Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting Unprogrammed Quakerism what is essential and what is cultural? DRAFT Minutes, June 7, 2015 Present: ( PQM is discerning publishing attendees at our Meetings in online minutes, attendees were recorded but will not be published online for now due to privacy concerns). Friends convened in the Rufus Jones Room at Friends Center, following Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting s Meeting for Worship and social hour. Barry Scott, clerk of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, welcomed those in attendance and introduced Dana Reinhold, rising clerk for CPMM. Hollister Knowlton, clerk of Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting, reported that PQM Treasurer Edward Rhoads is in ill health and is concerned that appropriate arrangements be made to address our financial needs as a Quarter. She presented the following items for consideration. Friends approved the renewal of the appointment of William Ross (Bill) Sanderson as Assistant Treasurer for a three-year term starting June 7, 2015. Further, Friends approved Bill Sanderson as a co-signatory on the Valley Green bank account. Lastly, they approved that, during the illness of Edward Rhoads, Bill will serve as acting Treasurer. Friends also approved the appointment of Sara Palmer as Recording Clerk of the Quarter for a term of one year, ending June 2016. Lastly, Friends minuted their deep appreciation of the long and dedicated service of Pamela Moore, who has served as recording clerk, web-mistress, and general institutional memory of Philadelphia Quarter. We wish her all the best in her new life in northwestern Pennsylvania. The clerk, especially, will miss Pamela s steadfast support. Barry Scott proceeded to introduce the focus of our conversation. Friends were invited to write down three aspects of Quakerism that we consider essential. What are the three things you d grab as you re running out the door what couldn t you leave behind? Friends then shared from the floor as scribes charted their responses. Answers to the Query What is essential to Quakerism for you? participants were given cards and pencils to write down 3 that Friends see as essential to being Quaker, that were subsequently shared back to the group. Barry then turned to the question of culture, manifested in aspects such as language, customs, and traditions, and in long, intertwining, threads of story that shape identity. Culture is pervasive; neither universally good nor universally bad; and presents differently in each of us. The body was then directed to break into groups of six to eight, with people of color invited to gather in an affinity group if they so desired and the remainder counting off into groups. Friends examined the queries: What is there that is cultural that is affecting our core values? How do we shift that? What needs to be challenged to lift up our core values? After reconvening, the groups reported back to the group as a whole; written notes were handed in and are appended. Margaret Wood noted that this conversation is just beginning, and pointed out the possibility of submitting additional thoughts to the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting online conversation pages (available at 1
http://www.pym.org/connect/online-conversations/groups/addressing-racism/forum/topic/unprogrammedquakerism-what-is-essential-and-what-is-cultural-2/?view=all). Friends closed with a brief period of worship and an expression of gratitude to the Planning Committee for their work on this program. Submitted by Sara Palmer Groups responses to the essentials : What is essential to Quakerism for you? Respectful listening. Worshiping with radicals and conservatives. Being responsible to and for each other. God is still speaking every child, woman and man has access to God. Based in Christianity but open to new light and continuing revelation and insights from other religions and others. Spiritual experiences, including non-theists. Open to being transformed by what is referred to as the Holy Spirit. Openness as an individual and as a community. Action/contemplative cycle. Being in the world but not of the world. We all have an individual relationship with the divine. Silence collective worship with the divine. Seeking divine guidance for both individual and collective decisions. Spirit faith. Love. Action/accountability. That of God is in everyone. And it operates all the time whether or not I perceive it. My community, closest spiritual community is the people who believe this and seek to perceive it. My spiritual community expects to be continually transformed by this process (brought into perfection over and over in the moment). Meeting for silent worship. Queries. Peace testimony. Holy Spirit. Light of and power of God. Community. Silence. Acceptance. Direct connection to the light. Openness to experience of the divine as one feels it. Willingness to search within a community of like seekers. Acceptance of responsibility to find unity when making corporate decisions. Direct, unmediated experience of the divine. That of God in everyone with all of life is sacramental. Continuing revelation. That I we each have a direct relationship with the divine the truth therefore continuing revelation. That each of us has a spark of God or light within us making us equal. That we live by the principles of equality integrity and simplicity. Focus on spiritual experience rather than belief. Interplay of personal corporate spiritual experience. Interplay of contemplative