SPARKNew York The Religious Society of Friends ()

Volume 49, Number 3 15 Rutherford Place, New York, NY 10003 May 2019

NYYM Quaker Commonality Summer What Do All Quakers Have in Common? Sessions

United in The That Which Light Unites Quakers Don Badgley Caroline Lane Poughkeepsie Meeting Flushing Meeting

As we consider what binds or I first became a Quaker by joining divides Friends as a religious Lincoln in Lincoln, society, perhaps we should begin by Nebraska. Looking southwest from Slim Point, Silver Bay, NY. July 2018. identifying what is distinctive about Some of the founding members “Quakerism.” The surface differ- of the meeting had come to Lincoln ’s Invitation to Summer Sessions 2019 ences between our diverse practices from elsewhere and were keen for are easy to identify. Does there Lincoln Meeting to affiliate with a We Friends are a driven people. The Divine Spark that can be found remain a mutual distinguishing larger community of Friends. Fortu- We work hard to make the world a in each of us has led us to work hard characteristic of Friends? Perhaps. nately, there were traveling Friends better place. A Quaker hero from to make a better world, starting This Friend hopes so and offers this from Friends General Conference our own 15th Street Meeting named in our own lives, our own spiritual for discernment. who supported us in that endeavor. Bayard Rustin, who organized community. and the other found- Our nearest options were two yearly the March on Washington where Eleanor Roosevelt, a great Ameri- ers proposed that Christianity was meetings in Iowa, one conservative Martin Luther King Jr. shared his can hero, said “The future belongs in grave error regarding the human and the other, Iowa Yearly Meeting, great dream, called us “angelic to those who believe in the beauty of relationship with the Divine Source. orthodox, a group of programmed troublemakers.” Our positive influ- their dreams.” There is great value in Friends did not claim to be a new meetings. One of our older members ence on history has often been remembering to celebrate our good religion but merely a “society” had grown up in the Iowa Conser- disproportionate to our numbers. works and our loving time together. within the body of Christ, one that vative Yearly Meeting and urged us We have been at the forefront of And remembering how beautiful our pointed toward an alternative to attend some of their mid-year the abolition movement to free labor is that advances the beloved approach to God. That insight did and yearly gatherings. There we slaves, of the civil rights movement, community for all people. not claim exclusivity but rather found people deeply committed to the women’s movement, including This year’s theme is “Friends universal inclusivity. Bible study and waiting worship. voting suffrage, the prisoners’ and Come in All Ages, Sizes, and Friends understood that when We were warmly welcomed at native American rights movements, Colors: Our Path Toward Being a religion or its followers claim that these meetings and soon agreed to the peace movement, the LGBTQ Inclusive.” A wonderful part theirs is the one true path to salva- apply to join them. What followed movement. Yet, we remember that of being inclusive at this year’s tion, or to God, and that others are continued on page 4 we have also dropped the ball; we Summer Sessions is Pay as Led, in error, the seeds of war and suffer- are anguished when we learn that welcoming everyone who wants ing have been sown in fertile ground. there were Quaker slave holders to be among us. Please come to One need only look to human history More Quaker for far too many years, that black Summer Sessions 2019 and we can to confirm this sad truth. Consider Commonality Friends were originally relegated to all celebrate together. these foundational beliefs of the the rear benches, and that vestiges —Jeffrey Aaron, NYYM Clerk three Abrahamic religions; “Our pp. 4-5 of racism remain today. Neverthe- prophet is the final prophet.” “No one less, we have the will to achieve comes to the father except through News from NYYM greater understanding of the depth More Summer me.” “We are God’s chosen people.” Friends pp. 2-3 of racism that still engulfs our Sessions pp. 6-8 continued on page 4 world, and how we can address it. Around Our Yearly Meeting POWELL HOUSE is for you! Notices Powell House is the conference and Online Meeting for Worship with retreat center for NYYM and hosts New Members Buffalo Friends adult, youth, and intergenerational Pamela Eckstut — Rockland 7:30 p.m., May 22, June 12 & 26 programs. Some upcoming events: Gail Merian — Hamilton All are invited to the Buffalo Earthsong ­— for 7-12th graders Sigrid Mortensen — Poplar Friends Meeting Online Mid-Week Ridge Meeting for Worship, held the May 31–June 2, 2019 Join us for the year-end celebra- Transfer 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the tion of our community and of our Brandy, Carter, & Miles month. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. with a welcome message going-out-into-the-world seniors. Witthoft, to Syracuse from There will be workshops, festive Alexandria (VA) Monthly from the Outreach Committee, followed by worship for about 30 foods, large group games, a dress-up Meeting. dinner plus a fabulous cabaret. minutes. Afterwards, there is time Walter Naegle at Bayard Rustin Courtyard Marriages for check-in/follow-up amongst dedication in Los Angeles, CA, April 7, 2019. Forgiveness as Spiritual Practice — Katherine Shine and Louis the participants. The meeting ends with Sue Regen Kelley, on April 6, 2019, about 8:15 p.m. This virtual meeting Young Adult Spiritual Nurture June 14-16, 2019 under the care of Wilton is held using Zoom, a free video Series: Life brings to each of us, experi- Meeting. conferencing service. Why Am I? An Exploration of ences of anger, fear, hurt, and pain. Deaths Instructions for joining the meeting: Authenticity, Integrity, and Courage What we do with these is up to each individual. Choosing to practice William Bortree, member of From computer or smartphone A one-day mini retreat for young forgiveness can bring healing and Scarsdale, on April 26, 2019. for audio & video: Enter this link adults on June 8, 2019, at Farming- inner peace. Forgiveness work (Memorial Meeting: June 2, into your web browser: zoom. ton Friends Meeting, Farmington, helps us reconnect with ourselves 3pm, at Scarsdale Meeting.) us/j/486346925 NY. This workshop will be focused and others in more loving ways. Ty Dewhurst, member of From telephone for audio only: on finding and illuminating your Research shows that it’s great for Chatham-Summit, on April Dial (669) 900-6833 or (646) heart’s Truth. Together, we will our physical health, too! Come, join 16, 2019. 558-8656, then enter the Meeting explore our Faith journeys and with others who are willing to take Mary Elizabeth Gulamerian, ID: 486-346-925 make active connections between some steps along this spiritual path. member of Rahway-Plain- Friends having technical difficulties our inner and outer selves, consid- Focus is on tools and techniques, field, on April 1, 2019. connecting may call or text Matt at ering the intersections and gaps not on therapy. Robert E. Newman, member of (716) 507-6562. between our Faith, our dreams, and our realities. Through worship, A Syracuse, on March 18, 2019. Bayard Rustin Honored Nonviolent Communication: fellowship, learning sessions, and Spiritual Practice and Act of Social NYYM Administrative Associate games, we will dig deep into the Change Walter Naegle, the surviving partner big questions of why we are here of civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, June 21-23, 2019 MEETING NEWS and what we are being called to do. attended two recent events at which Larry White Awarded Join us to explore these questions SPARK (ISSN 00240591) places were renamed in Bayard Larry White was awarded the Inter- and what it means to live out our New York Yearly Meeting News Rustin’s honor. On April 7, a ribbon national Gramsci prize for Theatre visions, callings, gifts, and ministry Published five times a year: cutting ceremony for the Anita January, March, May, September, in Prison in Italy last December. with authenticity, integrity, and May Rosenstein Campus of the Los November by Due to health restrictions, he was courage. Register here: Angeles LGBT Center was held. The New York Yearly Meeting not able to travel to receive the youngadultfriends.weebly.com Religious Society of Friends campus includes a plaza named award. Ron Jenkins went to Italy and 15 Rutherford Place for Bayard Rustin (see photo). And What do Young Adults Need? New York, NY 10003 received the plaque in Larry’s name. on April 11, the Bradbury-Sullivan A Residential Closing Celebra- 212-673-5750 On March 22, the American Friends [email protected] LGBTQ Community Center in Allen- tion, July 20-21 (Before Summer Service Committee presented the www.nyym.org town, PA, hosted a street renaming Sessions—car pool/caravan to plaque to Larry in their office. From Editorial Board: dedication for Bayard Rustin Way. Silver Bay to follow) at Powell Communications Committee the award program: “The Interna- House, Old Chatham, NY Editor: Sarah Way tional Gramsci Prize for Theatre UPCOMING EVENTS The grand finale! As we consider the Spark deadlines are the first week of in Prison was awarded to the year together and our experiences the month preceding the publica- Stoking the Fire: Stirring Up the 82-year-old African-American Larry as Friends, join us to discuss what tion month. Permission is granted to Embers reprint any article, provided Spark is White. He spent 32 years in a prison Young Adults need to be full partic- June 7–10, 2019, at Quaker Hill acknowledged as the source. in the United States and wrote a ipants in Quaker communities Conference Center, Richmond, IN Periodicals Postage Paid survival manual for men and women and what it will take to meet these invites you at New York, New York condemned to life sentences. The needs. Help us draft an epistle that Postmaster: Send address changes to: to an annual retreat for individuals manual, Hope Lives for Lifers, is captures our experiences over the SPARK who are “on fire” with the Holy Spirit 15 Rutherford Place based on the principles described year that we can bring with us to and are seeking deeper faith and New York, NY 10003 by Paolo Freire in Pedagogy of the Summer Sessions. Then join us in a bolder witness. Music at Stoking the Sarah Way Oppressed, which inspired Augusto joyful caravan to Summer Sessions [email protected] Fire will be led by Cathy Harris and Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed. at Silver Bay, NY! Attendance at Chad Gilmartin Nikki Holland. Speakers will include Larry White is considered a hero Summer Sessions is not required [email protected] Mary Glazer, Doug Gwyn, Bob by every US prisoner thanks to his but encouraged, especially because, Walter Naegle Henry, Kelly Kellum, Richard Sitati, commitment for a prison reform. He for the first time, Summer Sessions [email protected] and Katie Ubry-Terrell. Registration spent his time advocating for other is Pay as Led (see page 6). Register Steve Mohlke Deadline is May 31. For more infor- [email protected] people’s freedom, and even though at youngadultfriends.weebly.com he is now a free man, he often goes mation, visit friendsunitedmeeting Helen Garay Toppins [email protected] back to prison to give inmates hope.” .org and click on Programs.

