MINUTES OF CANADIAN YEARLY MEETING OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS Seventh Day afternoon Saturday, August 15, 1998 1. Opening Worship: We opened with a period of worship. During worship the Clerk read from the writings of George Fox and from Nelson Mandela’s inaugural address, 1994. 2. Witness to the Grace of God in the lives of Friends who died in the last year: The names of the following Friends were read:

Robert Byrd, Victoria Monthly Meeting R. Murray Cunningham, Halifax Monthly Meeting Stanley Gardiner, Monthly Meeting Ben Gough-Azmier, Victoria Monthly Meeting Gloria Grasmuck, Ottawa Monthly Meeting Rachel Haight, Ottawa Monthly Meeting Harry Low, Toronto Monthly Meeting Mary MacDonald, New Brunswick Monthly Meeting J.J. Mangalam, Halifax Monthly Meeting Philip Leonard Martin, Ottawa Monthly Meeting Douglas Matheson, Vancouver Monthly Meeting George Pellett, Simcoe-Muskoka Monthly Meeting Nancy Pocock, Toronto Monthly Meeting Barbara Roberts, Edmonton Monthly Meeting Bernice Sadler, Toronto Monthly Meeting Reg Smith, Toronto Monthly Meeting Marguerite Wells, Argenta Monthly Meeting Robert Willis, Victoria Monthly Meeting Jack Wilson, Toronto Monthly Meeting

3. Welcome to children new to the Yearly Meeting: We welcome with joy the following children born or adopted in the last year:

Aidan Conor Harkness, son to Colin Harkness (Ottawa Monthly Meeting) and Christie LeBlanc. Amelia Katherine Poland, daughter of Ellie Perkins and Jess Poland (Toronto Monthly Meeting). Harris Williamson, son of Daisy and Jason Williamson (Calgary Monthly Meeting). Laura Naomi, daughter to Nancy Mucklow (Thousand Islands Monthly Meeting) and Shane Dunn. Patrick, son of Charlotte Beer (Thousand Islands Monthly Meeting) and Richard Belshaw. Zenon, son to Lidia Pankiw and Morgan Jones-Phillips (Toronto Monthly Meeting). 4. Opening Minute: Gale Wills read the opening minute: We are gathered at King’s-Edgehill School in Windsor, , for the 165th Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Canada, our 43rd as a united Yearly Meeting.

We meet together in worship knowing that God’s guidance is present within and among us. We ask for the openness to hear our Guide through our own inner promptings, through each other’s words and through our love and respect for each other.

George Fox’s advice is as important today as in 1658:

“Keep your meetings in the power of God... And when Friends have finished their business, sit down and wait a while quietly and wait upon the Lord to feel him. And go not beyond the Power, but keep in the Power by which God almighty may be felt among you... For the power of the Lord will work through all, if... you follow it.” (Britain Yearly Meeting Quaker Faith and Practice, 3.30).

5. Welcome to all present: Members and attenders of Canadian Yearly Meeting were asked to stand as the names of their Monthly Meetings were read. We will welcome Visitors from other Meetings and groups on Monday. Some present now will not be at that session and are welcomed now.

We welcome the Leaveners, the Quaker Youth Theatre from Britain Yearly Meeting: Charlee Bewsher, Gavin Clarke, Kate Coole, Klayre Hearne, Tina Helfrich and Andy Wilkins. We welcome Vanessa Julye from Friends World Committee for Consultation. We welcome Liz Kamphausen from Pendle Hill.

6. Clerks: At this Yearly Meeting Gale Wills will serve as Clerk and John Calder as Associate Clerk. Helen Thomas and Jo Vellacott are Recording Clerks.

7. Naming Committee: Dana Mullen reported that Sylvia Mangalam has been appointed to the Naming Committee by Representative Meeting. We approve the addition of Carol Dixon to the Naming Committee.

8. Arrangements for the week:

Programme and site arrangements:

Gianne Broughton spoke to these. Quaker study sessions will immediately precede Meeting for Worship for Business. Worship Fellowship and Worship Study will follow Business Meeting.

There will be a daily newsletter. Children’s programme:

Paige Kennedy introduced the age-group leaders:

Anne-Marie Zilliacus and Jane Orion Smith Teens Signy Fridriksson 12-14 Marilyn Church 9-11 Ellen Helmuth 5-8 Meg and Jill Payne Infant Care Group

The theme is Racial Diversity and we will have the benefit of the participation of the Leaveners.

Ministry and Counsel:

Sara avMaat spoke of the role of Ministry and Counsel at this Yearly Meeting. Ministry and Counsel will appoint Listeners and the names will be posted. Sara drew attention to the following:

On Sunday from 9-10:30 a.m. there will be a training session for Listeners (not exclusively those serving at these CYM sessions) facilitated by Jon Karsemeyer and Rose Marie Cipryk. Also on Sunday a Memorial Meeting for those Friends who have died in the last year will be held from 2:30 - 4:00. The evening Meeting will be The Experience of the Spirit in My Life.

On Thursday evening there will be a presentation by Robert Wright on the theme of Diversity.

The Chapel is open for silent individual worship at most times.

Daily from 1:15-1:45 p.m. there will be a Meeting for Worship for healing in the Chapel.

Second Day morning

Monday, August 17, 1998

9. We welcomed the following visitors:

Jan Hoffman, our Sunderland P. Gardner lecturer Phyllis Hull, Friends General Conference Clarence Perisho, Iowa Yearly Meeting Deborah Fisch, Friends General Conference Curt Ankeny, Friends United Meeting, who brought special greetings from Johan Maurer Ruah Swennerfelt and Louis Cox, Friends Committee on Unity with Nature The Leaveners, the Quaker Youth Theatre Group from Britain: Charlee Bewsher, Kate Coole, Tina Helfrich, Gavin Clarke Klayre HearneAndy Wilkins Elizabeth Moger, New York Yearly Meeting

Visitors are given the freedom of the meeting.

10. The delegates are named and welcomed:

Argenta: Pauline Hughes Calgary: Heidi Dick, Nathan Dick Coldstream: Regrets Edmonton: Gordon Hirabayashi Halifax: Betty Peterson Hamilton: No delegates named Kitchener Area: Gianne Broughton Montreal: B. Maureen White New Brunswick: Michael Miller Ottawa: Edward Bell, Signy Fridriksson, Galen Fick Pelham Barbara Bucknall, Rose Marie Cipryk : Tom Findley, Jane Dimnik, Bill Curry Simcoe-Muskoka: Edward Abbott, Vivien Abbott, Dorothy Burwell Thousand Islands: Bert Horwood, Karne Kozolanka Toronto: Jane MacKay Wright, Helen Melbourne, Joan Benz, Kathleen Hertzberg, Anne Mitchell Vancouver: Alan Patola, Chris Hitchcock Vernon: No Delegates Named Victoria: Paul van Goozen, Jane Orion Smith Wolfville: Barbara Aikman, Marilyn Manzer Wooler: No Delegates Named Yarmouth: Jane Zavitz-Bond Yonge Street: Barbara Horvath, Marilyn Church We ask the Correspondence Committee to send our warm greetings and concern to Friends of Vernon Monthly Meeting where forest fires are threatening communities.

11. Regrets have been received from the following Friends: Ellen Pye, Vancouver Monthly Meeting; Donald and Barbara Laitin, Yonge Street Monthly Meeting; Isabel Showler, Toronto Monthly Meeting; Betty Polster, Victoria Monthly Meeting; Frank Miles, Argenta Monthly Meeting; Nola Landucci, Victoria Monthly Meeting; Arnold Ranneris, Victoria Monthly Meeting; Tony and Fran McQuail, Kitchener Area Monthly Meeting; Muriel Summers, Thousand Islands Monthly Meeting; Fred and Ursula Franklin, Toronto Monthly Meeting; and Gini Smith, Yonge Street Monthly Meeting.

A letter of greetings and blessings was received from Donald and Barbara Laitin and was read. A letter from the World Office of Friends World Committee for Consultation was also read.

David Penaloona, Headmaster of King’s-Edgehill School welcomed us to the campus, and told us something of the school’s history and present activities.

12. Naming Committee: Carol Dixon reported from the Naming Committee:

Agenda Committee: Jon Karsemeyer, Tom Findley Clerk’s Assistants: Michael Miller, Marilyn Manzer Correspondence Committee:Edith Miller, Joan Benz, Paul van Goozen, Henny Nixon, Alan Patola Doorkeepers: John Dixon, Tom Findley, Daphne Harker, Betty Anne Hurst, Gordon McClure, Jane MacKay Wright Epistle Committee: Rose Marie Cipryk, Steve Fick, Vivien Zelazny, Bert Horwood Gleanings Committee: Maida Follini, Chris Nancarrow, Louis Cox, Elizabeth Moger Meeting Room Preparation: Logan Kennedy, Laurel Gugler, Gordon Hirabayashi, Carl Stieren, Clarence Perisho, Bill and Elizabeth Curry, Anne Mitchell. Minute Review Committee: Heidi Dick, Chris Hitchcock, Elaine Bishop Periodical Reporters: Pauline Hughes, Alan Patola, Ed Bell

We approve these names.

Ministry and Counsel has appointed the following as Listeners: Jon Karsemeyer, Anne Thomas, Rose Marie Cipryk, Rose Mae Harkness, Peter Harkness, Jane Dimnik and Chris Hitchcock.

13. CFSC: Carol Dixon, Clerk of Canadian Friends Service Committee, spoke about the Quaker International Affairs Seminar to be held October 22-24, 1998, in Ottawa, co-sponsored by Canadian Friends Service Committee and Ottawa Monthly Meeting. The seminar will bring Friends working in international offices and centres together with Canadian Friends with a special interest in this area. The purpose is to explore the possibility of establishing a Quaker presence in Ottawa with a concern to bring the influence of Friends’ testimonies to bear on international issues, as way opens. Friends welcomed the initiative and spoke of some of the ways in which service might develop.

14. Representative Meeting: Dana Mullen, Clerk of Representative Meeting, reported. Our attention was drawn to a typographical error. The first sentences of 97-11-05, [b] Minute 49: Future holding of Yearly Meeting should read as follows: “On Friday evening our fruitful sharing of ideas and concerns related to the role, structure and function of Representative Meeting made clear to us that Friends believe that Representative Meeting means all the representatives of Monthly Meetings, not a reduced group. To discharge our responsibilities faithfully, it is necessary that Representative Meeting meet face-to-face twice a year.”

Also, on p.11 amend line 8 of 97-11-15 to read “... sense of humour helped her to be patient in the many demands made...”.

We approve these minutes as circulated, with these amendments. Further business will arise from some items.

Second Day afternoon Monday, August 17, 1998 15. Worship We opened with a period of worship during which the clerk read paragraph 29.01 from Quaker Faith & Practice of Britain Yearly Meeting. 16. Forest Fires in Tom Findley, of Prairie Monthly Meeting, reported that no Friends in the Salmon Arm area of BC, have been harmed by the fires, and that it rained in the area last night. 17. Inclusion of Late Reports Late reports will be posted for Friends to read, and will be included in the printed minutes. 18. Financial Statement Jack Moore, clerk of Finance Committee, asked that the Financial Statement be received. He drew attention to the second last paragraph of the letter from Walter Muma about the Financial Statement, in which the absence of a Yearly Meeting Treasurer was identified as a problem. Finance Committee will address this problem in their report to the floor of Yearly Meeting. We receive this Statement with thanks to Walter Muma. 19. Liability Insurance Barbara Horvath reported that 11 meetings considered the issue of liability insurance for the Yearly Meeting, with 2 meetings opposed, 3 with further questions and the remainder in favour of obtaining liability insurance. Liability insurance was seen as a positive part of a broader approach to protecting Friends who have taken on positions of responsibility within the Yearly Meeting. The approach also needs to include mediation, ministry to victims, offenders and accused, and other means of resolving difficulties that stem from our religious witness, instead of from the judicial system. Some Friends have concerns about putting our trust in an insurance company, instead of trusting in the Spirit to resolve our conflicts. In reluctant unity, we authorize Representative Meeting to obtain an officers and directors' liability insurance policy for Canadian Yearly Meeting. We hope that such a policy would cover counselling, and other positive means of restitution, beyond coverage of legal fees and settlements. We are reminded that liability insurance does not in any way alleviate our responsibility for caring for one another. We ask the Continuing Meeting of Ministry and Counsel to work on a process for bringing Friends' witness to situations of liability, and report back to Yearly Meeting. We lay down the ad hoc committee on liability insurance with thanks for their conscientious work.

Third Day morning

Tuesday, August 18, 1998

20. We opened with a period of silent worship. During the worship the Clerk read from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice.

21. Ad Hoc Committee on Child Abuse: Lesley Read presented the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Issues of Child Abuse and there was discussion.

KaMaria Webber will meet with a small group to propose a minute outlining how we may move forward with the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Child Abuse.

We lay this matter over until a later time in our agenda.

22. Typographical errors: Attention has been drawn to a few typographical errors in the Documents in Advance. Friends are asked to inform Kerry MacAdam-Radix, the Office Administrator, of any errors which affect the sense or intention of the passage. An errata sheet will be published with the minutes.

23. Finance Committee: Jack Moore presented the report of the Finance Committee. He drew attention to some points.

(a) Friends are urged to submit committee and other travel claims as early as possible to the Canadian Yearly Meeting office. It is important that a claim be submitted even if a Friend is planning to donate back all or part of the cost. This enables us to keep realistic accounts and also benefits Friends who will receive receipts for income tax purposes.

(b) Friends are reminded that prepayment of expenses is possible where there is need.

(c) Steps are being taken to facilitate regular automatic monthly donations. Details will appear later in The Canadian Friend and Happening Now. A form will be available.

(d) Finance Committee recommends that ad hoc committees have a “sunset clause” or work towards a terminal date. Finance Committee asks ad hoc committees to keep them informed of their needs. In future, when setting up an ad hoc committee, Canadian Yearly Meeting will aim to have a clear description of the committee’s function, its budgetary needs and its duration.

24. Finance Committee: Our lack of a Treasurer has been felt, and has made the work of the Finance Committee more difficult. We are asked to consider whether we should move to appoint a Treasurer.

Some Friends felt that any arrangement should be seen as temporary while we work towards a permanent arrangement for staffing the Canadian Yearly Meeting office. The role of the Treasurer is separate from that of the Bookkeeper, and is one of considerable serious responsibility. It includes overseeing our relation as a charitable organization to the government.

After discussion we recognized the need for a named Treasurer. To fill the immediate need we ask Nominating Committee to bring a name to the Delegates Meeting this week. We ask Finance Committee to bring forward to Representative Meeting a description of the Treasurer’s tasks and of the process by which this appointment should be made in the future.

A question was raised about the reallocation of funds away from office staffing. Concern was expressed that these funds may be needed again for future staffing. Some funds have been moved to consulting services for Canadian Yearly Meeting in session and some to travel costs. Finance Committee will bear future needs in mind.

We receive the budget for 1998-1999 recognizing that some amendments will be needed. Finance Committee is asked to bring an amended budget to Representative Meeting in the fall.

25. Introduction: Yearly Meeting was introduced to our Yearly Meeting Office Administrator, Kerry MacAdam-Radix and she was given the freedom of the Meeting.

Third Day afternoon

Tuesday, August 18, 1998

26. Worship

We opened with a period of worship during which the Clerk read from Quaker Faith & Practice of Britain Yearly Meeting, paragraph 20.05.

27. Accountability Session: Quaker bodies, Canadian Council of Churches, World Council of Churches

Anne Thomas introduced the afternoon's business by giving a brief history of Canadian Yearly Meeting accountability sessions.

Anne Mitchell and Ruah Swennerfelt, the General Secretary of FCUN, spoke about Friends Committee on Unity with Nature (FCUN). In her written report to Yearly Meeting as our representative Anne Mitchell, has asked that we consider full membership in FCUN.

Gordon Hirabayashi and Deborah Fisch spoke about the work of Friends General Conference (FGC). Deborah, a member of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) is visiting Canadian Yearly Meeting as part of FGC's new travelling ministry programme.

Anne Thomas spoke as one of our representatives to Friends United Meeting (FUM). FUM has published a new curriculum which Religious Education Committee is making available to First Day Schools.

Doris Calder gave a short presentation about the goals and work of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), including what FWCC has to offer to us, and how we contribute to FWCC. Vanessa Julye from the FWCC Section of the Americas is at Canadian Yearly Meeting sessions this year.

Ed Bell and Gordon McClure spoke about the Canadian Council of Churches (CCC) Governing Board and the Commission on Justice and Peace. New developments at the CCC include the full membership of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and a decision to work by consensus.

Anne Thomas read reports from Barbara Bazett and Ellen Pye about the World Council of Churches (WCC). New projects include a Programme to Overcome Violence, a Common Understanding and Vision document, and Jubilee 2000, an international debt forgiveness project for the year 2000, based on the biblical concept of jubilee.

A Friend asked for clarification of the process by which the work and witness of Friends can be publicly recognized when groups are named in support of various causes, projects and events. Gordon McClure replied that this is often a function of heavy demands on our representatives. Another Friend echoed a concern for how we use our limited resources to ensure that such recognition is made public. Anne Thomas explained the process for empowering our Clerk to sign statements: where an issue has not been discussed by the Yearly Meeting, and there is not sufficient time to take the issue to Representative Meeting, the Clerk may discern not to endorse such a statement. In a response to a question about how Friends may get involved in the projects and programmes of Quaker bodies, Doris Calder outlined a regional gathering held in the Maritimes every four years, and other FWCC events held in the Maritime region. An opportunity for international visitation at Yearly Meeting in the year 2000 was raised in conjunction with the FWCC triennial. Vanessa Julye spoke about a growing interest in Spanish-language Quaker publications by Latin American Friends in FWCC. There was a question about apparent redundancies in our representation on these wider bodies. This is part of the work of the ad hoc committee reviewing affiliations. With our limited financial and personal resources, and the amount of travel involved in many of our commitments, we do need to examine where we can best put our energies. Some of our apparent redundancies may serve to build bridges between groups with diverse constituencies and goals. The word "redundant" was seen as a negation of the positive experiences and spiritual growth that we gain from all our participation in wider bodies. We were asked to consider ways in which Friends serving us on wider bodies can report back to us. We are reminded that we can only accomplish that which our time and faith allow us to accomplish. Each of us has particular gifts to share in our leadings and areas in which our lives can be enriched. Part of serving faithfully can involve withdrawing from activities to renew and revisit our callings to serve in particular ways. We have named Friends to serve us on these bodies without always being aware of the workload that they have undertaken on our behalf. Often they serve on groups whose other members are professional denominational staff. Often these Friends serve alone and have not always had the support needed to serve us in this way. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing service of Friends who represent us on these "wider bodies".

28. Worship

We closed with worship.

Fourth Day morning

Wednesday, August 19, 1998

29. Worship: We opened with a period of worship. During our worship, we heard the epistle of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

30. Approval: We approved the final sections of the minutes #23 and #24 from August 18, 1998, on the Finance Committee.

31. Discipline Review Committee: John Dixon presented a first draft of the proposed entry on Representative Meeting, on behalf of Discipline Review Committee. As a result of comments received at the information sessions, the draft now presented incorporates some revisions of the draft printed on p.69 of Reports.

The revised draft follows:

Representative Meeting

1. Representative Meeting is the body that is entrusted with the general care of those matters that affect the life of the Religious Society of Friends in Canada between the full sessions of Canadian Yearly Meeting. 2. Representative Meeting is entrusted to take action and to make public statements on behalf of the Yearly Meeting by interpreting Quaker Faith and Practice as determined by existing testimonies and procedures. This includes such matters as finance and personnel. 3. Representative Meeting is not authorized to make changes to the Yearly Meeting Discipline or to extend statements of faith. These matters are the responsibility of Yearly Meeting in session. 4. Representative Meeting extends advice and assistance to those Friends suffering on account of witnessing to Friends' testimonies. 5. Representative Meeting shall meet at such times as Yearly Meeting or Representative Meeting may designate. Representative Meeting shall report annually on its proceedings to the Yearly Meeting for approval and may ask Yearly Meeting to consider some matters in full session. The expenses incurred by Representative Meeting are to be paid by Yearly Meeting funds. 6. Representative Meeting shall consist of representatives of Monthly Meetings. Each Monthly Meeting in Canadian Yearly Meeting shall appoint a representative for a term of five years, so that approximately a fifth of these representatives are named each year at the rise of Yearly Meeting. Monthly Meetings may appoint an alternate representative if their member is unable to attend. 7. Representative Meeting shall also include: (a) Clerk of Yearly Meeting; (b) Clerks of Yearly Meeting Standing Committees; (c) Clerks of other Yearly Meeting bodies (Trustees, Continuing Meeting of Ministry and Counsel, Canadian Young Friends Yearly Meeting); (d) Clerks of Finance and Personnel Committees; (e) General Secretary/Treasurer of Yearly Meeting.

A quorum consists of ten persons.

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In the discussion, some further amendments were suggested. Others thought it inappropriate to try to rewrite such a draft on the floor of Yearly Meeting and that it would be better to ask Discipline Review Committee to come back with a new draft next year.

Minute 1997.49(2) (p.191 of 1997 Minutes) was read. Some felt that the new draft did not sufficiently reflect the strength and clarity of this minute.

We ask the Discipline Review Committee to bring a new draft for first reading at the next Canadian Yearly Meeting.

Discipline Review Committee (John Dixon, Kathleen Hertzberg and Virginia Dawson) asks that Friends bring their proposals for amendments to the Discipline Review Committee this week if possible, or to send them as soon as possible.

32. Revitalization and Restructuring: Martha McClure reported from the ad hoc Committee on revitalization and restructuring (the report as circulated, included in Late Reports). We appreciate the clarity of this synthesis of Friends’ views and the work of the committee.

The committee senses that we may be ready to take a step forward on regionalization of some of the work of Canadian Yearly Meeting. A number of responses have suggested that Friends are ready for this move, although details are not yet clear to us.

Two processes have been covered by the term “regionalization” and this has led to some confusion.

The following definitions, terms and examples are offered in the hope that Friends may find them useful in distinguishing between the two usages.

(i) The term devolution may be applied to the taking over of responsibility for the operation of a task or service in its own region by local or regional bodies (e.g,. Monthly Meetings or Half- Yearly Meetings). An example would be if religious education passed from the hands of the Religious Education Committee into the hands of Regional Gatherings and Half-Yearly Meetings, which would then provide guidance and resources for that area only, as needed.

(ii) Regional concentration might be used when a task of Yearly Meeting is performed for the Yearly Meeting by a group or body who live in one geographic area. Examples would be when a working group is made up of members from one geographic area; or when a Monthly Meeting accepts responsibility for carrying out a task on behalf of Yearly Meeting, e.g., if a Monthly Meeting undertakes to oversee the editing of Canadian Quaker pamphlets. Note that where regional concentration takes place, the group carrying out the task remains answerable to a Yearly Meeting body, i.e., Canadian Yearly Meeting or Representative Meeting.

33. We closed with a period of worship.

Fifth Day morning

Thursday, August 20, 1998

34. Worship: We opened with a period of worship, during which the Clerk read from Thomas Kelly’s writing.

After worship the Clerk reminded us of the proper ordering of Friends business meetings.

The worship discussion session on revitalization and restructuring will be held from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

35. Scholarship: This year’s scholarship to Pendle Hill has been awarded to Mieke Ruitenberg (New Brunswick Monthly Meeting).

36. Canadian Yearly Meeting Discipline: John Dixon reported on the item in the Discipline Review Committee’s report relating to a Canadian Yearly Meeting Discipline (p.70 of Reports). We are also addressing a minute of Ottawa Monthly Meeting which has been circulated (included in Late Reports).

The attention of Friends is particularly drawn to the first paragraph of the Ottawa minute. It describes the components of the discipline and suggested mandate of the committee and usefully outlines the tasks involved.

We also have a minute from Western Half-Yearly Meeting supporting the idea of a Canadian Faith and Practice.

Support for moving towards a Canadian Faith and Practice was strongly expressed. We see the need to take time to make worshipful decisions on the matters of principle involved such as whether to retain the looseleaf format for the Organization and Procedures section.

Jan Hoffman outlined the process used in New England Yearly Meeting. We ask her to put an outline of her thinking on paper for the use of the Committee.

We recognize a need to appoint a Faith and Practice Review Committee to develop proposals for Canadian Yearly Meeting on format and procedure for a new Canadian Faith and Practice and to report to Canadian Yearly Meeting not later than 2001.

A Friend spoke of the importance of ensuring that the committee represents wisdom and opinion from across the country.

We ask Canadian Yearly Meeting’s Nominating Committee to bring names for this committee forward to this Yearly Meeting. Further names may be brought by Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee for approval by Representative Meeting as needed. The remaining recommendations in the report of the Discipline Review Committee are laid over until Yearly Meeting 1999, unless way opens for consideration later this week.

37. Issues of Child Abuse: Elaine Bishop (for Lesley Read) presented a minute on the report of the ad hoc Committee on issues of child abuse.

Lesley Read spoke to the report of the ad hoc Committee addressing issues of child abuse. We receive this report with the following changes:

• The word “man” in paragraph 2 on p.93 of Reports will be changed to “human” and placed in square brackets. • A sentence will be added to Guideline 5 to indicate that this guideline is intended for the protection of adults as well as children. • A heading of Queries for Friends to Consider, which introduces a new section of the document, will be added after the three paragraphs of the Policy Statement at the top of p.94.

The ad hoc Committee understood its task to be to implement the paragraph:

“We ask that an ad hoc committee be appointed to seek further clarity regarding the protection of children. Although we are very grateful for the booklet, Safeguarding Children from Harm, it was written for Britain and does not specifically speak to Canadian concerns. Policies and procedures for Meetings and for Camp NeeKauNis are sorely needed to ensure the safety of children, and to guide adults who can respond well to a child’s disclosure of abuse.”

The printed report, comprised of an introductory statement, a short policy statement, queries for Friends’ consideration, definitions and guidelines, is the result of this work.

Some Friends have had another understanding of the mandate of the committee to be to seek “further clarity regarding the protection of children”. This would result in a resource to be distributed without requiring further action of the Yearly Meeting.

Friends need to see the report of the ad hoc Committee as a working document, to be revised as our experience grows.

We affirm the importance of the work of the ad hoc Committee addressing issues of child abuse and the working group on issues of sexual harassment and sexual abuse in ensuring that all gatherings and places where Friends meet are safe for our children and for Friends of all ages.

We recognize that matters of child abuse and sexual harassment are continuing issues. We are concerned that our ways of responding be integrated into the standing structures of the Yearly Meeting. We agree with recommendation 2 on p.92 of the Reports that Safeguarding Children from Harm: draft document 1998 plus the noted appendices be circulated to all Monthly Meetings, Worship Groups and Yearly Meeting bodies. We especially ask Camp NeeKauNis Committee, Canadian Friends Service Committee, Canadian Young Friends Yearly Meeting, Continuing Meeting of Ministry and Counsel and Home Mission and Advancement Committee to consider this report. Young people need to be involved in this process. We recognize that this requires particular sensitivity. Should Meetings wish support in engaging with adolescents in this process, we encourage the Meetings to contact the ad hoc Committee about resources.

We are aware of recommendation 1 of the ad hoc Committee’s report that a similar task needs to be undertaken to address the needs of adolescents. We will return to a consideration of recommendation 1 at Yearly Meeting sessions in 1999.

We ask recipients of the document to give this report their prayerful consideration and to return comments to the ad hoc Committee by February 28, 1999.

We recommend continuing the mandate of the ad hoc Committee for one year. We ask the ad hoc Committee to receive the responses and to prepare a synthesis for circulation in the Reports for Canadian Yearly Meeting 1999. We further ask the committee, should it seem appropriate, to arrange a threshing session prior to the matter returning to the floor of Yearly Meeting in 1999.

We approve a budget of $500 for the coming year’s work, for photocopying, postage and minimal travel.

We thank the ad hoc Committee on issues of child abuse for their careful and competent work to this time. We ask Friends to keep this work in their prayers during the coming year.

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In their own consideration of the report of the ad hoc Committee Young Friends were ready to move ahead. Don Bowyer and Beth Curry came to this session willing to serve on an ad hoc Committee as recommended in recommendation 1.

We deeply regret that our slower process has caused disappointment and hurt. We ask Don Bowyer and Beth Curry to work with the ad hoc Committee to engage Young Friends in the continuing work with this document.

We approve this minute.

Fifth Day afternoon

Thursday, August 20, 1998

38. Worship

We opened with a period of worship during which the Reading Clerk read from the epistle of the Conference on Quaker Volunteer Service, Training and Witness, held in Burlington, New Jersey during April 1997.

39. Friends Committee on Unity with Nature

Anne Mitchell spoke to the recommendation in her report (p. 114) that Canadian Yearly Meeting formalize its affiliation with the Friends Committee on Unity with Nature. Canadian Friends have been working with FCUN for 10 years. This work would be greatly enhanced by formal recognition and the moral support of Canadian Yearly Meeting.

Some Friends expressed concern that consideration of this request is premature since our affiliation with FCUN is under review by the ad hoc Committee on Quaker affiliations, which will report in 1999.

Canadian Friends are deeply concerned with issues of environment and recognize the spiritual aspects of this concern.

We are very appreciative of the work and witness of Friends who have served Canadian Yearly Meeting by working with this committee.

We approve a formal affiliation with FCUN and will continue to name at least one representative. The relationship of FCUN to Canadian Friends Service Committee will be the same as that of the inter-church coalitions. We ask that Finance Committee consider travel subsidies and an annual contribution to FCUN, and that Representative Meeting consider these matters as soon as possible.

Some Friends stand aside from this minute.

40. Accountability sessions: Ecumenical coalitions

Elaine Bishop spoke on behalf of Phyllis Fischer, our representative on the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC). A key accomplishment for ARC has been participation in a court decision to protect ' freedom to organize and participate in boycotts.

Jane MacKay Wright spoke about Project Ploughshares. Education, seminars, publications, engagement with policy makers and support for research are some of the ways in which Project Ploughshares seeks to promote peace and disarmament on a national and global scale, and to enable personal involvement in peace and security issues.

