CMM 2020-08-16

Minutes of Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting of

the Religious Society of Friends

Eighth Month 16^th, 2020

Fourteen Friends gathered by Zoom connection and entered into quiet worship.

08.1  Ad hoc Blended/Hybrid Meetings Group: This group has been working with both the Property and Ministry & Council committees to explore the equipment needed to safely facilitate blended/hybrid meetings.  A report outlining a phased plan for implementation was submitted for our consideration.  It was suggested that the cost for this (approximately $1500) be taken from our reserves.

Many voices were heard as we strove to discern the best ways to move forward.  Some Friends expressed a sense of urgency while others urged us to wait patiently as we continue to learn and understand more about the spread of COVID-19.  Notable areas of concern included air flow management and use of a cart vs. wall-mounting for video equipment.

We authorized the ad hoc group in conjunction with Ministry & Council to move ahead with this plan, and Friends are encouraged to bring ideas and concerns directly to those committees.  We approve their spending of up to $1500 from our reserves.

08.2  Ministry & Council submitted a report detailing the next Fourth Sunday program.  The committee encourages us to read the full report and take advantage of the information and links to some of the recordings from our recent NEYM annual sessions.

After a brief time of quiet worship, Meeting adjourned, purposing to meet again on the Second Sunday of Ninth Month.

NB. The Income & Expenses Sheet was created with two decimal points, which were removed for readability, the cents being unimportant to the overall understanding.  This can have the effect of throwing off any given sum by a dollar due to compounded rounding.  —  Prepared by Greg Heath and Chris Haigh.

NB. The Balance Sheet was created with two decimal points, which were removed for readability, the cents being unimportant to the overall understanding.  This can have the effect of throwing off any given sum by a dollar due to compounded rounding.

Do we have the resources to support our obligations? YES

Variable Assets Less Current Liabilities and Replacement Reserve = $3,790

Ad Hoc Committee on Blended Meetings Report

Hybrid/blended Meetings for Worship

Seventh Month 2020

CFM Ad Hoc Committee on Blended Meetings

July 30, 2020

• James F, Mark B, Michael E, Richard K

In anticipation that the pandemic and its aftermath will call for blended/hybrid Meetings well into the future, the Meeting wishes to develop recommendations for the systems and protocols that will facilitate those Meetings.  The Ad Hoc Committee was formed to research options and develop those recommendations.

The Ad Hoc Committee on Blended Meetings met on July 30.  We are moving toward the following recommendation for a system to support hybrid/blended Meetings.  When we get closer to actually starting these meetings, we will put into place some of the more specific protocols (signage, handwashing recommendations, etc.).

We are considering a two (or more) phased approach:

Phase One

• We will control the meeting via a laptop.  We need a computer with enough RAM and connectivity to handle the streaming and accessories well.  This example from HP costs $611: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i5-1...
  • — We will need to consider the noise created by the laptop fan.
  • — If we decide we want a second laptop for the host to use to greet people and usher them into the Meeting, we will at first ask the host to bring their own laptop.
• We will use a large-screen TV, so people in the Meetinghouse can see the remote Worshippers.  This example is 70 inches and costs $600: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-70-class-led-6-series-2160p-smart-4...
• We will mount the TV on a mobile cart.  This example is about $75: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Adjustable-Modern-Mobile-TV-Stand-Cart-for-32... It has a shelf for a laptop, and the TV is mounted to the cart.
  • — We’ll want locking wheels, and wheels big enough to handle bumps.
• We will use the speakers built into the TV.  Mark reports we have some additional audio equipment if needed.
• We will need an external camera for adequate quality.  This Logitech camera costs $60: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/logitech-hd-webcam-c615-black/2588445.p?sku... We’ll want something with a fairly wide-angle lens to get everyone into the picture.
  • — We’ll mount the camera on a stand, so we can move it to the best location.
  • — Rich has asked whether a ceiling-mounted camera, looking down on the semicircle of Friends, would help.
• We will use an external microphone.
• We will put the microphone on a fixed stand that is positioned directly in line with the camera. People who wish to speak may walk to the stand to share their Testimony.  The microphone will be removeable; we will designate someone to take the mic to people who are unable to walk to the stand.
• We will use the wifi hotspot for now.
  • — Mark has repeater equipment, which could help.
  • — If the hotspot is inadequate, we might need to invest in direct WiFi connection.

