FGC Connections

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…

Challenging Racism This resource is an article by Vanessa Julye Files Racism Hurts and Challenges EveryoneDownload…

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…

by Patricia McBee In the early 1990’s Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting had several requests from members to “release” them or to take specific work “under the care” of the meeting. It became clear we had no consistent process for dealing with these requests and no clear way of discerning the meeting’s proper response. In January…

by Bruce Birchard For years, Friends have been asking FGC to send more visitors who can assist yearly and monthly meetings with various needs. Now, an exciting new FGC program proposal is being developed to support such a travelling ministry. One of a number of proposals emerging from FGC’s Discernment in Long Term Planning process…

by Liz Yeats Within any meeting, there will be found some with special gifts. These will include those with a gift in the vocal ministry (ministers), those especially qualified to guide and counsel others (elders) and those whose insights and judgments can contribute significantly to the life and growth of the meeting (overseers).” This quote,…

by Allen Oliver and Liz Yeats Over the last two years a travelling ministry of nurture and reconciliation has helped to deepen the spiritual lives of Friends in Illinois Yearly Meeting. This ministry grew out of the expressed needs of monthly meetings in IYM and the leading to travel in the ministry of a Friend…