Page 2 • SPARK • May 2019 Faciliated by Dian Killian ited in this fund. The income is Letter to the Editor Editor’s Note During this weekend-long intensive directed to the Meeting Houses and Submit letters of under 250 words to Welcome to the May issue of training in compassionate Nonvio- Properties designated use fund. The [email protected] or mail them to the NYYM office. the printed NYYM newsletter, lent Communication, we will learn income from the Brinkerhoff fund is Settling into my chair this morning, Spark. What do all Quakers practical skills to put Quaker princi- also directed to (that) Fund.” Per the in preparation for an appointment have in common? What unites ples into action: self-managing our Trustees minutes of May 23, 2017, later today, it occurred to me to us? Articles in this issue own reactions, empathizing with “…the approved uses of that Fund reflect on this past weekend’s examine the bedrock upon others, and finding solutions that are expanded to include mainte- Spring Session to glean what I had which our faith rests. restore harmony, are in integrity nance, repair and new construction gained from the experience. Summer Sessions is coming with our values, and hold everyone’s of meetinghouses and properties.” up soon! This is NYYM’s annual, needs with care. The Trustees will be reviewing 1. What is important versus what fabulous, week-long, multi-gen- all applications to this fund at the is interesting. Creating Generous Congregations erational, Quaker happening end of May, so please submit any Aug. 16-18, 2019 2. How listening to all of the at the beautiful Silver Bay on requests prior to that time. Visit Facilitated by Colin Saxton voices at Meeting for Business Lake George. Come and spend this webpage to find an application This interactive and practical can be a form of worship as we a spirit-led week with Friendly form: nyym.org/content/nyym workshop is focused on inspiring hear and speak to that of God in people. It’s a rejuvenating, -financial-resources-individuals and equipping meetings toward others. deepening, and inspiring generosity and faithful, financial -and-meetings#properties 3. How little we really listen to experience. More information stewardship. others sometimes. is on pages 6-8 and online at nyym.org. Register before May Letter to New 4. How much we need others to OPPORTUNITIES 15 if possible—if that date has listen to us. Stevens Fund Applications Open Zealand Friends passed, please register ASAP! The Stevens Fund is a small fund NYYM has directed the clerk and 5. Why listening to others cannot Spark will be evolving soon. held by NYYM Trustees in order to general secretary to act as the public be deemed a cost but rather an Printed Spark will probably assist retired or disabled Friends voice for the yearly meeting when investment. become shorter and less who are in need; often, but not urgent and appropriate. The letter 6. Why the “why” behind an idea frequent to free up time for exclusively, pastors and ministers. below was written and sent to Christ- must come first and the “how” more immediate and responsive The next list of distributions will be church, New Zealand Friends after second. God will help with the communications via email and decided by the Ministry and Pasto- the mosque shootings there in March. how if we speak the why. the web. Details are to-be-dis- ral Care committee at Summer cerned. March 17, 2019 7. How easy it is to let others lead Sessions, July 21–27, 2019. For now, the next issues of Michael Winter, Clerk us astray. If Friends or meetings know Spark are in September and Christchurch Monthly Meeting someone who would benefit from 8. How hard it is to pay attention November. If you like to write, Christchurch, New Zealand the Stevens Fund, please encourage to self, others, and Spirit. you are invited to write an them to apply. Friends may note that Dear Friends in New Zealand, 9. How important it is to say no. article for Spark. Articles are a form of verbal ministry. Please the fund currently has more recipi- When any among us is injured 10. How good it is to be alive. ents than fund income permits, and or killed, we all suffer. And so we limit yourself to 400-600 words. Be well and shine your light for Upcoming Spark themes: we have had to receive assistance know that Friends in New Zealand others to see. — Roy Allen September: post-Summer through an added budget line of are suffering now, and our hearts go Sessions/open theme Ministry Coordinating Committee. out to you. Know that, just as when November: Light Behind The Stevens Fund committee and Friends from around the world the Walls. Ministry & Pastoral Care Committee prayed for us after the attacks of Last Chance to Match! On prison worship. are currently discerning solutions 9/11/2001 and at other times, our Guest edited by Jill McLellan Commit to a Recurring Gift and the Prisons Committee. to this budget gap. For now, contri- prayers and the prayers of Friends Before Summer Sessions butions from individual Friends and around the world are being offered Send articles and meeting news to communications@ meetings would be most welcome. for the healing of your nation and An enthusiastic nyym.org by the 1st week of the Please send checks to NYYM with your people. supporter is offering a month prior to the month of memo: Stevens Fund. We send you our deepest condo- match to encourage us publication. Those who would like to apply lences on the tragic incident of all to make sustaining InfoShare, NYYM’s e-news- please request an application from blind hatred in Christchurch. We contributions to New letter, is now MONTHLY. Please David Herendeen, dherendeen55@ pray for the full recovery of your York Yearly Meeting. send me news and events to yahoo.com, 518-836-7209; or Anita community’s injured and for the $50,000 is available to match new share by emailing them to Paul, [email protected], emotional recovery of those who and increased recurring gifts offered [email protected]. 518-374-2166. Applications are due lost friends and family, and for your before Summer Sessions 2019. For NYYM is on social media: by July 1, 2019. entire community. We pray that the your contribution to be eligible, all you have to do is indicate that • Facebook: NYYM Meeting Houses & felt presence of the Divine Spirit, so your gift is recurring (monthly, NewYorkYearlyMeeting Properties Fund palpable to so many Friends and yearly, etc.). Your gifts help support • Twitter: NYYMTweets The Trustees would like to remind others, can be found once again, all of the work of NYYM, work that • Instagram: all about the Meeting Houses and knowing that the Ocean of Love can strengthens our communities and newyorkyearlymeeting Properties Fund. From the New overcome the Ocean of Darkness. helps us continue to bring our Happy Spring! —Sarah Way York Yearly Meeting Trust Fund We wish you peace and we send Quaker faith to the world. Donate Descriptions, August 2018 Version: you our love. online by clicking the “Donate” “This fund was established in 2017 Jeffrey Aaron, Steve Mohlke button on nyym.org and selecting Join NYYM’s mailing lists at at the direction of the Trustees. Jeffrey Aaron, Clerk the General Fund. You can also NYYM Connect! www.tinyurl The proceeds from the sale of the Steve Mohlke, General Secretary donate by calling 212-673-5750. .com/nyymconnect Plattekill Meeting House was depos- New York Yearly Meeting

