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January 2007 $5 Quaker Thought FRIENDS and Life OURNAL Today The Iraq War and Its Implications for Quakers A Quaker Speaks from the Black Experience An AMONG FRIENDS independent • magazine serving the A Time of Renewal Religious Society of friends the time of this writing, Susan Corson-Finnerty is off getting som e vacation _Nand supporting far-flung family members, and she has asked me to fill in for Editorial her in preparing this column. Actually, this is only fair: for six weeks this fall, Susan Corson-Finnerty {Publislm- and Executi~ Editor}, I was out of the office, recovering from an operation, and she, ably assisted by Rebec­ Robert Dockhom (Smior Editor}, Rebecca Howe (Assistant Editor), Judith Brown (Pomy Editor), Ellen ca Howe and m any others, covered for me. T his break was by far the longest one I've Michaud (Book Review Editor}, ). Brent Bill (Assistant Book &vii!!u Editor}, Joan Overman (Book Review had since joining the staff of the j OURNAL in 1999. I come back with renewed com­ Assistant}, Christine Rusch (Mikstones Editor), Guli mitment and a heightened sense of the uniqueness of this very special magazine. Fager, Melissa Minnich, Mary Julia Srreet (Asristant Mikstones EdiiQn), Robert Marks, Nancy Milio, George The feature articles in this first issue of our 53rd year are a hard-hitting bunch. Rubin (News Editors}, Kara NeweU(Columnist}, Lisa Terry Wallace challenges us to be careful in what we say to others about Q uakerism Rand, Marjorie Schier (Proofoadnr), Parry Quinn (Voluntm), Emily Taber (Intmz} (p. 6). Then James Fletcher writes candidly about his experience as an Mrican Ameri­ Production can Friend (p. 9), giving all Quakers m uch to think about. Next, in our continuing Barbara Benton (Art Dirtctor}, Alla Podolsky series on "What Are Friends Called to Today," Maya Porter traces the roots of the {Assistant Art Dirtctor}, Perer Deirz (Wtb Ma1111ger) Advertising, Circulation, Development Iraq War back to the thirst for oil (p. 14), while Benjamin Vail raises moral questions Nagendran Gulendran (Advmising Manager), about the dependence of Quakers on cars (p. 16). Betsy Brinson closes the features Nicole Hackel (Circulation Assistant}, Gabriel Ehri (Dirtctor ofMark eting, Circulation, and Special Projects), with a look at the new movement of U.S. conscientious objectors to Canada, echoing Patricia Boyle {Database Manager), Margie Garrett the flow during the Viemam War (p. 18). (DetX!opmmt Coordinator), Kay Bacon, Ruth Peterson (Voluntem} The departments in this issue-as always--offer a rich reading experience. We are Administrat ion happy to announce this m onth a new column, "Earthcare," giving a Quaker perspec­ Marianne De Lange (Office Manager}, Tom McPeak (Accounting Services) tive on environmental concerns, notably those that are a result of our dependence on Board ofTru stees fossil fuels. In the fi rst one, Ruah Swennerfelt and Louis Cox zero in on the ethics of Barbara Andrews, Michael Baldwin, Jon Berry, Paul where the food we buy is grown (p. 22), an issue directly related to excessive use of Buckley, Katharine Clark, Karen Cromley, John DarneU, Mary Ann Downey (Assistant Clerk), Walrer petroleum. In addition to the usual m ix of regular departments, this issue brings a Evans {Trtasurtr), Linda Houser, Paul Landskroener large number of Repons and Epistles. I encourage you not to jump over them! They (&cording Clerk), Par LaVISCOunt, Linda Lyman, Jay Wade MarshaU, Ron McDonald, Larry Miller, Nancy include som e unusual reading and will help you put your finger on the pulse of Moore, Perra Perkins, Claire Reddy, Janet Ross, Susanna Quakerism tod ay. Thomas, Margery Walker, Catherine BeU Wetteroth, Elizabeth Years (Clerk) Nearly all of the writing in this issue of FRIENDS j OURNAL consists, as usual, of FRIENDS j OURNAL (ISSN 00 16-1322) was established unsolicited contributions. What a comment that fact is on the energy and health of in 1955 as the successor to The Frimd (1827-1955) and Frimds lnteUigenrer (1844-1955). our Religious Society! • FRIENDS JouRNAL is published monthly by Friends Publishing Corporation, 1216 Arch Street, 2A, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2835. Telephone (215) 563-8629. E-mail [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, Pa., and additional mailing offices. • Subscriptions: one year $39, rwo years $76. Add $12 Reminder: Special Issues for 2007 per year for postage to countries ourside the U.S., Most FRIENDS jOURNAL issues offer feature articles on a variety of subjects, but peri­ Canada, and Mexico. Individual copies $5 each. odically we publish thematic special issues. For 2007, we invite submissions for the following: • Advertising information and assistance is available on request. Appearance of any advertisement does nor imply endorsement by FRIENDS JouRNAL Friends and Their Children Guly 2007) • Postmaster: send address changes to FRIENDS jOURNAL, Quaker youth are the future of the Religious Society of Friends. How do children and 1216 Arch Street, 2A, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2835. youth fit into Friends meetings? How