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June 2003 QuakerShaker
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Editor, QuakerShaker
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Jun 15, 2003 11:48 PDT
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QUAKERSHAKER, June, 2003
Newsletter of the Yellow Springs Religious Society of Friends
Rose’s parents, both of them unable to read and write, signed their
declarations and letters requesting the therapeutic abortion for their
daughter with fingerprints.
“But just because we’re illiterate,” said her father, “doesn’t mean
we’re irresponsible. We have a mind and we have ideas, and what I don’t
understand is how so many people studied for nothing, have no mind for
anything.”
He was referring to the ideological obstinacy of some government
officials and opinion makers who tried to interfere in the option they
(the parents) took for and with their daughter. [These officials] with
unconcealed class prejudices implicitly disparaged their capacity to
make a decision -- because they’re poor.
In today’s technocratic culture, there is a “fight against poverty” but
no confidence in the poor. Extreme poverty is being battled, but it is
“politically incorrect” to show any indignation against the extreme
wealth of those spouting this discourse. -- March issue of the
Nicaraguan Jesuit magazine Envío. Rose (not her real name) was a
9-year-old who became pregnant after being raped.
1. Calendar
2. Query for this month
3. Billie Eastman leads discussion choosing what is best
4. Prayer for spiritual enrichment of our meetings for worship
5. Friendly Sharing (from Irwin) on Quaker weddings,
and from Ken on same-sex unions
6. Quaker Discussions on Scientific Inquiry, Democracy and Values
7. Nominating Committee Report
8. Contributions Pool Report
9. Minutes of May 4 Business Meeting
Quakershaker deadline for July is June 22. Give information to Bill
Houston (email: htul-@antioch-college.edu) or Irwin Abrams, or email
to DABlan-@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
10:00 a. m. Meeting (in library of Rockford) of group to
pray for the spiritual enrichment of the Meeting for Worship -- see
item 4 below
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, June 1, Monthly Business Meeting, following potluck lunch just
after meeting for worship, at Rockford
Sunday, June 8, 12:15 p.m. Brown bag lunch, and presentation by Billie
Eastman (and discussion) on “Peace or War, Love or fear, Life or Death,
all a matter of choice.” -- see item 3 below.
Friday, June 27, 1:00 p.m. Alumni Award Winner Presentations, Herndon
Gallery (includes Irwin Abrams, Professor of History Emeritus, Arthur
Morgan Award, service to their community)
Saturday, June 28, 8:00 p.m. Presentation by Jose Ramos-Horta, Foreign
Minister of East Timor, 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, M.A. in Peace
Studies, Honorary Doctor's degree, Antioch University, in Kelly Hall,
followed by reception, Herndon Gallery
**** **** ****
2. Query for Sixth Month: Do you make your homes places of love and
hospitality? Do you make a place in your daily family life for reading,
meditation and prayer? Do you share your deepest beliefs with your
children, while encouraging them to develop their own spiritual lives?
Do you encourage their interests in constructive, creative activities
and their reading of the Bible and other inspirational literature? Do
you maintain a constant companionship within your families by sincere
and honest communication? When
unsatisfactory relationships exist within a family, is the loving,
sympathetic counsel of responsible and qualified persons made available
to its members?
**** **** ****
3. Brown Bag Lunch on Sunday, June 8: The Peace and Social Concerns
Committee of our meeting is presenting its third gathering, just after
Meeting for Worship.
There will be a presentation, “Peace or War, Love or Fear, Life or
Death, all a matter of choice.” Which do you choose? Which do we choose
as human collective consciousness? These will be the questions for
discussion.
The presentation will be by Billie Eastman, telling her story from her
life experiences that is leading her to knowing that we humans are
spiritual beings living in a physical body. Following the presentation
there will be sharing of life experiences, our evolving as human beings,
our seeking for joy and happiness. By sharing our life experiences, we
get to know each other and our stories.
All are welcome to join in the Meeting for Worship, brown bag lunch, and
presentation or any part.
“I call heaven and earth to witness ... that today I have put before you
life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and
your children may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19.
**** **** ****
4. Praying for the Spiritual Enrichment of the Meeting for Worship:
Some religious groups have a prayer time before the regular worship
service where those who feel a special concern may pray that the leaders
of the service and the congregation may be aware of and responsive to
the promptings of truth.
Carl Hyde found such prayer helpful when he was attending South Side
(Mennonite) Christian Fellowship, and he is suggesting that similar
prayer would be helpful to us -- though of course the distinction
between leaders and congregation is not as clear in a Quaker Meeting.
Those who share this concern are urged to meet together 10 - 10:30 a. m.
in the Meeting library room (just east of the room where meeting for
worship is held) each Sunday. There are no special qualifications
needed; all members and attenders who want our meetings to be
spiritually rich are invited to attend.
**** **** ****
5. Friendly sharing
(a)What happens at a Quaker wedding: (from Irwin Abrams)
Whatever the Yellow Springs Meeting decides about who is eligible for
weddings under our care, and I am one of those who feels that no member
of our Meeting should be excluded, I hope we could all agree as to what
such a wedding represents.
This is how I would describe it:
"What takes place at a Quaker wedding is not a civil contract but a
religious commitment in a meeting for worship. The uniting of the
couple, as George Fox said, is the work of the Lord, not of a minister
or of a magistrate, and those of us present are only witnesses.
“ What we give witness to in that meeting for worship is an affirmation
before God in which the two persons make a life-long commitment to
live together in a loving union."
(b) On the use of the word “marriage”: (from Ken Champney) I have
felt my position on same-sex marriage has not been fully understood. It
has also changed over time, and will probably change again with further
experience. Here is where I stand as I write.
Long-term committed relationships enrich the lives of individuals and
strengthen the social fabric. The Meeting should encourage, Celebrate
and support them, regardless of sex or erotic orientation.
I can unite with a minute that supports same-sex unions, but if they are
called marriages I want to append my dissent from that usage in the
minutes.
To apply the term "marriage" to a same-sex union indicates confusion
about both sex and marriage. Men and women differ in important ways.
While a same-sex union resembles a marriage and should have the same
legal rights, it is sufficiently different to warrant its own name.
My dictionary defines marriage as a relationship between a woman and a
man, and in its broader meaning it connotes a union of dissimilar
elements.
Examples:
"Her work is a successful marriage of art and poetry."
"Unhappy marriage: Marxism and women" (a chapter heading in the book
Marx @ 2000).
"The Swiss economy successfully marries free enterprise and socialism."
The insistence on calling a same-sex union a marriage illustrates a
regrettable human tendency to politicize the language. We end up
disputing the meaning of words, obscuring agreement on substance or
displacing discussion of true differences.
If we support legal equality for same-sex unions, we would also be
shooting ourselves in the foot. The American public supports same-sex
unions but opposes calling them marriages. If we call them marriages,
we undercut political support for their legal equality and play into the
hands of those who propose state laws to ban recognition of Vermont's
same-sex unions, and a Constitutional
amendment to ban such unions anywhere.
Same-sex unions are not recognized in inheritance law, tax law,
insurance and medical practice. We should be working to end this
unequal treatment. Calling them marriages loses the support of folks
who feel, as I once did, that this is an attack on traditional marriage.
This is an uphill struggle, and we need all
the support we can muster.
**** **** ****
6. Quaker Discussions on Scientific Inquiry, Democracy and Values, 50
years ago:
This is the fourth 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 ones by Jane
Morgan and Irwin Abrams see item 10 of the April issue and item 6 of the
May issue.
This one is by Mildred Stroop who graduated from Antioch in 1944:
Some young people, at sea between absolute orthodox acceptance and
absolute rejection of religion, have turned to the Quaker form of
worship as a new launching. I would like to briefly state my
understanding of Quaker worship and my reasons for joining in its
practices.
Friends are concerned with nurturing within themselves an attitude of
humble seeking. It is hoped that both the smug confidence that no
knowledge is beyond human grasp and the unyielding narrowness of
unquestioned revelation can be replaced by a quiet receptiveness to
growth of understanding. More than intellectual open-minded inquiry,
Quaker “seeking” becomes a spirit of living. It is an attentiveness to
all the forces of the universe which may help determine meaning and
intrinsic value in life. It is an attitude of listening. It is a
freeing of the mind and emotion from preconception, and as such is in
accord with the fundamental tenet of science.
This spirit of seeking is central to the meeting which derives its very
form from the spontaneous expressions of those who attend. Periods of
silence become an integral part of the worship as thought and expression
are freed from the rapidity and attachment of daily living. Silence
serves not only the individual in this way but also serves the group as
they slowly seek a synthesis of expression, common understanding, unity
of feeling.
Open-minded seeking is sometimes associated with persons who become so
aware of all sides of problems that they rarely feel free to act upon
them. Friends believe in a habit of seeking which is not of the mind
alone, but also of the heart. Conviction and active endeavor hold a
place of no less importance than the attitude of inquiry which gives
birth to conviction and which guards its worth.
The response of Friends to world need, to racial injustice, to community
development, gives evidence of values deeply held and actively
implemented. It is the belief of Friends that inquiry and conviction do
not alienate one another but rather are mutually dependent, and that, by
the constant weighing and balancing
of the two, men can slowly move ahead to a more equitable world.
It is one thing to be in accord with the principles of inquiry and
conviction and yet another to support the means taken to achieve their
realization. I have felt deep accord with two such means, both implicit
in Quaker philosophy.
First is the quiet assurance that the greatest and most important
changes are not imposed but emerge as individuals grow and develop in
insight and understanding. This stands opposed to much religious
education today which first teaches ethical principles
and then searches for means of making them vital in the lives of people.
Imposed ethical principles tend to shift with the changing social tides
if they are not anchored in deep conviction arising from everyday
experience. If Quaker worship can put faith in the efficacy of inner
growth, however slow and undramatic this may appear to be, it can
continue to pioneer.
Second is the Quaker recognition of “community”. For a Friend, meeting
may become the knot which ties his experience together in meaning. It
may become a pivot, a central point, the occasion for integration.
Through a wide variety of common experiences, understanding becomes
possible among community members.
Meeting, then, does not stand alone as another common experience, but
rather, by its very nature, becomes the focal point of all other common
experience, dependent on them. In this transitional period in history
when living is becoming increasingly segmental, religion and educational
groups are tending to support the trend by moving off into compartments
of their own. The need remains acute for centers of coordination where
life can be explored in its totality. Only insofar as Friends Meeting
recognizes and functions through community will it be fulfilling its
potential and achieving the working synthesis on inquiry and conviction
upon which a better world may well depend.
Next month we’ll have the final installment, by James McDowell.
Errata: In item 10 of the May issue the editor said that Irwin was 35
years old when he wrote the paper; if the paper really is 50 years old
then he was 39 -- actually the copy of all these papers that the editor
has is undated, and the 50 year figure is just a rough guess (for all of
them). But somewhere in the numbers 50 and 35 there’s a four year error.
Also, I (the editor) wrote that the FGC pamphlet based on the paper was
temporarily out of print because it was being revised. That too was
wrong -- the revision (to make the language more inclusive)
was done years ago, and copies of the pamphlet are available in the rack
in the meeting house. Irwin points out that from the beginning the
pamphlet did not include the statement that business meeting decisions
must be unanimous, though that was the way he said it in the original
paper.
**** **** ****
7. Nominating Committee Report: The Nominating Committee of the
Yellow Springs Friends Meeting has the responsibility of working with
members and attenders of the meeting to discern areas of interest and
service to the meeting. Each year, members of the Nominating Committee
speak with Friends to determine those areas of interest.
The process also identifies areas of concern among Friends, and
provides a picture of the perceived health of the Yellow Springs Friends
Meeting.
Several areas of concern were identified through the 2003 Nominating
cycle. First and foremost, Friends have shared that they find
themselves extremely busy and feeling over-committed in their lives and
families. As our meeting continues to age, many Friends share that
their energy levels are leading them to limit areas of service to the
meeting. Many Friends have expressed concerns that the meeting may
expect more than can be supported with the available Friends.
One specific suggestion noted that perhaps the Ministry and Advancement
and Membership and Pastoral Care committees be re-combined.
Other suggestions recommended that the meeting re-think itself and its
priorities. Friends have also noted a lack of clarity in the function
and role of various committees, and in some cases, differing
understanding among committee members.
One suggestion noted that a written document describing the meeting’s
expectation of each committee would be helpful. This document would
need to be used by Nominating Committees and handed down through
committees as they change membership. Friends are clearly concerned
about the ability to maintain the current structure.
