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- Minute 1: Welcome
After opening time of joyful and quiet worship, clerk Arlene Kelly welcomed those present and introduced recording clerk Suzanne Day and alternate clerk Anne Moore.
- Minute 2: Introduction of Standing Committee on Peace and Concerns
The clerk asked Elizabeth Marsh (Greene Street MM) to introduce members of the Standing Committee present here today: Joe Elliott (Providence MM), Bryn Hammarstrom (Wellsboro MM), Jackie Hurley (Swarthmore), Jane Kronick (Haverford MM), Jean Marie Prestwidge Barch (Schuylkill MM), Joyce Shaeffer (London Grove).
- Minute 3: Incoming Epistle
Epistle Project Group member Ruthanna Hadley (Germantown MM) read from her notes taken while reading 29 incoming epistles from Yearly Meetings around the globe. How inspiring to recognize that struggles to be faithful, to be of service, to be acquainted across the separations of age, to do the best possible when resources of time and energy seem meagre in relation to need.
- Minute 4: Living Peacefully in a Violent World
Priscilla Adams (Haddonfield MM) was asked to introduce Peter Goldberger because of her having known him as her attorney in the case of religious freedom which she has taken to court and as the Yearly Meeting's attorney in matters related to tax resistance. She explained both personal and professional qualities which make him outstanding.
Peter Goldberger began by identifying some of the persons and experiences which led him to become a lawyer whose career focuses on seeking to identify good in people as he defends them. His address this afternoon focuses on Quakers, Conscience, and the Law. While Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1994, no federal judge to date has held the government to the clear language of that law when cases of war tax resistance have sought accommodation through the courts for conscientious objectors. Peter noted that he maintains hope that some future case will gain recognition for conscience in the courts since the law requires demonstration that the least restrictive means be used to accomplish the government's purpose in collecting taxes. A case might be brought by an individual or it might be brought by a corporate body such as Philadelphia Yearly Meeting or American Friends Service Committee.
In response Friends sought clarifications. They requested that Peter's address be prepared for print and further study. Several Friends encouraged exploration to learn what other religious bodies might be as concerned as we are to bring about a return to the covenant of acceptance of conscientious objection by government we had come to expect as a religious people since the presidency of George Washington. Many thanks were offered to Peter for his wisdom and his generosity in sharing his exceptional gifts with us.
Following a break, the clerk introduced three Friends who had been invited to share their personal journeys with the peace testimony. She noted that throughout our days each of us has opportunities to exercise the Peace Testimony.
Susan Angry (Goshen MM) observed the truth in her own life of the saying that every seven years your life shifts in its essential lessons, tests, and truths. Her grandparents helped to establish her basic map for living, and the Peace Testimony has helped her stay on the right route. Sometimes she has to stop and ask God how to deal with conflict in a peaceful way. To be a good steward in God's world is a challenge. We need to be supportive of one another along the way so as never to have to feel alone.
Richard Reichley (Unami MM) spoke from his experiences working for legal recognition for conscientious objection. In 1972, Mennonites, Brethren, and Quakers came together to found the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, which is now supported by many other religious bodies. Deep faith in God propels him along his journey. Many opportunities for witness grew from withholding federal income tax and tax from telephone bills. Many inspiring encounters developed as a result of both tax resistance and efforts to gain Congressional sponsors for the Peace Tax Fund bill. Now his district's Representative Hoeffel has become a co-sponsor and Dick looks forward to this summer's International Conference on War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Funds to be held in July in Washington D.C. In closing, Dick quoted Mohandas Gandhi: If someone with courage and vision can rise to lead in non-violent action, the winter of despair can in the twinkling of an eye be turned into the summer of hope.
Jonathan Ogle (Concord MM) observed how interwoven are the threads of Friends' testimonies. The Peace Testimony is broadly interlaced through ecological living, stewardship of resources, making creative impact on the lives of young students, and having responsibility within a national organization. To learn how to do these things, he's had to turn inward and outward. As a dormitory of boys copes with issues of power and gender and violence, as students wrestle to understand conscience, examples of many Friends inspire Jonathan to keep trying. How to go beyond rejection of violence and move toward an actual vision of a sustainable, peaceful world where the spirit brings justice for all? In not feeling alone, we reach for God's vision of creation.
In the silence which followed these personal stories, Friends reflected on the ways in which the Peace Testimony is manifest in their everyday lives. Then with exuberant interchange we shared in small groups what opportunities we each recognize as exercise of the Peace Testimony.
When Friends were asked how we are led:
- Swarthmore MM brought copies of its recent minute of grief and petition to our government to cease the terribly harmful economic sanctions against Iraq.
- When young people in our Meetings approach their 18th birthday, it would be very useful for them to be invited to get their beliefs in relation to war and military service into writing and filed with the Meeting's records.
- Couple Enrichment Workshops can be developed within Monthly Meetings through Friends General Conference as one avenue to peace within our families.
- We reaffirm our commitment to the Peace Testimony. We need to utilize the many resources available through Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Friends General Conference. When we imply that we don't have conflicts within our families or meetings or schools, we fail to live up to our rich tradition of applying the Peace Testimony through constructive resolution of conflict.
- More opportunities need to be found for public statements on matters relating to the peace testimony. Reading statements about Quakers in the media helps newer Friends to recognize the corporate position of our Religious Society. This cannot always come up from the Monthly Meetings — sometimes a statement needs to come come from the Yearly Meeting. A mother of two teenage males shared reflections. The day by day windows which open as a child reacts to the world's war making provide openings for communication with those unacquainted with our Peace Testimony.
In conclusion, the clerk observed that many aspects of violence within the society around us have not been on our agenda. Nevertheless, at these sessions many examples of creative responses to society's challenges have been shared. She suggested that examples be pulled together into a letter for distribution to each Monthly Meeting along with queries for continuing discernment among Friends locally. This was approved.
- Minute 5: Minutes
These minutes were read aloud, improved and approved. Following announcements, and after a period of closing worship, the body adjourned for dinner.
Suzanne Rie Day, recording clerk
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM