7 Butty Place,
Hamilton, Ontario.
L8S 2R5
· Clerk: Roberta McGregor
Sunday mornings
9.30 Discussion group
11.00 Meeting for Worship
Coming Events:
Monday, January 15, at 6.30 p.m. - Potluck supper at the Meeting house, organized by Raj. The purpose is to have a social gathering of the Hamilton peace community. Discussion on our relationship with Nature. Call Raj at 528 4293 for details.
Friday January 19, Potluck supper. Jenn Preston will speak on Native issues.
Saturday, January 27, Camp Neekaunis Committee Meeting, at 60 Lowther Ave, Toronto. Potluck to follow.
Sunday January 28 - Documentary filming of Meeting for Worship (see article by Robbie in this issue)
Sunday February 4. First Day School outing ." Winter Fun Day." Details to be announced. All welcome.
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Hamilton Monthly Meeting for Worship for Business: 4 January, 2001
Present: Roberta MacGregor (clerk), Rex Barger, Denise Barron, Helen Brink, Mona Callin, Ian Graham, John Milton, Helen Paulin, Betty Preston, Dick Preston, Raj Ramanathapillai, Don Woodside, Harriet Woodside (acting recording clerk)
1. Meeting began with silent worship.
2. The minutes of 4 December, 2000, were accepted.
3. Matters arising
3.1 Events
3.1.1 Two events had been planned prior to this meeting. Carol Dixon, clerk of CFSC, will speak about the Ottawa International Affairs office during a potluck lunch after M4W on 7 January. Jennifer Preston Howe will speak about aboriginal affairs at a potluck on 19 January.
3.1.2 Staughton Lynd will be visiting Hamilton on 3 and 4 February, 2001. There will be a potluck lunch on 4 February as part of his visit. The location is yet to be determined.
3.1.3 Mona Callin will put up a display on FWCC for two weeks. She is happy to answer questions and to have comments about FWCC.
3.2 Visioning process, possible facilitators: As a follow-up to a Called Meeting last fall, we discussed who might facilitate a visioning process for HMM. Ian received a proposal from the Institute for Cultural Affairs (ICA; attached).
Mona learned that Sue Starr, CYM Clerk, who lives in White Horse, would be available to facilitate on the second weekend in May. Helen Brink reminded us that she had suggested Lyn Adamson and June Etta Chenard's name was raised. Those present talked about whether the facilitator should be familiar with Quakerism or not and whether we should try to have the visioning process this winter.
We approved the following MINUTE: We ask Ministry and Counsel to find out about the facilitation experience of June Etta Chenard, Sue Starr and Lyn Adamson, to find out when each woman and the ICA is available, and to make a recommendation regarding a facilitator for the visioning process at the next M4W4B. It is hoped that this recommendation will result in a visioning process that occurs this winter.
3.3 Committee selection process: how/when to proceed: We approved the following MINUTE: We will get all the information which has been submitted about the committee selection process in folders by Sunday, 7 January. Many copies of the materials will be made and the information will also be put on our website. We will then hold an after-Meeting brown bag lunch on 21 January to discuss the circulated information and the issues. In this way, we can engage those who don't come regularly to M4W4B. We plan to bring this issue back to the February M4W4B.
4. Reports
4.1 Nominations for Outreach Committee (Helen Brink): We approved the following MINUTE: M4W4B approves the nominations of Ian Graham (convenor), John Milton, Larry Pogue and Harriet Woodside for the Outreach Committee. Nominations Committee will treat these members in the same way as any other committee members meaning that nominations will occur again at the usual time in the early spring. The Outreach Committee is asked to consider its Terms of Reference as one of the first items it deals with and to bring these to the following M4W4B.
5. New Business
5.1 Preliminary Budget (Ian): When the financial information was circulated (see attached/text revised from what was circulated), Ian suggested that we explore ways to put our surplus funds to right use.
Ideas for spending our surplus included refinishing the piano and adding a budget line for discretionary funds of $2-300. The Finance Committee was asked to ensure that our GICs are held in ethical investment funds.
We approved the following MINUTE: We want to take time to think about ways to use our surplus. It is important to let others know that we have a surplus. Committees and individuals are invited to bring requests for funds to M4W4B. As well, our visioning process may lead us to consider some new expenditures.
5.2 The issue of the replacement for Jean Johnson as Coordinator from HMM to Half-Yearly Meeting will be handed over to the Nominations Committee.
5.3 We approved the recommendation from the Sustainability Committee, brought by Helen Brink, that we have an energy audit done by Green Venture at a cost of approximately $85.
5.4 Those present approved a request from Jean Johnson (attached) for use of the Meeting House by Jean's daughter and her family for 1-2 weeks in July. Robbie will send Jean a note.
