Representative Meeting Minutes

April 17-18, 2004
Chautauqua Institution

Saturday, April 17, 2004

Linda Chidsey, Clerk
Jeffrey Aaron, Assistant Clerk
Melanie-Claire Mallison, Recording Clerk
Rima Segal, Reading Clerk

 

  1. Friends gathered in worship, out of which the reading clerk read the letter Linda Chidsey, clerk of New York Yearly Meeting, sent to Friends in Spain on our behalf in response to the bombings there. She sent them our prayers, love, and compassion, noting that even in such times of pain and suffering, there are gifts to be found -- in the deep sense of unity with others, and the recognition of our need of God. The reading clerk also read the response from Josefina Fernández, Friends in Madrid, thanking us for our thoughts and prayers, noting "We are all family, aren't we?"
  2. Linda Chidsey introduced those at the clerk's table and introduced Susan Tannehill, clerk of Farmington-Scipio Regional Meeting. Sue welcomed us to Chautauqua Institution and the April Representative Meeting.
  3. The reading clerk called the roll by regional or quarterly meeting and their constituent monthly meetings and worship groups. Friends rose in response.
  4. Paula McClure, clerk of General Services, brought forward the business of that section. Paula introduced Harold Risler, treasurer, to present two reports: final Treasurer's Report for 2003 (to be published in the 2004 Yearbook), and Income and Disbursements for the first quarter of 2004. Friends received the reports.
  5. Paula introduced Arlene Reduto, coclerk of Financial Services Committee, to present the proposed 2004 Operating Budget, carried over from the canceled December Representative Meeting. Arlene summarized several aspects of the budget and took questions. Friends approved the proposed 2004 Operating Budget. Friends approved the proportional shares section of the budget. Friends approved the creation of a new fund, the Released Friends Traveling in the Ministry Fund, to replace the Opportunity Account for Released Friends.
  6. Paula then brought forth the name of Christopher Sammond for the general secretary position. She summarized the creation and work of the General Secretary Search Committee, including the members of that committee and the meetings held. She read correspondence from Christopher, in which he expressed his feeling led to apply for this position and his joy at the prospect of working with the Yearly Meeting in spirit-led leadership. Paula read the following minute:
    The General Services Coordinating Committee, having received and approved the recommendation of the Search Committee, recommends that the Yearly Meeting approve the appointment of Christopher Sammond to the position of General Secretary of New York Yearly Meeting at an annual salary of $70,000, with the benefits and working conditions as per the Personnel Manual of the NYYM; the projected starting date of July 1, 2004. The position will be reevaluated in three years.

    Friends approved this minute.

  7. Eric Kaiser and Brett Tornow reported on YouthQuake. They noted that some youth know more about the Bible than others, but some youth know more about social activism than others. Eric read from the YouthQuake 2003 Epistle, "YouthQuake did not only bring forth confused and negative feelings within us. The workshops were wonderful learning experiences. But we learned the most from our chats with other youth, particularly the evangelical youth."
  8. Clerk read a minute approved by Nurture Coordinating Committee and written by our YouthQuake representative. The Meeting asked that the minute be made available to the body and brought back for consideration at a later date.
  9. The minutes were read and approved.
  10. The meeting closed with heart-felt worship.

 

Sunday, April 18, 2004

Linda Chidsey, Clerk
Jeffrey Aaron, Assistant Clerk
Rima Segal, Reading Clerk
Lee Haring, Recording Clerk

  1. The meeting opened in worship.
  2. The reading clerk read a memorial minute for Viola E. Purvis, a former general secretary and field secretary of New York Yearly Meeting. Coming to Friends from the Baptist Church, she lived modestly and worshipfully. In later life she was active with Southeastern Yearly Meeting. She is remembered for her support for other Friends, her wide travel among Friends, her wonder at the beauty and glories of God's creation, and her devoted service to this yearly meeting. Friends added their recollections to the memorial minute.
  3. John Cooley announced that this Representative Meeting has been attended by 126 adults, three youth, and four children, for a total of 133 persons.
  4. The following Friends are released from the services indicated at their request.
  5. For the Witness Coordinating Committee, Anita Paul introduced Rosa Packard to bring a report from the Subcommittee on Conscientious Objection to Military Taxation (COMT), under the care of the Peace Concerns Committee. The subcommittee has requested monthly meetings for information on their activities in this realm. Rosa Packard invited Friends to take home a printed copy of the report, which also includes information about international witness, the text of a proposed New York City Council resolution, and New York City activities and a list of ideas for monthly meetings to consider. After several messages speaking to the concern for conscientious objection, Rosa read a paragraph from her contribution to the report. Friends received the report.
  6. Anita Paul introduced Thomas (Tom) Rothschild, who read to Friends a minute originating in Brooklyn Meeting, which calls on governors and legislatures for an immediate moratorium on the application of the death penalty. Friends endorsed the minute and directed the clerk to adapt it so that it becomes a statement by the Yearly Meeting, to notify New Yorkers against the Death Penalty of our action, and to send the minute to that organization to indicate our support for their call for moratorium.
  7. Anita Paul announced the goal of the Sharing Fund for 2004 as $74,401 and asked Friends to increase their donations this year. Friends received her report.
  8. Jeffrey Aaron clerked the meeting for the next two items of business, releasing Linda Chidsey to report. For the Worship and Action working group, Vicki Cooley reported the addition of Lucy (Lu) Harper to the group. The group is no longer writing and distributing updates or letters regularly. It feels led to observe, listen, and reflect back to the Yearly Meeting how it sees the Spirit at work among us. The group proposes to continue serving the Yearly Meeting by posing challenging questions and discerning the movement of the Spirit in local and regional meetings. Friends received the report and approved the continuation of the Worship and Action working group as stated there. It was approved that the group's relation to existing committees will be reviewed at Yearly Meeting in July.
  9. As our named representative to the New York State Community of Churches Collegium, Linda Chidsey presented and spoke to a report on a trip to Washington, where she and others met with legislators. Friends were the only historic peace church represented. The delegates were both prophetic and practical. They found legislators surprisingly candid about the state of affairs in Washington. Linda called attention to an article in The Christian Century about the church's failure in Rwanda, and expressed her hope that the church must not fail in present crises. The power of the spirit has been evident at this Representative Meeting; she sees that she may be called to speak of that power to the other churches, feeling that we are ready. Friends received this report.
  10. Linda returned to the clerks' table, and the minutes of the morning session were read and approved.
  11. The meeting closed with grateful worship.

 

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