Northwest Yearly Meeting Epistle
Friends,
I will put more about our annual Yearly Meeting Sessions up later, but for now here is our Epistle:
115th Annual Sessions of
Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church
July 21-26, 2007
George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
“I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of Light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness.” – George Fox
“For once you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” – Ephesians 5:8
To Friends everywhere:
Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church (NWYM) is composed of nine area (quarterly) meetings, representing more than 60 churches from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. We gathered, as we do each year, to worship and to do business; to make new friends and deepen old friendships; to inspire each other and renew our commitment to be children of the Light, to act as daughters and sons of God through our faith in Christ Jesus.
Our theme this year was “Go Light Your World!” and we heard evening keynote addresses from our YM superintendent, Colin Saxton; Jules Glanzer, Dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary; and special guest David Niyonzima, Coordinator of Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services (THARS) in Burundi, Africa. They exhorted us to face the darkness fearlessly.
David Niyonzima told his story of surviving the genocide in Burundi in October, 1993, of the transforming grace of God that resulted in his ability to face the man that had murdered eight of David’s students with the words, “I forgive you.” He assured us there is a cure for that despair that hides in the darkness, and that a transformed self is required before we can go out and light our world. “The work of Light is not finished.”
Colin’s talk was based on Ephesians 5:8-10, and he reminded us that the most common exhortation of scripture is not to love others or to have faith, but have no fear. He challenged us to stop relying on our past Quaker history, and to start making our own stories. Colin stopped frequently during his message to give Friend Ken Comfort time to interpret the message into Spanish. Our Latino Friends are growing in number, and dozens were present on that Sunday evening. It is our deep hope and desire that we can bridge the language barrier and be fully inclusive and welcoming.
There is a verb in Spanish that will help this epistle segue to the report of what happened, of what work was accomplished during these annual sessions: brotar. It describes the action of a newly sprouted plant that is breaking out and up from the rich darkness of the earth into the sunlight above. The same verb is used when water actively bubbles up from an artesian spring, or when tears suddenly appear in our eyes. If our new YM logo shows a well-grown tree, then it is a logo of hope and faith that our brand new structure for boards, committees, and budgetary process will indeed germinate and grow into a healthy, fruit-bearing tree in the kingdom of God. With that metaphor, let us tell you what kind of tilling, planting, and watering went on during the past twelve months and into this week.
To the casual observer, one who just looks at the program outline, not much changed from last year to this year. We still started our annual sessions with the men’s and women’s banquets, where we heard from our overseas workers about their efforts, joys, and concerns. Each day we still had our business sessions and board meetings, plenary worship times and keynote speakers. The afternoon workshops continued to demonstrate both the practical and theological aspects of our Christian mission. Our evening worship services this year specifically have encouraged us to shine God’s light fearlessly throughout our world. Later, our musicians entertained and inspired us as we chatted and played games at The Hoot late into the night.
So yes, many things were the same, but this year marked some huge changes. The first change most of us noted on arrival was the weather; we asked if it could possibly be Yearly Meeting time if the temperature is below 90º F (low 30’s for you Celsius scale users) and there is actually some rain? But the weather was just a tiny portent of the changes wrought in our YM structure. Last year, after a careful and prayerful two-year process of study, work, and discernment, we decided to overhaul our committee and administrative structure, and some of our budgeting process.
The changes went much deeper than renaming committees or moving columns in a balance sheet. Many of us sensed a very different atmosphere around the sessions that had nothing to do with the cooler temperatures we enjoyed. If you have read our minutes and epistles from the past few years, you know we were deeply divided over some difficult issues. During the past twelve months, members and clerks of our new boards were “on sabbatical” from new ministries; dreaming and discerning how they could function to help both the YM and the local churches fulfill their callings. This week during the business sessions (and some of the workshops) we heard the results of their prayers and labor, and we witnessed the excitement they are feeling. The work of discernment this week for our representatives was in listening to the new mission statements and discerning if these are, indeed, speaking for us the direction and work we feel God is wanting for us. Periods of worship were interspersed throughout the business meetings in order to keep our hearts in tune with the Spirit. At the end of the week, we gratefully affirmed this season of preparation and the goals set for our future.