do the offspring of Friends fare in the world? How • © 2007 Friends Publishing Corporation. Permission do Friends nurture young people--programs, camps, youth groups, parenting, counsel­ should be received before reprinting excerprs longer than 200 words. ing, jobs? Please send submissions by February 1, 2007. Available on microfilm from BeU and HoweU Friends World Committee for Consultation (O ctober 2007): Information and Learning. This year is the 70th anniversary of FWCC. How has it contributed to the well-being PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Min. 20o/o post-consumer of the Religious Society of Friends? We are seeking memorable recollections and other writings about FWCC. Please send submissions by May 1, 2007. Moving? Let us update Advance inquiries from prospective authors and artists are welcome. Contact Robert your subscription and address. FRIENDS jOURNAL, m6 Arch Sr., 2A Dockhorn, senior editor, at <[email protected]>, or by postal mail, tele­ Philadelphia, PA 19107-2835 • (215) 563-8629 phone, or fax; fo r addresses/numbers, see the masthead on this page. Fax: (215) 568-1377 • [email protected] Web: www.friendsjournal.org 2 january 2007 FRIENDS jOURNAL FRIENDS JANUARY 2007 JOURNAL VOLUME 53, NO . • FEATURES • DEPARTMENTS Among Friends 6 Misunderstanding Quaker Faith and Practice 2 Terry H . Wallace 4 Forum Many common utterings ofFriends about our Faith are patently 21 Earth care untrue. Cultivating right relationship with our 9 A Quaker Speaks from the Black Experience food James Fletcher 22 Life in the Meeting There are fUndamental Friends principles that speak clearly to Things I ponder while sitting in meeting African Americans. Meeting for soup 14 The Iraq War and its Implications for Quakers 24 Reflection Maya M. Porter The elephant's song Embracing the Testimony ofSimplicity may be a prerequisite to folfilling the Peace Testimony. 26 Reports and Epistles Piedmont Friends Fellowship 16 Questions for Quakers about Cars Conference on Racial justice and Equality Benjamin J. Vail Epistle on global warming Dependence on fossil foel-powered vehicles is a huge moral issue for Sixth Pacific Northwest Quaker WOmen's Friends. Theology Conference 18 Making the Journey North (Again) FWCC-Americas annual meeting Betsy Brinson Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) I 29th Some conscientious objectors are again seeking refoge in Canada. annual session Report from the registrars at Intermountain • POETRY Yearly Meeting, 2006 34 Books 20 City Fishing Alexander Levering Kern 38 Book Excerpt janet Kaljf a glimpse ofgrace Falling Salvific Whiteness Judith Kennedy Schuller 40 News 43 Bulletin Board 50 Milestones 53 Classified Cover photo by Godot Praesta FRIENDS J OURNAL january 2007 3 • FORUM Quakers shouldn't preach to curb the paving over of our natural world? 1. The original decision was ad hoc, We can look to our own communities pertaining only to the 2004 Quaker sweat global warming and see much that could be changed now, lodge that was abruptly canceled as a result. but Friends tend to want to go global. The 2. Without a specific decision prohibiting Mary Ann Downey began the first article biggest change in my native Philadelphia's the Quaker sweat lodge, it retains its long­ in the October 2005 issue with the wry climate will be the introduction oflegalized established status as an esteemed Quaker observation that the only common thread in gambling which passed the Pennsylvania program and spiritual practice. her diverse meeting is "the desire not to be state legislature with barely a peep from 3. If there is to be a process to prohibit preached at." Fortunately for her, her official Quakerdom even though we have a the Quaker sweat lodge, it ought to be meeting isn't in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. forthright testimony against all games of conducted openly and in good order. The same jOURNAL issue reprinted a June chance. Gambling will bring several big-box 4. Most, if not all, of Friends' spiritual epistle passed by a called session that slot palaces surrounded by parking lots and practices have antecedents in older preaches the word that Philadelphia Friends frequented by fume-spewing buses and cars. civilizations. Are we to relinquish our must now believe in global warming. The social climate will now say it's okay to practices whenever an individual from Ah, Quakers. We are ambivalent on rely on gambling for our public revenue. another tradition labels them whether we believe in God, how we know Public transportation for the elderly in misappropriation? Under what Jesus, and whether there was a resurrection, Pennsylvania is already subsidized by the circumstances is it not persecution for one but we're perfectly clear that global warming state lonery. That may be good for the Friend to anempt to extinguish another's is a fact. I haven't researched whether we had environment, but we're allowing poor spiritual practice? a position in the '70s about global cooling people spending their incomes on gambling I know George Price as a Quaker but I wouldn't be surprised to find it.
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