engaged spiritual dimension. Waiting on God/divine. Based in community and an expectation to be influenced by the community. Quiet, peaceful worship time in community. Community support, problem-solving ability, willingness to hold each other in the light in times of stress. Direct connection/communication with the divine. Community support/discernment in corporate worship. Tolerance of spiritual diversity. Seeking enlightenment seeing that of God in others unique sharing for worshipful silence The testimonies. That of God in each person. Truth telling and continual revelation. Worship, community, welcome. Listening, community, trust. Ministry of all in the community no one friend is channel for others. We are all channels. We each have direct access to the divine Spirit today and through all time. Integrity - we seek to act in accordance with the Spirit to manifest our faith in our daily lives through our treatment of others and the earth. An open, nonjudgmental community. Being open to both changing and keeping my forms of worship and 2
spiritual practice. Community in silence the spirit. Quaker business practice. When it's done right. Contemplative practices worship, clearness. That of God in everyone faith is meaningless unless this is really practiced. Understanding where the Quaker spirit comes from sharing and caring. Being open-minded to changes. Acceptance and respect of different beliefs. Silence Prayer Communion. That of God in everyone. Each of us has access to a portion of the truth our combined perceptions can lead to a full at assignment of the truths. We believe in a continuing revelation of the sacred truth. Community of faith. Open to truth, God and the spirit listening. Keeping low, using gifts and being open to others lights and difficulties. People in communion with God that of God in each of us. Equality no hierarchy. Simplicity. Welcome other religions. Waiting worship. SPICES. A belief in that of God in each person. Community as a vessel for knowing God. Waiting worship. Discerning God's will for us in direct dialogue between the individual and God. Discerning God's will for our community. Supporting our community in following God's will, both individually and collectively. Unprogrammed worship. Continuing revelation. Testimonies. Corporate silent, waiting worship. Spiritual accountability one to another for living in to our faith and testimonies. Spirit centered corporate discernment, including meeting for worship with attention to business. Community. Silent worship. Living one's beliefs. Waiting on the divine spirit to rise up in silent worship of the community. That of God in each one of us. Belief in divine spirit. Continuing revelation. Truths is holy. Mutual responsibility for decisions and discernment. Christ is come to teach his people himself. The creation of sacred space. The authority and responsibility of the congregation. Direct, unmediated experience of the divine. That of God in everyone with all of us. Life is sacramental. Continuing revelation. Truth telling/continual revelation. Based on Christianity and open to light from all/everywhere, including nontheists. Each has access to some portion of the truth and combined we get closer to the truth. Communing in silence with spirit.. Seeking unity with God individually and in community. Respectful listening. Quaker business practice. Acceptance of the responsibility of communal decision-making. Live by our testimonies. Community support of problem solving. Seeking divine guidance for individual and collective decisions. Connection with the divine. Focus on spiritual experience rather than belief. Use of queries in the process of life. All of life is sacramental. Scruppuling together. Open for transformation: individual and collective. Community is a vessel for knowing God, of learning waiting worship. Everyone has access to the divine. Meeting for worship is a shared experience of the divine spiritual community. Readiness for change. Silence and continuing revelation. Creation of sacred space. Open community. Holy Spirit. Responsible to and for each other. Contemplation practices, worship, clearness. 3
Openness as a community and light from many sources. We are all Friends no distinctions. That of God/going internal Authority and the responsibility of congress, of the congregation. All of life is sacramental. That of God in everyone and operating with a perceived or not commitment to finding it brings us into perfection through continuous transformation. Willing to listen, be listened to from all sources. To be part of the community working to end injustice local and worldwide. Readiness for change, giving up/sharing power and truth. Groups responses to the three queries: What is there that is cultural that is affecting our core values? How do we shift that? What needs to be challenged to lift up our core values? How to be welcoming one person of color mentioned difficulty knowing whether certain greeting cards would be appropriate for those who might be non-christian; African American culture is predominantly Christian Not welcoming to homeless, those with mental health issues, non-college graduates, weird appearance, It s difficult creating welcoming community when new visitors have to introduce themselves. What s an open way that recognizes God within us? How to get shy people to introduce themselves Shift: How to connect our life outside to our life in Meeting Showing examples of oneself to continue into next generation Not to compete but complement core values Cultural background