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Section of the Americas
December 28, 2013
In This Issue
Quakers, peace and justice at WCC Assembly in Korea
Time to register for El Salvador event
New selection of contemporary Quaker writing
Please support this work
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What does a Religious Society of Friends need from a Friends World Committee?

 

FWCC was set up at the 1937 World Conference of Friends "to act in a consultative capacity to promote better understanding among Friends the world over, particularly by the encouragement of joint conferences and intervisitation, the collection and circulation of information about Quaker literature and other activities directed towards that end."

 

Is this still what Friends need? What will this look like in the future? In the last few weeks I've been asking everyone I meet these questions. Let me know what you think. In the coming year, the Section of the Americas will consider how we can best serve God's purposes. Join us in making it come true.

  

In friendship,RM6WC

Robin Mohr 

Robin Mohr

Executive Secretary

Quaker presence at World Council of Churches Assembly

The 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Busan, Korea, from 30 October to 8 November 2013, has adopted a statement calling for "Just Peace" in the community, with the earth, in the marketplace and among nations. Friends were among around 3,000 delegates who contributed to the drafting of this statement.

  

While at the Assembly, this small group of Friends from eight countries met to 

  • discuss how to reflect their common interests in the assembly;   
  • consider and act on placing the issues of peace and justice, as well as the issue of conscientious objection, in the assembly program and statement, working jointly with Mennonites and Brethren as part of the Historic Peace Churches; 
  • visit with Korean Friends and consider the issue of peace in the Korean context  

General Secretary Gretchen Castle welcomed the Statement's reaffirmation of WCC's support for the human right of conscientious objection to military service for religious, moral or ethical reasons, as well as its call to eliminate all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. She said:

 

Taken together with the Kabarak Call for Peace and Ecojustice and the Epistle from the Sixth World Conference of Friends, we are called to work collectively with those who share our commitment to a just and peaceful world. Friends World Committee for Consultation will continue to connect Friends who are working at all levels, including the Quaker UN Office and WCC, by providing opportunities for Friends to share their ideas and experiences.

 

Read the full message about the role of Friends at the Busan conference in the December newsletter from the World Office of FWCC.

The World Council of Churches Assembly is the highest governing body of this organization and meets every seven years.
Register for February El Salvador consultation by January 15th
The local planning committee for the February 21-23 Friends World Committee conference "Let the Living Water Flow!" in San Ignacio, El Salvador, asks Friends to please sign up by January 15th, 2014. The consultation runs from Friday, February 21st through Sunday, February 23rd. 

Register now >>

Please consult the information on our website for important details when planning your travel.

Speakers at the El Salvador Conference are:

  • Esteban Ajnota from the National Evangelical Friends Church of Bolivia, on Quaker Leadership for the 21st Century,
  • David Byrne from the Coaltion of Hispanic Ministries (Texas, USA), who will give an historical overview and insightful perspective of Friends, 
  • Robin Mohr, FWCC Executive Secretary, speaking on intercultural communications.    
 
The weekend program includes programmed and unprogrammed worship, small group discussion and ample time for fellowship.

Contact us if you are considering attending and have questions.
New literature selections from the Wider Quaker Fellowship
Our two latest selections are now online for you to read or download and print.

"People told her she was crazy"
Once upon a time, in a land far away, a young woman looked out at her poor village. She saw that the once green hills were now bare and the people scattered. There were only scraps and dung to burn for fire and swirling dust in the heat of the day. But where others saw only barren dirt, this woman saw a forest. She began to plant trees. People told her she was crazy...

Continue reading this story of Wangari Maathai, and others in "Trees and the Forest: Story and Trustori in Quaker Faith and Practice" by Rob Pierson >>

 

An Andean Quaker narrative 

I remember well the day that my mother was diagnosed with leukemia. For us, her family, this news was terrible, very hard to face. From that day on, our lives began to change course. From that day on, we began to take more account of our mother's presence in our lives. From that day on, we began to treasure her words of advice. From that day on, we loved our mother more...

Continue reading Yrma Hilarión Escobar's testimony in "From Encounter to Ministry: The Life and Faith of Latin American Friends", a collection of narrative stories edited by Nancy Thomas >>  

 

Read more about these two selections from the Wider Quaker Fellowship and Voices of Friends.  

Please make a financial donation
The Friends World Committee has a very small staff and an enormous range of service. Our work to bring Friends from across the Americas together to explore our common concerns and revitalize our common faith cannot continue without your help. We need to raise $115,000 by the end of January.

Read more >>

Will you please make a financial donation to support this work? Your donations make it possible for the Friends World Committee to serve you.

Thank you for your prayers, your encouragement and your contributions

 

Donate now >>