BROOKLYN MEETING NEWS A publication of the Brooklyn of the Religious Society of Friends

brooklynmeeting.org September 2016

New York experienced the gathered body as more inclusive this year. Another In this year of terrible racial violence, Epistle, 2016 innovation was “Whisper Buddies,” we were especially tender about the pairing of experienced Friends barriers to community that arise from To Friends everywhere: with those new to Meeting for the persistence of racism: how Business, to explain the work of the difficult it is to expel the legacy of New York Yearly Meeting met at Meeting. white privilege, how painful it is that Silver Bay, New York, on the seventh so many Friends and potential Friends month, from 24th day through the 30th Friends who attended the Friends are kept from us by mass day, in this our 321st gathering for World Committee for Consultation incarceration and an unequal criminal Summer Sessions. In attendance were conference in Peru reported rich legal system, by money and time 476 Friends including constraints. 106 in Junior Yearly We Meeting. marveled anew at the We lived and reflected strength of upon how Friends best spirit with nurture the Blessed which some Community at every age. Friends We recognized that the surmount blessed community these exists among us to be obstacles. faithfully discovered Friends’ anew at every turn. We awareness can nurture the blessed of racism community with faithful and listening and a readiness privilege to grow and change, was even—perhaps amplified by especially—when more than growth and change are hard. We encounters with Friends around the one hundred New York Yearly learned from our new Children and world, with great energy around the Meeting Friends’ attendance at the Youth Field Secretary, our Young work of young adults. Seventeenth White Privilege Adult Field Secretary, our ARCH Conference. We rededicated ourselves [Aging Resources Consultation & We yearn for a more economically to advancing a more equal society that Help] Director, and our General and racially diverse body. We actively recognizes that of God in every Secretary, many ways that, by hearing await leadings that envision action to person. Our search for Truth as deeply the needs of Friends and move toward that yearning, including individual Friends and as a body potential Friends, we can grow our discernment around the Pay as Led demands that we seek to create a faithful community so we welcome payment system. In Meeting for Blessed Community that is available and learn from one another. This year Discernment, Friends dwelt on the to all. As Jesus instructed his we began two experiments. One was need for trust as leadings unfold: trust followers at the end of a chapter we starting each day with a gathering of in one another and trust in The considered in Bible Study, “love one the whole community in worship; we Source. We honored those who have another, as I have loved you” (John found beautiful ways, in storytelling, cared for our Yearly Meeting, some of 13:34). song, play, and one-on-one responses whom are stepping down after long to queries, to share the indwelling service. As change comes to the -- Lucinda Antrim, NYYM spirit with young and older friends. Yearly Meeting, we consider what we Several Friends remarked that they wish to become. A Minute of Appreciation visitors and staff. His witness has stress on the present financial helped spread the word of the situation. for Joe Garren Religious Society of Friends. Through these years, Joe has Following up on the financial and Joe Garren is moving on from his continued to serve New York Yearly membership concerns he has raised, position as Pendle Hill’s director of Meeting to which he will return as he the Yearly Meeting, looking forward operations. In recognition of his work departs from Pendle Hill. He leaves us to a new General Secretary, needs to the, the following minute was issued. with memories of his ministry, hard build on Christopher’s efforts by work and long hours, exquisite flower finding a leader who will continue to arrangements, singing in the work creatively on expanding hallways, deep presence in membership. One example might be daily worship, and his prompt starting new Meetings or Worship and loving attention to our groups in population centers and visitors and his joyful smile. Universities in the state.

-- Gretchen T. Hall, on behalf -- Molly Rusnak of the Pendle Hill Board July Meeting for New York Yearly Business: Committee Meeting General Reports and Requests Secretary Announces Book Table Committee Gives Resignation Annual Report