Early in the week, we were confronted with the persecution Christians throughout the world are enduring due to their faith in Christ. After hearing about the Evangelical Friends Mission work in Bangladesh and the persecution they are currently experiencing, we rose and prayed for them, and in response to the expressed concern of one Friend we were moved to write a minute of support to our brothers and sisters there. (See enclosed minute.)
Another item to note is the hoped-for revitalization of the area (quarterly) meetings. The nine areas that make up NWYM will meet two times during the year, in the fall and the spring. The representatives will gather to do YM business such as nomination work and seasoning concerns and minutes brought by individual churches; more general programs and workshops can be provided by the boards to encourage, instruct, and build up the local churches. Also we expect to introduce Yearly Meeting Sundays in conjunction with those area gatherings, where information about YM business will be made available to local churches at their meetings for worship.
A new addition to this year’s annual sessions was the Closing Celebration Banquet. In past years, Friends left at different times as their responsibilities or the general program ended, with the representatives often staying an extra day to finish business. It has been unsatisfying. This final meal together was a fitting last hurrah: two choirs, children and OAFs (older adult Friends), serenaded us; the week was recapped in pictures, including photos of the Youth Car Wash in action; we commissioned and blessed Johan and Judy Maurer who will soon move to work in Russia; we were introduced to our Latino pastors, two of whom work with more than one congregation; we welcomed the newest mission point to join NWYM – RiversWay in Beaverton; and were sent forth with closing words from our beloved superintendent, who was asked to and agreed to serve for another three years.
We cannot end this epistle without a mention of our wonderful young people, who had their own parallel annual sessions and who, as usual, led our Wednesday evening worship with joyful music and maturity of Spirit. They also clerk the unprogrammed meetings for worship that follow the dinner hour. Our children give us hope for the future of our meeting; please do read and enjoy their epistles.
If you have read this far, we thank you for your forbearance. Last year in our epistle we asked you to pray for us, that God would comfort our hearts. This year we invite you to rejoice with us, as the tender new plant begins to grow, as we continue our work of faith and labor of love, being salt and light in the world.
In Christian love,
Lon Fendall, presiding clerk
I will put more about our annual Yearly Meeting Sessions up later, but for now here is our Epistle:
115th Annual Sessions of
Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church
July 21-26, 2007
George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon
“I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death; but an infinite ocean of Light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness.” – George Fox
“For once you were in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” – Ephesians 5:8
To Friends everywhere:
Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church (NWYM) is composed of nine area (quarterly) meetings, representing more than 60 churches from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. We gathered, as we do each year, to worship and to do business; to make new friends and deepen old friendships; to inspire each other and renew our commitment to be children of the Light, to act as daughters and sons of God through our faith in Christ Jesus.
Our theme this year was “Go Light Your World!” and we heard evening keynote addresses from our YM superintendent, Colin Saxton; Jules Glanzer, Dean of George Fox Evangelical Seminary; and special guest David Niyonzima, Coordinator of Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Services (THARS) in Burundi, Africa. They exhorted us to face the darkness fearlessly.
David Niyonzima told his story of surviving the genocide in Burundi in October, 1993, of the transforming grace of God that resulted in his ability to face the man that had murdered eight of David’s students with the words, “I forgive you.” He assured us there is a cure for that despair that hides in the darkness, and that a transformed self is required before we can go out and light our world. “The work of Light is not finished.”
Colin’s talk was based on Ephesians 5:8-10, and he reminded us that the most common exhortation of scripture is not to love others or to have faith, but have no fear. He challenged us to stop relying on our past Quaker history, and to start making our own stories. Colin stopped frequently during his message to give Friend Ken Comfort time to interpret the message into Spanish. Our Latino Friends are growing in number, and dozens were present on that Sunday evening. It is our deep hope and desire that we can bridge the language barrier and be fully inclusive and welcoming.
There is a verb in Spanish that will help this epistle segue to the report of what happened, of what work was accomplished during these annual sessions: brotar. It describes the action of a newly sprouted plant that is breaking out and up from the rich darkness of the earth into the sunlight above. The same verb is used when water actively bubbles up from an artesian spring, or when tears suddenly appear in our eyes. If our new YM logo shows a well-grown tree, then it is a logo of hope and faith that our brand new structure for boards, committees, and budgetary process will indeed germinate and grow into a healthy, fruit-bearing tree in the kingdom of God. With that metaphor, let us tell you what kind of tilling, planting, and watering went on during the past twelve months and into this week.
