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Minutes of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Regional Threshing Session held at Moorestown Monthly Meeting, 9th month 30, 2001, 2pm, Concerning the Assaults of September 11th. Co-clerk Lois Forrest introduced herself, co-clerk William Probsting, and Recording Clerk Bob Barnett. She then reviewed the planned agenda:
These sessions are in part preparation for a called meeting on 11/10/2001 (“following” the Budget Conference).
1 - An extended opening Meeting for Worship
During the opening worship the following leadings were shared:
2 - 15 minutes to discuss our recent experiences and thoughts in small group discussions
3 - 10 minutes of sharing from those small groups on common messages
4 - Some time for corporate searching on the issue
5 - Reading and responses to 4 questions supplied by Yearly Meeting
6 - Break at 3:30 for refreshments kindly supplied by Moorestown Meeting
7 - After completion of sharing the recorder will summarize the themes expressed
8 - Any afterthoughts that we do not have time for may be provided to the recorder
a) We need to struggle to understand the reasons for the violent action
After the small-group sharing the following themes were reported back to the Meeting:
b) We need to explore multiple points of view of the U.S.
a) Support Afghani people’s needs. “Bombard” (inundate?) them with “butter.” Use organized national and international forces for peace keeping and relief. Help the refugee camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Question 1: 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?
b) Islamic Outreach. Protection and support of U.S. Muslim communities
c) Marshall Type plan for mid-east (vs. Military expenditures)
d) Become more knowledgeable about Islam (Karen Armstrong’s book).
e) Communication: learn how to convince others/talk without polarizing. Hold teach-ins, educate on regional history, U.S. actions. Transform message from “attack on U.S” to “Crime Against Humanity that would call for a response from international organizations (U.N., World Court).
f) (Note that this is probably the most commonly expressed need/thought: note brought to recorder after meeting: The Peace Testimony recommends that Friends seek to understand the sources of violence, oppression, etc. – It calls on us to educate ourselves and communities (PYM F&P – from 17th century Friends). If the World Criminal Court represents a favored Friends response to terrorism. What is the U.S’s position? How de we act to move our government toward participation in the World criminal court?
a) Give support to organizations (FCNL, AFSC) with special monetary contributions (contribution “doubling” at giveforchange.com) Note that FCNL website has “10 alternatives to war.”
After a break with refreshments provided by Moorestown Monthly Meeting the meeting continued.The following announcements were made:
b) PYM could sponsor adult-child workshops.
c) Do we respond as Friends alone? Or do we work with other faiths & support voices for patience and peace within government (Colin Powell)
d) We should network to share ideas and news among us – highlight alternative/independent media to balance corporate mainstream media propaganda: some sources: gray.intrasun.tcnj.edu; www.rawa.org; webactive.com
e) Also - do we have the courage to support those our neighbors might see as enemies? (For instance: by placing a can for contributions to Afghan relief efforts in a local convenience store).
f) PYM could help counter the “rush and pressure” and “frenzy of activism” which can actually be a succumbing to violence. Outreach and support to peacemakers.
g) PYM staff could provide P.R. – get the word out. Provide ads to press.
h) Make sure that communications via the web/e-mail is also provided to those without such electronic access. (special mailing lists?)
i) If PYM is to support these extra efforts it will need enough monetary contributions from individuals.
Nasim Badat of a South Jersey Muslim organization in Palmyra will be at Westfield on 10/7 at 10am.
Pendle Hill sessions on responses to violence begin on Monday nights and will be repeated at Medford Leas on Tuesdays. The first will be on 10/2.
Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting will be held on 10/21 at Haddonfield MM. There may be an afternoon session that will allow people to share more in the nature of this threshing session. The meeting then considered the second question from Yearly Meeting:
Question 2: 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?
a) We need to spread awareness of how the U.S. is perceived by much of the world. Most Muslim countries know us through commercial media - have no awareness of U.S. religious life.
Question 3: As we continue to be present to the unfolding of events within our monthly meetings, what has been Friends' experience in regard to:
b) Quakers have a talent for “listening projects” - could PYM do more of these?
c) We need to be role models for our children, especially those of draft age. We should support outreach to Conscientious Objectors.
d) Realize that this is a time to speak truth to those in power: the president and administration.
e) Quakers have a radical message of love, a transforming power. The Light will overcome the darkness.
f) At all levels we should participate in ministerial: it is patriotic to work to make our nation part of the Kingdom of God. Sharing the joint statements of PYM/ FGC/ AFSC/ FWCC with local ministers has gotten Quaker response into other houses of faith.
g) Though Friends historically have not been able to agree on aspects of economic policy, it should be clear that resource depletion and resource inequities conflict with the religious values of the faith communities we interact with. More work could b done within PYM to work toward unity on economic policy issues which can be the root of this sort of violence.
1- Maintaining the integrity of our worship while welcoming new seekers who come with concern but little awareness of our ways of worship?
2- 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.
a) Express ideas as “other views” not right or wrong answers. Allow ideas to come out.
Question 4: 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?
b) Worship-sharing format promotes openness - the safety of being able to speak fully without fear of instant argument.
c) Christians in Muslim countries are also our “neighbors” we might reach out to Pakistani and Saudi/Muslim news organizations so that they know of U.S. grass-root efforts at providing relief, understanding, tolerance (e.g., the can for contributions to Afghan relief at a local convenience store)
d) Attempting less rigidity in the form of our worship, allowing some different modes of worship in order to broaden our participation.
a) How to answer a basic question from outsiders what is our position on dealing with terrorists? What can we do to bridge to those outside Quakerism?
b) We need to thoroughly explore our “level of conviction to the Peace Testimony” bearing in mind that it was originally “*AS TO OUR OWN PARTICULARS* we utterly deny all wars and outward violence to for any end whatsoever…”, meaning that it was the position/testimony of an individual who had gotten to the final perfection of life in Christ. That it was guidance for “people of God who rely only on God” - not a position that envisioned an end to state violence even for the promotion of the kingdom of God (originally). Historically large percentages of males have left Friends in time of war.
c) We need to work to clarify our language regarding “police work and war. Most Friends support having police to defend victims, and to isolate those that are a danger to society. We need to try to move us away from the language of “war.”
Bob Barnett
Recording Clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM