Rashid Darden

by Nadine Hoover Between a Christian distrust of wealth and witnessing massive, commercial greed, it is no wonder we react to money in emotional and dissonant ways. Matthew 19:24 says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of…

by Lucy Duncan The 1999 annual meeting of Quakers Uniting in Publications, held at Charney Manor April 22nd-25th, was spiritually and professionally refreshing. I found QUIP to be a remarkable model of Quaker process and collegial fellowship. From discussions of how to distribute the fund set aside to support publishing endeavors to colloquia on nurturing…

By Jacob Stewart Wednesday, March 10, 1999Dear Journal Me and my mom are on the road to go to South Carolina. I’m really sad cause my best friend Nick Mann decided to stay home with his dad instead of coming on this trip with me. I’m REALLY excited about being on an island. I’ve never…

Deborah Fisch In the last six months I have visited several meetings within Friends General Conference. There is a great desire among Friends to feel more spiritually connected, to know what issues other meetings are laboring with and how they go about discerning what they as Friends are called to do. Our foremothers and fathers…

Bert Skellie & Adelaide Solomon-Jordan Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association Atlanta Friends Meeting began a discussion group on the topic, “Our Role as Individuals in America’s (U.S.) Racial History,” in November 1997. Through discussions of readings, videos and other personal sharing, we have sought to understand our part in racial history and to support…

Interview with Anita Mendes-Lopes by Marsha Holliday My workshop will address racism from a different point of view. People of Color too often accept for ourselves the position that society has handed to us. We accept and swallow racism. I work with the swallowing part. So often People of Color see that if we speak…

Deborah Fisch TRAVELING MINISTRIES PROGRAM COORDINATOR When I read the job announcement for coordinator of the new Friends General Conference Traveling Ministries Program last winter, I felt a wave of excitement flow through my heart. I had a leading that I should apply for the position and be prepared to support and become involved with…

Janet N. Riley MEMBER: CENTRAL PHILADELPHIA MONTHLY MEETINGATTENDER: ATASCADERO, CALIFORNIA WORSHIP GROUP In 1993 I lived in Novgorod, Russia, a charming town dotted with ancient Russian Orthodox churches on either side of the Volkov River. Working under the care of my meeting, I held English conversation classes with two groups of Russian youth in the…

by Bruce Birchard FGC is completing the process of hiring four new program directors. This unusually large number (we have the equivalent of 13.5 full time employees) is due both to expansion of our services to Friends and to the departure of two valued colleagues.Evelyn Whitbeck-Poorbaugh, our skilled FGC Bookstore manager, left FGC at the…

Jan Greene and Marty Walton One of the responsibilities of field workers is to help meetings grow into healthy communities of faith where individuals and the community can deepen their relationship to God and be more responsive to God’s leadings. As we have been able to work with meetings in all stages of development from…

by Bruce Birchard After five years of patient work and spiritual discernment, FGC’s Central Committee approved a Long Term Plan at its October1997 sessions. This plan will help us to prioritize the work of Friends General Conference during the next five years. The plan flows from a Minute of Purpose and four major goals, all…

by Bruce Birchard With a strong sense of God’s leading, FGC’s Central Committee, during its annual sessions in October, approved a proposal to initiate a new “Traveling Ministries Program.” Recognizing the many needs and opportunities within the 600-some meetings and worship groups we serve, this program will rely heavily upon skilled volunteers who can travel…