After twelve years of leading The Committee sold basic Quaker New York Yearly Meeting, books and pamphlets every First Day Christopher Sammond during Social Hour. This past year it announced at Yearly Meeting held a used book sale from which Summer Sessions that he will $500 was donated to the Meeting. The be leaving his position. Committee is considering whether to continue holding book sales. Christopher described the ways he and his staff have Peace and Social Action Committee Our cherished Friend Joe Garren has strengthened the Monthly Meetings recommends a Donation been an integral part of the Pendle through a spiritual nurture program Hill community since May 2008. (“Tending the Garden”), an improved The Meeting approved a suggested Bringing skills from years of website, workshops designed to help socially responsible donation from the restaurant, hospitality, Quaker Meetings share their “gifts” with their Peace and Social Action Committee volunteerism, and event services, Joe communities and social witness for $1000 to “City Voices”, a has served as the Director of including a well-attended “White publication for mental health Operations, a core role for all that Privilege” Conference. consumers. to replace revenue from unfolds at Pendle Hill. Joe also discontinued pharmaceutical brought with him deep and abiding Aside from maintaining and nurturing advertisements. spiritual gifts and experience from the Yearly Meeting, he has also faced which we have benefitted greatly. the daunting prospect of a gradually “City Voices” sponsors conferences During his tenure, Joe has helped lead decreasing membership, particularly and workshops, publishes personal the effort to establish fiscal in upstate New York, resulting in recovery stories and provides a career responsibility along with increased financial problems present and future. ladder for Peer Specialists in Mental income through improved services. In his report to the membership this Health. He has guided and overseen an summer, he explained addressing this incredible number of staff members situation by hiring a Youth Field Ministry and Counsel Committee who make the food and the beds, and Secretary and building up youth and Receives Additional Funds most especially, welcome our many children’s activities. This was an guests with radical hospitality. Imbued investment in future membership but, The Meeting approved a $2000 with his Quaker faith, Joe has created as he pointed out, it placed additional increase in the budget of the Ministry a ministry of seeking and outreach to and Counsel Committee to cover scholarship for Meeting Friends to Jews and didn’t care how or perhaps Recharge, Renew, Rejoice attend Friends General Conference, there was the memory of how the White Privilege Conference had helped Germans after On August 12-14, the Fellowship of sponsored by New York Yearly World War I. Friends of African Descent held their Meeting and Summer Sessions of annual gathering at Arch Street New York Yearly Meeting. Kenworthy writes that ”From June, Friends Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. 1940 to June 1941, I worked in Nazi On August 7, Special Called Germany as Director of the Quaker The theme of the gathering Meeting Welcomes New Members International Center in Berlin under was Recharge, Renew, Rejoice. the auspices of the American Friends Affirming the presence of God in all Two Friends were accepted and Service Committee and a steering people, Friends gathered for three welcomed into membership in committee composed almost entirely days of worship, worship with a Brooklyn Meeting. They are of German Quakers. In that capacity I concern for business, presentations Columbine Loza, who will be aided persons, who had been labeled and fellowship. The gathering attending Whittier College in ‘Jewish’ by the Hitler government, in explored the concerns and crises California and Maureen McGovern, emigrating from that troubled land.… facing the African American transferring from Fifteenth Street It was a strenuous year for a young community, including state- Meeting. man in his late 20’s -- the most sanctioned violence against men, demanding of my life. But it was also women and children of African -- Molly Rusnak the most fascinating and rewarding.” descent. A minute was created to In his account, Leonard estimates that express the Fellowship’s testament From Our Library: “An approximately 1000 people were concerning the state-sanctioned American Quaker Inside helped to emigrate from Germany by violence against people of African the Center, about 100 during the year descent. Nazi Germany” he was there. It was difficult to find Other topics included an upcoming countries who would accept these trip to Ghana, which grew out of the Hiding in our library is a treasure: the immigrants. Among the countries that personal story of Brooklyn Meeting did were Ecuador, Cuba, Brazil, the mission of the Fellowship to uplift member Leonard Kenworthy U.S. and Japan. Obtaining passports Quakers of African Descent around regarding his Quaker service in Nazi was complicated and difficult. the world; the finances of the Germany in 1940 and 1941. Very few Fellowship and the need for more Brooklyn Friends still remember The Center was supported by the financial support from the wider Leonard Kenworthy, once an active Berlin Friends Meeting, which met Quaker community; workshops on member of our Meeting, who served openly at that time. It was a large Black-Palestinian Solidarity and on the Ministry and Counsel Meeting with 70 or more at Meeting nurturing self-care for body and soul; Committee and the Brooklyn Friends for Worship on First Days. Though he and the plight of the children of those School Committee as well as giving and other Quakers were questioned who have been devoured by the mass occasionally and were anxious for frequent messages in Meeting for incarceration machine. For more Worship. themselves and people they associated with, they continued their work with information on the meeting, please visit www.fofad.org/2016- In this little book, which is based on the emigration project and also helped his diary while in Germany, Leonard allied prisoners of war with little gathering.html. interference from the regime. asks the obvious questions: “What During the gathering, the following were Quakers doing in Germany minute was approved for circulation during the holocaust?” and “Why did Unfortunately, during the time I knew to Friends and concerned the Nazi regime allow them to do it?” Leonard, I was not aware of his time in Germany and so did not share with communities worldwide: The Quaker International Center in him my summer experience as a The Fellowship of Friends of African college student serving in Berlin with Berlin was a tiny group of Friends Descent is a 25 year old Quaker who were helping Jewish Germans to the YM/YWCA in the summer of organization that supports the spiritual escape from Germany before being 1950 after the war. I did have contact nurture of Quakers of African descent sent to the death camps. As to why with students working with the they were allowed to stay and do this, Friends Service Committee who spent and provides opportunities for the Leonard speculates that perhaps they that summer picking up bricks left sharing of our concerns. As those of were too small to notice, perhaps the from the allied bombing of Berlin. us in the United States witness the regime simply wanted to get rid of media portrayal of high profile police -- Molly Rusnak violence and the resulting racial prosecuted even though they are only 4. DISARMAMENT. Promoting the tensions, we are moved by our seeking to provide enough resources disarming of our communities compassion for our communities to to support their families. We realize (including segments of the police call for action that will lead to justice that we cannot have a meaningful force responsible for minor offenses) and respect, particularly for black men conversation about ending racial through the elimination of handguns, but also for black women and children oppression without also addressing rifles and automatic weapons. We in America. We stand with those who classism, joblessness and wealth realize that this goal is long term and have identified bigotry, structural inequality. will require a cultural shift from our racism and state sanctioned violence current reliance on violence to solve In response to these realities, we, as as historical and continuing sources of social problems. However, we believe Quakers and as people of African senseless suffering and death among that we are all safer without guns than descent call for the following: our people. with them. 1. PEACEFORCE. The training, We grieve the loss of any human life, In the words of the poet, Nikki support and employment of a including the lives of police. Giovanni, “Black love is Black “peaceforce” consisting of police However, the presence of the police wealth.” We as Quakers of African officers and community based too often seems like an occupying descent are making a personal peacekeepers, none of whom are force designed to protect and serve an commitment to these ends and invite armed. The peacekeepers will be local invisible elite instead of protecting others to join us in this effort. We call residents who have the community those who reside in our communities. on Friends’ organizations to use some relationships and street credibility We also recognize that the violence part of our substantial corporate (especially with young people) to and tragic killing of innocent civilians investments to support this work. cultivate the capacity and inclination have touched so many in our for the use of non-violent methods for communities. We believe that these de-escalating conflict. [Returning evil forces cannot be overcome citizens are an important resource for through retribution and retaliation, “I Am a White Racist” this work.] and can only be overcome through My neck twisted past my left shoulder respect, resources and love. Jesus 2. PEACE CENTERS. The to see who had just made this jaw- taught us that the love of God and our development and support of ‘peace dropping statement. It was July, 2014, neighbor is the greatest centers” in our communities which at a Prisons Committee Meeting at commandment. will provide safe havens, educational, Silver Bay. It was a white woman, cultural and recreational opportunities well past middle aged, who had The problems of racism, militarism for young people in our communities. spoken. Here was an individual taking and violence that we face are rooted in ownership of her racism. Making it Quaker Alternatives to Violence a deeper, less recognized sicknesses of conscious and therefore changeable. I trainings can be redesigned to be materialism and greed. From the slave was flabbergasted, intrigued and had rooted in the cultural experience of trade and plantation economies of the to know more. I soon discovered the African people. These centers will American south to the terroristic steadfast labors of some NYYM also function as spaces where Quaker subjugation of Jim Crow to the Friends, working to heal racism which worship and values can be modelled modern-day profits of miseducation has been going on for many years. and developed. and mass incarceration, racial European American Quakers Working stereotypes have been used to mask 3. COMMUNITY TRAINING. Police to End Racism (EQWER) and and justify the exploitation and denial training will be ongoing and NYYM's Task Group on Racism have of economic human rights to people consistent including sub-conscious been quietly and persistently of African descent. As a result, these bias training that is not just academic educating for many years now to communities are under-resourced as is but rather is community based. Police create an equitable society. One evidenced by the lack of jobs, departments need to revamp their organization that has grown out of healthcare, quality education and training so its members are trained to these concerns is the Center for Study decent housing. In the absence of real deescalate potentially dangerous of White American Culture opportunities for employment and situations and are not expected to (CSWAC). CSWAC workshops economic self-sufficiency “shoot to kill” in every situation they provide a safe and nurturing place to underground economies rise up in our consider dangerous. examine how racism has been inbred communities to fill the gap. People in and continuous in our culture without these economies are criminalized and our permission -- perhaps even against our will. Board of Trustees of the I must tell you that I school who will report have experienced an annually to the Quarter. Other amazing healing around requirements are included in my own racism as a an Essential Principles, result of these Practices and Procedures workshops. This is all Agreement. the more amazing because I had previously Brooklyn Friends know from thought myself to be free experience that the separately of racism! I don't have incorporated Quaker schools words to tell you how in Brooklyn are able remain much difference this connected to the Monthly healing has made in my Meeting through our Care life or how eager I am to Relationship Committee, our share this life-enhancing annual dinner together and experience with others. school families attending worship every year. It is hoped On October 1, 2016, that 15th Street Meeting and there will be a workshop Friends Seminary can do the at Brooklyn same. Meetinghouse: “What White People Can Do Pancake Breakfast -- Molly Rusnak First Day School will resume at 11:00 on September About Racism: 11 after a summer break. To celebrate, the new session will Fundamentals 1.” kick off with a pancake breakfast at 10:00that morning. All Event Scholarships are are welcome. Announcement: available. For more information and FUN in the Great registration visit school buildings on 16th Street will be Outdoors www.euroamerican.org owned by the school, some will be on long leases. The Meetinghouse The New York Friends in Unity with -- Linda Clarke complex will be owned by the Nature (FUN) committee invites you Meeting, with shared use and to attend our meeting at 15th Street maintenance of particular spaces Monthly Meeting on Sunday, covered by the school. Friends September 25 at 12:30 p.m. (after New York Quarterly Seminary will pay an annual the 11 a.m. Meeting for Worship). Meeting and Friends maintenance to the Quarter for these FUN, based in New York City, spaces and also into a joint fund for welcomes Friends from all New York Seminary Reach capital expenses. The Quarterly City Meetings. Agreement for Separate Meeting will give Friends Seminary $20,500 worth of development, or FUN is re-envisioning its mission in Incorporation of Friends “air” rights, which they need for their light of the deteriorating conditions of th Seminary current expansion project on 16 our planetary home. One important Street. new focus is changing our perspective from a human-centered consciousness After long and detailed discussions, to one that is rooted in the Sacred an agreement has been reached which This agreement and separate Earth Community. What kind of work will provide the structure for a new incorporation means that, though the will this new perspective call for? relationship between Quarterly Quarterly Meeting will no longer be Come join us to share ideas and learn Meeting and Friends Seminary. The legally and financially responsible for what projects we are planning. agreement includes ownership and use Friends Seminary, Quarterly Meeting of buildings and finances. Some Friends will continue to serve on the Submission Guidelines

