with the migrant workers at Palisades, Colorado.
Fridaynightbroughtapaneldiscussionwithspeakers fromawiderangeofbackgrounds, ages,and perspectives,who
spokewithemphasisontheimportanceofopeningone'slife(howeverbusy) tothepoweroftheSpirit. "Whatwedogrows
outofwhowe are." "Ifyou are toobusy, rememberthatyouhavechosentobe thatway." Friends acknowledged theneed
for ongoing spiritual refreshment and were reminded that
contemplation propels us into action. "Only God knows
which lessons we need to learn and will present them over
and over until we learn them." Staff
Thejoyful noise madeby intergenerational guitars, sing-
ing,andclapping,made thehallscomealivewithmusic. The photo.
folk dancing shared by all ages was a delight to do and
behold. Creativity Night brought us all together to enjoy
eachother'stalents, includingpuns,stories,musicand song,
"dumb Quaker" jokes, and satire fromtheJuniorand Senior
Young Friends.
In the coming year, we anticipate busy times, and we
trust that the seed of God will nourish us in the Light.
Yours in peace and friendship.
Chuck Rostkowski
Chuck Rostkowski, Clerk
FRIENDS BULLETIN OCTOBER 1996 PAGE 21
groups in the South or in your own community;
4. financial support to Washington Quaker Workcamp,
currentlyassisting torebuild oneormoreofthesouth-
Marie Godfrey, ern churches, or to other relevant organizations;
Recording Clerk, 5. participatinginorsupportinga workgroup to rebuild
and Alida
a church; and
Godfrey, Senior
Young Friends 6. making contact with your local interfaith council to
Co-clerk. discuss these concerns, develop unity across faiths,
Staffphoto. and as a result increase your community's ability to
react quickly and effectively to intimidation and acts
of hatred.
In closing, we recognize that thisviolence affects us all.
Our sense of peace, security, and happiness is diminished
when others are attacked.
Selected Minutes
Friends approve.
3.1 Doll Project Access for persons with disabilities
EarlierGenie Durland reads a letter she received about Continuing Committee, in addition to initiating the
IMYM
the dolls sent from to the Ramallah Friends Meet- formation of an advocacy group as part of the Operations
ing. The dolls reached them by way of Jerusalem. "Each Committee of IMYM, suggests adding a position to Con-
child tells you thank you; to you we are grateful." tinuing Committee. Costs of travel for this person need to
After Genie and Bill sent funds to get the dolls into the be considered (normally monthly meetings cover repre-
country, they received a personal note, thanking them sentatives, but officers are covered by Yearly Meeting).
again and sending them kisses, too. Violet Zarou wrote, Friends approve inclusion of this position as part of
"The most important miracle is not the changing of water those covered by IMYM, and the clerk states that the
into wine but changing an enemy into a friend." normal nominating process will be used.
Friends gratefully accept the report. One Friend sug- IMYM
4 Support of officers/workers
gests that reports of this typebe presented to the meeting
YM
to encourage people to make more dolls. Minute 96-3
To assure access to the services of Friends whose skills
3. 3 Registrar
and capabilities would otherwise be denied the Yearly
Charlene Weir reports that 319 people are attending;
many of those registrations arrived in the week before Meeting, the Executive Committee may, at its discretion,
IMYM. The number includes: 190 adults, approximately4 authorize the coverage of such portion or all, as may be
required in specific instances, of the costs ofattending the
under age 3, 40JYM, 27JYF, and 48 SYF. Ofthe groups, 50
annual sessions and the committee meetings or retreats
are first timers, 26 of them adults.
required in their planning. These costs include room and
3.6 Continuing Committee board, registrationfees, and transportation. Funds for this
purpose will be budgeted by the Finance Committee.
Jan Miller reports that Continuing Committee will meet
Feb. 15 and 16, but the location is not yet certain. Executive Committee will report to the 1997 Yearly Meet-
ing on the operation of this procedure.
Minute YM-96-2
IMYM
Friends gathered at 1996 find themselves ap-
palled at the recent outbreak of violence against Black
We
churches in the South. are aware that this violence
attacks the heart of these communities, creating fear and
Cathy Webb,
division. Recognizing that seeds of prejudice and hate
Clerk,
exist in all ourcommunities, we call on Monthly Meetings Ministry and
to look for ways to respond in a supportive manner. Oversight,
Possibilities may include, but are not limited to: and Tom
1. looking in your own community for the groups that Schroeder,
aremostvulnerabletohatecrimesandfindingwaysto Clerk,
Finance
decrease their vulnerability and sense of isolation;
Committee.
2. letterstotheeditororothermethods toraisetheissues
Staffphoto.
in your community;
3. letters of support to burned or harassed churches or
PAGE 22 OCTOBER 1996 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Excerpted Epistles from Young People On "Giving up the Will"
by Jonathan Taylor, Fort Collins Meeting
Six-to Eight-Year-Olds
We went to the hot springs, the chocolate factory, and Douglas Gwyn* spoke to my condition when he said,
played UNO. We also made kazoos, played soccer, and "Friends don't like the idea of giving up the will."
made our yearly meeting journals. Because I resist that idea is, in part, why I have become
We had silent worship each day. We did weaving, a Quaker, especially because, as a seeker, I do not find
made God's eyes, and we had lots and lots of fun! We another's way forward necessarily a prescription for my
made string figures. We all made new friends. own. And my own way forward is not necessarily a pre-
We wish everyone in the world could be nice and we scription for anyone else.
wish for peace on earth. I find an important parallel between what I seek in
spiritual deepening and the understanding I work to gain
in my profession as a human ecologist. Essential to both is
integration, fully understanding both in intellect and in
spirit that each of us is completely unique and totally
universal; thateachofus is, as theHindu tellshischild, one
Junior with the blade of grass, or with the ecosystem. I am the
Yearly mountainanditisme. Andfurther,fullintegrationmusttie
Meeting inextricably togethermyspiritual selfand mywayofwork
makes an so that I don't have to try tojuggle a great jumble of social
adobe values and expectations where each of them is different.
house. This, too, is part of what drew me to Friends, seeing
Staff Quakers who were not just weekend Christians, people
photo. whom
I could emulate (however unsuccessfully) in inte-
grating values and walk of life.
—
I, like Douglas, would fin—d God as expressed only
within myself, my Inner Light rather trivial. The infinite
is so much greater than that, but I suspect it may be my
ability to grasp the infinite that is so particularly small.
Junior Yearly Meeting The people with whom I work are trying to grasp
(Nine-to Eleven-Year-Olds) concepts of "ecosystem management," of harmonious co-
We made an adobe house by hand, and we made existence. Their problem is that they have the direction of
dream catchers out of willow and sinew and feathers. flow, of cause and effect reversed; they have the manager
We had a Creative Response to Conflict Worship and and the managee turned around. Humans cannot effec-
made affirmation notebooks. We had a lime toss that tively "manage" functional ecosystems, but ecosystems in
turned into a fight. the long run will "manage" the range of viable human
We went on field trips to Trimble Hot Springs and behavior that can coexist with still viable ecosystems.
Junction Creek. Some people got really wet in the creek Douglas Gwyn tells me that I may have my spiritual
and we ate watermelon. manager and managee turned around.
Wewishyouwerehereeventhoughwedon'tknowyou. I'll have to think seriously about that.
*Keynote address toIntermountainYearlyMeeting,June 1996.
Senior Young Friends
Our mornings began with every Quaker's favorite
— Douglas Gwyn reminded me that
activity business meeting. Afternoons could not quite
• much ofmy hme is demanded byjob and society;
competewiththerawexcitementofbusinessmeeting,but
• the Inner Light, or Inward Light, shows on dark colors as
they included many important activities, such as interest well as light;
groups, worship sharing, and games that brought all the • Friends are strongly seeking deeper spiritual meaning;
generationstogether.IntheeveningswehadSeniorYoung • a plethora of social concerns bombard us, demand ofus,
Friends' worship sharing, singing, snacking, drumming, -each legitimate, eachworthy
-inaggregate refracted and confusing, even to inaction;
and general revelry. Afterwards, Senior Young Friends
• we have the need for focused convincement;
came together to talk, hug Keil (if we didn't think he • the passion of opposing wrongs may become compulsive
smelled bad) and bask in Alida's wisdom. inflation;
Intermountain Yearly Meeting came to a dose with a • civilinitiativetodotherightthingmustsucceedthereflexive
senseoffellowship.TheenergyoftheSeniorYoungFriends opposition to wrongs; and
wasstronglypresentduringthesefewdaysanditsmemory • ourown suffering "enlargens the borders ofourhearts."
Jonathan Taylor
will draw us together in the coming years.
—
FRIENDS BULLETIN OCTOBER 1996 PAGE 23
The Palisade Joint Service Project The Service Project
by Lena Amanti, Pima Meeting by Maya Wright, Mountain View Meeting
ThePalisade, Colorado, IMYM-AFSCJoint ServiceProject took The HOT June sun
placefrom June 15-19 (workdaxjs wereJune 16-18). Theproject beat down.
worked through Child and Migrant Services in Palisade. There Causing beads of drip-drop wet
were 14 participants aged 13-20 and tzvo adult leaders. to slip down our burnt skin.
Tiring work,
I did not know what to expect as I headed off for the was.
it
Palisade,Colorado,JointServiceProject. IknewIwouldbe
We
doing a lot ofwork,but I was not prepared for the insights labored.
would gain through my participation. Not for money, but because
I . . .
Theprojectdid, infact,entail a lotoflabor. The firstday well, why?
I worked on sanding and painting a dentist's office that Because it felt good
provides dental care to poor and migrant workers. The to help.
next two days I helped dig degradable materials out of a We labored, hour after
basement so that a new foundation could be laid over the hour, after hour.
basement, and helped break up a sidewalk. (The building
Coveriiig our melting bodies
thatwasabovethebasementhadalreadybeendemolished
and removed.) I also made a "bush look like a tree" with the dirt and hurt
of all the wicked (or romantic)
(pruned), helped paint parts ofthe exterior ofthebuilding
someones
that houses Child and Migrant Services, the Colorado
who made the house
Migrant Health Program, and a thrift store. Other partici-
pants removed a fence, cut down a tree, leveled and a home.
cleared thebackyard ofobjectsharmful tochildren,sorted We lived it all again
beans, and cleaned the interior of Child and Migrant while picking up
Services. and CRASH-trashing up
One thing that surprised me about the service project the history.
was that I really enjoyed the work. The work helped to Shoes, lots of memory shoes,
establisha communityfeelingamong theparticipants that a baby, a drunken man,
might have taken longer to develop in a different context. a seductive-reddish woman's pair.
Besides the work, on the second and fourth days of the Remembering.
project we visited the farm of Tom and Janet Cameron, a
Quakerfamily. OnSunday morning, the second dayofthe Maya Wright,a highschoolstudent, was oneofl6youngpeople
project, we had meeting for worship at the Cameron's andadults who went on theAFSC-IMYMJoint Service Project
farm. Wesatona largeflatrockoverlooking Palisade. This to aid Child and Migrant Services in Palisade, Colorado.
time of reflection and sharing was a great way to begin.
FromtheCameronswelearneda littleaboutmigrantlabor
Continuedfromprevious column
and a lotaboutrunningapeachand cherryfarm.
We picked cherries from their trees and on our Now that I have participated in a service
last night made cherry ice cream for them. project, I am hooked. This particular project
For me, the best part was eating lunch with gave personal meaning to some of the issues I
the migrants who came for the free lunch pro- had studied. (I took a seminar on immigrants
gram. I spoke with them about where they were and migrant laborers my first year in college.)
from, how long they stayed in the United States Migrant labor is not in the news as much as it
each year, and how they got to and from the used to be, but finding work, wages, and re-
United States. Being able to interact with the ceiving health care are still important issues
people who would benefit from the work we with which laborers must deal.
were doing was a meaningful experience. In my Health care is of particular interest to me.
other volunteer work, I have not often come in Speaking with the people that run the Colo-
direct contact with the people that my work rado Migrant Health Program reinforced my
impacts. Ilearnedfromthemigrantsthemselves. desire to organize and implement commu-
This two-way flow of service and knowledge is nity-based health care programs. The Colo-
important in any type of volunteer work, and Drawing by Barbara rado Migrant Health Program, with its com-
something that I have always found in Quaker Janoe, Central Oregon munitybase and outreach, is a greatmodel for
Worship Group.
service. Continuedin next column. what I hope to do someday.
—
PAGE 24 OCTOBER 1996 FRIENDS BULLETIN
NORTH PACIFIC YEARLY MEETING
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington
Epistle July 18-21, 1996
To Friends everywhere:
The 24thAnnualSessionofNorth PacificYearlyMeeting,July 18-21, 1996 inOlympia Washington amid magnificent
,
trees on the campus ofThe EvergreenState College, opened with rains and singing. Wewelcomed over400 Friends from
NPYM
andguestsfromseveralotheryearlymeetingsandQuakerorganizations. AllthechildrenandyouthattheAnnual
Session encircled, embraced, the entire opening plenary session. Friends laughed to hearA Quality Control Questionnaire
From God and one of several advertisements for Community Night on Saturday. Friends then settled into worship to
consider the relationship between monthly meetings and yearly meeting.
Staffphoto.
Friend in Residence Nancy Middleton, outgoing general secretary
ofPhiladelphiaYearlyMeeting,spoketothetheme, "OhFriend,Iknownotthat
of God in me until entwined with that of God in thee," from Martin Cobin's
book. From Convincement to Conversion. She spoke of her deepening service,
growing from localtoyearlymeeting level, ateverystep feelinginadequate yet
prodded by mentors. The challenges of service and the work with Friends
brought such deepening inher relationship with God that she felt she received
more in return than she gave. She spoke also ofhow regularmeetings ofclerks
over two years brought focus and deepened community among the member
meetings and worship groups of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Friends spoke out of the silence of the many risks we take in embracing the
richness of our diversity, of the great trust which evolves when we face our
differences openly, of seeking greater unity among Friends. One
"reformed perfectionist" observed that practice makes perfect, and that our
book of discipline is called Faith and Practice, not Faith and Perfect.
RichardEwell, afieldintern atFriends' Committee onNationalLegislation,
presented a skit about the staff and the scope of the Committee's work
articulating Friends' priorities and principles in a difficult political climate
among many new legislators in Washington DC.
This year many Friends chose worship-sharing groups from a variety
of topics specified in advance: groups on authority and accountability among Dorene Cornwell,
Friends, Biblical references about our theme, Quaker mysticism, personal Convener, Epistle Committee.
versionsoftheLord'sprayer,journalwriting, our questforbalanceinourdaily
lives,couplesenrichment, therightuseofthe earth'sresources. Friendsalsoshared manyinterestgroups aboutChristian
myths, facing racism, the new Friends' General Conference hymnal, grizzly bears, God and sex, prison witness, special
singing in the stairwells, Buddhist psychoanalysis, the rights of the poor, Quaker organizations, and other themes.
An interest group on time-sensitive and critical concernsbrought forth to the plenary session a special concern about
thewave ofarsons atpredominantly Blackchurches. We minuted a statement ofconcern, labelling these acts racism and
hate crimes. Friends also collected a substantial contribution to the William Penn House in Washington DC to rebuild
these churches through Quaker work camp
programs.
Friends were grieved by the unusual
number of members of our community who
passedawaythisyear,toomanyofwhomwere
children. The memorial meeting for worship
was deeply moving.
After much spiritual nourishment and
laughter, we return challenged and refreshed
to our home meetings, with our eyes on the
We
good order of Friends, rich in the Light.
send warm greetings to all as we lookforward
to our 25th annual session in 1997.
Children circlingplenary session. Staffphoto. Margaret Sorrel, Presiding Clerk
—
FRIENDS BULLETIN OCTOBER 1996 PAGE 25
\
Selected Minutes
(f
96-1-2 Quality Control
Margaret Sorrel, presiding clerk, announced that Vincent Evaluation of God's Management,
Harding, scheduled speaker, was forced to cancel his en- read by presiding clerk,
We
gagement with us due to his deteriorating health. are
Margaret Sorrel at Plenary Session
grateful that Nancy Middleton is able to join us, with the
theme of "Oh, Friend, I know not that of God in me until Thefollozving is adaptedfrom that published several years
entwined with that of God in thee."
ago in the Newsletter ofthe Multifaith AIDS Project.
96-1-7 (IfGoddess or Divine Spiritfits betterfor you, please
Youngpeoplewere asked to encircle theassembled group, substitute appropriately.)
and they reached all the way around.
. . .
96-3-5 God would like to thank you for your belief and
In the worship which followed [Nancy Middleton's patronage. In order to better serve your needs, God
speech], many people spoke to the resonance of Nancy asks that you take a few moments to answer the
Middleton's remarks in their lives. Many have been called following questions:
to service in their meetings and communities. Others 1. How did you find out about God?
newspaper
spoke to the rewards of directly articulating differences
television
and diversity as enabling us to more truly find ourselves
word of mouth
our particular calling orjob and to support othersbetter in
theirs. Our book, we were reminded, is called Faith and Bible/Koran/Book of Mormon
divine inspiration
Practice, not Faith and Perfect.
near death experience
96-4-5
: 2. Areyoucurrently usinganyothersourceofinspira-
North Pacific Yearly Meeting united around the following tion in addition to God?
minute:
tarot
Ifjust one church in America had been burned or horoscope
desecrated by racists, all people of faith would fortune cookies
have been affected. In the last 18 months more sweat lodge
than40churchbuildingsintheUnitedStateshave
lottery
been burned or desecrated. These attacks, aimed palm reading
predominantly at African-American congrega- Ann Landers
tions, threaten all of us. Any attack on a church, self-help books
synagogue,ormosqueisanattackonallpeopleof crystals
faith and every house of worship in America. 3. God employs a limited degree of Divine Interven-
North Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious tion to preserve the balance level of felt presence and
Society of Friends (Quakers) joins with and sup- faith. Which would you prefer?
portstheeffortsofthecoalitionofreligiousbodies more Divine Intervention
through the National Council of Churches to re- less Divine Intervention
construct burned churches. Contributions col- current level of Divine Intervention is about right
lectedattheYearlyMeeting'sAnnualSessionwill 4. God also attempts to maintain a balanced level of
be sent to William Penn House to support their disasters and miracles. Please rate on a scale of 1-5
summer work camps dedicated to rebuilding God's handling of the following disasters:
churches in the Southeast.
flood
96-5-3 famine
FCNL int—ernRichard EwellpresentedasummaryofFCNL earthquake
activities Richard,whohails from "theotherPortland," war
was eventually coached to pronounce "Oregon" to the and the following miracles:
satisfaction of assembled Friends. rescues
spontaneous remission of disease
96-7-5
We sports upsets
will meet next year at Gonzaga University in Spokane,
5. Do you have additional comments or suggestions
Washington,fromJuly17-20,1997.TheFriendinResidence
for improving the quality of God's service? J
Committee is happy to report that Paul and Margie Lacey V
from Earlham College will be our Friends in Residence.
—
—
PAGE 26 OCTOBER 1996 FRIENDS BULLETIN
Continuedfromprevious column
The Process of Seasoning Concerns in Meetingmayprovide advice or counsel, or it mayprovide
North Pacific Yearly Meeting its blessing on a project tobe undertakenby a quarterly or
monthlymeeting. It might take up a particularpositionby
by Margaret Sorrel, University Meeting
approvalofaconcern,butsuchpositiondoesnotnecessar-
ily dictate action.
A
concern usually arises in the heart of an individual Whether the concern is considered and approved by
Friend. Inmostcasesitshouldbe takenfirsttotheworship Steering Committee or by the Annual Session, such ap-
group or meeting to which that Friend belongs. Prayerful provalbecomestheofficialresponseofNorthPacificYearly
consideration through the committee structure and the Meeting.
group as a whole oftenbrings greaterclarity on the nature This is a time-consuming process. It is lengthy enough
of the concern and what action might be appropriate. that ifconsideration at Annual Session is desired, the first
NPYM
If consideration and action by seems right, the steps should probably begin by October or November of
concern is generally forwarded to Steering Committee, the previous year.
which considers it and forwards it to all the meetings and The seasoning process should include:
worship groups of the Yearly Meeting for deliberation. • Is anything to be gained by consideration at Annual
Feedback is sent to the group from which the concern Session?
originated or taken to Steering Committee by meeting • Is seasoning and action by the monthly or quarterly
representatives. Further seasoning occurs and action may
meetinganappropriateandfullresponsetothisconcern?
then be taken by the Steering Committee at its next meet- If awareness and consideration by all the groups of
ing. If consideration is desired at the Annual Session, the NPYM is desired. Steering Committee is the appropriate
concernis forwarded to thePresidingClerkwitha request
route. Ifa corporateblessing is desired or corporate action
that it be placed on the agenda. whose follow-up would be helped by an Annual Session
Occasionally a concern arises at the Annual Session, or response, the Annual Session is appropriate.
so shortlybefore it, that the process is not feasible. It is up It is difficult for a body such as the Annual Session of
to the discretion of the Presiding Clerk whether and how NPYM to take action onconcerns. WhenNPYMwasborn,
such concerns can be considered at Annual Session. All 24yearsago,ourfoundingmothersandfathersenvisioned
concernswhicharetobeconsideredbytheYearlyMeeting an Annual Session designed for spiritual growth and
must meet several criteria;
renewal. In contrast to our parent meeting. Pacific Yearly
• Accurate background information on the concern Meeting, which meets for a full week and considers lots of
who, why, and where it originated and who has con- business, we choose to meet for only two partial days and
sidered it. twofulldaysand leave thebulkofourbusiness toSteering
• The proposed minute, clearly and succinctly stated, Committee. Consideration of seasoned concerns at our
including the action that the Yearly Meeting is being shortAnnual Session is difficultbut shouldbe done when
asked to take. the other available routes of consideration and approval
—
• Aplanofimplementation whointheYearlyMeeting do not meet our needs.
is responsible for what action in response to approval Four concerns have been through varying degrees of
of the minute. seasoning this past year. Some or all maybe ready for our
In addition to a response of corporate action, other attention at Annual Session 1997.
possibilities exist forYearly Meeting response. TheYearly 1. Boise Valley Monthly Meeting has a concern on Envi-
Continued in next column. ronmental Stewardship;
2. Helena Worship Group asks for our support of Civil
Marriage for Gays and Lesbians;
3. Monroe Worship Group has a concern about prison
Margaret
conditions and Friends' witness; and
Sorrel and
Wayne 4. PortTownsend Worship Group addresses the issueof
Yarnall in the truthfulness in the disclosure of government spend-
“Wave Skit" ing.
at Family Please assist these concerns in their seasoning process
Night.
in the next year.
Photo by Ifyoufeelyouhave guidanceto offerinhowouryearly
Sakre Edson,
meeting handles its business, please communicate with
Eugene
Steering Committee and Discipline Committee.
Meeting.
Margaret Sorrel was Presiding Clerk of North Pacific Yearly
' ^ -V -iQQq laoi-