Anne Thomas read a report from Fred Franklin, who represents us on the Inter-Church Committee on Human Rights in Latin America and on the Inter-Church Committee for Refugees, where Nancy Pocock served us for many years. Much of the work of these groups has been to research and share information with government, including our government's non-compliance with United Nations conventions. The move to corporate globalization has been particularly apparent in this work, and is fundamentally contradictory to our witness as Friends. We will append Fred Franklin's report to the minutes.

Mieke Ruitenberg spoke on behalf of Jane Robertson, our representative on the Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada. Community chaplaincy and First Nations healing lodges have received increasing, though not yet adequate, recognition from within the correctional service. There is a continuing need for volunteers to work with those in our correctional system.

Gale Wills read a report from Isabel Showler, who has been attending the Ecumenical Coalition on Economic Justice (ECEJ). The Jubilee 2000 campaign for international debt forgiveness and the Tobin tax on international currency speculation are two current ECEJ projects. Isobel also shared information from the working group on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment; this group would like to hear what meetings are doing on the issue.

We heard that the work of the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women is coming to a close, and that an end-of-decade festival is being held in Guelph at the end of August 1998.

Anne Thomas read a report from Ellen Pye, our representative on the Women's Inter-Church Council (WICC). Ellen shared that as a Friend on WICC, she was able to provide a model of a religious society that fully integrates women, a goal shared by a number of churches.

We receive these reports, and thank these Friends, and those who were not able to share their work in person, for their passionate and dedicated commitment and service in these many areas of our public witness.

41. Joint Committee on Records and Archives

The ad hoc Committee on records and archives has asked that a Joint Committee on Archives, with representation from both Canadian Yearly Meeting and Pickering College, be established.

A Friend expressed concern about ownership of the Arthur Garratt Dorland Friends Historical Research Collection, and about bookkeeping procedures concerning the archives. Members of the ad hoc Committee did not feel that these issues are a barrier to formation of a Joint Committee. We ask that Representative Meeting establish such a committee, with representation from Representative Meeting, the Trustees of Canadian Yearly Meeting, the Committee on Records, and from Pickering College. The Joint Committee will report to Representative Meeting. The mandate of the committee will be to enhance the cooperative relationship between Canadian Yearly Meeting and Pickering College and to clarify the operation and ownership of the Rendell Rhoades and Dorland collections. We ask that this committee take particular care to determine the ownership and allocation of operating funds, grants and donations related to the archives and the collections.

We thank the Friends who served on the ad hoc Committee on records and archives for their many hours of careful work, and we lay down this committee. The report submitted to the May 1998 Representative Meeting by the ad hoc Committee will be printed with these minutes (Appendix A).

42. Worship

We closed with a period of silent worship.

Sixth Day morning Friday, August 21, 1998 43. Worship: We opened with a period of worship, during which several Friends ministered. 44. Nominating Committee: Helen Melbourne presented the report of the Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee. A minute from the meeting of Delegates explained the particular circumstances of Elaine Bishop’s nomination for Canadian Friends Service Committee. Elaine is living in Scotland and it is recognized that she will be able to give special service by her connections with work in Britain and Europe. Nominations for service for Canadian Yearly Meeting Clerk 1999 Gale Wills-KA Associate Clerk 1999 Tom Findley-Pra Recording Clerks 1999 Hope Leith-Vic Co-recording Clerk 1999 Jo Vellacott-TI Treasurer (interim) 2000 Lucie Lemieux-Arg/Ott Camp NeeKauNis Committee 2001 Georgette Kreher-Tor* (attender), Rolf Kreher-Tor*, Tuulia Law-Ott (attender), John Milton-Ham, Betsy Orlowski-Pel*, Dick Preston (Ham), Diana Shepard- Ham Canadian Friends Foreign Missionary Board 2000 Jean Dean-TI (attender); 2001 Robert Foster- Tor*, David Little-Woo Canadian Friends Service Committee 1999 Elaine Bishop-Edm; 2000 Logan Kennedy-Hal (attender), Mieke Ruitenberg-NB; 2001 Mary Brodhead-Ott, Kate Davies-Ott (attender), Alan Dixon-Ott, Susan Holtz-Hal, Megan Loeb-Vic, Tom Mathieson-Ver*, Christopher Willson-Yar Discipline Review Committee 2001 Virginia Dawson-YS*, John Pepper-Ott Ecumenical Committee 2000 Western Rosanne Fife-Vic; 2001 Western Ellen Pye-Van, Central Mona Callin-Ham, Atlantic Doris Calder-NB* Epistle Summarising Committee 2001 Paul Dyment-Vic* Faith and Practice Review Committee 2001 Betty Polster-Vic, Anne-Marie Zilliacus-Ott, Dana Mullen-Ott Home Mission and Advancement Committee 1999 Ann Farrell-Tor; 2000 ______; 2001 Nora Kerr-Hal, ______, ______Nominating Committee 2001 Lesley Robertson-Ver Programme Committee 1999 ______; 2000 ______; 2001 Gianne Broughton-KA*, Bob Dick-Cal Committee on Records 1999 Rosemarie McMechan-Woo; 2001 Robin Matheson-SM, Margaret McGruther-Cal(corr) Religious Education Committee 2001 Shelley Stickle Miles-Arg, Anne Thomas-Ott* “Wider Quaker bodies” Friends Committee on Unity with Nature 2001 Anne Mitchell-Tor, Helen Brink-Ham Friends General Conference 2001 Dan Cooperstock-Tor Friends United Meeting General Board 1999-2002 Fran McQuail-KA*, Jane Orion Smith-Vic(stc) Friends United Meeting Triennial 1999 Fran McQuail-KA, Jane Orion Smith-Vic(stc) Friends World Committee for Consultation-Section of the Americas 2001 Doris Calder-NB* “Wider bodies” Liaison with the Union of Spiritual Communities with Christ (Doukhobors) 1999 Helen Stevenson-Arg Church Council on Justice and Corrections 2000 Colin McMechan–Vic (attender) Interchurch Committee for Refugees 2000 Fred Franklin-Tor Ecumenical Coalition on Economic Justice 2000 P. Rajagopal-Tor, Isabel Showler-Tor Inter-Church Committee for Human Rights in Latin America 2001 Fred Franklin-Tor* Task Force on Churches and Corporate Responsibility (Interchurch Committee on Ecology) 2001 John Sparling-Tor* Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada 2001 Helen Melbourne-Tor * second three year term We particularly appreciate the ability of the Nominating Committee to find names so soon for the new Faith and Practice Review Committee and the enthusiastic willingness of those named to serve. We appreciate the devoted service of Gordon Hirabayashi as clerk of this Committee. We recognize that it is often a difficult task to find Friends to serve on our committees and as our representatives to outside bodies. There was a clear affirmation from several Friends of the joy such service can bring and hope that when Friends are asked to serve, it may be presented as an opportunity for ministry and that their Meetings may release them and support them in their service to Canadian Yearly Meeting. We approve the report and accept the names as listed. We add the names of Daphne Harker Davey to Home Mission and Advancement Committee and Karne Kozolanka to Programme Committee, both subject to consent. Approved. 45. Programme Committee: Gianne Broughton reported for Programme Committee on their evaluation of the accountability sessions. The report is attached (Appendix B) and is approved with the addition of World Council of Churches to the rotation schedule. We recommend that the process continue; Friends have found it helpful. Programme Committee is asked to bring to Representative Meeting the final details of the rotation schedule and a suggestion for the name of the session. 46. Epistle: Bert Horwood read the first draft of the Canadian Yearly Meeting epistle for 1998. The draft was welcomed and a few minor suggestions were made. 47. We closed with worship.

Sixth Day afternoon

Friday, August 21, 1998

48. Worship

We opened with a period of worship during which the Clerk read a letter of greeting from the Diocese of New Westminster of the Anglican Church of Canada.

49. Friends United Meeting Triennial, 2002

We ask Finance Committee to look into the financial implications of sending delegates to the Friends United Meeting triennial to be held in Kenya in 2002. We look forward to this opportunity to share in the culture and spiritual life of the many Friends in Kenya, and ask that Finance Committee help us in preparation for the 2002 triennial.

50. Ad hoc Committee on revitalization and restructuring

We approve the minute [#32 from August 19] on revitalization and restructuring.

51. Threshing session on revitalization and restructuring

We receive the minutes of the threshing session on revitalization and restructuring (Appendix C), and will append them, and further submissions arising from the session, to the minutes of Yearly Meeting. We thank the 35 Friends who met before breakfast to do this work.

We affirm the faithful attempts of the Friends we have named to move us forward on this issue, and regret that we have not found clearness to move to a point where our energies might be directed to outreach and other concerns. Despite the weariness we are feeling in relation to revitalization and restructuring, we remain hopeful that changes are happening and will happen, and ask that Monthly Meetings and regional gatherings hold these issues in the Light, to be brought back to Yearly Meeting sessions when the time is right. Meetings and regional gatherings are encouraged to focus on their own groups' needs, instead of trying to envision the whole structure when working on these issues. Friends who are led to carry the process of revitalization and restructuring forward are invited to experience the structures we are looking to change and revitalize by visiting other meetings and regional gatherings. We are reminded to live experimentally, and to learn from one another, as a Society of Friends and as seekers of Light and Truth. We are grateful for the faithful work of Friends and for the guidance of the Spirit that have sustained us in this long process.

We lay down the ad hoc Committee on revitalization and restructuring and the Working Group on a bold and imaginative model for restructuring and revitalizing Canadian Yearly Meeting with our heartfelt thanks. The clerks of Yearly Meeting and Representative Meeting will receive further contributions on this issue.

52. Special Interest Groups

There were no reports forthcoming. The following Special Interest Groups were held during the week of Canadian Yearly Meeting: Liz Kamphausen: Samples of Pendle Hill courses ("The Gospel According to George Fox" and "James Nayler, Lost Sheep or Forsaken Lamb"); Jane Orion Smith: HMAC Topics: Care of Isolated Friends, Field Secretary; Lynn Adamson: Sacred Circle Dance; Chris Nancarrow: Sharing of Retreat Experience in Ireland; Greetings from Dublin Meeting; Elaine Bishop: "Aboriginal Justice, Looking Back, Looking Forward" and "The Place of the Peace Testimony in our Lives"; Curt Ankeny: Recent Happenings at FUM; Ruah Swennerfelt, Anne Mitchell, Betty Hurst: "FCUN, Spiritual Roots to Earthcare Witness" and "Sustainability: a New Quaker Testimony?"; and Lesley Read: Safeguarding our Children from Abuse

53. Gleanings

Chris Nancarrow read Gleanings from Yearly Meeting. We receive these with thanks and will append them to the minutes (Appendix D).

54. Worship

We closed with a period of worship, and adjourned early to enjoy the many gifts of our time together.

Seventh Day morning

Saturday, August 22, 1998

55. Worship: We opened with a period of worship during which several Friends ministered with a profound sense of thankfulness for the power of God among us this week.

56. The Epistle of 5-8 year-old Young Friends, Jan Gates, Hannah Rose, Ming, was read:

Our theme was Diversity. We talked about slavery, the underground railroad and how the Quakers, John Woolman, Levi Coffin and Lucretia Mott, helped the slaves to freedom. We also had stories about racial and religious diversity and creation stories. And we played a lot and had fun.

The Epistle of 9-11 year-old Young Friends was read by Kofi Broughton, Bekah Reagan and Anneke Gates:

Friends between the ages of 9-11 met at King’s-Edgehill School, Nova Scotia, during Canadian Yearly Meeting 1998. We came to see old Friends and make new Friends too.

During the week we learned about racial diversity. Many thanks to the Friends who came to share their knowledge with us, to the rocks and clay and UNICEF pictures of children from around the world. We also taught each other many new things, and played, sang, danced and shared our feelings.

Some of us went swimming in the ocean for the first time. At one of the beaches we found fossils. We came back and made our own fossils. We went canoeing, but some of us decided to stay at camp where we practiced our play. On the way home, one of us will be sending a message in a bottle, out to sea, from all of us.

Special thanks to Paige Kennedy.

Nancy Kariel gave us each a gift, which is going to be our memory of Canadian Yearly Meeting 1998.

