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Friends from the surrounding region gathered at Middletown Monthly Meeting, Concord Quarterly Meeting, 9th month, 30, 2001 to thresh out their response to the tragic events which struck the country on 9/11/2001. Approximately 75 Friends and attenders were present, including 3 children. At the appointed time the gathering proceeded into silent worship. Shortly thereafter the co-clerk of the session, Thomas Swain, the clerk of Middletown, rose to give welcome and introduced those on the facing bench there to assist with the session: co-clerks Laurie Worth from Westtown Monthly Meeting, David Bates from Middletown Monthly Meeting (Concord) and recording clerk Richard Ailes from Middletown Monthly Meeting (Concord). Thomas Swain then announced the agenda for the afternoon.
After this, those gathered proceeded again into the silence, listening to the spiritual guide. During worship one Friend was moved to recite the Lord's Prayer with an intonation that emphasized the true meaning of every phrase. Another reminded us of the power and enormous work being done in the silence even though it might not be visible to anyone observing us. We were also reminded of the spiritual openings available to us through participation in peace actions and through opening ourselves to the spirit which so many people of other faiths in the country have been experiencing surrounding these events.
At the rise of worship there was a short break for refreshment. Upon return from the break those in attendance settled into worship again. One Friend then read aloud Thomas Jeavons' editorial entitled "After unspeakable violence, pacifism is a way to healing" which appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 9/25/2001. The clerk then rose to explain the proposed format for the rest of the session involving small group discussion with feedback to the Meeting, followed by a period of corporate discussion responding to four focus questions suggested by the Clerk of the Yearly Meeting. The intent of the session was to prepare responses to these questions that would be forwarded on to a called Yearly Meeting session on 11/10/2001. The clerk then asked the participants to break into small groups of four to share their reactions to the events on 9/11.
At the end of a very animated small group discussion, co-clerk Laurie Worth asked for Friends and attenders to share the responses of their groups, some of which follows:
Many were overwhelmed and depressed as the events and their aftermath unfolded. There were reports of Quakers in Friends Schools, both young and old, finding themselves in the "peaceful" minority.
Some felt no anger against the perpetrators but more anger towards our own government for the hurtful things we had done to the world.
Many asked where is the hatred coming from and how do we break this cycle of violence.
One group warned that there are other crises in the world that still needed tending to and worried that they would now be ignored.
Co-clerk Thomas Swain then suggested that Friends and attenders listen to the four focus questions provided for corporate discussion and threshing. The questions were read allowed and are as follows:
- What are the variety of opportunities we see for being present to those in need and the variety of opportunities we see for witnessing to the building of a peaceful and just world?
- Is there a message which Friends may be particularly suited to share and called to carry in this time to our young people, to our neighbors, and to our country?
- As we continue to be present to the unfolding of events within our monthly meetings, what has been Friends' experience in regard to:
- Maintaining the integrity of our worship while welcoming new seekers who come with concern but little awareness of our ways of worship?
- Creating spaces and a safe atmosphere in which Friends can openly acknowledge their doubts, their anger, their unknowing and have those things held gently and supportively by others.
- As we carry this process forward, both returning to our own monthly meetings where discussion and discernment will continue and anticipating a Called Session of Yearly Meeting in the near future, what are the issues, the questions, the concerns which need to frame that further discernment and discussion?
After the reading of the questions one Friend rose with a concern that the structure of the Meeting was getting in the way of the spirit of the Meeting. He suggested that the Meeting proceed as the way opens using the questions as a casual reference. There was approval from the Meeting to proceed in this fashion so a discussion ensued out of which the following concerns were raised up:
We must determine how to respond to all concerned with a sense of reconciliation including those in our country who are in favor of a military response.
Where did early Friends like George Fox and Isaac Pennington get their sense of the Peace testimony? What lessons can we learn from them as to how we are to respond?
Friends have a long history of standing up against injustice. We have even been warning of the possibility of such horrible events that have occurred here. We need to continue this tradition of promoting peace and justice in the world.
The United States government should not be blamed entirely for these acts. We need to recognize the positive actions of our government so we do not needlessly alienate those in the country who sincerely believe that we also do good in the world.
Friends could bring up, to those we address, the violent acts which we have perpetrated in the world like the bombing of Hiroshima but many in the US cannot hear that now. Many new people have come into our Meetings as a result of these acts. Perhaps our first response must be to minister to the needs of these new attenders and also to the spiritual needs of the country as a whole.
We must have a compassion for the innocents of war everywhere. Let us look to the Friends Committee on National Legislation for guidance on how we should respond.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting should meet with other Yearly Meetings to produce a unified Quaker response to these events.
We need to be mindful of our younger Friends who soon may be confronting the possibility of conscription and the influence of Junior ROTC programs in their high schools. If they are feeling isolated in their schools, how can we help them? Meetings need to start those processes now which will help young Friends deal with the draft.
Friends can become clearer about the way forward by using our Quaker "tools" of prayer, silent worship, and corporate discernment. We must support the environment which nurtures the use of these "tools" in our Meetings.
We must ask our Quaker businesses and institutions, "What are you doing to support the pacifists in your organizations, in your schools?" We must ask ourselves, "What are we doing to actively reach out to those who feel isolated with their beliefs?"
Perhaps because war is such a familiar reaction for our country, the initial response from our leaders has been "war and retaliation." Friends must show our people that peace, though seen as frightening, is the better way. We must work to make peace the "familiar" response.
As the hour was getting late the clerk at this point asked the Meeting if it wished to continue with the present format of the session. Since the spirit seemed still to be moving among those in attendance more time was given for individual responses.
One Friend related her initial anger over the terrorists' actions. We need to acknowledge that deep angry response happening in others in the country. But the anger puts us in conflict with the teachings of Jesus who told us to "turn the other cheek." The only way to resolve that conflict with the Teacher is to take the matter to God, letting God's love change our anger to a sense of reconciliation. We must listen to God's response. There will be no peace until God sits at the conference table. We Friends must help others in the country to see that.
There is something concrete we can do now. We can change the way we live and what we consume so that others in the world less fortunate than we, can be supported in their lives. As many of us have heard: "we should live simply so that others may simply live." These events provide an opportunity to bring this concern to the country.
Early Friends and Friends throughout history have always suffered for their faith, for their beliefs. We can expect this to happen again and we must be prepared for it. Whatever we do, our actions must always be grounded in worship and in the silence, rather than in the headlines of the moment. If we cannot immediately come to unity or clarity within ourselves or within our Meetings, we must trust that we will arrive there as the way opens.
After a brief silence, co-clerk Thomas Swain rose to ask for approval to conclude the session. There was satisfaction among those gathered that the necessary work of the session had been done. The minutes were then read and after some minor corrections and revisions were approved to forward onto the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting session to be held 11th month, 10, 2001, God willing.
Thomas Swain, Laurie Worth, David Bates – co-clerks
Richard Ailes – recording clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM