Traveling Vol

E a r l h a m S c h o o l o f R e l i g i o n ESR F A L L 2 0 1 1 out& About

ESR Reports Traveling Vol. XIII, Number 1 in Ministry to Cuba By Stephen Angell In This Issue: H eredios Santos, long-time pastor in Theme Articles Cuba Yearly Meeting, 1 Traveling in Ministry to first mentioned the pos- Cuba Stephen Angell sibility of my going to Cuba in 2001. In 2008, 1 Retracing the Travels of Thomas Kelly there was an important Carole Spencer informal meeting of 7 Opportunity to Travel Friends interested in Abroad Cuba at the meeting 8 My Adventures at the of the Section of the Lake Erie Yearly Meeting Americas of FWCC in Pat DeWitt-Thomas Jackson County, Indi- 12 Dean’s Word ana. I was among those Stephen Angell at Cuba Yearly Meeting annual sessions Jay Marshall present. Maria Yi Reyna, pastor of the church in Holguin, Features Cuba, mentioned that the great Retracing the Travels need of the Cuba Yearly Meet- of Thomas Kelly By Carole Spencer 7 On the Horizon ing from Friends in the Americas 8 Recent Alum Publications was for resources to bolster their Chance, providence, luck, good fortune, opportunity, destiny, divine 9 Lauramoore Guest House Quaker identity. A number of intervention. These are some of the words that came to mind and Retreat Center us sitting around the table were when I found myself in lush, colorful, exotic Honolulu in early 9 What We’re Reading excited by this. Led by Kris- April, in the middle of a busy spring semester. The Midwest was 10 Nowadays: ten Richardson, the American still recovering from an unusually bitter and icy winter. Finding Alumni/ae News Friends Service Committee sent myself unexpectedly in Hawaii connected the dots on my spiritual 10 People & Places: a “Traveling Seminary” to Cuba journey in a most intriguing way, beginning with my introduction Faculty News Yearly Meeting in February of to Quaker spirituality through the writer, Thomas Kelly, many 11 Looking Back this year, with their Brazil rep, years ago. 11 Coming Up @ ESR Jorge Lafitte, offering valuable Those of you familiar with the Quaker landscape will know the workshops to Cuban Friends on name Thomas Kelly. He was an educator, philosopher, and Chris- non-violent conflict resolution tian mystic who became legendary in the Quaker world after his and social change theory. (As of early death in 1941 when occasional writings from the last three the fall of 2011, Kristen is cur- years of his life were collected and published posthumously as A ESR Reports is published rently in Cuba helping Cuban Testament of Devotion. in the fall and spring Quakers establish a curriculum I first met Kelly through this slim, little book when, like many for alumni/ae and friends of Earlham School of Religion for their new Center for Peace spiritual seekers of the radical counter-cultural 60s and 70s, I had Tim Seid, Editor and Quaker Studies.) left my childhood faith far behind and was looking for something Susanna Combs, Art Director Continued on page 2 Continued on page 5 Fall 2011

A scene on the street in Gibara, Cuba

“In the day before CUBA continued from page 1 the Yearly Meeting Meanwhile, Jay Marshall little damage to the church Emigration. This means that was in contact with the Clerk itself, and they lost only a Cuba has a relatively high de- sessions started, of Cuba Yearly Meeting, small portion of their roof, gree of educational attainment Ramon Gonzalez Longoria and even more fortuitously, as well as an extraordinarily Benigno, a native of Escalona, and had arranged Cubans were well prepared high percentage of doctors a visit to the Yearly Meeting for the hurricane, and on the per capita. However, there are Cuba who emigrated for me during February and whole island, only two people few jobs for those who finish March of 2011. I was invited lost their lives. school. Doctors earn very low to the United States to give a series of lectures In the day before the Year- salaries. Medical consultations during the Yearly Meeting ly Meeting sessions started, are free, but medicines are at age 13, tried to sessions, and after the sessions, Benigno, a native of Cuba very difficult--if not impos- orient us to the I gave a lecture at the Young who emigrated to the United sible--to obtain, and even Adult Friends Retreat. I also States at age 13, tried to orient over-the-counter medicines 2 realities we would offered three workshops at the us to the realities we would such as pain relievers are hard newer monthly meetings in see around us. He let us know to get. In stores, there is virtu- see around us. ...The Cuba. that the orientation he offered ally nothing for sale. There was shared through his own are, for example, no cars for Friends’ Ministry Cuban Revolution particular lens. The Cuban sale; the few cars on the road in Cuba Revolution has emphasized are 1950s American vehicles, has emphasized On February 21, 2011, I human equality, but unfortu- often lovingly and painstak- arrived in one of the larger nately, it has produced equal ingly maintained, or later era human equality, but cities in Cuba, Holguin, at immiseration; that is, everyone Soviet cars, but no recent the eastern end of the island. has become equally poor. The models. The Cuban monetary unfortunately, it The following day, along Cuban government is the sin- system is very difficult to with three representatives of gle employer and all property, figure out; the Yearly Meeting has produced equal New England Yearly Meet- including church property, treasurers keeps accounts in ing (Benigno Sanchez-Eppler, belongs to the Cuban govern- three currencies: the regular immiseration; that is, Victoria Rhoden, and Noah ment. The Cuban govern- Cuban peso, the convertible Baker-Merrill), I traveled ment allows churches to use Cuban peso, and the United everyone has become the 13 kilometers to Gibara, certain property, families to States dollar. International where the Yearly Meeting was live in certain houses, and so travelers can carry the con- equally poor.” to be held. Gibara is a small forth, but all land belongs to vertible peso, but they are not town of about 30,000 people the government. Industry and allowed to carry regular pesos. on the coast. In 2008, Hur- wages are at a very low level. (The informal exchange rates ricane Ike had caused major Monthly wages of $15 to $25 for those two currencies are damage, destroying much of are fairly common for Cubans. remarkably different.) If you would prefer only to the seawall, which has not It is not a living wage. A high degree of state receive an electronic form of this been repaired due to lack of The Cuban revolution, control is exercised with the newsletter, please email Mandy funds. Friends in Gibara shel- Benigno said, was built on five military and prisons, and there Ford ([email protected]) tered dozens of people in their with your email address to opt pillars: Schools; Medical Cen- is virtually no place for open church during the hurricane. out of the printed newsletter. ters; the Military; Prisons; and expression of political dissent. Fortunately, there was very Yearly Meeting sessions at Gibara. Candido Gonzales, pastor of Banes Meeting (left)

One of the complicating as evidenced by all the happy covered different areas of selves when the Spirit leads. factors involved in gathering Canadian tourists I joined on Quaker doctrine: the true The items that led to the people for the Yearly Meeting my flight to Cuba and back). nature of Quaker Community; most extensive discussion were sessions was that in the city Getting news in Cuba Quakers and holiness; The the Nominating Commit- where Banes Friends Church is a challenge. There is no Holy Spirit and revelation; the tee Report and the proposal is located, Mothers in White, Internet, and only very limited Light of Christ; and Quakers to build a meeting house for a group of mothers for politi- television and newspaper news and the testimonies. For the the Programmed Meeting cal prisoners, was gathering coverage is available. In Gi- first two lectures, I read from in Havana. In Havana, the for a protest. So the Yearly bara, Ramon had to work hard a manuscript; I spoke the last programmed Friends meet Meeting bus (the Wawa) had to have a periodical delivered three from the silence. I spoke in a space they rent from the to make its way through the to him, and finally settled on in English, and Benigno trans- Episcopal Church, which intense security presence to a weekly (the Juventud). The lated for me. has not always been hospi- bring Friends from Banes to big city Friends’ Church (Hol- The Yearly Meeting ses- table. The Havana Friends the Yearly Meeting sessions. guin) was able to have a daily sions were very lively and proposed to throw a slab on It is hard to walk very far delivered, the Granma. Un- completed an extraordinary top of the house of an exist- on the streets of Gibara with- like Iran, there is no English amount of business. The list ing member, but there were out having someone approach language news service; all the of the Action Minutes from various problems with that, 3 you to ask for money, often news is in Spanish. the Yearly Meeting totalled most notably, that Cuban law quite desperately. During 57 Minutes, and when printed would not allow any deeding my time there, I talked with Yearly Meeting out, the minutes cover four of the nascent meeting house two men, one younger and Sessions single-spaced pages. The clerk to Friends until the slab is one older, who had received It was a wonderful group does a lot of talking there, but actually completed, at the cost permission to emigrate to the of Cubans who gathered for Yearly Meeting members are of $10,000. After considerable United States. If a resident of Yearly Meeting. My lectures not shy and express them- discussion, the Yearly Meeting Gibara receives remittances from someone working in the United States, they will be much better off than the or- dinary Gibaran. One day, the three New England Friends, a Cuban Friend, and myself were walking through the streets of Gibara. The Cuban Friend explained how every house we saw with a fresh coat of paint was someone who had a spouse living abroad who sent remittances. Remittances are the second most important source of income for the island of Cuba; the most important source is tourism,

Singing the closing hymn, “Siempre Amigos” (Always Friends!), at Yearly Meeting Sessions “When the most CUBA continued from page 3 approved a very diplomatically severe repression worded minute postponing any further consideration of ceased in Cuba, the Havana Friends proposal until after the change of the Cuban Quakers property laws expected from the Government in April. The had less than 100 Clerk, Ramon, tells me that he thinks the problem with the floor. The Holy Spirit was in for a retreat. In many ways the Episcopal Church is mostly at charge, and it worked out well; Young Adult Friends are the members. Anyone the local level, and that involv- several Friends, Cuban and backbone of the Yearly Meet- ing the Episcopal Bishop for North American, spoke out ing. There are nine monthly can tell you who were Cuba may help resolve the of the silence. Noah Baker- meetings in Cuba. The Clerk problems between Havana Merrill, a gifted minister from (Presidente) of Cuba Yearly the faithful ones, Friends and the local Episco- Vermont, spoke movingly Meeting, Ramon Longoria, pal Church. about his experience with is the pastor of the monthly the handful in each Another issue involved the Light. By the time of my meeting in Gibara. Most of starting a Center for Quaker concluding lecture on the Tes- the other monthly meetings meeting, who kept and Peace Studies to supple- timonies the next day, I had are pastored either by a Young ment the theological educa- recovered and that also went Adult Friend, or by some- well. That afternoon, busload one who is only a few years the Cuban Quakers tion available elsewhere in Cuba. after busload of Friends left removed from Young Adult The Friends’ Church in the Yearly Meeting compound Friends status (the upper age going in the years Puerto Padre desperately in Gibara. New England limit, there as here, is 35 years needs repair work. The school Friend Victoria Rhoden com- old). So, when I talked to the 4 when the Cuban was confiscated at the time of mented that, “Four days ago, I Young Adult Friends at their the Cuban Revolution and is did not even know these dear first session on the next Friday Communists were now in great disrepair, missing Friends, but now I find myself night, I realized that I was talk- a considerable portion of its crying as they are leaving.” It ing to the emerging leadership officially atheist and roof. Cuban Friends are trying was indeed a very poignant of the Yearly Meeting. One to reclaim the school, and they moment. thing Cuba Yearly Meeting also need to find their title (or is asking for when they say trying to put religion Workshops at Yearly their claim of title; legalities they need help with issues of Meeting Sessions in respect to property ques- Quaker identity is help with out of business.” The next day, Monday, tions are very complex) to the the spiritual formation of these was the occasion for an outing Church property in order for Young Adult Friends who have on the beach, with the clerk the repair work to continue. stepped up into greatly needed of the Yearly Meeting and My first three lectures positions of leadership in the his family, and all four of us went well, but when Monthly Meetings. from the United States. The my fourth lecture I had been told that Young following day, I bid adieu to was scheduled, for Adult Friends were very much the New England Friends. Saturday night, I was concerned about issues of the My first workshop was in a suffering from severe Second Coming, so my talk smaller church in Holguin, intestinal distress. I on “the essentials of Quaker- by the name of Vista Alegre. felt that I could attend ism” focused somewhat on I presented a session on the and also that I could the realized eschatology of Testimony of Simplicity, and say something, but early Quakerism, and how then my full presentation on I did not feel up to that connected to issues like the Light of Christ, contrast- speaking for the entire early Quakers’ views of the ing the views of George Fox, hour. I did speak for sacraments. The next day had J. J. Gurney, and Rufus Jones. five minutes at the four sessions. One was a panel beginning out of the Then it was back to Gibara. with three speakers addressing Benigno Sanchez-Eppler driving the bicicleta silence, but then I sat That weekend the Young the three controversial issues (bicycle taxi) with Steve Angell as the passenger down and ceded the Adult Friends were gathering among Young Adult Friends: On the Horizon what do Quakers think about by Mandy Ford the second coming; what do Quakers think about Satan; O n November 4 and 5, ESR will host the 20th Looking ahead to 2012, we have two and should Quakers adopt annual Ministry of Writing Colloquium. The notable speakers coming to campus. Phil Gul- a position of more latitude keynote speaker will be published poet and au- ley, published author and pastor of Fairfield about the church music al- thor Scott Cairns, who is the Professor of Eng- Friends Meeting near Indianapolis, will be our lowed into Friends’ churches. lish at University of Missouri. Cairns has been keynote for the 2012 Spirituality Gathering This all plays into the published in Poetry, Image, Paris Review, The (March 3), speaking on the topic of The Evolu- Quaker identity issue in one Atlantic Monthly, and The New Republic, and his tion of Faith: A Changing Faith in a Changing way or another. Take church work has been anthologized in multiple editions World. music: Quakers in Cuba are of Best American Spiritual Writing. His published Rosemary Radford Reuther will be the clear that they are not Pen- works include Compass of Affection, Short Trip to featured lecturer for the spring 2012 Willson tecostal. They are concerned the Edge, Love’s Immensity, and The End of Suf- Lectures. Reuther is the Carpenter Emerita about the waves of Pentecos- fering. In addition to the keynote address, the Professor of Feminist Theology at Pacific talism in Cuban culture that Colloquium will offer workshops from pub- School of Religion, as well as the Georgia threaten to overtake various lished authors on topics including Putting Sacred Harkness Emerita Professor of Applied Theol- forms of Cuban Christian- Spaces in a Poem, What Did You Mean to Say?, ogy at Garrett Evangelical Theological Semi- ity. One evening, while I was Momentary Revelation, and Soul Work: Creativ- nary. She has enjoyed a long and distinguished riding on the microbus, we ity and Spirituality. Attendees will also have the career as a scholar, teacher, and activist in the passed a Pentecostal church opportunity to have a book proposal reviewed Roman Catholic Church, and is well known as service that was just end- by an experienced publishing professional. As a groundbreaking figure in Christian feminist ing. There were hundreds of always, this event will include a reading on theology. She will speak on the topic Human people walking away from the Friday night from the workshop presenters, and Creation, Fall and Redemption: The Quaker church service. It was clearly an open mic on Saturday night for all attendees Paradigm Shift and its Importance in the History very popular. Cuban Quak- to share their own writing. It is a wonderful of Christian Theology on March 30 and 31 in the 5 ers like individual Cuban time for published and aspiring authors to come ESR Center. We hope you can join us at ESR Pentecostals and even invite together and share their work. this year for one or more of these events! Cuban Pentecostal groups to rent their church complex; the “Orthodox” who rented the Gibara complex while I was The last week I was in mission that was just given that in just two short decades there were Pentecostals. But Cuba, I presented two more Monthly Meeting status. has accomplished much under the views of the groups are workshops. I visited the eastern I was privileged to see the daunting odds. When the much different; Cuban Quak- end of the Yearly Meeting, in ceremony at which El Retrete most severe repression ceased ers are not about to adopt a the neighborhood of Banes, received Monthly Meeting in Cuba, Cuban Quakers premillennialist position on the headquarters for the status. Within the space of a had less than 100 members. Second Coming, for example. United Fruit Company prior couple of hours, a Nominat- Anyone can tell you who were One of the further work- to the Cuban revolution. The ing Committee was appointed, the faithful ones, the handful shops was offered by Lazaro, Banes church is beautiful, met, made its report, and the in each meeting, who kept the pastor of the Friends’ Church thanks in part to the effort of new Monthly Meeting, with Cuban Quakers going in the at Velasco, on the topic of three FUM work teams who help from many wise elders years when the Cuban Com- “evangelization.” He asked worked to restore it. There is throughout the yearly meet- munists were officially atheist me briefly to speak about a beautiful garden in the Banes ing, composed its first minute. and trying to put religion out evangelization in the United complex. Hurricane Ike had I then conducted a workshop, of business. They are now up States, and I mentioned that occasioned great damage there which included my Light of to about 500 members. Will evangelization by way of as well. Cuban Friends spent Christ talk, and a session on they be able to keep their crusade seems on the decline 15 full days just removing the Quaker Spirituality focusing church growing? here, but that the Internet fallen trees and debris from the on John Woolman. My (both websites and blogs) were Banes church grounds after the last workshop, at Bocas becoming more important in hurricane. But the garden has meeting, incorporated Stephen Angell is the the U.S. I have a sense that made a great recovery, albeit just the Light of Christ Geraldine Leatherock evangelization in Cuba is quite with many fewer trees. talk. Professor of Quaker different, especially since they This workshop was held Cuba Yearly Meet- Studies at Earlham have no Internet. in El Retrete, a church ing is a wonderful place School of Religion. Clockwise from right: Honolulu Friends Meeting House; Carole and Renie; Carole with Friends in Residence, David and Virginia Wood

KELLY continued from page 1 deeper and less “traditional” to fill the spiritual vacuum. Ironically, in discovering Kelly’s book I found not only Quakerism, but a more ancient mystical Christian tra- dition that I had never known. Kelly’s little book rocked my Midwest when he was offered world and inspired me to a position at the Univ. of Ha- join with Friends, and go to waii. In his new role, he could seminary, and it even played a fulfill his deep desire to study significant part in my becom- he had built in the 1920s when Eastern philosophy and reli- ing a seminary professor. But he taught philosophy at Earl- gion and engage in interfaith little did I know then that I ham College. dialogue in the crossroads of would follow Kelly back to his It is not hard to sense the East and West. Quaker home—literally! spirit of Kelly as I prepare for After one year, his plan When in the fall of 2010 my courses in the same office of Eastern Studies in Hawaii 6 a door unexpectedly opened where Kelly prepared, and Guessing that traveling was cut short when he was to teach at Earlham School pray in the same places where ministry requests from exotic invited to join the faculty at of Religion, I felt a strange Kelly prayed. And it appears far-away places in the South Haverford College, which was nudge to book a flight to that the spirit of Thomas Pacific are not usual occur- his most cherished vocational Richmond, Indiana and Kelly is so strong in my life rences at ESR, I enthusiasti- dream. But in the short time interview for the position. that it drew me to Hawaii. So cally responded to the request. he lived in Honolulu, Kelly This nudge came even though here is rest of the story. Thus began a delightful email left an indelible legacy. I could not possibly imagine In the middle of spring correspondence with the My new soul friend Renie uprooting myself from my semester, in the wintry woman planning the program, Wong, who organized the family and friends, the ocean doldrums of February, an Renie Wong. Renie and I had Quaker Gathering and invited and mountains of the great inquiry came to ESR from what I can only describe as in- me to speak, had a strong Pacific Northwest which had Honolulu Friends Meeting, stant rapport; we seemed to be Earlham connection. Her been home for 30 years, or which as “fortune” would have kindred souls. And only much father, Sam Lindley, had been George Fox Evangelical Semi- it, Mandy Ford, Director of later, after spending a day with a student of Kelly’s at Earl- nary where I had taught for External Relations, forwarded Renie on a “magical mystery ham and had followed him the past 15. Yet I felt a strong, to me: tour” of the North Shore of to Hawaii, working his way distinct sense of call to ESR Carole, Oahu, did I learn how both across the Pacific Ocean on a and Richmond. I could not ex- “I received a Traveling Min- our stories connected with tramp steamer. Thomas Kelly plain the compelling leading, istries request from Honolulu Thomas Kelly, but in very dif- and Sam Lindley were part but it was unmistakable, and Friends Meeting. They are ferent ways. It was only after of a small group of Quakers when the position was offered looking for someone to provide accepting the call to visit Ho- who organized the first meet- to me, I accepted with a sense a program on “Building a nolulu Friends Meeting that ing for worship of Honolulu of surprise and elation. Spiritual Community”, and I I realized that Kelly had gone Friends and helped to found And through a most wanted to see if you would be to Hawaii from Richmond 75 the meeting where I was now amazing experience of divine interested. Of course this re- years before me, and I was fol- privileged to lead a weekend synchronicity I am now com- quires distant travel, although lowing in his footsteps! retreat on “building a spiritual fortably and joyfully settled I’m sure you wouldn’t mind a Kelly, who was never community.” Sam Lindley, into the house of my spiritual trip to Hawaii.” happy living in Indiana, had like his mentor Thomas Kelly, mentor, Thomas Kelly, which Mandy an opportunity to escape the became a professor of philoso- Opportunity for Travel Abroad Jim Higginbotham, Associ- ate