5.5 Some people have been concerned to see their phone numbers and other personal information on HMM's website.
We approved the following MINUTE: M4W4B instructs the Website Oversight Committee to ask Robbie Shepard, who does web maintenance, if he will agree that names appearing on our web page be linked to a "contact page." Only the "contact page" would have personal information about individuals and individuals would submit what information they want listed. The Committee will ask Robbie, if he agrees, how he would like to receive "contact page" information from each person.
5.6 Mona mentioned that Bruce Smith, who is now living in Palmer House in Burlington, would welcome visitors. She suggested calling Bruce first and, if possible, bringing some prepared food.
5.7 Gertrude Haller is in hospital and is expecting to move to a nursing home. She would appreciate visitors.
5.8 HMM will encourage a group to travel to Georgetown on a winter First Day to join three sisters who regularly hold their own M4W.
5.9 There will be a celebration of Martin Luther King Day on the afternoon of 13 January at Stewart Memorial Church. Call Robbie if you would like to volunteer to give a three-minute presentation on Quakers.
5.10 Raj asked for the use of the Meeting House on 15 January as the venue for a discussion by Quakers and others about a peace project he would like to undertake during the next six months. This was approved.
Several agenda items of new business and correspondence were held over.
6. The next M4W4B is 5 February, 2001.
7. Meeting closed with silent worship.
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[Editors note: certain information has been deleted from this report. The full text is available on the notice board at the Meetinghouse]
To Hamilton Meeting Friends and attenders;
I am presenting this as a preliminary and break even budget and encourage anyone interested to meet me after Meeting or by phone or email. The intent is to introduce the information this month and approve a budget next month, allowing time for discussion in between.
The summary for 2000 is that we took in $41,835 and we spent $36,906, leaving a surplus of $4929. I prepared a separate page for the Native Plants/Property Improvement projects which we received $15,200 in grants. We have only spent $11,186 of the estimated $18,025 as of Dec 31st.
Budget 2001.
Its really an easy project to do the budget because no committee has proposed any needs for the coming year but this is not new. (I have a few ideas for committees I am on, like FDS and Outreach/website.) There should be something from P&SA, Library, Maintenance.
In my memory we have basically budgeted from the prior year and if a good idea comes up midyear we look at the situation and decide ad hoc what we want to do (like the garden, the travel grants, the personal gifts, the BARC bench, etc) Operating costs are fairly stable so there is hardly 10 minutes work to plug those #s. Donations have been generous in the last two years, so we aren't laboring under a constant threat of no cash, nor do I see this changing at all.
The discretionary amounts in the budget are Donations Expense (9 charities; I have not increased any but I am recommending we replace Wesley with a better organization in the city, either Mission Services or Good Shepherd)
Education Fund: have not budgeted an amount here for last two years, did make three grants in 2000
First Day School: I put $500 for supplies, some trip costs, and improvements in furnishings.
Library; A minimum amount is $500, about 15 books, bought used where possible. But the library and the website could get together to make the books we have more accessible, hopefully more used. I know for me the library was the main resource I used 10 years ago.
Outreach: I have proposed $1000, of which $400 for web related expenses to expand our reach and make the site more useful to the meeting (inreach). And $600 for outreach like calling cards, McMaster Clubfest, occasional print media.
Refugee Support: has been used in past for subsidizing a Session at NeeKauNis for recent refugees, for grants to refugee organizations and for materials for helping refugees settle in Canada.
The interest from the Trustee account (Dunford Bequest) is used for this purpose, plus other funds we choose to allocate.
Special Projects: all I have is the cost to finish the garden and showers.
Subscriptions: we pay for 57 subscriptions to Canadian Friend, plus Friends Journal and The Friend (weekly and quarterly) from UK (Anyone attending HMM can ask to get the Canadian Friend.)
Travel Fund: for grants to assist in traveling on Quaker service, nothing budgeted last two years, made 3 grants in 2000
The proposed budget is a breakeven scenario, with some slight stretch in the regular donations, mostly to be accounted for by one or two more people. Space usage now contributes about $1000 a year, which I feel is still short of the potential.
Peace and grace,
Ian
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Recycling News
A year or two ago we had a spot on the bulletin board in the Pendle Hill Room labeled "Recycling News". It was intended as a place where we could make available to others our excess possessions (maybe our skills, too) and let others know of our needs, thus reducing both the waste stream and the use of new materials.
The Sustainability Committee would like to reintroduce this idea but in a place more likely to be read - right here in the Newsletter. I will start the ball rolling. Think of me when planning your spring garden.
Offer:
1) herbs both annual and perennial
2) perennial flowers
3) autumn-bearing raspberries, black currants etc.
4) many vegetable and flower seeds
Need:
1) anything that can be used as mulch
2) any interesting (non-invasive!) plants and seeds
Please list your offers and needs in writing and hand to Jean or John for the Newsletter. Together we can do a bit to change our wasteful society.
Helen Brink
Around the Family
Larry Pogue would like to share with Friends the news that he will be participating in a new drug trial which may give him some relief from his symptoms, and will certainly be of benefit to others by the knowledge gained from the research.
Caroline Murdawa (Johnson) is celebrating her first wedding anniversary on Jan. 16, being now back with her husband Sigit, in Indonesia. We are wishing for them to hear some positive news soon on the Immigration issue.
Note: the Editor would be very glad to receive information for this feature. It is a good way for us to get to know each other better, and share in the key issues of our lives. We are often so rushed after Meeting on Sundays, that there is not time to share as fully as we might like.
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Coffee, Tea and Thee!
Jan 14 John Milton
Jan 21 Margaret Vallins
Jan 28 Bev Shepard
Feb 4 Andy Muller
Feb 11 Les Francey
Feb 18 Caroleigh Wehking
Feb 25 Harriet Woodside
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The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.
Chief Seattle
(submitted by Larry Pogue)
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Updates for the Meeting Directory
[Editors note: Some mailing and emailing addresses have changed recently. I cannot post that information for privacy reasons. If you are having problems contacting someone call Monna Callin, or John Milton for up to date information]
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A trip to Georgetown, anyone?
Catherine Kirby and her sisters, children of Quaker parents, living in Georgetown, are very interested in Quakerism and have been holding Meeting for Worship by themselves. However, they would very much appreciate a visit from a group of Friends one Sunday, and will provide lunch. The suggested dates are either Feb 11 or 25.Contact Robbie McGregor if you would be interested in going.
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Beyond Majority Rule
by Michael J. Sheeran. 1983, 100 pages
reviewed by Ian Graham
I wrote a review in 1991, having been encouraged to read it by the librarian at the time. This is a recent update. The book is wonderful for its summary of the special social context of the Society of Friends, namely the firmly held belief that unity is achieved in the context of discerning God's will. This contextual belief authenticates the decision, quite apart from the mechanics. Sheeran approaches this with the concept of myth, a "concrete embodiment of beliefs that makes sense out of religious phenomena for a group of believers". He is very persuasive about the reality of 'divine guidance'.
The author's stated purpose is to "bring the reader beyond the superficial comprehension of the Quaker Meeting" and prepare him/her to "attend meeting of business with some sensitivity to the dynamics which are not otherwise obvious".
Nine principles
- unanimous decisions - no voting (better called unity or concord)
- silent periods - at start and end of meeting and when conflict arises
- moratorium - when agreement cannot be reached
- participation by all with ideas on the subject
- learning to listen - not going to meeting with mind made up
- absence of leaders - the clerk steers but does not dominate
- nobody outranks anybody
- factual focus - emotions are kept to a minimum
- small meetings - typically limited numbers
There are chapters on beliefs underlying Quaker decision making, leadership and background of Quakerism, particularly on the history of central versus local control.
Stages of Discussion
For me the book was most illuminating of the degree to which practice conforms to the ideals of Quaker decision making and community building. It is empowering to know the ways ideals and practice can be in tension and what to do to move forward. For example, Sheeran points out there are often at least two stages of discussion with the transition being subtle to detect. The first is preliminary, following the initial presentation of the matter and possible solutions. It is now that participants often ask questions of clarity, offer tentative alternatives, even brainstorming, but refrain from serious judgments. The informal transition may be marked by a shift in tone, less tentative, more emphatic, by some individual which is picked up by the others as a cue. Trial balloons may be floated, to gauge reaction, without personal commitment. This makes it important for all participants to be able to differentiate tentative from serious or ambiguous remarks, but especially for the clerk.
Entering the serious phase, Sheeran compares it to the tide building, but sometimes there are several currents, not all in the same direction, or even no current at all. What to do? He points out there are four alternatives, after the clerk has discerned if there is need to lay over, or indeed a current can be detected. The clerk is expected to make a judgment that a) the group is now ready and b) to propose a tentative minute embodying the unity as he/she understands it.
Now the meeting has two quite different questions to ask: "does the minute capture the sense of the meeting?", and "am I in agreement?"
What if there is disagreement?
The folklore is that if there is even one objector, the matter cannot go forward, but in practice it is more complex and ultimately more satisfying.
Sheeran observed four options:
- 'I disagree, but do not wish to stand in the way', withdrawing one's opposition though not one's disagreement. This is a very liberating innovation, prevents the polarization so common in voting, even an 'art form of graciousness'. The risk here is that the clerk will push too quickly for a decision and take away the chance for a dissenter to withdraw an objection and deprive the meeting of the moment of reconciliation. Apparently this is far more than a ritual: it truly liberates the meeting to go forward by creating the opportunity for those who have been unable to sway the group to join it, which frees it to act.
- 'minute me as opposed', a step further along the spectrum. This is less common but frees the meeting to proceed, while tending to make the group a little more reluctant. It may make the action seem exploratory or experimental, yet still clearly demonstrating that the objector is not standing in the way.
- 'unable to unite with the proposal' , unwilling to stand aside. Here normal practice is to lay the matter over to a future time. The clerk or another Friend may appeal to the objector to withdraw or consent to be minuted as opposed. If delay is the chosen route, discussions will occur, often between the clerk or members highly respected by the objector, to understand the roots of the objection, called 'laboring with the Friend'. Now at the future meeting it may be much easier for the dissenter to stand aside, trusting that his/her view has been understood. Social pressure tends to grow with each delay and discussion. If the individual persists, the group may continue to delay, (the most likely course), or Sheeran reports that the group may proceed anyway, if it thinks the objections frivolous.
- Absence: 'if I'm not there, I can't object' . This is difficult to interpret, but does not allow a member to come back at a later date with the objection and block action. That would take a decision to reopen the minute.
Sheeran is a Jesuit priest interested in religious communities practicing communal discernment. The book is based on his doctoral dissertation at Princeton University where he spent two years conducting interviews, reading, and observing Quaker meetings in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
A notable Quaker author, Douglas Steere, offers this concluding thought in his forward to the book.
Quakers do not begin with a theory, they begin with an event. This event, this knowing at first hand that the continuous revelation (of the Light, God, Presence…) works, is, in their judgment, what really matters. This is the way the 17th century Friends and contemporary Friends, when they are authentic, are one."
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Documentary Filming, Sunday January 28.
Our Meeting has decided to support the filming of a documentary on Quakers being done by Chanda Chevannes. Chanda has already filmed a short M4W at Toronto Meeting.
She will be doing the same after our regular Meeting for Worship on January 28. We will have a break for our usual refreshments and conversation after Meeting. Then, Friends who are willing will convene for a half hour of worship which will be filmed.
Hopefully, we will have a reasonable attendance at this Meeting after Meeting, which will be a time of normal unprogrammed worship. Please plan around this on January 28 if you feel led to take part.
Robbie McGregor
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Some Quotes submitted by Ian Graham
In the history of Christianity the Quakers have come the nearest [to rejuvenation] that I know, but, of course, they have remained a minority (they were originally a rather persecuted minority). They have become a very affluent minority, but this has not corrupted them: They spend an enormous amount of their wealth and, what is more important, their spiritual energy in trying to do socially beneficent work. But still, they have not become characteristic--this piece of leaven has only very slightly leavened the lump.
(97 Arnold Toynbee, historian, 1974.)
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The extreme act of simply waiting on the Lord reduces worship to its essential universal elements, stripped of all accidental additions. This has a historical logic in its progression. By the time of Cromwell the Bible was widely read in England, quoted as authority by most religious minded citizens. And it was noted that there were a number of radical differences compared with the Christianity of the first century; much had been added, so the Puritans set out to 'purify' the inherited religion of extraneous elements. First they subtracted the Pope, the Mass, images and five of seven sacraments, thus creating the Church of England. Presbyterianism, the second wave, originating in Calvin, subtracted the rule of bishops and substituted presbyters or elders. Then came the more radical Independents or Congregationalists, who subtracted the centralized form of church government which had not existed in New Testament times and substituted a decentralized, more democratic form. The still more radical Baptists subtracted infant baptism and made church membership dependent on conversion and the gift of the Spirit as described in the NT. Finally arose the Quakers; they subtracted all ritual, all programmed arrangement in worship and the professional ministry, allowing for no outward expression except the prophetic voice which had been heard in the NT Church at the beginning. Others came after them, including sects such as Ranters, with distinctly anarchistic beliefs, which ultimately led to their demise.(Howard Brinton, Friends for 300 Years, pg 11)
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Peace Pole for our Meeting House Garden?
I have been given some information about Peace Poles by Mona Callin, with the suggestion that it might be appropriate to install one in our new garden. The poles are 8 ft. high, and have between four and twelve messages on, depending how many sides they have. The message, "May Peace Prevail on Earth" may be printed in several languages of our choice. The poles may also have " paw prints" or "leaf prints".
I will put the information on the Bulletin Board and I would appreciate hearing from anyone on this matter.
Jean
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