Steering Committee

 

Heeding God’s Call: a Consultation on Peace and Justice in Violent times

 

 

First Day, Twelfth Month 2, 2007

 

Plymouth Meeting Friends Meeting

 

 

Unapproved Minutes

 

 

Present:  Ted Brinton, Sam Caldwell, John Caughey, Aaron Crosman, Suzanne Day, Zac Dutton, Jonathan Evans, Pat Finley, Robin Harper, Phillip Jones, J. Fred Kaufman, Arthur Larrabee, Don Mitchell, Liz Perch, Thomas Swain, Jim Waddington, Barbara Walker

 

 

 

 

Regrets: David Bates, Jordan Blevins, Anne Bradley, Francis Brown, John Bryer, Gretchen Castle, Averyl Hall, Peggy Pillard, Josh Sollenberger

 

 

 

 

The meeting began with worship.

 

 

 

 

Introductions and Agenda Review: Those present introduced themselves, with a special welcome to those from the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church USA. 

 

 

 

 

The Brethren have made a commitment as a co-sponsor for the event.  The Mennonite Church has not yet affirmed its participation, although the staff would like to participate.

 

 

 

 

The clerk stated that we are no longer an exclusively Quaker committee.  Therefore, we cannot assume that we will have only Quaker worship or use Quaker decision making practices.  Brethren and Mennonites present acknowledged that consensus decision making process is not a problem because they have practice with consensus procedures. We will not assume that worship will be exclusively waiting or silent worship.  What we do here and be here in the committee, will be reflected in the conference—how we work together as historic peace churches.

 

 

 

 

Brethren use a term “worshipful work,” meaning they may pause to be sure they are working in the Spirit.  We understand that we want to be sure we are doing God’s work, and may need to take time to check ourselves in the spirit of worship.

 

 

 

 

Theme/Title/Focus: After our November meeting, some felt frustrated that we weren’t able to move forward more quickly.  At the request of the clerk and the suggestion of the general secretary, a small task group was formed.  It met in mid November to suggest a proposed theme.  This group offered “What are we called to do in a time for war? An interfaith consultation on peace.” 

 

 

 

 

The Advisory Committee then met by conference call and considered the work of the task group.  It suggested a modification to the proposed theme, “Heading God’s Call for Peace: An interfaith working conference.” 

 

 

 

 

The Steering Committee believed that the change indicates a future—not just what we are doing now, but how we prevent violence. 

 

 

 

 

The committee discussed the differences in the terms “working conference” and “consultation,” as considered by the task group and the Advisory Committee.  A “consultation” is thought to be more interactive, whereas a conference is more directive.

 

 

 

 

An insight from Martin Luther King was shared with the group: That there is not peace without justice.  Some felt “justice” should be incorporated into the theme/title.

 

 

 

 

The title/theme we decide on today may be a “working title,” to be changed as planning evolves. 

 

 

 

 

The use of the word “God” and its implications for those in other faith communities was discussed.  We believe that Muslims and Jews are able to accept “God” as a term for a supreme spiritual being.  Muslims are challenged by the term “Holy Spirit.”  There is some concern that “God” has been co-opted by some [Christians] whose god does not condemn all violence or injustice.

 

 

 

 

There is some doubt that this can be a truly interfaith event, as there are not interfaith voices in the initial planning.  It feels a little like the interfaith aspect may be “making the tent too big.”  A “smaller tent” may be a more powerful witness.

 

 

 

 

There is power in the three historic peace churches coming together to clearly state who we are and what we stand for.  We want to witness to our faith as peace churches.  We want to bind together the three historic peace churches into a larger peace community, while consulting with other faith communities.  We see a conference that will end with six or seven or eight projects, ideas, and concrete suggestions that participants can take back to their communities.  These would clarify what our work in peace is and can be.

 

 

 

 

This conference may be only a beginning.  We are reminded of the New Call to Peacemaking in the 1970’s.  It is time to reaffirm that calling.

 

 

 

 

Meeting with people in other faith traditions is still valid, even if we take “interfaith” out of the title.  The work we need to do is internal to the three peace churches, but we don’t do it in isolation.

 

 

 

 

The committee continued to develop the provisional theme/title, considering whether “historic peace churches” was needed in the title itself on in explanatory language that would accompany it; whether to add “time of war;” and if adding “justice” diluted the call.

 

 

 

 

The committee agreed to have as a working title for now for the conference “Heeding God’s Call: a Consultation on Peace and Justice in Violent times.”

 

 

 

 

Dates The task group proposed two possible dates for the event: November 19-23, 2008 and January 14-18, 2009.  The Advisory Committee made a recommendation for the January dates.

 

 

 

 

The Steering Committee agreed that the November dates were probably too close to the US elections, too close to Thanksgiving, and would possibly conflict with the School of the Americas Watch weekend. 

 

 

 

 

The January dates are immediately prior to Martin Luther King Day.  The committee agreed instead of a Wednesday to Sunday conference, as originally proposed, that we hold the event January 13-17, 2009, a Tuesday through Saturday.

 

 

 

 

Following a brief break, the committee divided into task groups to do some preliminary work in three areas – (1) Worship/Community,(2) Outreach, & (3) Participation/Invitation. 

 

 

 

 

Report back from task groups:  The Worship/Community group considered what worship would look like at the consultation, including the importance of silence balanced with joyful and high energy programmed worship.  Tony Campalo and Tom Mullens were mentioned as speakers for group worship.  Singing and music are important; hymns should be those that everyone knows.  Something worshipful should occur at the beginning and end of everyday. 

 

 

 

 

Worship is important to community building, but there is also a need for something light and entertaining.  The group brainstormed ideas like dancing, a talent night, or an open mike event. 

 

 

 

 

Smaller groups to help anchor participants in the larger group were considered, perhaps for worship sharing or for buddying.  Free time is seen as part of community building strategy.

 

 

 

 

The Participation/Invitation found clarity with the idea that it is too late in the planning to make this an interfaith conference.  It will be an ecumenical conference, with an initial invitation going to a broad range of Christian denominations.  The first invitation will look for an expression of interest in participation.  They will be asked if they want to explore this path of peacemaking.  Those who respond positively will be considered to ask to send delegates. 

 

 

 

 

The task group thought that the conference might have 300 participants from the Religious Society of Friends, the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonites.  Another 300 would be composed of delegates from other churches (5 each from 60 denominations, or 6 each from 50, or some formula like that.) 

 

 

 

 

Those from other faith communities, even beyond Christian traditions, may be asked to participate as participants, speakers or facilitators.

 

 

 

 

The Outreach task group primarily discussed the graphic and electronic presentations of information.  Some initial plans were made to seek out a graphic designer to propose a logo for the consultation and possibly do some designing for a web page.  We have a web page at www.2009peaceconference.org, and hope to have new content and a process for regularly adding content by March 1.  Aaron Crosman offered to provide some technical help with the site.

 

 

 

 

This group will also coordinate a presence at various peace church events (Friends General Conference Gathering, Friends United Meeting Triennial, Brethren Annual Conference, Mennonite All-Boards Meeting, etc.)

 

 

 

 

Additional business and closing: It was suggested that another task group be added, to plan, initiate and coordinate public witness during the event.

 

 

 

 

Robin Harper shared a vision of a good conference (source unknown):

 

A successful conference is:

 

designed to be informative without being overly academic

 

energetic in the sense of using mixed media and a variety of formats

 

interactive by providing maximum opportunity for participant interaction with each

 

other and the program speakers

 

emotional, as we want to touch people's hearts, as well as their minds

 

motivational since we want people to leave with a commitment to return to their

 

communities and take action

 

 

We want to clarify the authority of  Steering Committee members who are  the Brethren representatives (and going forward, the Mennonites, as we anticipate their participation.)  Members from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting on the Steering Committee has been granted authority from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting to make decisions about the event without requesting additional approval from that body and to keep it informed of progress.

 

 

 

 

In closing, the clerk read a portion of an email he received: “What a blessing.  I felt our small group arriving at a proposed title on the 14th was amazing, and I feel the advisory group has made excellent improvements.  The work of preparing for this gathering seems blessed with continuing revelations.”

 

 

 

 

Gratitude expressed to each other for vision and participation. 

 

 

 

 

The meeting was adjourned with wishes for safe travels home.  The Steering Committee will meet again on Sunday, January 6 at 3 pm at Plymouth Friends Meeting.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liz Perch

 

Peace Consultation Coordinator

 

 

 

 

Conference Call 6 December 2007

 

 

Subsequent to the meeting, a conference call was scheduled to give those who could not attend the meeting due to the weather an opportunity to comment on the work of the committee.

 

 

David Bates, Jordan Blevins, Francis Brown, Liz Perch, and Thomas Swain were on the call.

 

 

 

 

The title, “Heeding God’s Call: a Consultation on Peace and Justice in Violent Times” is a working title.  On the call, there was concern expressed that we are talking about a peace conference, and the minutes suggest a peace and justice conference. 

 

 

 

 

Justice is not a bad thing, and no one wants to suggest he is opposed to justice, however, there is a desire to sharpen the focus . 

 

 

 

 

An alternate theme/title is suggested: "Heeding God's Call to overcome evil with good: A consultation on peace [or peacemaking] in violent times.  Searching for non military responses to terrorism and injustice.”

 

 

 

 

This rewording returns to the initial idea of overcoming evil with good.

 

 

 

 

There is a sense that the dates chosen, and the reasoning, seemed good to those on the phone call.

 

 

 

 

Friends were also interested in the reports from the task groups, particularly the recommendation that this is not to be an interfaith conference, but participation will be primarily those from the Christian traditions.  Although not strictly “Christian,” there was a strong feeling to include Unitarians and some from other religious traditions.

 

 

 

 

At our January meeting, we would like to hear from each group—Friends, Brethren, and Mennonites—how they articulate their own peace testimony. 

 

 

 

 

All were grateful for the opportunity to discuss the meeting and look forward to meeting in person on January 6.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Liz Perch

 

Peace Consultation Coordinator