Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Interim Meeting
23 October 2003 - Arch Street Meetinghouse, Philadelphia
Summary of Minutes
Minute # 1. Worship and Opening Exercises
The meeting settled into worship at the appointed hour of 6:00 p.m.
The clerk welcomed one new member, one alternate and thirteen visitors.
Minute # 2. Continuing Business
2.A. Report of Treasurer. Denny O'Brien (Providence), treasurer of Philadelphia
Yearly Meeting, reported that while investment income helps PYM meet its budget,
the return on investment is much lower than in recent times, and the goal for
the Annual Appeal has not been met for the last two years . A robust vision for
PYM could be investable.
2.B. Report on IRS Action We filed our Answer yesterday - a copy is posted
on the PYM web site. Also, an anonymous Friend will cover all legal costs.
2.C. Report from the Ad-Hoc Group to Review PYM Donations to Outside Organizations including
the American Friends Service Committee, the Friends Committee on National Legislation,
Friends World Committee for Consultation, Friends General Conference, Quaker
Information Center, Metropolitan Christian Council of Philadelphia, National
Council of Churches, and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches. Our contributions
to these groups now total some $70,880. The Ad Hoc Group made five recommendations
which were approved by Interim Meeting:
1. PYM should continue to relate to them, and Interim Meeting is
best suited to represent our relationship with them.
2. The amounts we now contribute are in line with our commitment to support
them.
3. Contributions planned for Fiscal Year 2005 should be the same as for the
current Fiscal Year 2004
4. Annually the budgeted amounts should be authorized by the Treasurer and
paid by the office of the General Secretary.
5. For AFSC, FCNL and PCC , where we have failed to pay budgeted amounts recently,
we should pay $2,000 each.
Two other recommendations will be considered again after further seasoning: 1.Money
given by Working Groups and Standing Committees to other groups should be reported
to Interim Meeting, and 2. There should be an annual review.
2.D. Beginning of Discussion Requested by Annual Sessions Planning Group
Interim Meeting divided into small groups to consider annual sessons. After a
time of discussion, a recorder for each group reported back to all assembled
Friends. Yearly Meeting annual sessions do meet our needs for nourishment and
community in many ways. At annual sessions, there is great value in just being
together as a whole Faith community and finding the Divine in the ordinary. Recorders
reported comments and priorities which ranged among the following topics: Arch
Street Meetinghouse, Community And Small Groups, Comparison To Other Yearly Meetings,
How We Do Business, Interim Meeting, Joy, Spiritual Development ,and Youth And
Intergenerational
Minute # 3. New Business
A. Recommendations on Nominating Committee. These are huge issues to be considered
later after more seasoning.
B. Place of Meeting on Worship and Ministry Within the Yearly Meeting.
Before the reorganization, the Meeting on Worship and Ministry was free-standing.
Now it is under the Worship and Care Standing Committee. Since it is self-nominating, "Who
do they think they are?". They are charged by Faith and Practice with the
spiritual quality of PYM. This can't be quantified. It is strange to have such
a body under a Standing Committee. The Worship and Care Standing Committee has
minuted approval of them being separate if they are so led. Having the Nominating
Committee choose members evoked much discussion. Interim Meeting will consider
again at a later meeting.
Minute # 4. Business of Standing Committee - General Services Standing Committee
A. Elizabeth Foley reported on the background of bequests previously accepted
by Interim Meeting: Florence Keller, $90,000; Alfred Jacobs, $3,000; James
Moore, $105,000; Howard Kreckmann, $4000; and Edward
N. Woolman, $550,000.
B. William Scull (Media), clerk of Chace, reported that new Guidelines
are helping them do a better job of serving PYM.
Minute # 5. Report of the Nominating Committee Nan Morrissey (Reading), a
member of the committee, reported 6 nominations and 2 resignations:
Minute # 6. Financial Stewardship Jackie Bowers, clerk, reminded us of
the Budget Conference to receive the covenants from the Quarterly Meetings, to
be held at George School on Saturday, Nov. 15: 8:30 am coffee, 9 meeting, 1pm
- close.
Minute # 7. Clerk's Correspondence. There was no correspondence.
Minute # 8. General Secretary's Report A new feature is now included "What's
Exciting in PYM?" reported by various PYM staff. Thom asked if our Monthly
Meetings had gotten the invitation
for the PYM visitation coming in February.
Minute # 9. Minutes of 25 September 2003 were revised and approved.
Minute # 10. Announcements and Adjournment Next Meeting December 4.
Friends settled into worship and adjourned at 9:20 p.m. .
Chris Mahon, clerk
Susan White, recording clerk
Last modified:
11/06/2003 9:16 PM