Throughout the 2003 Nominating process, Friends expressed much interest
in a number of areas. Friends expressed need to explore prayer and
meditation and to seek a deeper sense of meditation and spiritual
practice.
Friends have expressed interest in forming a book club that would read
and discuss works by Quaker authors and about topics of interest to
Quakers. Friends have expressed a need to seek fun in our meeting. It
is encouraging that Friends regard the meeting as
a place to address those needs.
Additional concerns noted by Friends include our response as a meeting
to social concerns. It was observed that while individuals are involved
in carious social causes, the meeting does not appear to have an
organized response as a community and that causes do not appear to be
supported by the meeting with the involvement
of Friends as a community.
It was also noted that our meeting is sometimes not as welcoming to
newcomers as it could be, although we continue to improve in this
area. The Friend carrying this concern would remind us not to take for
granted that we are a welcoming group.
It is encouraging that although Friends find themselves extremely busy
and feeling over-committed, that they look to the Yellow Springs Friends
Meeting as a place for both spiritual and social nourishment.
The 2003 Nominating Committee thanks Friends for the candor and for
their willingness to serve.
Respectfully,
2003 Nominating Committee
Deb Kociszewski, Jean Putnam, Eva Paige
Proposed Officers for 2003 - 04
Clerk: Carl Hyde
Ass't Clerk: Greg Webb
Recording Clerk: Deb Kociszewski
Treasurer: Peg and Ken Champney
Statistician: Bill Houston
Nominating Committee Memorial Committee:
Co-clerks: Jean Putnam (2004) Clerk: Heidi Eastman
& Eva Paige (2004) Carl Hyde
Kris Webb (2005) Lorena Hyde
_______________ (2006) Mark Melecki
Roy Eastman
Ministry and Advancement: Bill Houston
Clerk: Bruce Heckman
Cindy Butler-Jones Membership and Pastoral Care:
Neal Crandall Clerk: David Hyde
Greg Webb Jane Morgan
Terry Snider Eva Paige
Dale Blanchard Ann Cooper
Peace and Social Concerns: Finance Committee:
Clerk:_______________ Co-Clerks: Ken & Peg Champney
Facilitate: Hazel Tulecke
Denise Runyon Harold Putnam
Elizabeth Firestone
Mattie Fitch Care of Meetinghouse:
Deb Kociszewski Clerk: Don Hollister
Billie Eastman Backup: Paul Wagner
Jean Putnam Scheduling: Carol Simmons
Kris Webb Kitchen: _______________
Gardening:_______________
Newsletter Committee: Flowers: Kay Hollister
Clerk: Irwin Abrams
Editor::_______________ Archives:
Proofing: Betty Wagner Clerk: Ellen “Tee” Forshaw
Internet: Dale Blanchard Irwin Abrams
List/Directory: Harold Putnam
Distribution and Assembly: Carl Hyde Library Committee:
Cheryl Keen Clerk: Joan
Brucker
Bill Houston Jean Putnam
Kay
Hollister
Quill Correspondent: Jean Putnam Kari Tulecke
Religious Education: Childcare during Meeting for
Worship:
Clerk: Carol Simmons (no-one)
Connie Collett Contributions Pool: Peg
Champney
Peg Champney Jean Putnam
Kay Hollister
Mary Morgan OVYM Executive Committee Reps:
FCNL Letter-writing: QUNO (Quaker U.N.): Jim
Keen
Friends Journal Liaison: Irwin Abrams
Friends Care Center Board of Trustee Appointments term ends:
Peggy Erskine March-04
Richard Eastman March-04
Jane Brown March-05
Henning von Gierke (Mark Melecki back-up) March-05
Carl Champney March-06
Pam Davis March-06
Unassigned: Ross Morgan, Mary Letson, Susan Hyde, Kathy Hale
**** **** ****
8. Contributions Pool Report: Here is a list of the recipients of our
contributions pool for this year. The total was $11,030 and went to:
All Our Children
Amnesty International
Arthur Morgan School (in memory of Elizabeth & Ernest Morgan)
Council for a Livable World Education Fund
Friends Peace Teams
FUM-Rebuilding Ramallah Friends School
Community Foundation of South Puget Sound (in memory of Rachel Corrie)
Jubilee Partners
Legal assistance for Maurice Mason (a man on death row)
Ohioans to Stop Executions
OXFAM (2 shares)
Peace Brigades International
Peaceworkers Non-Violent Peace Force
Prisoner Visitation Support
Quaker House in Fayetteville, NC
Rocking Horse Children's Center, Springfield
Seeds of Peace Camp (where young Israelis and Palestinians come
together)
UNFPA (United Nations population concerns group)
Voices in the Wilderness
Each recipient was sent $551.50. Oxfam received $1103 (2 shares).
**** **** ****
9. Monthly Meeting for Business May 4, 2003:
Yellow Springs Friends met for business at the meetinghouse May 4, 2003.
Present
were: Diane Chiddister, Barry Hollister, Bill Houston, Irwin Abrams,
Paul
Wagner, Betty Wagner, Dick Eastman, Kay Hollister, Jane Brown, Bruce
Heckman, Ann
Cooper, Jean Putnam, Harold Putnam, Jane Morgan, Lorena Hyde, Carl Hyde,
John
Eastman, David Hyde, Ken Champney, Cindy Butler-Jones, Kathy Hale, Clyde
Replogle, Peg Champney, Hazel Tulecke, Denise Runyon, Terry Snider,
Edward Hyde,
Tom Malcolm, Mary Morgan, Joan Brucker, Billie Eastman, Carol Simmons,
and Deb
Kociszewski
1. Ad Hoc Committee on Sexuality.
The clerk distributed printed copies of the statement and minute from
the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexuality. It was noted that this is the same
document discussed at the April 6, 2003 Meeting for Business.
The discussion of the item opened with silent worship. Friends shared
insight and research into Quaker process and the notion of "sense of the
meeting".
Friends shared concerns about seeking divine guidance and seeking unity
while being a community that nurtures in love. Friends entered into
silence to determine if we are at the place to make the decision to move
forward with the minute. It was determined that the meeting is in
substantial but not overwhelming support of the minute. It was agreed
to carry this discussion to the June Meeting for Business.
Friends were reminded to hold in the light a number of families in the
meeting who are not represented at this Meeting for Business, most
notably, those who are part of families led by same sex partners.
We encourage those who need more understanding of the position of those
in opposition to the minute to contact those individuals directly. Dick
Eastman and Denise Runyon have indicated that they need to leave the Ad
Hoc Committee.
Friends called to serve on the Ad Hoc Committee should contact Diane
Chiddister, Deb Kociszewski or Carl Hyde.
2. Statistical Report. Bill Houston distributed the Yellow Springs
Meeting Statistical Report, which is required to be submitted to the
Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting. Friends accepted the report with thanks.
3. Request for Maintenance of the Meeting House. Paul Wagner
reported that the exterior of the Rockford Meeting House is in need of
paint. Paul has received estimates from two contractors for the time
required to complete the work. He and Don Hollister applied an hourly
rate to the time estimates to determine an estimated cost for the
project: $ 3300 for labor and $ 350 for material. Friends approved that
the painting be undertaken by Don Hollister.
4. Nominating Committee. Deb Kociszewski reported that Henning von
Gierke has agreed to serve a two year term on the Friends Care Center
Board. Friends approved. Deb also reported that three significant
positions remain open on the Nominating Committee report: clerk of
Peace and Social Concerns, Quaker Shaker
editor and a 3 year Nominating Committee position. The preliminary
Nominating Committee report will be published in the June, 2003 Quaker
Shaker for discussion at the June Meeting for Business.
5. Membership Request from Clyde Replogle. Clyde Replogle has
requested membership in the Yellow Springs Friends Meeting. The request
was forwarded to the Membership and Pastoral Care Committee.
6. Membership Transfer Request from Jerry Eagan. Jerry Eagan has
requested that his membership be transferred to Silver City, New Mexico,
where he now lives and participates in Meeting.
7. Jennifer and Chris Walker. Friends are encouraged to hold
Jennifer and Chris Walker in the light during the month of May, as their
divorce moves forward.
The meeting closed in silence.
The next meeting for business will be held June 1, 2003.
Respectfully Submitted,
Deb Kociszewski, Recording Clerk
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