Phase Two

• We may add external speakers if needed.
• We may add a second laptop for the host to use.

Notes

• We’ll want to assemble the ultimate system and test it so we can make any needed adjustments.
• Many thanks to Mark B for a great deal of this research.  I wasn’t able to find all of the specific items Mark recommended; some of the examples above are similar.

Early suggested protocols:

• After Rise of Meeting, everyone should introduce themselves.  In the Meetingroom, this could mean stepping to the microphone stand so the people at home can see and hear well.

Ministry and Counsel Committee Report

Concord Monthly Meeting

August 2020

Planning for the year

1. We are asked to engage with the Apology to Indigenous People and Call to Action, as read at New England Yearly Meeting including engaging with our local tribe.  Sara will meet with local leaders and see if they might come to a Zoom with us.  We hope to offer an introduction as Fourth Sunday this month and also have several other parts throughout the year.  We hope to add to the resources on our website.  Some resources now there are: the NHPR Podcasts of the programs about the Hannah Duston Monument and Repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery, https://www.concordfriendsmeeting.org/RepudiatingTheDoctrineOfDiscovery

   We would like to have a watch party for the movie Dawnland as well to have Denise Altvater, from AFSC-ME Wabanaki program, meet with us [via Zoom].  We also have some information on Indian Boarding Schools already posted on our website, which we will add to.

   Fourth Sunday, August: This month we will begin with reading Apology to Indigenous People (attached and sent out by email out ahead of time) at 11:30 August 23^rd with some discussion ending at noon so we can share what we are thinking and what would help our understanding as well as how we want to organize the year.  This apology is being reviewed throughout the monthly meetings in New England before coming back for approval in the 2021 annual sessions.

   At some point we intend to continue our work on being anti-racist as individuals and as a community. TBD

2. NEYM Bible Half Hours on Eco Theology – Listen and Reflect.  There are five of these approximately half hour recordings in which Cherise Bock, Quaker minister from Oregon, explains beautifully an ecological view of creation.  We decided to offer this series at two times with the understanding that people can listen on their own as well.  We suggest listening beforehand each time.  Ruth will lead a session on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m., with discussion at 9:30-10:00 a.m.  Mark will convene another during the week, in an evening and will negotiate a time.  These will begin in September. https://neym.org/2020-sessions
3. Mark is offering Quakerism 201:  Several Friends have requested Mark to facilitate a Quakerism 201 course, which focuses on the testimonies.  Anyone interested in attending is invited to contact Mark.
4. Fellowship: We would like to have a socially distanced canoe trip.  Possibly the Saturday after Labor Day. Interested people should talk with Sara.

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NEYM Apology to Native Americans

To the Algonquian peoples of the Northeast who continue among us: the Abenaki, Mahican, Maliseet, Massachusett, Mi’kmaq, Mohegan, Narragansett. Nipmuck, Passamaquoddy, Pennacook, Penobscot, Pequot, Pocumtuc, Quinnipiac, Tunzis, and Wampanoag

As participants in European colonization and as continuing beneficiaries of that colonization, Quakers have participated in a great and continuing injustice.  For too long and in too many ways, we as a faith community have failed to honor that of God in you, the original peoples of these lands, and in doing so betrayed that of God in ourselves.  We are deeply sorry for the suffering we caused in the past and continue to cause in the present.  Today we acknowledge that injustice and apologize.

We acknowledge that Quakers participated in and benefited greatly from the colonization effort which stole your land and displaced your ancestors and caused genocide and sought cultural erasure.  We know that the injustice of displacement and disrespect continues.  We also see the ways that we continue to benefit from broken treaties and genocidal policies.  We have much work to do to attain right relationship.

We are sorry for our advocacy of the “Indian Industrial Boarding Schools,” which we now recognize was done with spiritual and cultural arrogance.  Quakers were among the strongest promoters of this policy and managed over 30 schools for Indian children, mostly boarding schools, during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  We are deeply sorry for our part in the vast suffering caused by this system and its effects.