May 2019 • SPARK • Page 3 Quaker Commonality

proceeds from God. It is deep and That Which Unites was a special Quaker example of inward, confined to no forms of the famous quote “America and religion nor excluded from any, where Quakers Britain are two countries divided United in The Light the heart stands in perfect sincerity. Caroline Lane by the same language.” I never Don Badgley In whomsoever this takes root and Flushing Meeting actually found an answer to why Poughkeepsie Meeting grows, of what nation soever, they the reaction had been so horrified. become brethren….” continued from page 1 What I did experience was serving continued from page 1 Wisdom teachers have reported on local committees for children’s was a visitation much like a clear- these moments of transcendent programming, quarterly meeting How often have “religious” peoples ness committee for someone awareness for millennia and it is committees for revising practices been willing to kill in support of applying for membership in our clear that these phenomena are not for membership, and a yearly their omnipotent and “loving” God? Quaker meeting. After we had been based in traditional myths or rigid meeting committee to promote the How many still believe that they accepted, the meeting attended creedal doctrines. They are based Alternatives to Violence Project must repudiate alternative pathways the next half-yearly meeting and entirely in the direct living Experi- in which I had long been a Facili- to fortify their own? This virulent one of the elderly conservatively ence of the Divine Light, a Light tator. Predictably, the committees disease arises by ordering one’s dressed Quaker women welcomed that unites all of humanity and life were both prayerful and diligent in life in doctrinal beliefs, in creeds, us with home baked cookies for itself. Thus, Quakers recognize no performing the service required of hierarchies, and myths rather than the children. Members of Lincoln authority except The them. Now looking back, I wonder in a personal relationship with the Meeting were appointed to serve and this principle is the essential if the fear was that by establish- Inward Teacher. on various committees and have distinctive that underpins “Quaker- ing a committee, people might be We Friends know that there is remained active participants. ism.” Absent this footing our testi- complacent that the work would be an alternative, not easily found in When we moved to New York, monies and witnesses are rendered done by the committee and Quakers mainstream religious traditions yet we first settled near Croton Valley ineffectual. When this simple yet on the benches need do nothing. present in each, however obscured. Meeting. I began attending regularly essential principle is restored as Some of our Friends in Oswestry Every genuine spiritual enlighten- and soon applied to transfer my our foundational ministry, shared were active in the establishment of ment arises in a human experience membership. New York Yearly with all peoples we may encounter, the Quaker Bolivia Link bringing of an ineffable and life altering Meeting at that time was already Quakers will once again become a together Friends who were used to moment of transcendent awareness. a combined meeting of Orthodox great people gathered. silent waiting worship and those These moments of insight have and Friends General Conference. We know experimentally that who had been established by the always had a profoundly positive So even as I became more active, no priesthood is required, and that more evangelical branches. Still, impact on human consciousness I was aware of the controversies creeds and hierarchies may blind us there was more to unite than to and spiritual evolution. that split the Quakers during to the Divine Source. This Experi- separate. When Jesus said, “the Kingdom the 19th Century, and the 20th ential Faith does not teach us what My husband and I took the of God is at hand” he was not Century actions to re-unite the two to believe but rather, what to do opportunity of traveling on the speaking of an apocalyptic future branches. I also became aware that and how to be. When we order our Continent and we made it a event. He was pointing straight there were Quaker meetings that lives in The Light, our lives speak, practice to attend Quaker meetings into a higher awareness, a present were more evangelical and had sent without any need of extraneous, in the places we visited. My and immanent Divine Source of missionaries to Africa and South worldly or ritualized distractions. husband was bilingual in German Love that was available to all. It was America. Friends World Commit- This Truth unites us, and in this and I had studied enough that perfectly inclusive. tee for Consultation was bringing Truth we welcome all into the I could converse. Wherever we Fox discovered this Experience all such meetings together to find meeting as equals. There we wait worshipped we found the same and named it the Spirit of Christ that which united us instead of that in stillness. There we expect to be expectant waiting worship, closed or Inward Teacher. which separated us. led. There we trust one another as by handshakes and discussions expressed it in saying, “There is a In 1989, I took early retirement a body. There we test and then act and/or conversations that centered principle which is pure, placed in from teaching and my husband upon what we discover in that holy on concerns of peace, equality, and the human mind, which in different and I moved to Wales where we place, united in the Light. bringing help to those who were places and ages hath had differ- had owned a small cottage as a needy. ent names. It is, however, pure and holiday house for nearly 20 years. After some twenty years in The market town for the rural area Wales, we returned to the US to be Ramallah Friends Meeting where we lived was Oswestry and draws visitors from all over the nearer to family. We transferred our Oswestry Quaker Meeting had world. On an ordinary Sunday, membership to Flushing Monthly there might be 20 or 30 Friends about twenty active members. We in the room, plus an assortment Meeting. Again, I find satisfaction were greeted warmly and soon of those of other faith traditions in serving on local, quarterly, and who have come to meeting for became actively engaged in the life yearly meeting committees. We do a sense of peace and grounding. of the meeting. I took the oppor- There are always introductions work on behalf of Friends and hope tunity to attend a weekend peace at rise of meeting, and it’s gener- that others in the Meeting support ally the case that at least three conference at Woodbrooke, the continents are represented. our work as actively as they are able. Quaker Study Center in Birming- Ramallah Friends Meeting has As Quakers everywhere, we know a specially made hymnbook ham. During the course of that that we are all called to minister available at every seat, and it’s conference, I was stunned when common for someone to ask for in our own way and that minis- an idea was proposed to establish a particular hymn to be sung try takes many forms. In working during worship, and everyone a committee for some purpose joins in. There’s also a Bible avail- together in the Spirit, we find that (I forget what) and the response able on every bench, a single there is far more to unite us than book containing the text in both was a horrified “not a committee!” Arabic and English. that which may separate us. Caption and photo by Emily Provance Suddenly I began to wonder if there

