.jpg)
The General Board of Friends United Meeting met last week for their October sessions. For the first time, the African and North American/Caribbean Regions met for a highly unusual international hybrid session. Board members gathered in person in the chapel of Friends Theological College in Kaimosi, Kenya, and at the FUM office in Richmond, Indiana. Other members joined from their homes online. Given that our presiding clerk, Sarah Lookabill, was ill, the session was co-clerked by Hastings Ozwara and Scott Wagoner, FUM’s Assistant Clerks. Each region conducted its business and addressed matters related to its region during times when it was inconvenient for the other region to fully participate. On Friday, the two regions met together to do shared work and receive reports related to the entire FUM community. The Recording Clerks for both regions will collaborate to produce consolidated minutes of these unusual sessions.
Read More.png)
Editor’s note: During this election season, when our political life in the United States seems especially contentious, Friends United Meeting has invited a variety of Friends to share their thoughts on how to navigate as a Quaker through these divided times. Our eighth installment is by Kat Griffith, of Northern Yearly Meeting. Beating Megaphones Into Ear Trumpets*—Being a Friend in This Election CycleOn my bike ride today I passed by a big new sign that said “Trump 2024 F*** Your Feelings.” I took a picture before continuing on my way—a nudge to think about the query, “What does it mean to be a Friend in this election cycle?”The thing is, I represent this guy on the county board. And I find that serving in elected office has changed both my vision and my options for Friendly political activism.
Read More
Having been a photojournalist for most of my life, I usually make pictures to tell a story to others. But over the last couple of years, I’ve realized that some pictures aren’t necessarily meant to tell a story at all—I make them as a spiritual or emotional response to the world around me. The pictures might tell a story to another person, or they may never make it out of my camera. I make them because, before my eyes, something in me recognized and responded to God’s presence.
Read More
A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains,’Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!'”
Read More
Throughout our history, the people known as Friends (or Quakers) keep rediscovering an essential and enduring truth: There is one who speaks to our most basic needs and most significant hopes—Christ Jesus the Lord. Both individually and communally, we are learning to know and follow the Voice that guides us in the way we should go. Together, we seek to understand and obey that truth which sets us free. As a people, we share in the experience of that powerful life which makes all things new. Maybe you are searching for an authentic and transforming faith and community to call home—if so, come in and join us as we seek to know and follow Christ.
Friends United Meeting commits itself to energize and equip Friends through the power of the Holy Spirit to gather people into fellowships where Jesus Christ is known, loved, and obeyed as Teacher and Lord.
.png){kind=small}
