Reflections from the RFM Peace and Social Concerns Committee
4/8/18 Reflections and Updates
on RFM Peace and Social Concerns Committee Retreat Notes, April 29/30 2016
Mission: To ensure that Raleigh Friends Meeting makes suitable contributions, both as a corporate body and as individuals, to further the testimonies of the Society of Friends in the important areas of Peace and Social Concerns.
Description: To give life to individual and corporate leadings through a spirit led process:
- Being a conduit of information both within the Meeting and externally.
- Collaborating with other religious communities, affinity groups and movements.
- When appropriate, to speak for and act on behalf of the meeting, and give Quaker witness to, issues of Peace and Social Concerns
- Recommend particular actions to individuals and the Meeting.
- Assist and support individuals in their genuine leadings that all may not share.
- Recommendations concerning the Meeting’s budget.
Issues:
- Mass Incarceration; AVP, Congregations for Social Justice
- Militarism and War Focus
- Racism/Islamaphobia/Xenophobia
- Gender Equality
- Environment/Earthcare
- Economic Justice
- Family Violence
- Medicaid/Health Care
- Gun Violence
- Sanctuary everywhere
- Immigrant rights
- Sexual harassment and assault
Organizations we are involved in:
- Quaker House
- FCNL
- AFSC
- AVP
- Congregations for Social Justice
- Coalition for Peace With Justice
Committee SWOT
Strength: Energy, interest, skills
- AVP
- FCNL
- Quaker House
- CSJ
- Militarism Writing Group
- CPwithJ
- PFF
- PFYM
- PFYM working groups
- Climate/Energy [John Paul]
- Lobbying [Jan]
- Training/Education – Design Process
- Free of concern about speaking out and losing our job
- Optimism
- Beliefs; Quaker faith and values
- Collaborators
- Connections
- Creativity
- Money
- Compassion
- Passion
- Support system
- Organized
- Experience
- Rich tradition of being out-of-step
Weakness
- Limited numbers
- Busy schedules – over committed
- Geography
- Aging out
- Money
- Limited demographic/diversity
- Out-of-step with dominant culture
- White privilege
- Disconnected from poor and minorities
- Education level disconnects
- Idealists
- Quakerdom split reduces our influence and support
- Lack of Quaker awareness by the at-large community
Opportunities
- State capital – location
- Many issues
- Other organizations – allies
- Strong media presence – open to liberal letters
- Open prison officials
- Military presence
- Campaign Non-Violence
- FCNL advocacy corps
- Activisim on social justice issues
- Movement on sexual assault/harassment
- Movement on gun violence
- Movement on women’s rights
- Wake county commissioners
- People tiring of war and cost
- Media and communication technology
- Higher education in region, e.g. Guilford
- PFYM
- Quaker Voluntary Service
Threats
- Education system
- Political climate and favoritism
- Quaker lack of unity
- Military industry in NC
- Economic instability
- Apathy
- Fear of speaking out
- Technology promotes meaningful connection
- Demands of employment
- Centralization of power through wealth distribution
- Corporate media
- Corporate funding of higher education
- Ignorance
- Higher stress levels
Issues and leadings within PSCC:
Earthcare
Decrease use of lights and electricity, e.g. gas stations and car lots
Weatherizing homes of the poor, especially the elderly [Triangle Land Conservancy]
Mass Incarceration
AVP
Women’s Issues
Dealing with existing barriers to increase success of women
Violence
Video games and entertainment
FCNL
Government Relations – Lobbying state and national legislators
Socially conscious investment and purchasing – Boycott, Divest, Sanctions Israel CPwJ
Family Violence – Systemic child abuse
Militarism – Peace Media Group
Access to Health Care
Quaker House, Torture
Racism, inequality, abuse of power
Gun Safety
Social justice opportunities as they arise