Page 4 • SPARK • May 2019 Quaker Commonality

What DO We Have in The humble, meek, merciful, just, pious, and devout Common? 26; Galatians 3:26-29).” are everywhere of ; Sarah Way souls one religion It looks like a belief in spiritual and when death has taken off the mask they equality is something all Friends Brooklyn Meeting can agree on. I’ll close with this Quakerism has a long history of will know one another though passage quoted in Britain Yearly internal disagreements leading to the divers liveries they wear here makes them Meeting’s Faith and Practice, under splits and separations. Recently Unity and Diversity: Friends and North American yearly meetings strangers. This world is a form; our bodies Other Faiths. It suggests there is have been broken apart by disagree- ; and no visible act of devotion can room in Quakerism for all of us: ments over same-gender marriage, are form “Universalism is by definition with Wilmington Yearly Meeting be without forms. But the less form in religion, the inclusivist, and its adherents accept the right to free expression of all experiencing a schism just last year. better, since The issue is part of a wider disagree- God is a spirit.... points of view, Christocentric or ment on biblical interpretation and —, Some Fruits of Solitude, 1693 any other.... From the beginning the role of the Bible as an authority. the Quaker Christian faith has had The beliefs of meetings, which are a universal dimension. George Fox communities of Friends experienc- Peace and Nonviolence: “When evangelical Friends churches. From saw the Light ‘shine through all’ ing “continuing revelation,” evolve the standards of society tell us to Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends and he identified it with the divine over time, sometimes in ways that hate our enemies, we follow Jesus’ Church’s Faith and Practice, 2016: Light of Christ that ‘enlightens every are different from other meetings command to love them. When the “Vision, Mission, and Values: All man that comes into the world’ in their area. Meetings have chosen standards of society seek violence, life has its origin in the creative (John 1:9). He pointed out, as did to separate because they could not we seek non-violent resolution to work of God, and human life is to William Penn in greater detail, that tolerate belonging to a group — a conflict.” Under Equality, in the be regarded as a sacred gift from individuals who had lived before yearly or quarterly meeting — whose same section: “Friends believe that God. Because all persons have equal the Christian era or outside Chris- beliefs are counter to their own. all people are made in God’s image value and are created in the image tendom and had no knowledge of There is no central authority, and are equal in God’s sight.” of God, we must treat others with the Bible story, had responded to no Quaker Pope, to tell us what we From the Faith and Practice respect and dignity, regardless of a divine principle within them. In have to do to qualify as “Quaker.” of the Orthodox, Christ-centered human measures of merit or value.” these terms, all Quaker Christians A meeting doesn’t lose its Quaker Western Yearly Meeting, in Indiana It was more difficult to find are universalists. Obedience to the status over its belief in gay marriage and Illinois, under Concerns for common ground in the Faith and Light within, however that may be or the primacy of Scripture. If that’s Equality, comes this aspirational Practice of the Eastern Region of described, is the real test of faithful true, what is it that we do have in idea: “(Friends’) conception of a the Evangelical Friends Church. living.” common? The most fundamental Light Within as an endowment of Their Faith and Practice does have a —Alastair Heron, Ralph Hether- Quaker belief, to me, is that there persons makes it impossible for section on equality, though it does ington, and Joseph Pickvance, 1994 Friends to draw lines of distinction not include the belief that every is that of God — a divine spark, an Sources: in capacity or privilege between person has a divine Light within inner Light — in everyone. This Christian Faith and Practice in different races or nations. George them. Under the heading Equality belief leads directly to the Quaker the Friends Church: Friends United Fox, in an epistle to Friends in of Persons: “Evangelical Friends testimonies of equality and non- Meeting in East Africa, 2002, at www America, wrote, “Let your light believe that all people are equal in violence. Surely Quakers can agree .quakerinfo.com/eastafricafandp.pdf shine among the Indians, the blacks the sight of God and all are loved on the priniciple of equality, if Faith and Practice of Western and the whites, that ye may answer by God. All believers, regardless of nothing else. I sampled the online Yearly Meeting of Friends Church, the truth in them, and bring them their race, nationality, sex, social Faith and Practices of a diverse 2005, at www.westernyearlymeeting to the standard and ensign that God status, or affluence, are encouraged group of yearly meetings to find out. .org hath set up, Christ Jesus.” to worship and participate in the In the Witness section of our Northwest Yearly Meeting of Northwest Yearly Meeting is life of Evangelical Friends Churches NYYM’s Faith and Practice, under Friends Church’s Faith and Practice, a community of Christ-centered, (Genesis 1:27; I Corinthians 12:21- Equality, it says, “The Holy Spirit, 2016, at nwfriends.org/ which we all share, makes us equal.” faith-practice Under Nonviolence and Recon- In this photo, Oscar Mmbali of Kenya describes to Friends from Evangelical Friends Church, ciliation: “Nonviolence is a way of New York Yearly Meeting the work Eastern Region: Faith and Practice, living every day, every hour, in our he and other Friends are doing 2018, at www.efcer.org/829 personal choices as well as mass in Belize City. Oscar felt called to go to Belize many years before ’s Faith struggles for justice. Through it, he actually went, and in the time and Practice, 2015, at qfp.quaker we affirm the divine Light in every between, he prepared himself by attending Friends Theological .org.uk human being and act on the belief College and later getting a PhD See also: that truth and love can overcome in community development in Fager, Chuck. “The Separation ignorance and hate.” Thailand. One of the questions in Belize has been, “What does Generation.” Quaker Theology. In the Spiritual Maturity Quaker worship look like in Belize?” Winter 2019. quakertheology.org section of Friends United Meeting In the end, it springs from who the people are in attendance, and it Huffenberger, Gary. “Several in East Africa’s Christian Faith and involves lots of teenage boys, music, Churches Leave Wilmington Yearly Practice (2002), the practice of Scripture, silence, and service to Meeting Over Same-Sex Marriage.” the neighborhood community. non-violence results from follow- Wilmington News Journal. July 31, ing Christ’s teachings. Under Caption and photo by Emily Provance 2018. www.wnewsj.com

May 2019 • SPARK • Page 5 Friends Come in All Ages, Sizes, and Colors: NYYM Summer Sessions • July 21–27, 2019 Y Our Path Toward Being Inclusive For complete information and registration, visit STEPS TO SUMMER SESSIONS nyym.org/session/summer-sessions-2019 • Decide if you will attend for the full week (July 21–27) or for fewer days. NYYM SUMMER SESSIONS • Determine who you will be rooming with, Friends Come in All Ages, Sizes, and if possible. Colors: Our Path Toward Being Inclusive • Choose your housing preferences. The Summer Sessions is the largest gathering of table of room rates is available at nyym New York Yearly Meeting Friends each year. .org/content/summer-sessions-2019- Meet, worship, discern, play, relax, and create a lodging-rates. You can also camp or community with hundreds of people who share stay off-campus; visit nyym.org/session/ your Quaker values. New people are especially summer-sessions-2019#roominfo invited to attend this year, as we’re using the Pay as Led method to pay for Sessions. Friends who • Read the Participant Expectations can pay more will pay more so that people who and Agreements on the nyym.org/ have to pay less can pay less. Pay as Led is part of sessions-committee page. By registering, our path toward becoming more inclusive. Meeting for Discernment you indicate your agreement with them. May 15 is an important registration date. If On the Meaning of Membership • Register online at www.nyym.org/summer you register after May 15, the lower Pay as Led Join us on Tuesday at Summer Sessions for -sessions-registration. If you need assis- rates and your preferred room assignment may Meeting for Discernment. As envisioned from tance, email [email protected] and provide not be available. Please register ASAP. Our goal their beginnings, Meetings for Discernment your phone number and times someone is to enable everyone who wants to attend to be provide the space and the time to enter into deep can assist you. If you don’t have email, able to attend. The community is better when listening and sharing. At this summer’s Meeting please mail in the form on the back page. you’re part of it! for Discernment we will take extended time AFTER YOU REGISTER with each other to consider what membership First Time Attenders means in our lives and meetings. Does your • You will receive a confirmation email, Sessions Committee has added a special oppor- meeting have diverse views about the meaning of followed by an email with Pay as Led tunity for First Time Attenders to get all their membership in the Religious Society of Friends? suggestions and a link to the online questions answered and start the week off well Perhaps your meeting has active attenders who payment page. If you plan on receiving informed. Come to the Auditorium at 2:30 p.m. haven’t (or won’t) become members. Perhaps financial aid from your local or regional on Sunday for orientation! Even if you’ve attended your meeting has members who never partic- meeting you should request that now. Summer Sessions many times, join us! Share your ipate. Are there non-members serving in roles wisdom and perhaps learn something new. that were historically reserved for members? Parents of children under 18 Young Adult Friends The manner in which Quakers handle membership hasn’t changed much in gener- • When registering, please note that Friends who are young adults (ages 18-35ish), ations. New York Yearly Meeting is consider- children must room with parents/sponsors or Friends led to be in spiritual community ing a change that would allow individuals to if possible, or in adjoining rooms if not. with young adults, are invited to participate become direct members of New York Yearly • Parents of children ages 3-18: Your children in community building and spiritual explora- Meeting instead of requiring that membership will be part of the tion activities throughout the week, includ- Junior Yearly Meeting be maintained exclusively by monthly meetings. morning program, grouped by grade. ing worship sharing, meet-ups, customized (JYM) This is important to people who feel like they are JYM provides age-appropriate Quaker programs, and shared meals. For those inter- Quakers but haven’t been able to connect with content in a community-building week of ested, we will also help coordinate group atten- a monthly meeting, perhaps due to geography, games, discussions, art projects, and more. dance at business sessions and provide oppor- culture, incarceration, etc. However, there are tunities for one-on-one Spiritual Nurture. Look • Parents of children under age 3: Silver Bay aspects of our Quaker practice that have been for details on our program to arrive in your email offers childcare on Mon.–Fri. mornings. If historically rooted in the monthly meeting. At inbox in early July. you might use this, we will send you the Spring Sessions, we heard a report from the Friends are invited to a special celebration at NYYM–Silver Bay camp form. Alternative Membership Pathways Working Powell House immediately preceding Summer • Parents of children 10 and under: JYM Group and we heard a proposed revision to Faith Sessions (July 20) focused on the : What provides afternoon and evening (PM) and Practice that would provide the specific do young adults need? The event will culminate childcare for children up to 10 years old, mechanism for such membership. We heard with a joyful caravan to Silver Bay on July 21. available during plenaries or committee ministry that expressed unease and ministry that meetings. Parents who use this service are For Seasoned Friends expressed enthusiasm. asked to volunteer to support it. Are you a NYYM committee clerk? If you’d Please come to the Summer 2019 Meeting • Your child can go to Silver Bay without a like to meet during Summer Sessions, email for Discernment on Tuesday, July 23, at Silver parent if they attend with a designated [email protected] to reserve a space. Bay YMCA. Participants will be able to really adult chaperone who is at least 10 years Do you have an agenda item? listen to each other on the topic older than the child. See registration form. If you’d like to add an item to the of membership. Friends believe that when we gather together in AFTER REGISTRATION Parents will receive business agenda, please contact the waiting worship, the Spirit moves a follow-up email with any additional forms appropriate coordinating commit- powerfully among us. Come be they may have to fill out, and will later tee clerk. [email protected] can help. together to feel that power. ­ receive information from their child’s JYM Would you like some display — Elaine Learnard and group. At Silver Bay, register your child at JYM space? If you’d like to put up a Caroline Lane, co-clerks of the after you check in on Sunday; 4-6 p.m. and display for your organization, Meetings for Discernment Steering 8-9 p.m. in the Inn’s Gullen Lounge. contact Martha Gurvich, margurvl@ aol.com Committee

Page 6 • SPARK • May 2019 Friends Come in All Ages, Sizes, and Colors: Our Path Toward Being Inclusive Y July 21–27, 2019 • NYYM Summer Sessions

