 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2002 (XXXX 4) |
Interim Meeting in June warmly endorsed the “Peace Well” as a new way of looking at our work for peace within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, and asked the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee to report back in the fall on how it can be implemented.
The Peace Well concept was proposed by an ad hoc group of Interim Meeting whose original charge had been to consider a minute from Concord Quarter asking PYM to hire a peace secretary. Instead, the group was strongly led by the Spirit to bring back to Interim Meeting a proposal to create a Peace Well. The group suggested that a well is a strong biblical metaphor for the living presence of the Divine, and in seeking peace, it is necessary to begin by first turning to the living presence of God, seeking a necessary union of faith and action.
The Peace Well would gather both new and existing elements. A new group called the Meeting on Peace and Concerns could be formed, open to all Friends in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for worship sharing on peace and concerns. Another new element could be a program of Friends in Residence for Peace Witness/Peace Fellows. A Peace Fellow would be someone invited from anywhere in the world for a few months or a year to work on leadings for peace.
Another important element was strengthening the web-based peace witness of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Also strengthened would be a Peace Support Registry within the PYM Talent and Interest Database to identify mentors, activists, clearness committees, listeners, conveners, educators, pastoral care-givers, and working groups.
Existing groups and individuals working for peace within PYM include Monthly Meetings, the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee and all of its current working groups, the General Secretary, the Clerks of Yearly and Interim Meetings, and the Worship and Care Standing Committee.
Special topics around the Peace Well could include outreach programs for peace in our communities/peace in our world, racism concerns/issues, restorative justice, poverty and concerns for economic disparity. Peace conferences could be held on a regular basis, and education for peace could be enhanced.
To receive by e-mail the complete report of the Peace Well proposal send a request to sbwhite@princeton.edu.
Susan B. White
Princeton Meeting (NJ)
Ad Hoc Group to Consider the Peace Secretary Proposal
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM