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May 2003 QuakerShaker
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Editor, QuakerShaker
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Jun 15, 2003 11:23 PDT
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Posted June 2003
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QUAKERSHAKER, May, 2003
Newsletter of the Yellow Springs Religious Society of Friends
Children Answer the Question: What Does Love Mean
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You
know your name is safe in their mouth.” (Billy, age 4)
“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend
whom you hate.” (Nikka, age 6)
“There are two kinds of love. Our love. God’s love. But God makes both
kinds of them.” (Jenny, age 4)
“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you
mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” (Jessica, age 8)
(from Justice Watch Newsletter, Spring, ‘03, 1120 Garden St.,
Cincinnati, OH 45214)
1. Calendar
2. Query for this month
3. Irwin leads brown bag peace discussion
4. Note from Lawrence Templin
5. Friendly Sharing, on legal gay unions
6. Quaker Discussions on Scientific Inquiry, Democracy and Values
7. Statements in relation to the war on Iraq
8. Nobel Laureate to speak at Antioch in late June
9. Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business April 6, 2003
Quakershaker deadline for June is May 25. Give information to Bill
Houston (email: htul-@antioch-college.edu) or Irwin Abrams, or email
to Quake-@aol.com
1. Calendar
Always:
Sundays: 8:30 a.m. Meeting for Worship, at Rockford
10:00 a.m. First Day School (Sept-May), at Rockford
11:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship, at Rockford
Wednesdays: 7:00 a.m. Meeting for Worship, at Rockford
Saturdays: noon - 1 pm Peace Vigil, SW corner of Limestone St. &
Xenia Ave.
Sunday, May 4, 1 pm: Monthly Business Meeting, at Rockford
Sunday, May 11, 12:30 pm: Brown bag lunch and peace discussion, with
Irwin Abrams.
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2. Query for Fifth Month: Do you examine thoroughly your behavior in
regard to work, leisure, diet, and the use of drugs, alcoholic beverages
and tobacco, thus trying to avoid and to discourage practices that
interfere with health, sensitivity or social responsibility? Remembering
the parable of the talents, do
you exercise fully those that God has given you? Do you endeavor to
minister humbly and sensitively to the needs of others that they may
attain their full potential?
**** **** ****
3. Irwin Abrams speaks on the Nobel Peace Prize and the Carters: The
monthly series of brown bag lunches and peace discussions continues
after Meeting for Worship on May 11. Irwin Abrams will be sharing some
of his ideas about the Nobel Peace Prize, and particularly about the
latest laureate Jimmy Carter and his
family. Come and bring your lunch. We’ll be starting around 12:30 or a
little after, at Rockford. The next month, Billie Eastman will be
sharing her ideas about the terrible mess the world is in and how we get
out of it, June 8.
4. Note from Lila Templin’s son Lawrence:
“I doubt that any of our family members of three generations will ever
forget Lila's memorial service, the outpouring of genuine affection, the
memories, the people. We thank ... the Friends Meeting for making it
possible.
It really was a beautiful and heart-warming service. One thing that
stood out for me was the surrogate parent or grandparent theme. To think
that Lila (and Ralph--they certainly were a team) were good parents to
so many others beyond their own family makes us all realize in new ways
how truly blessed we were to be a part of
that family, that wide and deep family. Surely there is meaning in that
for so many in the world who are currently thinking in terms of crusades
and armageddons rather than trying harder to be a part of one great
diverse family.
I realize, too, that there were still others not represented at the
service: friends and students from Africa and India, good friends who
knew the folks at Central State .. and of course many friends in the
peace movement who were better represented at Ralph's service back in
1984. Lila was mother to many peacemakers too.”
**** **** ****
5. Friendly Sharing, on legal gay unions: Dale Blanchard sends us
this note:
“I've been doing research for a college class on Employment At Will. Gay
employees are not covered under our Constitution, though 13 states and
the D.C. have an Employment Rights bill that protects most in the
private or public sector; 9 states protect just in the public sector.
In private life, Vermont, of course, remains the only state that allows
same-sex couples to obtain a civil union license. Most other states ban
recognition of this union/marriage. Ohio does not, I am marginally
proud to say.
“Although I am not (to the best of my knowledge) gay, I feel personally
offended and dismayed and outraged and saddened by the discrimination of
this particular group of people, which is why I think and feel this is a
Civil Rights/Human Rights area that has not been sufficiently addressed.
“
**** **** ****
6. Quaker Discussions on Scientific Inquiry, Democracy and Values, 50
years ago: This is the third installment in our group of reprints -- for
more details about the series (and for the first installment, by Arthur
Morgan) see item 5 of the March QuakerShaker; for the one by Jane Morgan
see item 10 of the April issue. The one this month is by 35 year old
Irwin Abrams. This essay was published by the Friends General Conference
as the tract “Friends and the Seeker” -- it is currently out of print
while being revised to make the language include more genders.Here is
Irwin’s paper:
Two of the most treasured concepts of our time are the method of
scientific inquiry and the values and practices we understand as
democratic. Both of these are most congenial to the spirit of Quakerism.
The method of scientific inquiry involves first of all an emphasis upon
experience. Scientists take no answers for granted. They must
experiment, test each new hypothesis in the light of experience.
Quakerism has had a similar emphasis. Quakers have been unwilling to
accept blindly creeds and formulae written down years ago. They have
preferred to share the experiences which produced such insights as those
recorded in the Scriptures. They are fond of the saying, “It is not true
because Jesus said it; Jesus said it because it is true.”
Quakers have found that anyone can come upon the discoveries of Jesus
for himself and test them in his own life. Quakers have learned through
actual practice that if one loses his life, gives of himself
selflessly, he may achieve that sense of integration and spiritual
adventure which Jesus called Everlasting Life.
To the Quaker, religion is above all a life to be lived, an experience
to be shared. The outward expression and the inward experience are one.
It is in worship together that Quakers sense that overpowering oneness
of humanity which so often sends them out to relieve suffering and to
build right relationships among men. Quaker mysticism, the sense of the
presence of and the unity with God
which one can feel in a Quaker meeting for worship, is no withdrawal
from life, but rather a springboard for action.
“Equal opportunity for all” would well describe the arrangements for
worship. Quakers gather together reverently in silent waiting and
listening. Any worshipper may come to find that he is to be the
instrument through whom the group’s insight is to be expressed. He is
bound neither by a prescribed program nor a traditional creedal
vocabulary. Fresh experience of the highest that we know is free to find
fresh expression.
In all its forms and practices Quakerism has been essentially
democratic. From the beginning Quakers refused to uncover their heads
before kings or bend their knees before priests. They have put little
stock in those external trappings which divide men, whether by the
vestments of rank or the pigmentation of the skin. The worth of the
individual is to Quakers no mere philosophical principle, but a
conviction based upon the insights of worship and upon actual
experience.
“There is that of God in every man” is the way the earliest Quakers
formulated this experimental finding of the potential creativeness of
every man. More recent generations of Quakers have been able to practice
and to test this truth anew amid the most trying circumstances in a
world bowed by despair and suffering. The
Quaker prescription for a meaningful life is still to “walk gladly over
the earth answering to that of God in every man.”
In meetings for business the democratic emphasis is expressed in the
custom of coming to decisions unanimously, never by vote, since majority
rule may do violence to the convictions of a minority. If there is “that
of God in every man”, then even a minority of one must be hearkened to,
and Quakers would rather be right than expedient.
In the Society of Friends at its best the seeker may find a form of
religion that is consistent with the scientific approach. He may find a
democracy of spirit and of action. He may find a society of persons who
care deeply about their fellows and who have learned to find within
themselves and from without themselves the strength to live creatively
and joyfully. He may find the message of Jesus speaking afresh in the
syllables of the twentieth century.
Don’t miss next month’s exciting installment, by Mildred Stroop.
**** **** ****
7. Statements in relation to the war on Iraq: The first is from a
long speech by Mary Ellen McNish, AFSC General Secretary:
“. . . when we own our fears and accept the love and strength freely
offered to us, how then do we minister to the broken world around us?
“Since the attacks of 9-11, there has been little time to regroup or
reflect. Aid to the people of New York gave way in rapid succession to
aid for Afghanistan, to protest against a widening war, to preparation
to stand by the people of Iraq.
“And all of this in a world where there was already so much to do.
“What of the people of Colombia, whose suffering has been submerged by
other news? Of Palestinians in the occupied territories, of Israeli
victims of suicide bombers. What of the Congo and Angola? Completely
gone from the front pages.What of our commitment to men and women on
death row? Of those on public assistance losing their benefits, and
immigrants whose rights seem to erode each day?
“Even as we react, we must continue to act -- to work for positive
change as we seek to mitigate each new evil.”
The next statement is by Eduardo Galeano, originally printed in Spanish
in Mexico’s La Jornada for March 19; translation from the March issue of
Envío, published by the Jesuit University in Nicaragua :
“Where will the souls of Iraqi victims go? According to Reverend Billy
Graham, President Bush’s religious advisor and celestial surveyor,
‘paradise measures only 1500 square miles.’ Few will be chosen. Guess
which country has surely bought up almost all the admission tickets. “
Concerning the war with Iraq, former Cincinnati Mayor Jerry Springer
said, “It’s like taking a baseball bat to a hornets’ nest.”
**** **** ****
8. Nobel Laureate to speak at Antioch in late June: An Antioch
alumnus, José Ramos-Horta, Prime Minister of East Timor and winner of
the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize will be returning to campus to speak on June
28th, during Reunion. This year (June 27-29), Reunion is the first
event in the yearlong celebration of the 150th birthday of Antioch.
**** **** ****
9. Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business April 6, 2003
Yellow Springs Friends met for business at the meetinghouse April 6,
2003. Present were Diane Chiddister, Dale Blanchard, Hazel Tulecke,
Bill Houston, Cindy Butler-Jones, David Hyde, Carl Hyde, Lorena Hyde,
Denise Runyon, Joan Brucker,Dick Eastman, Billie Eastman, Edward Hyde,
Kay Hollister, Barry Hollister, Heidi Eastman, Eva Paige, Gwen Glowaski,
James Hyde, Irwin Abrams, Terry Snider, Ken Champney, Peg Champney, Lou
Anne Ebert, John Eastman, Kathy Hale, Paul Wagner,
Betty Wagner, Jean Putnam, Harold Putnam, Carol Simmons, Mary Morgan,
Jane Morgan, Mattie Fitch, Deb Kociszewski, Hallie Cranos.
The meeting opened in silent worship, which included prayerful
consideration of the fourth query on simplicity of life and use of time
for spiritual growth.
1. Minutes. The recording clerk read the minutes from the March 2,
2003 Meeting for Business. No corrections were noted.
2. Membership Request of Cindy Butler-Jones. Cindy spoke to the
Business Meeting about herself. She is married to Bill Jones and has two
grown children. Cindy is a potter who is currently teaching at Edison
Community College in Piqua and designing sculpture for distribution by a
Cleveland company. Friends approved Cindy's membership
enthusiastically.
3. Contributions Pool. Peg Champney reported that the 2003
Contributions Pool raised approximately $11,000.00. Each organization
would receive approximately $550.00. Peg reviewed the list of
Contributions Pool recipients. A copy of the list is attached to the
archive copy of the minutes. The Contributions Pool is still accepting
donations. The meeting approved the list of contribution recipients.
4. Peace and Social Concerns. Billie Eastman reported that
participation on the Peace and Social Concerns committee is growing.
Several young Friends have joined in the work of the committee. Upcoming
events will include a series of four brown bag lunches.
April 13 - Denise Runyon and Tom Malcolm on the Dances of Universal
Peace.
May 11 - Irwin Abrams on his relationship with Jimmy Carter and the
Nobel Peace Prize.
June 8 - Billie Eastman on the Possibilities of Attaining Peace.
Late June or early July - Hazel Tulecke on the shift from Opposing War
to Working for Peace.
Peace and Social Concerns will also develop a program centered on Ohio
Valley Yearly Meeting query 11 on the Peace Testimony. Details will be
brought to Business Meeting when they are clarified.
5. Minute on Same Sex Marriage. Friends entered into silence to
consider the minute distributed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexuality.
The version of the minute distributed includes some revisions from the
text printed in the April Quaker Shaker. Friends expressed thanks to
the Ad Hoc Committee (Dick Eastman, Diane Chiddister and Denise Runyon)
for their sensitive and faithful work on this subject.
Discussion was lengthy and spirited and included willingness to step
aside in some cases to move the minute forward. Friends approved a
minute consisting of the statements:
"A Quaker marriage is a lifelong commitment by a couple to live together
in the Light to care for one another and for their children and dedicate
the partnership to the furtherance of divine purpose. It is a covenant
with God and with each other, to which the meeting bears witness. Our
meeting values and welcomes all individuals, regardless of sexual
orientation. Preference for partners of the same sex is not a bar to
full participation in the meeting."
Friends requested further leading and guidance from the Ad Hoc Committee
on the matter of clarifying "full participation in the
meeting." Friends approved.
The next meeting for business will be held on May 4, 2003 at 12:45 P.M.
The meeting closed in silent worship.
Submitted,
Deb Kociszewski, Recording Clerk
Yellow Springs Friends Meeting
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