Burlington Quarterly Meeting of The Religious Society Of Friends
Minutes of Meeting
Twelfth Month 10th 2005
Trenton Meetinghouse in New Jersey

Minute No. 1. Opening . Burlington Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, meeting Twelfth Month 10th, 2005, gathered for fellowship around nine in the morning and then settled into worship near the appointed hour of ten o'clock. Clerk was Harold Jernigan, recording Osborn Cresson.    (12.10.05.01)

ATTENDANCE : From Barnegat : none; from Crosswicks : Maurie Stevenson and Harry Williams; from Mount Holly : Fran Campbell (Coordinator), Os Cresson (Recording Clerk), Pat Fowler, Margery Mears Larrabee, Margaret Mansfield and Jack Walz; from Little Egg Harbor : Harold Jernigan (Clerk), Charlotte Lippincott Mood, Gary Nisley and Cynthia van Saun; from Princeton : Tad La Fountain, Gale Smith, Joy Smith, Allan White and Susan White; from Rancocas : Jean Jordan, Joe Jordan, Frank D. Smith, Jr. (Treasurer), Judy Smith, Gene Steelman and Dave Weiser; from Trenton : Jane Brooks, Hal Fleming, Ralph Hallowell, Jean Comfort Hallowell, Jada Jackson, Sandra Johnson, Joan Ordille, Norma Saltz and Joseph Taylor, Jr.. (12.10.05.04)

The Clerk thanked Trenton Friends for their hospitality. (12.10.05.03)

Minute No. 2. AGENDA : The agenda was APPROVED with one change. (12.10.05.05)

Minute No. 3. MINUTES : The minutes of September 10 th were APPROVED as read with the following four changes: “Ted” to “Tad” in the attendance list; “12 children” to “13 children” in (9.10.05.04); and in (9.10.05.10) after “in print form” add “and also on our new BQM web page”, and after “by the Coordinator” add “and the web clerks”. With respect to (9.10.05.09), the Coordinator stated that an e-mail had been sent to the Coordinator's Oversight Committee describing the Coordinator's travel plans. A Friend remarked that it is important to acknowledge receipt of e-mails because sometimes they do not go through. (12.10.05.06)

Minute No. 4. TREASURER'S REPORT : The Treasurer presented a report dated December 10, 2005 (attached). BQM has a debt for $40,000. Contributions of $5150 have been received, but more are needed to retire this debt. Scholarship brochures are available with application forms that are due by February 14, 2006. This report was ACCEPTED . (12.10.05.08)

Minute No. 5. TRUSTEE'S REPORT : Maurie Stevenson reported that Mansfield Meetinghouse needs help, both financial and in labor. In the spring there will be a lot of work cleaning up the grounds. A Certificate of Occupancy has been received for the addition, although one for the room being converted has not yet been received. (12.10.05.09)

Minute No. 6. BRAINERD COMMONS. Charlotte Mood described her recent move to Brainerd Commons in Mount Holly which she enjoys a lot. Brainerd Commons is designed for people 62 and over. A community is beginning to form. They now have six residents. The meeting APPROVED a minute of appreciation for all those who have worked so hard on this project, including Friends Maurie and Anne Stevenson, Pat Fowler and Karen Robbins who came to the rescue when others could only complain. Charlotte suggested that as individuals we strongly support this unique effort to meet the housing needs of elderly people. (12.10.05.11)

Minute No. 7. Traveling Minute for Margaret Mansfield. Pat Fowler presented a traveling minute for Margaret Mansfield which originated in Mount Holly Meeting. The minute support her as she goes forward in following her spiritual leading to increase awareness of the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Burlington Quarterly Meeting and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and to witness for the peaceful prevention of conflict. The meeting ENDORSED this minute and will send it to Interim Meeting. (12.10.05.12)

Minute No. 8. MINUTE ON IRAQ AND TRAVELING MINUTE FOR THERESA FITZGIBBON : The Clerk reported that the minute on Iraq and the traveling minute for Theresa Fitzgibbon, endorsed by Burlington Quarterly Meeting, have not yet been considered by Interim Meeting. (12.10.05.13)

Minute No. 9. STEERING COMMITTEE : The Recording Clerk, after a retreat to reorder his life, asked to be relieved of his duties. The Steering Committee nominated Susan White as Recording Clerk of Burlington Quarterly Meeting. This was APPROVED . Friends are asked to send to the Steering Committee the names of people interested in assisting Frank Smith as Treasurer of Burlington Quarter from now until his anticipated retirement in February, 2007. Steering Committee meets on the third Saturday of each month when Quarterly Meeting is not in session (except August). (12.10.05.14)

Minute No. 10. MEETING ON WORSHIP AND MINISTRY : The Clerk reported that two meetings have responded with names of people who are interested in serving on the revived Meeting on Worship and Ministry of Burlington Quarter. It will be concerned with the quality of worship at Burlington Quarter sessions and the quality of its Spirit led and rightly ordered decisions. He urged the monthly meetings to name Friends to this group. (12.10.05.15)

Minute No. 11. COORDINATOR'S REPORT : Fran Campbell (Coordinator) presented a report. She is helping plan logistics for the 2006 residential yearly meeting. Tri-Quarter has new officers: Kandy Lippincott and George Crispin (Co-Clerks); Marsha Gaspar (Marketing); Ventina Hershey (Treasurer); George Crispin ( Camp Liaison ); and Bob & Meed Barnett (Teen Program). Camp Ockanickon expects its dam to be rebuilt by next year. It did not raise our rental costs although it has for other groups. A sub-committee is working on a child safety policy and will report to the next scheduled meeting at Woodbury Meetinghouse on February 5 th at 2:30. The Coordinator attended the regular meetings of regional staff and a retreat that were held this summer. The staff will continue to meet together for four hours each month for spiritual and work related support. Please inform the Coordinator if you are not receiving Quarter-Link . Planning is underway for a women's retreat on the first weekend of March, 2007 at Fellowship Farm in Pottstown, PA with the theme, “We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For”. The Coordinator contacted the other NJ quarters about a workshop for recording clerks. Phil Anthony and Priscilla Adams are interested and Bobbi Kelly at Pendle Hill is considering this subject for a “Pendle Hill on the Road” program. The Coordinator will report on her experience at the Mexican border at Princeton Meeting on January 15 th . (12.10.05.16)

Minute No. 12. COORDINATOR PROGRAM : The Clerk announced that this item on the agenda would be omitted in the interests of time. (12.10.05.17)

Minute No. 13. CROSSWICKS' REPORT : The Clerk announced that an annual report from Crosswicks Monthly Meeting was received but would not be considered in the interests of time. (12.10.05.18)

Minute No. 14. YEARLY MEETING CONCERNS : After a short break and a period of worship, the Clerk asked Joy Smith to serve as clerk for the item on Yearly Meeting concerns. She accepted.

A minute on the structure and function of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting was read. Drafted by Clerk of Quarter at the request of the Burlington Quarter Steering Committee, it gave many specific examples of actions in the Yearly Meeting that are of grave concern. These included top down governance, an Advisory Committee not responsible to Interim Meeting or Yearly Meeting, decisions made without reference to Yearly Meeting, Interim Meeting and the Quarterly Meetings (exemplified by the absence of significant business during Yearly Meeting sessions, and the planning without consultation of next year's residential Yearly Meeting), contact by the Financial Stewardship Committee with Monthly Meetings instead of Quarterly Meetings, the inappropriate formation of the Arch Street Working Group and its secret meetings, the forced retirement of Helen File, and the General Secretary's performance evaluation without participation of the quarterly meetings and without disclosure of the results. The minute concluded by asking Interim Meeting for a called Yearly Meeting session on these issues.

Friends then considered at length the draft minute on Yearly Meeting Governance. After discussion from many perspectives, a Friend lifted up that we aren't clear enough on this to get in touch with Yearly Meeting. Could we seek more clarity and report back to the Steering Committee and then discuss it further?

Acting Clerk asked if it was the sense of the meeting that those here go back to their Monthly Meetings and share as they see fit what has happened today, and then come back to Quarterly Meeting. No objection was heard. Another Friend suggested that the proposed minute, along with a detailed accounting of the discussion today to be prepared by the recording clerk, be sent to Monthly Meeting clerks in Burlington Quarter, and also our representatives to Quarterly Meeting .This was APPROVED .

A Friend offered that it was a blessing that our benches were well filled today and she was lifted by the interest and concern about Friends that was brought to the meeting today. (45) A Friend asked that we express thanks to the Steering Committee and appreciation for their efforts. This was APPROVED .

Minute No. 15. ANNOUNCEMENTS

Clerk announced that PYM will hold a workshop on child care policies on March 18, 2006.

Susan White reported that a calendar of Burlington Quarter events is available on the website, www.pym.org (attached). This includes the dates, times and places of Quarterly Meeting sessions, visitations, and steering committee meetings.

Charlotte Mood advised the meeting that our Friend Marjorie Heal is not well and Friends are encouraged to get in touch with Marjorie and her husband, Robert Heal.

Minute No. 16. CLOSING MINUTE : After a period of worship, the Meeting adjourned near the hour of two o'clock with 23 Friends present to meet again on Saturday, March 11 2006 at Crosswicks Friends Meetinghouse according to Divine will.

Osborn Cresson, recording clerk

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Appendix 1:

Burlington Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

TREASURER'S REPORT - December 12, 2005

General Fund : $5,978.04
Covenant 2 nd Quarter 2005-2006 PAID
School Fund : $11,325.34
Shrewsbury Fund : $2,468.41

Mansfield Property Account
Checking Account : $3,509.57
Savings Account : $1,167.69
Stock Portfolio : $16,841.95

Frank D. Smith, Jr.
Treasurer

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