|
|
|
Section of the Americas
| May 14, 2012
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
"...'The Religious Society of Friends - the Friends Church - is about nothing if it is not about transformation'... As we choose to seek connection in the midst of our differences, we witness the power of God to bless and heal. We may not always understand each other fully, but we are united in our yearning for transformation. ..."
So reads part of the Epistle to Friends everywhere from the Sixth World Conference of Friends, held April 17-25 at Kabarak University in Nakuru, Kenya. Read the complete epistle. It felt very powerful to me that during the Conference, Friends did not simply avoid the issues that divide us nor did we invest all our energy in addressing those issues. We felt a strong yearning to discover what already unites us and how we can therefore work together to heal our broken world.
The Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice is attached to the epistle; read the full text here. This statement is a fruit of the three year Global Change consultation which included Friends from many countries, places, islands and nations. "We dedicate ourselves to let the living waters flow through us - where we live, regionally and in wider world fellowship. We dedicate ourselves to the peace that passeth all understanding, to the repair of the world, opening our lives and hearts to the Light to guide us in each small step."
Do you feel like these statements (not just the little quotes here) express your leadings and concerns? Whether you were at the World Conference or not, how do you feel inspired today to live the way God calls us to be Friends in the world? Email me or post your replies on our Facebook page.Sincerely,  Robin Mohr Executive Secretary |
|
 | |
Ramón González Longoria, new FWCC Clerk
|
New international leadership for FWCC
Starting in January 2013 there will be a new slate of FWCC leadership at the world level. Ramón González Longoria from the YM of the Church of Friends (Quakers) in Cuba will take over as Clerk of Friends World Committee from Duduzile Mtshazo of Central and Southern Africa Yearly Meeting. The Assistant Clerk will be Simon Lamb of Ireland YM, replacing Elizabeth Gates of Philadelphia YM. The new Clerk of the Central Executive Committee will be Elizabeth (Betsy) Cazden of New England YM, replacing Jocelyn Burnell of Britain YM.
Gretchen Castle of Philadelphia YM was approved as FWCC's General Secretary and will begin service first as Associate Secretary in the London office this fall, and then taking over from Nancy Irving in January. |
|
Young adult Friends connecting around the world
Four young adult Friends from the Americas are now serving on the International Young Adult Friends committee for FWCC: Emma Condori and Ruben Hilare from Bolivia, and Rachel Stacy and Karla Moran from the US. One of their next projects will be to set up a page on the FWCC World Office website for young Friends to announce their gatherings in all parts of the world and invite each other to attend.
Young adults, approximately one-quarter of all delegates, were fully integrated into the work of the Conference as home group and thread group leaders, pastoral care providers and conference organizers. They were also well represented, in number and quality, among the worship and business plenary speakers. The prepared talks by Karen Gregorio de Calderón (Guatemala), Noah Baker-Merrill (USA), Pradip Lamichhane (Nepal), Carmela Lao (Philippines), and Thomas Owen (Aoteoroa/New Zealand) are all available on the conference website. |
Strong presence of Conservative Friends at 6WC
Conservative Friends from the USA, United Kingdom, Costa Rica, Sweden and other countries organized unprogrammed worship and Bible-reading in the manner of Conservative Friends. It was an opportunity for Conservative Friends to meet one another and to connect with others who are interested in their particular faith and practice within the Religious Society of Friends and witness to the wider world.
|
Thank you to all the travel fund donors
This World Conference was the most diverse gathering of Friends in our history, with 850 Friends from 112 yearly meetings or groups of Friends in 51 countries. This included representation from 11 countries in the Americas. Delegates from the Section of the Americas took time to sign post cards to thank all the people who made donations to the Travel Fund. We are especially grateful for the attendance of the Bolivian Friends despite the fact that an airline they were to fly on went bankrupt just before they were due to travel to Kenya.
Generous support from many meetings and individuals enabled us to cover all of the $11,000+ in expenses incurred to make new travel arrangements at the last minute so that Bolivian Friends could attend the World Conference. The diversity of the conference was a critical factor in the richness of the ministry, a bridge of love across our differences.
 | | Hilarion Quispe and the sound technician preparing ahead of worship |
 | |
Teodora de Mamani meets Kenyan Friend Hellen Machanule |
|
 | |
Diane Randall with David Zarembka
of the Africa Great Lakes Initiative
|
Stories from the World Conference: Friends Committee on National Legislation
The many threads of conversation, discovery and transformation for Friends who attended the World Conference will continue to connect over the coming months. Hearing some of these stories is achievable today on a scale unknown, or improbable, at the last World Conference in 1991.
A 'real energy of diversity, a true atmosphere of joy'
For Diane Randall, Executive Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), the World Conference theme of Being Salt and Light: Friends living the kingdom of God in a broken world was "very deep, and a reflection of my work at FCNL, at a personal, spiritual level." Diane and AT Miller, clerk of FCNL's Executive Committee, met with Kenyan Quakers during the event as well as in pre- and post-conference meetings. Learning more about the "cutting edge peacemaking" taking place in Kenya helps FCNL to advocate with United States policymakers for the peaceful prevention of deadly conflict, a very real possibility for the upcoming Kenyan elections. Diane and AJ's conversations on FCNL's work inspired Friends in other parts of the globe to consider how they might become the agents of change in their respective countries.
Read more about Diane's experience in her blog, including her letter to President Obama written upon her return from Kenya.
Read more about FCNL's work on peaceful prevention of violence in Kenya.
FWCC will continue to include stories from the World Conference in future E-newsletters and we encourage those who went to contact us if you would like us to consider sharing your experience. Please consider making a donation to support the wider sharing of these messages. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