Chris DeRoller and Mike Clark are this year’s Lisa, our first dog. We were active in Lake Wales As our definition of inclusion has expanded, plenary speakers. Together, they wrote a shared Worship Group, a tiny quirky wonderful collec- our vision of Quakerism has become more history of their experiences together—including tion of people who met under a tree. We became clearly focused. We experience it as a practice some thoughts on the theme of this year’s Sessions. members of St. Petersburg Friends Meeting. Both of presence and transformative love. We see the Lake Wales and St. Petersburg were distant from youth program as imbued with that. It is playful Our Route to Powell House us, so Sundays became days of travel, worship and serious. It is open and inclusive but does not Chris DeRoller and Mike Clark and play. We would often have a picnic lunch and tolerate bullying or apathy. It accepts us where Powell House Youth Directors then explore the natural areas with other families we are yet challenges each of us to stretch and from the worship group. When we visited grow. It is strong enough and loving enough to Our preparation for Powell St. Petersburg Meeting a trip to the beach reject fear and embrace what is real. We believe House was, in hindsight, both afterwards was a given. it is possible to create these nurturing spaces in linear and circuitous. It began We also very much enjoyed South- our monthly meetings, other Quaker bodies and 1000 miles apart when we had eastern Yearly Meeting (SEYM) gather- beyond. We have some ideas for how to do that. not yet met. Chris, the oldest of ings, often at the insistence of Kayla five in a liberal Rochester, NY, who wanted to be around other Quaker middle class Catholic family, kids. SEYM held a half yearly meeting at NEWLY ANNOUNCED! and Mike, the second of five in Wekiva Springs State Park over Thanks- Bible Study Leader Lucy Price a liberal Columbia, MO, middle giving, no business just fellowship. Their Lucy Price was born class family with Universalist annual session was held over the Easter and raised in New York leanings and Southern Baptist week at a Methodist conference center. City, the daughter of roots. There was a campground attached to the an interracial marriage For a brief period in our college years we were conference facilities and a number of families — a marriage that was a mere 500 miles from one another while Mike with young children camped and ate together. illegal in most states at was getting his degree in biology from North- Mornings found us beneath the Spanish moss the time. Lucy’s parents east Missouri State and Chris studied geology at having meeting for worship with a concern for had no use for organized Earlham College. Chris was thrilled to encoun- coffee and afternoons on ground tarps holding religion, but they held ter Quakers at Earlham. While sitting in silence meeting for worship with a concern for naps. beliefs similar to those sorely tested her in the beginning, she loved the Florida was also where we realized our held by Quakers; for messages that arose from the gathered body and affinity for working with youth: Mike through example, the family attended anti-war demon- the intentionality with which many professors his day-to-day work; Chris as the neighborhood strations together. Lucy now describes herself as and students lived. She was hooked. mom, home schooler science field trip coordi- “strongly but not narrowly Christian.” She first It was in Guatemala, living only 100 miles nator, public school classroom volunteer, and encountered Friends in the Pacific Northwest from each other that our paths crossed. Both of member of the Friends of the Library. We also ran almost 30 years ago, and was recorded as a minis- us were working with the Peace Corps fisheries programs for the youth at the SEYM gatherings ter by Midwest Friends. Lucy studied Quaker program, Mike as a trainer and Chris as a volun- and took turns leading first day school at Lake history under the late John Punshon at Earlham teer. On our first date Mike suggested that we Wales Worship Group. School of Religion. She has an MA in theological get dessert first since he wasn’t sure how late Wauchula was a small, rural yet diverse town studies, with a concentration in biblical languages the chocolate store would stay open. Chris was where Catholic mass was said in English, Creole, and literature (New Testament), from George Fox hooked, again. and Spanish. Rich and poor neighborhoods were Evangelical Seminary. Since 2017, Lucy has been A stint in Ithaca found Mike waking in the intermixed. Creationists outnumbered evolu- the pastor at Adirondacks Meeting. She loves wee hours of the morning to feed baby tree tionists. It was a Democratic town that voted the Adirondacks, and enjoys reading, gardening, swallows as part of a research team while Chris overwhelmingly Republican in each election cooking, listening to classical music, and playing finished a degree in agronomy. We participated when we were there. We were the only Quaker with her dogs and cats. periodically in Ithaca Monthly Meeting although family and a bit of an oddity in many ways. Yet Lucy believes that “the Bible is a collec- more of our time was spent volunteering at the we were embraced by a number of the different tion of histories, poetry, songs, pithy sayings, Greenstar co-op and hiking the trails in the communities that made up Wauchula. Like our and individual accounts of personal spiritual surrounding countryside. time in Guatemala, it was an opportunity to open experiences. Understanding the cultural context We spent several months in South Carolina ourselves to cultures and people different than of these writings helps us to appreciate their training farmers from Ecuador and El Salvador those we had grown up with. meanings.” in fish culture. Then Chris landed a full time job These experiences have proved invaluable in Bible Study takes place at 6:45-7:30 p.m., working as a hydrogeologist in North Carolina. laying the foundation for our work in the Powell Monday-Thursday, at Summer Sessions. Mike became a stay at home dad with the arrival House youth program for the last two decades. of Kayla. We were active attenders at the David- In collaboration with the youth participants son Worship Group, frequently working with we continually strive to create a space that is the kids program. This is where Mike began to inclusive and whole. Over the years our under- identify as a Quaker, drawn to the process and standing of what that means has both broadened practices as he learned more about them and was and deepened. When we began our work here hooked by the sense of Spirit-filled community. we had a lot of experience living and working Finally, it was Chris’s turn to be the stay with people of different ages, economic and at home parent and we moved to Wauchula, ethnic backgrounds, and perspectives on faith Florida, where Mike got a job working with and politics. Non-binary gender identity was not Head Start. In Florida, our Quaker connections on our radar. We had not heard the term “white deepened and spread as our family grew with privilege.” We did not actively consider the First the addition of Erin, our second daughter, and Nations’ connection to the land we now live on.

May 2019 • SPARK • Page 7 Friends Come in All Ages, Sizes, and Colors: NYYM Summer Sessions • July 21–27, 2019 Y Our Path Toward Being Inclusive Volunteer Opportunities have every morning. Please consider whether you REGISTRATION You can help increase accessibility and enrich are led to be one of the facilitators. We need them This year, registration is entirely online at www our community during Summer Sessions in the for both the general groups and special interest .nyym.org/summer-sessions-registration. following ways: groups. If you are led to step into this role, either If you are unable to register online, please ask • Help lead a Junior Yearly Meeting group or by facilitating a group alone or with a co-facilita- for assistance. Email [email protected] or call be a resource person to share your gifts and tor, please send an email to nyymworshipshare@ 212-673-5750 and provide your phone number stories with JYM groups earthlink.net. Suggested guidelines and queries and times you can be called. If you don’t have will be provided for the sessions. • Drive a golf cart to help Friends get around email, please mail us the form below. We have the hilly campus volunteers ready to provide online registration • Volunteer in the Healing Center if you are TRAVEL assistance. skilled in the healing arts The address for Silver Bay YMCA is After we receive your registration and place 87 Silver Bay Rd., Silver Bay, NY 12874 you in a room, we will send you your Pay as Led • Carry a microphone so Friends can hear each Driving times: approximately 90 minutes rate suggestions. Lower rates may not be avail- other in meetings for business and worship north of Albany; 4-5 hours north of New York able for registrations received after May 15. Facilitate a 12-Step meeting • Email Roseann City; 6-7 hours north east of Buffalo. See nyym Payments can then be made online or can Press at [email protected]. .org/session/summer-sessions-2019 for carpool- mailed to the NYYM office. Please submit • Lead an interest group to share your gifts and ing information and public transit options. payments by June 15. expertise with interested Friends Please email your interest to [email protected] and your email will be forwarded to the appropri- If you cannot register online, mail this form to NYYM, 15 Rutherford Pl., NY, NY 10003 ate person. Thank you! PLEASE PRINT Worship Sharing Leaders Needed David Herendeen, Roger Dreisbach-Williams, Name: Meeting: and Robert Kazmayer (Sunfire) are helping the Day phone: Evening phone: Committee on Worship at Yearly Meeting by Best time for someone to call and help you register (days of the week, times of day): organizing this summer’s worship sharing at Silver Bay. They are looking for Friends willing to facilitate the worship sharing sessions that we

2019 NYYM2019 NYYM Summer SUMMER SESSIONSSessions WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE Week-at-a-Glance FriendsFriends Come Come in Allin All Ages, Ages, Sizes, Sizes and and Colors;Colors: Our Our Path Path Toward Toward Being Being Inclusive. Inclusive SUNDAY, JULY 21 TIME MONDAY, JULY 22 TUESDAY, JULY 23 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 THURSDAY, JULY 25 FRIDAY, JULY 26 TIME SATURDAY, JULY 27 6AM 6AM Early Morning Swim / Coffee, Communion & Conversation 6AM 6AM 7AM 7AM JYM Volunteers Meet / Early Worship at the Boathouse / Hymn Singing at Hughes Chapel 7AM 7AM 7:30 7:45 8:30 8:45

