Meeting for Worship for Business

3 February 2005

Hamilton Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
www.quaker.ca/hamilton
quakers@hwcn.org

Present:

Mona, Helen B, Blair, Harriet, John, Jean, Christina, Beverly (clerk), and Dick (temporary recording clerk)

Regrets:

Ian, Carol Leigh, Susan, Don

  1. The Meeting opened in silent worship.
  2. Minutes of the Meeting for Worship for Business of 9th January 2005 were approved, with the correction of the following details:
  3. We approved the agenda without modification.
  4. Continuing business:
    1. Spring retreat. Jean reported that accommodation is still needed for Margaret Slavin. One Friend has volunteered to be a companion person. Beverly reported that we now have eight registrants and two probable registrants.
    2. Copies of the draft chapter "Stages of Life" for a Canadian Faith and Practice are available in the Meeting House, and the pot luck gathering scheduled for the 25th of this month is to discuss this draft and collect comments.
  5. Business arising from the minutes:
    1. Memorial minute for Mary Rutty. Helen B has taken a draft to Ministry and Counsel, which approved it. However, for the sake of honesty in representing this Friend's life, she wishes to ask M&C whether they would approve of two additional sentences. She has also discussed the draft with Cecilia Pearce. Helen will share the minute with Mary Rutty's daughter before bringing it for approval to Meeting for Worship for Business.
  6. Reports:
    1. Treasurer: carried over.
  7. New business:
    1. Transfer of membership to Prairie Monthly Meeting has been requested by Rick and Tamara. We ask the clerk to send a letter of transmittal and include a statement of appreciation for all they have done for Hamilton Monthly Meeting.
    2. Yonge Street Half-Yearly Meeting (3rd to 5th June 2005 at Camp NeeKauNis). Carried over. We are not certain, but believe that Hamilton is responsible for publicity and registration.
    3. A letter from CFSC has been received asking Monthly Meetings to consider making a public statement on same-sex marriage in relation to pending Federal legislation. The clerk read the letter and the Minute of Record of Canadian Yearly Meeting, regarding same-sex marriage. Discussion followed on how Hamilton Monthly Meeting might respond. We are not clear as to whether Meeting is in unity in support
      • of the Minute of Record
      • of the pending Federal legislation
      • of accepting a request for marriage from a same-sex couple, at least one of whom is a member of Hamilton Monthly Meeting, so that the request would receive the same respect and care as other requests for marriage.
      This Meeting for Worship for Business is in unity on all three points, but we wish to ensure a wider Hamilton Monthly Meeting unity on these questions. The process for doing this will be to announce in the newsletter, and then hold, a brown bag lunch/discussion of these issues on 20th March 2005. This minute will be included in the announcement.
    4. Canadian Friends Foreign Missionary Board: A letter from Representative Meeting described the background and present functioning of the Board. Yonge Street Monthly Meeting has sent a report to Representative Meeting to the effect that the Board can function better if it is taken on by a single Monthly Meeting. Hamilton Monthly Meeting does not feel led to make an offer at this time.
    5. Conscience Canada: In our January Meeting we approved a donation to Conscience Canada and the clerk agreed to write a letter of support to CFSC. Conscience Canada would like to use copies of this letter in requesting support from Mennonite sources. We approve this use and similar uses in applying to other sources.
  8. Other business: none
  9. Correspondence:
    1. Halifax Monthly Meeting requests data on Meeting House operating costs. We will ask the treasurer to send this. Halifax Friends also invite words of wisdom regarding buying or building a Meeting House. The clerk will send a letter enclosing FriendsŐ thoughts on owning a Meeting House. Hamilton Friends are invited to send their comments to Beverly.
    2. The clerk read a letter from Friends General Conference, including a minute relating to being open to gender diversity. We went into our closing silence during the reading of this letter.
  10. Date and time of the next meeting: Sunday 6th March 2005, at 1:30.
  11. Meeting adjourned after silent worship at 9:55 p.m.

Last updated: 20 Feb 2005

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