and core values growing together Bring in our culture (including always acknowledging others not always seen uin Quaker communities) to the bigger groups. Build community into this community; approach individuals on intimate level by having small group meetings, e.g. inviting folks to dinner. Does the language we use assume a cultural background which excludes others/those with less education? Our schools educate largely children from affluent families how did this come to pass? Tension between cultural emphasis on individuality and collective (community) decision-making When we ask the question What do Quakers believe? when Quakerism is based on our experience of God s will working among us, is this the cultural influence of creedal religions? Adhering to practices that are hundreds of years old both separates us from those not accustomed to those practices and may offend others who don t share that background. Letting our lives speak vs. speaking truth to power Seekers can be turned away/turned off by Quakers doing too much around traditional Christian holidays. Quakers can be obnoxious/arrogant/immodest to the point of impoliteness. These mannerisms can be insulting to newcomers. Shyness, timidity, fear of proselytizing can be felt as non-welcoming, non-caring for seekers or visitors. Do we idolize Quaker history, do we make it so important that contemporary life seems remote? Our attachment to buildings and money gets in the way of sharing both the money and the power to decide. 4
Challenge the busyness or distractions which keep Friends from knowing, sharing, caring with one another as a Meeting community! Deep yearning for community, being known to one another, being neighborly to one another. Listen to visitors, to what they want to know. If we see the spirituality of use of money, [it] will be part of our ministry. Unspoken/unnamed hierarchy; hearing birthright differently Lack of separation: o General environment/the news create negativity/emotionalisms o Monetary issues/economics so persuasive o Body image judgment/social acceptance o Focus on youth in general culture; Occupy/activism/challenge Speaking (led) only once in worship Definition of community as a testimony Labeling Avoidance of conflict Emotional reticence Assumption that people have money/means How to shift? o Become aware o Women s Meeting for Business: support/empowerment; temporary What to challenge o Speak with more love o Listen with love o Challenge myself to hear the true message o Give up defensiveness o Speak about all cultural differences. We are attached to our buildings. Black People s Unity movement asked meeting to put meetinghouse up for collateral. Creature comforts vs. faith. Everything we do is culturally determined, may still obstruct connecting with others. Religious Society of Friends of Historical Structures. Committee structure may have us self-volunteering for things, not getting deepest treasures out in the open. Mixing with each other, language differences Conflict aversion Welcoming at the end instead of at the beginning Unique architecture Inflexibility around forms of worship Lack of faces that look like me Education level Where did you go to college? ; professional level Not saying hello Classism Awareness/talking about it Confidence that we do share core values makes it easier to connect 5
Coffee hour terrifies me, too strategy of sitting in chair against the wall Sink or swim culture have to figure it out Cultural practices aren t as clear as they could be To what degree are our formal structures cultural; how do they help, how do they get in the way? How do they play out among us? Language, niceness can be obstructive in conflict avoidance Is there room for other ways of doing things? What does God look like? What is culture? Culture has a long tail. Is neither universally good nor bad. What we practice that is not essential to Quakerism? Introducing guests at the end of worship. Break meeting with shaking of hands. What is there that is cultural that is affecting our core values? Quietism worship in a soft voice. Conflict avoidance. Voting or approving versus sense of the meeting. Much to stay in finding a member clear if for membership rather than accepting all. Quaker-ese language. That they would not have occurred to me = no way in nominating committee. Intellectualism a lot of thinking, which can get in the way of spiritual experience: Assumptions of a shared belief and practice which extends to political and life choices (E.g. Republicans versus Veganism, not both). What is considered "polite is often based on socio- economic background. How do we shift that? We shift it by broadening our experience beyond the typical Quaker population. We expect each other to the new. Real spiritual conversation versus politeness meeting for worship segueing into coffee time. We need to use more methods than simply worship sharing that keeps us from going deeper. Don't shy away from conflict in order to find more than simply poles of the paradox explore paradox. Practice looking for a solution outside ourselves worship. What needs to be challenged to lift up our core values? The process for membership clearness becomes more spirit led. Challenge the analogy to conflict. Challenging our comfort zone of social interaction conflict. Accept silence in social our. Conflict/difference in meeting for business gets assigned to a committee to on time puts brakes on spirit. Sometimes small subject's of meeting population constrain the overall behavior how to open them to a fuller experience? 6