7:45 8:00 8:00 8:15 8:00 8:15 Breakfast, 7:30-8:30am Breakfast, 7:30-8:30am Breakfast, 7:30-8:30am Breakfast, 7:30-8:30am Breakfast, 7:30-8:30am 8:00 8:15 Breakfast, 7:30-8:30am 8:15 8:30 8:15 8:30

8:30 8:45 travel time travel time travel time travel time travel time 8:30 8:45 8:45 9:00 Community Worship Community Worship Community Worship Community Worship Community Worship 8:45 9:00 Clean Up & Pack Up 9:00 9:15 8:45-9:15am 8:45-9:15am 8:45-9:15am 8:45-9:15am 8:45-9:15am 9:00 9:15 8:30-9:30am 9:15 9:30 JYM Program Begins / travel time 9:15 9:30 9:30 9:45 9:30 9:45 9:45 10:00 Worship Sharing Worship Sharing Worship Sharing Worship Sharing Worship Sharing 9:45 10:00 10:00 10:15 9:30-10:30am 9:30-10:30am 9:30-10:30am 9:30-10:30am 9:30-10:30am 10:00 10:15 Closing Worship Safe Travels 10:15 10:30 10:15 10:30 9:30-11:00am 10:30 10:45 travel time travel time travel time travel time travel time 10:30 10:45 to Summer 10:45 11:00 10:45 11:00 11:00 11:15 Meeting for 11:00 11:15 Sessions! 11:15 11:30 Meeting for Business Discernment Meeting for Business Meeting for Business Meeting for Business 11:15 11:30 11:30 11:45 10:45am - 12:15pm 10:45am - 12:15pm 10:45am - 12:15pm 10:45am - 12:15pm 10:45am - 12:15pm 11:30 11:45 11:45 12:00 11:45 12:00 12:00 12:15 12:00 12:15 12:15 12:30 travel time travel time travel time travel time travel time 12:15 12:30 12:30 12:45 12:30 12:45 12:45 1:00 12:45 1:00 1:00 1:15 Lunch, 12:30-1:30pm Lunch, 12:30-1:30pm Lunch, 12:30-1:30pm Lunch, 12:30-1:30pm Lunch, 12:30-1:30pm 1:00 1:15 1:15 1:30 1:15 1:30 1:30 1:45 Rest & Relaxation Rest & Relaxation Rest & Relaxation Rest & Relaxation 1:30 1:45 1:45 2:00 Afternoon Worship Afternoon Worship Fun(d) Fair & Afternoon Worship Afternoon Worship 1:45 2:00 2:00 2:15 1:30-2:30pm 1:30-2:30pm Tagless Tag Sale & 1:30-2:30pm 1:30-2:30pm 2:00 2:15 2:15 2:30 Quaker Crafts & 2:15 2:30 Special Orientation for 2:30 2:45 travel time travel time R&R! 1:30 - 3:00pm travel time travel time 2:30 2:45 First Time Attenders 2:45 3:00 2:45 3:00 2:30-3:30p in the auditorium 3:00 3:15 Committee 3:00 3:15 (But ALL are Welcome!) 3:15 3:30 Committee Meetings 3:15 3:30 3:30 3:45 Meeting for Coordinating Meeting for 2:45 - 4:00pm 3:30 3:45 3:45 4:00 Meetings Discernment Committees Business 3:45 4:00 4:00 4:15 2:45 - 5:15pm travel time 4:00 4:15 NYYM Registration, Inn Porch 4:15 4:30 2:45 - 5:15pm 2:45 - 5:15pm 3:00 - 5:15pm 4:15 4:30 JYM Registration, 4:30 4:45 Coordinating 4:30 4:45 Gullen Lounge 4:45 5:00 Committees 4:45 5:00 Safe Travels 5:00 5:15 5:00 5:15 4:00-5:30pm 4:15 - 5:30pm 5:15 5:30 travel time travel time travel time travel time 5:15 5:30 Home! 5:30 5:45 5:30 5:45 5:45 6:00 Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm 5:45 6:00 Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm 6:00 6:15 Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm Special Joint CC Dinner, 5:30- Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm Dinner, 5:30-6:30pm 6:00 6:15 6:30 Location TBA 6:15 6:30 travel time 6:30 6:45 travel time travel time travel time travel time travel time 6:30 6:45 6:45 7:00 6:45 7:00 Opening Worship 7:00 7:15 Bible Study, 6:45-7:30pm Bible Study, 6:45-7:30pm Bible Study, 6:45-7:30pm Bible Study, 6:45-7:30pm 7:00 7:15 6:45-7:45pm 7:15 7:30 7:15 7:30 7:30 7:45 travel time travel time travel time Meeting for Business 7:30 7:45 7:45 8:00 7:45 8:00 Please read 8:00 8:15 Plenary Speakers Reflections on MFD Contra Dance Café Night JYM & NYYM Epistles 8:00 8:15 8:15 8:30 Chris DeRoller & Mike Clark 7:45-9:45pm 7:45-9:45pm 7:00 - 9:30pm 8:15 8:30 YOUR PROGRAM & 8:30 8:45 In Silver Bay Auditorium 6:45-9:30pm 8:30 8:45 8:45 9:00 & Reception in Gullen Lounge Interest Groups 1A Interest Groups 2A (Note Café Night starts before 8:45 9:00 the end of Bible Study) Quaker Updates 9:00 9:15 7:45-8:45pm 7:45-8:45pm 9:00 9:15 9:15 9:30 7:45-9:45pm Interest Groups 1B Interest Groups 2B 9:15 9:30 for Each Day's & 9:30 9:45 8:45-9:45pm 8:45-9:45pm 9:30 9:45 9:45 10:00 9:45 10:00 Evening's Events 10:00 10:15 10:00 10:15 10:15 10:30 10:15 10:30 10:30 10:45 10:30 10:45 10:45 11:00 10:45 11:00 11PM = QUIET TIME 11:00 11:15 11PM = QUIET TIME 11PM = QUIET TIME 11PM = QUIET TIME 11PM = QUIET TIME 11PM = QUIET TIME 11:00 11:15

Page 8 • SPARK • May 2019 Updated 4/12/2019, 4:50 PM