The Communications Committee The newsletter is published on the • generally be brief, between welcomes Brooklyn Meeting News first Sunday of each month, and we 150-450 words in length. contributions from all Meeting request that submissions for the next Please send your newsletter th • members and attenders. Our newsletter issue be submitted by September 20 . submission as an attached includes a variety of content which may General Guidelines: Word document. be of interest to our community, • Please send an email to including but not limited to: • Keep in mind that [email protected] contributions will be copy Recaps of recent Meeting • rg so that we may briefly edited, and may not appear in events discuss your contribution, as the newsletter in exactly the • Previews of upcoming events regards its timeliness, same form as how they were appropriateness, and length. • Issues pertaining to our submitted. Quaker faith and history • Contributions should Thank you for your interest - we look forward to your input! Regularly Scheduled Activities

Meetings for Worship First Day School Readings of Spiritual Texts 9:00–9:50 AM and 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM, Sundays, September 10:00 AM, second Sundays, in the meeting 11:00 AM–NOON on Sundays, to June. Three classes, roughly related to room in the meeting room age: Bodies (4-6), Minds (7-9) and Spirits 6:30 PM Tuesdays, (10-12). Worship Sharing in the meeting room 10:00 AM, third Sundays, on the third 6:00 PM, every Thursday, weather permitting Social Hour floor through September, outdoor worship under 12:00 PM Sundays, Ground-level dining room Community Dinner the Quarterly Meeting's care in Battery Park 1:00 PM-3:00 PM SET-UP (Manhattan) at the Labyrinth just north of Meeting for Worship with a 3:00 PM-4:00 PM MEAL/SERVING Castle Clinton Concern for Business 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM CLEAN-UP, COME FOR Childcare 1:00 PM, first Sundays, in the meeting SOME OR ALL! Sundays during 11:00 AM worship, for room Last Sunday of every month, ground-level children of 3 months to 3 years, in the care dining room; volunteers appreciated for Hymn Singing around the Piano this monthly dinner for anyone who wishes of an early childhood teacher and dedicated 10:00 AM, first Sundays, in the meeting volunteers a free hot meal. Children encouraged to room volunteer. Contact: Andres Colapinto, [email protected]

Upcoming Events

Ongoing additions to upcoming Meeting events are regularly added to the Meeting website at http://www.brooklynmeeting.org/calendar. To submit an event, email [email protected]. September Sunday, September 25: 15th st Meetinghouse October FUN in the Great Outdoors (see article) Sunday, September 11 at 10:00 AM: Brooklyn Saturday, October 1: Brooklyn Meetinghouse Meeting Pancake Breakfast Thursdays in September at 6:00 PM: “What White People Can Do About Racism: Outdoor meeting for worship dwontown at the Labyrinth in Battery Park. Weather permitting. Fundamentals 1.”

Send additions to Regularly Scheduled Activities or Upcoming Events to [email protected]. Send inquiries or suggestions about the newsletter to [email protected]. The Monthly Meeting Newsletter is published by the Communications Committee of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting. Current members: Melissa Cavanaugh, Catherine Despont, Ben Hill, Molly Rusnak, Lucy Sikes, and Anna White. Drawing by Lucy Sikes