To the casual observer, one who just looks at the program outline, not much changed from last year to this year. We still started our annual sessions with the men’s and women’s banquets, where we heard from our overseas workers about their efforts, joys, and concerns. Each day we still had our business sessions and board meetings, plenary worship times and keynote speakers. The afternoon workshops continued to demonstrate both the practical and theological aspects of our Christian mission. Our evening worship services this year specifically have encouraged us to shine God’s light fearlessly throughout our world. Later, our musicians entertained and inspired us as we chatted and played games at The Hoot late into the night.
So yes, many things were the same, but this year marked some huge changes. The first change most of us noted on arrival was the weather; we asked if it could possibly be Yearly Meeting time if the temperature is below 90º F (low 30’s for you Celsius scale users) and there is actually some rain? But the weather was just a tiny portent of the changes wrought in our YM structure. Last year, after a careful and prayerful two-year process of study, work, and discernment, we decided to overhaul our committee and administrative structure, and some of our budgeting process.
The changes went much deeper than renaming committees or moving columns in a balance sheet. Many of us sensed a very different atmosphere around the sessions that had nothing to do with the cooler temperatures we enjoyed. If you have read our minutes and epistles from the past few years, you know we were deeply divided over some difficult issues. During the past twelve months, members and clerks of our new boards were “on sabbatical” from new ministries; dreaming and discerning how they could function to help both the YM and the local churches fulfill their callings. This week during the business sessions (and some of the workshops) we heard the results of their prayers and labor, and we witnessed the excitement they are feeling. The work of discernment this week for our representatives was in listening to the new mission statements and discerning if these are, indeed, speaking for us the direction and work we feel God is wanting for us. Periods of worship were interspersed throughout the business meetings in order to keep our hearts in tune with the Spirit. At the end of the week, we gratefully affirmed this season of preparation and the goals set for our future.
Early in the week, we were confronted with the persecution Christians throughout the world are enduring due to their faith in Christ. After hearing about the Evangelical Friends Mission work in Bangladesh and the persecution they are currently experiencing, we rose and prayed for them, and in response to the expressed concern of one Friend we were moved to write a minute of support to our brothers and sisters there. (See enclosed minute.)
Another item to note is the hoped-for revitalization of the area (quarterly) meetings. The nine areas that make up NWYM will meet two times during the year, in the fall and the spring. The representatives will gather to do YM business such as nomination work and seasoning concerns and minutes brought by individual churches; more general programs and workshops can be provided by the boards to encourage, instruct, and build up the local churches. Also we expect to introduce Yearly Meeting Sundays in conjunction with those area gatherings, where information about YM business will be made available to local churches at their meetings for worship.
A new addition to this year’s annual sessions was the Closing Celebration Banquet. In past years, Friends left at different times as their responsibilities or the general program ended, with the representatives often staying an extra day to finish business. It has been unsatisfying. This final meal together was a fitting last hurrah: two choirs, children and OAFs (older adult Friends), serenaded us; the week was recapped in pictures, including photos of the Youth Car Wash in action; we commissioned and blessed Johan and Judy Maurer who will soon move to work in Russia; we were introduced to our Latino pastors, two of whom work with more than one congregation; we welcomed the newest mission point to join NWYM – RiversWay in Beaverton; and were sent forth with closing words from our beloved superintendent, who was asked to and agreed to serve for another three years.
We cannot end this epistle without a mention of our wonderful young people, who had their own parallel annual sessions and who, as usual, led our Wednesday evening worship with joyful music and maturity of Spirit. They also clerk the unprogrammed meetings for worship that follow the dinner hour. Our children give us hope for the future of our meeting; please do read and enjoy their epistles.
If you have read this far, we thank you for your forbearance. Last year in our epistle we asked you to pray for us, that God would comfort our hearts. This year we invite you to rejoice with us, as the tender new plant begins to grow, as we continue our work of faith and labor of love, being salt and light in the world.
In Christian love,
Lon Fendall, presiding clerk
posted by Jon at 1:02 PM
1 Comments:
I am just finally reading this, and I am moved with love to receive it. Thank you for posting it here. Through blogs, I have found entries into Quaker corners I would never have looked into before. This continues to be a blessing in my life.
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