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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.
While we have more to learn about how to host these kinds of meetings, FUM’s General Secretary, Kelly Kellum, noted that this grand experiment in Quaker business and governance reflects our commitment to global partnership. This implies a more inclusive approach to how we make decisions, allocate resources, and report to our members. FUM-Africa Communications officer Kate Gunza writes, “This board meeting was the first of its kind, and brought together the various committee members including the newly nominated executive committee members and FUM trustees in one house to understand the work of Friends. Having the two sections of the board combined in a hybrid meeting strengthened the relationship between the two sections. Incorporating the committees also gave the members a sense of belonging and understanding the work of Friends United Meeting.”
Strategic Conversation: What Canst Thou Say
On Saturday, Kelly Kellum facilitated a strategic conversation with the members of the North American Region around the queries, “What Canst Thou Say? Given the great division in the U.S. during this election cycle, what can FUM say to our members and our communities about who we are called to be in the world?” The General Board recognizes that our members are as diverse as the rest of the country, yet our words and our actions in response to any political polarization must reflect our commitment to Christ and Quaker testimonies. The General Board reflected on the words of Jesus who said, “My Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
While the board did not produce an official statement or epistle, the sentiments of the sacred conversation are worth sharing.Members of the General Board noted that it is important to uphold our peace testimony, which speaks to our commitment to reject all acts of violence and all violent rhetoric.Members of the General Board also spoke about how vital it is at this critical moment to uphold and respect “that of God” in one another, even those with whom we strongly disagree. Several board members spoke about moments of surprise when they discovered the grace and presence of God in the “other.” Members of the General Board also spoke about the value of love as our guiding principle and expression of faith. The board was inspired by the wisdom of William Penn from Fruits of Solitude:
A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we ever do evil, that good may come of it… It is as great presumption to send our passions upon God’s errands, as it is to palliate them with God’s name… We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by love and information. And yet we could hurt no man that we believe loves us. Let us then try what Love will do: for if men did once see we love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: and he that forgives first, wins the laurel.”
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