Professor of Pastoral Care, phy, but unlike Kelly, chose to with a potluck, and a time of ton, Ohio, who are currently Earlham School of Religion, make his home permanently music and line dancing, and their “Friends in Residence,” will be co-leading a two-week in Honolulu. A few years opportunity to interact infor- the retreat was a mutually study tour with a professor before Sam Lindley died, his mally with the attendees. My enriching and bridge-building from Wesley Theological daughter Renie returned to keynote on Saturday morning experience. Although many Seminary in late May 2012 Honolulu and now lives in was on “How to understand Friends pass through their (probable dates are May 22 her father’s house. Following spiritual diversity within meeting on their travels (the - June 4). Both leaders have Thomas Kelly and her father’s communities.” We explored meetinghouse serves as a kind lived and worked in China. legacy, she is continuing to how understanding spiritual of “bed and breakfast” for The group will travel to build a strong Quaker spiritual diversity can assist community travelers), Honolulu Friends popular destinations including community in Hawaii where growth. I introduced a tool feel spiritually isolated as few the Great Wall, attend cultural interfaith dialogue and multi- that helped them identify their traveling ministers stay and events, and visit churches and culturalism is always a part of own spiritual style or type, and interact with the meeting at church development projects. the spiritual environment. their community’s spiritual the community-making level There will be conversations When I first accepted the style. Knowing their personal of this type of visitation. with Chinese Christians about invitation to visit Honolulu style and that of the commu- On the long flight back being faithful in another cul- Friends, I did not make any nity, and how they are alike from Honolulu and for several ture and political system and connections between Kelly or different, helps to identify weeks after, I felt spiritually discussions about the Chinese 7 and Hawaii. Not until I ar- unmet spiritual needs as well energized by my visit and I be- government’s treatment of rived did I learn I would be as strengths and weaknesses gan to wonder where the spirit religion. speaking to the very meeting of the community. We had a of Thomas Kelly might lead The estimated total cost he had helped establish in lively Q & A after the presen- me next. I decided to read the is $3500, which includes: 1936. Only after the gather- tation. biography of Kelly by his son, comfortable hotel accom- ing ended did I learn that the For a small group time on Richard, and learned another modations; international and Earlham student who admired Saturday I introduced them to interesting fact I did not know. domestic travel; meals; admis- and emulated Kelly so much sharing using Parker Palmer’s Richard, writing about his sions and excursions; and all he followed him across the “Circle of Trust” for build- parents, states, “One spot on fees. For information contact: ocean was the father of the ing community. They also the earth had gradually come Jim Higginbotham, 765-983- Friend who had invited me to requested a Saturday evening to mean home in their minds. 1522 or [email protected] Honolulu. Divine synchronic- talk and had expressed inter- This was a small summer ity! est on the topic of “spiritual colony on the southern coast The Honolulu Friends guides,” so I spoke about “The of Maine known as Brightwa- Meeting began in 1935 and Mystics as Spiritual Guides” ter.” In 1940 Kelly purchased joined with Pacific Coast and shared about my own a cabin there on the rugged Association of Friends (now story of how Thomas Kelly’s Maine seacoast. Hmm…I Pacific Yearly Meeting) in Testament of Devotion wonder where the 1947. They currently have had impacted my Spirit of Thomas about 100 members. life as well as what Kelly will lead me The theme of the retreat I have learned from next…? at Honolulu Friends Meet- my reading of other ing was on spirituality and Christian mystics. community. After some Based on feed- conversation with them they back from Renie, decided to call it “In Search of as well David and Carole Spencer, a Spiritual Community.” The Virginia Wood, Associate Professor of retreat began Friday evening Quakers from Day- Christian Spirituality Recent Alum Publications Patricia Thomas ‘90 My Adventures has written the first book at the Lake Erie Yearly Meeting in a series she by Pat DeWitt-Thomas is calling the “Pastor and hen Mandy asked me to the event would be. Then the Professor W Mysteries.” lead a Bible Study at the Lake we all read them to the The title is Cast Me Not Away Erie Yearly Meeting in the group. and is available from Amazon. summer of 2010, I laughed For three mornings com as well as from Lighthouse and asked, “Are you serious?” we met at 6:30 AM and Christian Publishing. You can She obviously had not read had a blast. Reading the check out her website, www. the evaluations from my OT Bible was fun and we pastorandprofessor.com. Patricia professor who said I “exegeti- were all amazed by the is hard at work on the second cally horrified her” or my variety of responses to book. NT professor who said, “Pat the same scripture. In Elizabeth will continue to interpret the three short mornings, I Raid ‘02 has Bible the way Pat wants to.” bonded with this group of published a (I am pretty “old school” in people at a deep level. biography my Bible study; not quite I am not a business of her father Howard D. taking to all this new infor- meeting person so I Raid. Elizabeth mation being dug up.) Mandy figured I could do some- assured me that she was seri- thing else with my free Pat DeWitt-Thomas 8 was a Patrick Henry Writing ous, and I said yes. time while in Bluffton. I cessful. This faithful group Scholar at ESR I showed up at the event had to attend the first Meet- gathered again at 6:30 AM, in 2001 during which time she wondering how I would be ing so I could be introduced. and we had a delightful time began writing this biography. received. I love to share the What I experienced during sharing together. In this book, Howard Raid: Man Scriptures but don’t like that Meeting was a sense of of Faith and Vision, Elizabeth Once again I attended all arguing about them, and I the Spirit’s Presence that was “draws on her late father’s ex- the business meetings and was preparing myself for that palpable, and it made me tensive memoirs and, with filial found them to be true wor- possibility. humble and hungry for more. glow, binds the parts together ship times. I experienced a When I saw that the Bible I ended up going to all the into an absorbing narrative.” silence that moved my soul Study started at 6:30 AM, I Meetings and they touched Katherine and again I left spiritually figured I was safe. Who gets my very soul. I left that Yearly Murray ’08 has nurtured and uplifted. They up that early, pre-coffee, for Meeting truly blessed, fully written a book asked whether I would come a group study? Well, I was spiritually nurtured, and sad of earth care next year and I am already meditations delighted to see that I would to leave my new friends. looking forward to it. called, Listening not be there talking to myself Thankfully they must Thank you, ESR Traveling to the Earth: when about 24 faithful people have felt the same, because Ministries, for allowing me to Meditations on came ready to go. they asked me back to do the Experiencing be a part of this ministry. I am I do a process I call Mi- same thing this year. I looked and Belonging to Nature, which very grateful for the awesome drash Journaling, a spin off of forward to going to meet with was published by Lorian Press this privilege to worship with and Ignatius’ exercise of getting this special group of people. summer. The book is available enjoy the company of this right into the Scriptures and When I got to the campus, from Amazon and from Lorian very special group of people. feeling what those people felt. I was greeted as a long lost Press. Katherine is currently writ- We truly became one in the ing a new book about earth care I read a portion of Scrip- friend. They asked me if we Spirit. and spirituality, called A Simple ture and asked participants were going to do the same Guide to Eco-Spirituality, which will to choose a character in the process and some explained be published by Luminis Books story and respond by writ- that they had taken the study Pat DeWitt-Thomas is an later this fall. This title is also avail- ing what they thought that back to their monthly meet- M.Div. student in the Writing able on Amazon.com. character’s journal entry for ings and found it to be suc- for Ministry Program Lauramoore Guest House and Retreat Center by Tracy Crowe

I n the fall of 2010, Ohio mation about Lauramoore, Valley Yearly Meeting gener- discover how to make a ously donated Lauramoore reservation, or find out how House to ESR. After sig- to provide financial support nificant improvements and at http://esr.earlham.edu/about/ repairs, our first guests arrived lauramoore. for the January, 2011 two- week Intensive classes. Since these communities in ways that call to a new way of living.” Thus, then we’ve hosted many pro- let us dismiss them as irrelevant to the “terror filled world” is also rec- spective and current students, the “real world.” As Carlson says, ognized as full of prayer, compas- “A persistent stereotype of monks sion, and a reality not overcome Earlham College reunion and nuns is that they are persons by horrid violence and fear. attendees, and the ESR Board living in such isolation as to be Carlson closes the book with a of Advisors. out of touch with the realities of Lauramoore, located at 504 quote from Rumi, the Sufi seer this world.” Instead, those living and poet: “Not Christian or Jew NW 5th Street, is listed on the the monastic life are or Muslim, not Hindu, Buddhist, National Register of Historic dedicated to holding Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion or Places as the Mary Birdsall the world in prayer, cultural system. I am not from the 9 House. Next spring the Colo- friends and enemies East or the West, not out of the nial Dames of the 17th Century alike. In reading the ac- ocean or up from the ground...My will place a stone marker on counts, the connection place is placeless, a trace of the the grounds in her honor. of prayer to the “real traceless. I belong to the beloved, In September, ESR’s Board world” becomes more have seen the two worlds as one clear and profound. of Advisors were given a tour and that one call to and know, On his journey, David of Lauramoore House and the reading first, last, outer, inner, only that is sometimes joined grounds. Overall, they were breath breathing human being.” by his son Leif, ESR MA Carlson wonders what difference delighted that we now have W e ’ re W hat graduate of 2005. it might have made had Osama such a great place for hospital- This book’s style flows nicely, and bin Laden hearkened to such a ity, tempered with concern for As I read David Carlson’s new it might be compared to a travel vision. I wonder what difference the cost and time it will take book, Peace Be with You: Monastic adventure, though the traveling it would make if Christians were to maintain and run it. Wisdom For A Terror-Filled World repeatedly connects the inward able to more deeply understand (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, We anticipate that rental and the outward. Carlson talks of Jesus’ parables about the King- 2011), I found myself taken back income will be sufficient his impressions of the physical dom of God, such as Matthew to September 11, 2001 in a new to cover normal operating settings for the monasteries he 18: 1-5: “At that time the disciples way. Throughout interviews with expenses each year, but we visits, the feel of the place, and came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who many monks and nuns, David do need help with the cost of so the connection of inner prayer is the greatest in the kingdom of Carlson recounts that a feeling and the outer world is made heaven?’ he called a child, whom capital improvements, such emerged that there were other more clear. He also reflects on his he put among them, and said, as renovated bathrooms, roof ways, deeper ways, to respond to own impressions and those of his ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and gutter repair, new carpet- evil and suffering in this world. son who traveled with him to a and become like children, you ing and furniture replacement. Though there was no hagiography number of the communities. So, will never enter the kingdom of Our “What’s in a Name?” fun- about these individuals, I found the book takes us on a spiritual heaven. Whoever becomes hum- draising project allows donors that they were working in realms adventure that seems deceptively ble like this child is the greatest in of $5,000 or more to name a of how to see and live in this easy to enjoy. However, as one the kingdom of heaven. Whoever pained world differently. room at Lauramoore in honor reads, the depth of the adventure welcomes one such child in my of or in memory of a loved one One of the threads throughout slowly and steadily catches up. As name welcomes me.’” or other special person. the book is that those outside Carlson says of his own deepening —Lonnie Valentine You can find more infor- monastic communities often see exploration, his adventure was “a Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Nowadays Alumni/aNowadayse news

P.V. and Mary Chandy Bridgeport in Stratford CT and WRF representative at the special type of ministry because in the (1970-73) is now serving as the consulting called meeting with IYM on Octo- past eight months, we’ve been This summer has been a busy minister for religious educa- ber 1st. Doing a bit of music and steadily growing. Please visit www. and productive time. Mary retired tion and Pastoral Care at the UU hosting lots of people who come communityyogalafayette.com and after teaching high school math. Church in Cherry Hill, NJ. She is through Richmond. www.summercushman.com. for 25 years in the Chicago City spending much of her time in NJ, school system. Mary and I partici- although because her younger son Summer Cushman pated in the International Pasto- is a senior in high school, her son I’ve started a business and am ral Care and Counseling Congress and husband have remained at now working, working, work- in Rotorua, New Zealand in their home in CT. Visits or contacts ing. Sometimes I feel like I’m the August and I have conducted two from former classmates would be pastor of Community Yoga! I offer workshops during the conference. very welcome! group asana classes, spiritual After the conference, we spent direction, private instruction, time in Auckland, NZ and Sydney, Jeff Crim retreats, and a six-week Yoga Australia. We stayed at the I am currently the Director of for Transformation course. The Friends Centers in both places. Pastoral Care and Bereavement Greater Lafayette Area of Indiana Services at North Star Hospice in has clearly been hungry for this Patricia Thomas ‘90 Calhoun, Georgia and, as of last 10 week, I am serving as the interim I am still working as a staff pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran chaplain on cardiac floors at Church of the Ascension in East Advocate Christ Medical Center Ridge, Tennessee. ESR in Oak Lawn, IL. I am thinking about retiring and moving to People & Places Ingrid Fabianson F a c u l t y N e w s Kerala, India for extended vaca- tion. I continue to adjunct at I have now been “retired” for 8 Wilmington College, and have 35 months, caring for my 99-year-old In July, Jim Higginbotham at- This seminar was designed to help students in Introduction to the mountaineer father–in-law, vol- tended the General Assembly of pastoral counselors understand Bible this term. unteering in the community, and the Christian Church (Disciples of psychological distress from a using the long quiet hours to read, Christ) at Nashville, Tennessee, different theological and clini- garden, see my kids, and to envi- where he facilitated a discus- Gary and Faith Cummings cal perspective than traditional sion my next journey. I am still sion on the history of the peace psychology. Gary Cummings, (M.Div.,1983) interested in creative writing and movement in his denomina- and Faith Cummings (at- in finishing the rough draft that I tion. This workshop was part of Jay Marshall visited and wor- tended 1979-1982, M.A.Rel from started at Earlham as the recipient a new program, called Faithful shipped with Friends in Bo- ETSS,1985) are host parents again of the Mullen scholarship. Hello to Conversations, which he helped livia during his sabbatical. After for CIEE. Our student Chanmi all my friends. initiate through his work with returning to work in June, he Oh is from Daejeon, Republic of the Disciples Peace Fellowship. led the faculty development trip Korea. Her dad is a Baptist pas- Sue Axtell The program is designed to help to Kenya and Rwanda. In July, tor. We are attenders of Linden The flesh is weak, but the spirit groups examine controversial is- he delivered a plenary message Heights Baptist Church of the just keeps on going. I am spending sues. At the Assembly, hundreds of at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. time traveling (just got back from participants discussed questions in July on the theme “Powerful The CBF has a strong witness Vermont immediately after the of war and peace in relationship Beyond Measure: Trusting the Call for social justice and women in hurricane) and hope to get to see to Christian unity. to Leadership.” He also attended ministry. Our future with them is the Panama Canal in late October. In September, Jim led a workshop the FUM Triennial, Indiana Yearly an open question. Home time is spent working to at the American Association of Meeting, and Western Yearly Meet- preserve the West Richmond Pastoral Counselors, Midwest Re- ing. In August, he presented a Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn Friend’s Minute on Welcoming gion at Fort Wayne, Indiana, titled, plenary address, “Leadership: Can Julie-Ann concluded her ministry and Affirming in the conflict with “Beyond Axis II: More Compassion- it Be Taught?” at ESR’s Leadership to the UU church of Greater Indiana Yearly Meeting. I was the ate Views of Personal Distress.” Conference. L