The Epistle of the 12-14 year-old Young Friends was read by Beth Curry and Chloe Kennedy:

This week the 12-14 year-olds and the 15-plus group shared program time with the Leaveners. They use creative and inclusive methods to help us understand and recognize thoughts and feelings about racism within ourselves and other people.

They also helped us realize that we, ourselves, even by doing smaller, more subtle things such as not laughing at a racist joke, can help to prevent racism. But four of the seven mornings, we were by ourselves, doing Bible study with Anne Thomas. We are very glad that she, so kindly, volunteered her early morning time. She made learning about the Bible stories interesting with an energetic and creative format. Although we could have slept in, no one wanted to miss the 8:30 a.m. sessions with Anne.

The Epistle of the Young Friends 15 years and up was read by Don Bowyer:

Arriving those first days of Canadian Yearly Meeting 1998, we Young Friends wandered around cheerfully reuniting and meeting new people. Many of us probably noticed a group of people with patches of colourful hair and chirpy English accents leading us easily into the theme of Diversity. This group of Young Friends who do Quaker theatre in Britain was to explore the theme of diversity, specifically racial diversity and racism within us. We were also to have various presenters who would have similar themes.

Vanessa Julye gave a moving presentation about her experiences with racism as an African- American Quaker. Liz Kamphausen of Pendle Hill used John Woolman’s diary, written in a time when some Friends were slaveholders, to lead us into a dialog about finding truth and giving loving ministry. Betty Peterson tried to be brief about her incredible life as a rambo Quaker and gave us insights of how to follow one’s leadings and have good heroes. Robert Wright, an African-Canadian, took us on a journey through enslavement up to the civil rights movement. He taught us songs that not only tell the story of history in both their tone and words, but were actually a vital part of that history because of their powerful influence on the people of the day.

The other side of the youth programme, that is, those many hours we passed in workshops facilitated by the Leaveners, was both intense and spiritual. The Leaveners used a variety of activities to explore racism, most of which were drama-based, but music, poetry, games and silent worship were also important to the session. We presented a selection of polished activities on family night.

Aside from the scheduled programme, Young Friends enjoyed runs to Frenchie’s to buy assorted used treasures, running in the mud at Blomindon Park and simply enjoying each other’s presence. All in all, an amazing week of building Friendships.

We are deeply thankful for the loving and creative service given by the leaders of all these programmes and by the Leaveners, the Quaker Youth Theatre from Britain Yearly Meeting, Charlee Bewsher, Gavin Clarke, Kate Coole, Klayre Hearne, Tina Helfrich and Andy Wilkins.

The Epistle of Canadian Yearly Meeting 1998 was read and approved with one amendment.

Greetings to Friends around the world from the 165th Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Canada, our 43rd as a united Meeting. We met at King’s-Edgehill School in Windsor, Nova Scotia, August 15-22, 1998, with the theme “Know one another in that which is eternal”. Members came from Monthly Meetings scattered across Canada from sea to sea. Two contrasting threads wove through our meetings. One was a growing feeling of being grounded in a living tradition, and the other was an awareness that we are entering a period of change and challenge.

Visitors from numerous other Quaker groups and Yearly Meetings enriched our sense of connectedness. Four Friends led periods of Quaker Study which reviewed our history and enlightened our current condition. Gordon McClure revealed that Quakers are worth their upkeep and reminded us of the truths underlying our faith and practice. Doris Calder told the story of Friends World Committee for Consultation and led us to feel part of a global family of Friends. Historian Kyle Jolliffe took us into the faithful lives and work of three “five-talent” Canadian Friends and suggested that we all share, to some degree, their gifts of enthusiasm, dedication and faith. Elaine Bishop explored the meaning of testimony in the search for peace and justice in relation to Aboriginal peoples and the land.

Jan Hoffman of New England Yearly Meeting gave the Sunderland P. Gardner Lecture, “Called to be a People”, and through her deep spiritual preparation, led us in sustained worshipful consideration of Canadian Yearly Meeting. Jan’s message reminded us that fluidity and change have marked over 200 years of Quaker life in Canada, grounded in deep faithfulness and mystical reliance upon the Spirit. She left us with the query, “How can consideration of a Faith and Practice deepen our spiritual lives?”

As we face the challenges ahead, our connections with past and present Friends is like a beacon that gives us confidence, trust and patience. Canadian Yearly Meeting is rather like a canoe entering the rapids of change. We can not know what hazards lie ahead. We feel hurt and fear challenge and exhilaration. The need to renew Yearly Meeting structure is upon us. We feel the lack of our own Faith and Practice document. We must discern ways to protect children from abuse, heal the wounds of abuse and promote a healthy sexuality which brings spiritual and sexual energies into harmony. Friends’ discussion of their experience with the Spirit in their lives reminded us that the eternal, being timeless, is never in a hurry. We know that if we wait upon the Spirit, we will find a right path forward.

The Meeting was enlivened by the presence of children and youth who are witnesses in the present and our hope for the future. The youth programme theme of “racial diversity” was enhanced by guest presenters, some of whom also challenged the adults to realize that discrimination is an ongoing issue. In order to transcend it we must first accept that we hold prejudices ourselves, and then grow in understanding of people of different cultures.

During this week, as we lived, worshipped and worked together, we were blessed by both sunshine and rain. Our site provided vistas for the eyes and space to wander. From our advantage on a hill we could reflect on the vigour of giant pumpkins on the one hand and the solemnity of a broad cemetery on the other. Sitting together under the high-arched ceiling of the library of Canada’s first College, surrounded by books, and gathered as Friends, we were able to touch the eternal. 57. During worship, appreciation was expressed towards all who have contributed their work and their spirit to this Yearly Meeting in practical arrangements.

Far more than this, Friends spoke of a swelling sense of thankfulness for the theme of Diversity which has set us on a road which we must follow further for the undercurrent of unstructured support in the Holy Spirit, for the sense of family, for the mystery of Grace, for a profound sense of the presence of God.

58. The closing minute was read:

We give thanks to that Divine Spirit which calls us to be a community of faith and invites us to know one another in that which is eternal. We affirm one another in our faithfulness and return to our homes and meetings in the assurance that though we are involved in a period of change and challenge, God has yet more Light for us.

We adjourn to meet at Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, , August 14-21, 1999.