o o k i n g B a c k on Up ESR Coming@ESR Events Ministry of Writing by Mandy Ford Colloquium November 5, 2011 all 2011 at ESR has been Keynote Speaker: Scott Cairns Frich with a variety of campus events, which have brought Spirituality Gathering people from all over the March 3, 2012 country to our little corner of Keynote Speaker: Phil Gulley Richmond, Indiana. Quaker “The Evolution of Faith: leadership, preaching, and A Changing Faith in a Changing poetry writing were all a part World” of our fall event topics. For the second year in a row, we Willson Lectures hosted a conference on Quak- March 30-31, 2012 er leadership. Seeking the Core Keynote Speaker: of Quaker Leadership was held Rosemary Radford Reuther the weekend of August 12, and “Human Creation, Fall and included presentations from Redemption: The Quaker Joe Volk, retired executive Leadership Conference Paradigm Shift and its Importance in the History of secretary of FCNL; Bonalyn shall. “Many of us have experi- and inspiring keynote sessions, Christian Theology” Mosteller, with Friends enced the power and good Rev. Florence explored the 11 Services for the Aging; Alan results that emerge from the topics of Preaching and Testi- Kolp and Peter Rea, who synergies of Friends who value mony, Living the Script in Scrip- teach businesspeople about implementation as highly as ture, and Preaching the Verbs, the integration of virtues and conversation. I hope that time Telling the Truth. The plenary business; a panel presentation will prove this to be one of sessions were interactive, with by Quaker businesspersons, as those occasions.” attendees reading scripture, well as some leadership with About two thirds of the breaking down passages, and Earlham connections, includ- attendees for Seeking the Core relating pieces of the text to ing ESR Dean Jay Marshall. of Quaker Leadership were from their own experience. In the This year’s event was rich outside of Richmond, Indi- final plenary session, individu- and diverse in terms of experi- ana, with the majority living als were asked how a Bible ence. The attendance roster outside of the state of Indiana. passage spoke to them, and included leaders from the This indicates that the topic how they would transform corporate and the non-profit appeals to a wide range of that message into a sermon. world, religious and secular individuals, many of whom are Those in attendance would organizations, academics and willing to travel in order to all agree it was a powerful and practitioners. Attendees and participate. The success of this transformative experience. presenters together con- year’s leadership conference tributed much weight to the is exciting and gives us much learning experience. energy to plans for next year. “I made more new ac- On Monday, September quaintances at this event than 26, ESR hosted Preaching, any I can remember in the Testimony and Living in the recent past, many of whom Word, featuring Rev. Anna have skills and talents that I Carter Florence, Associate do not have, but about which Professor of Preaching at I would like to learn more,” Columbia Theological Semi- stated ESR Dean Jay Mar- nary. During her energetic Pastors Conference Earlham School of Religion 228 College Avenue Richmond, Indiana 47374 1-800-432-1377 esr.earlham.edu

Change Service Requested

In this issue: Out & About

ESR’s Role in the Global Quaker Community

uch of ESR’s work hap- reside outside of the U.S. than others that led to invitations to Mpens on the corner of College within its border. The global ESR. Most importantly, there Avenue and National Road. reach of Friends is not a new is the movement of the Spirit. Students who enroll, enter the thing, but it is a fresh moment Many of us find ourselves doorway of the ESR Center, with regard to the possibilities intrigued by and drawn toward perhaps as residential students available to ESR. these emerging possibilities. or as ESR Access students, and Three movements intersect As we consider our out- participate in a community to create this threshold of new ward reach among Friends, of learning. This is valuable possibility. First is technology. we intentionally wrestle with effort—after all, graduate edu- I still recall when the very first questions about how we bal- cation is the core of our work. application we received for ance our work internally and The Even so, I believe it would our distance learning program externally, and among North be mistaken to assume that arrived from Sweden. Means of American Friends with these Dean’s ESR can keep its lamp hidden communicating and teaching more distant locations. We word under a bushel. So much of exist now that were not avail- consider limitations of the our work depends on being able when ESR was founded, resources of time, energy, 12 available to and being known or even 20 years ago. Initiatives and money. We attempt to by Friends. For such rea- by Friends in some interna- pay attention to differences sons, we started the Traveling tional locations to strengthen of context and culture in an Ministries program a few years their educational initiatives effort to eliminate blind spots ago. (If you are not familiar are a second fresh movement. and improve communication with it, please read more In recent months, we have re- of those things we hold to be about it on our website.) This sponded to workshop requests true. We trust that this work effort has taken us around the in Nicaragua and Guatemala is not wasted effort, but in a country, including all the way to help Friends learn to write reciprocal way strengthens the to Hawaii! their own curricula. We communities to which we ven- As I think of casting off provided a series of presenta- ture as well as ESR. This issue the bushel basket, a questions to Cuba Yearly Meeting. of ESR Reports shines a bit of tion increasingly on my mind The creation of a new peace light on our efforts to share these days is “what is ESR’s center or progress toward new our gifts of teaching with the role in the global Quaker accreditation standards are ex- wider world of Friends (and community?” More Friends amples of work being done by others) who request them.