On behalf of New England Quakers, in particular those of us with European ancestry, we offer this apology.  We commit to continuing our efforts to learn, to see more clearly the implications of settler colonialism in our own lives, and to work toward right relationship.  We hold ourselves open to suggestions and to dialogue, holding no expectations of you.  We will continue to pray for guidance and to seek divine assistance in the transformation we know is needed within each of us, and in the world.

[Signature on approval]

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Cherice Bock

Cherice (Eichenberger) Bock grew up a Friend in Oregon, attending Newberg Unprogrammed Meeting of Friends and Newberg Friends Church as a child and youth.  Although born into a Quaker family, she became a “convinced" Friend in middle school when she experienced the constant presence of God, and further deepened her commitment to Friends in high school as she learned the stories of courageous, loving, and justice-oriented people in Friends history.  In college at George Fox University, she felt drawn to ministry roles with children and youth, often serving at youth camps.  She spent a summer working with children at Quaker Cottage in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the parents of whom were involved in paramilitary groups in the Protestant-Catholic conflict.  This experience influenced her to major in psychology. Cherice was on the Friends Youth Executive Committee in college, and served as clerk for a year.  After she graduated and she and Joel Bock married, they worked for a year at Twin Rocks Friends Camp, initiating the internship program.  During this year, Cherice felt a strong call to ministry.

Cherice then served as youth ministry intern at Newberg Friends and Northwest Yearly Meeting (NWYM), then served for a year as Peace Education Coordinator for NWYM.  While in that role, she visited 37 Friends meetings/churches, and spoke or led workshops at Friends camps and conferences around the region.  In 2005, Cherice and Joel acted as full group gathering coordinators for the World Gathering of Young Friends in Lancaster, England.  Cherice felt drawn to continue working in areas of direct ministry, activism, and education related to social justice as an expression of her faith; however, she felt she needed more formal training in these areas.

In 2005, Cherice and Joel moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where Cherice pursued her master of divinity degree.  Among other reasons, Cherice chose to attend Princeton because a) it would help expand her theological understanding beyond Quakerism, and b) she could be trained for future ministry in both academic and pastoral fields.  During seminary, Cherice did pastoral internships at West Hills Friends and North Valley Friends while on summer breaks and a year-long field experience.  The Bocks welcomed their first child, and they became members at North Valley.

Cherice clerked the NWYM Peace Education Subcommittee starting in 2010, and created Peace Month materials for all NWYM congregations each January from 2010-2017.  The Bocks were involved in leadership at youth camps almost every summer from 1999-2014, providing leadership in worship, class teaching, eldering, and other roles.  In the last decade, Cherice has preached, taught classes, served as assistant clerk, and provided leadership in other ways at North Valley Friends.  The Bock family gained a second child.

Cherice continued her discernment regarding the most important social justice issue of our time, and her particular calling to ministry.  Feeling drawn to academia, Cherice worked as adjunct faculty at George Fox University and Portland Seminary starting in 2011, teaching courses related to spirituality and social justice, mystics, the Bible and church history, and creation care.  Her particular sense of calling became clearer as she began to learn more about environmental concerns, climate change, and environmental injustice, and this concern has formed the focus of her ministry and sense of calling since 2008.  She has spoken at a number of meetings for worship on this topic, written extensively relating to creation care, and served as a scholar-in-residence at Reedwood Friend and Berkeley Friends, speaking on this topic.  She is almost finished with a PhD in environmental studies, and is co-editing a book entitled Quakers, Creation Care, and Sustainability, which will be released in June 2019.  She is supported by a Traveling Minute from North Valley Friends relating to her concern about the environment.

As NWYM became more and more divided, Cherice worked to hold the community together, attempting to speak truth and remind Friends of our shared community and love for Christ.  When the split happened, Cherice felt prompted to step up and provide leadership for the newly emerging Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting, agreeing to serve as co-clerk in the summer of 2017 (and continuing until the present).  While Cherice's ministry is not (currently) as a released pastor, she feels called to serve Friends in myriad ways, from teaching to writing to speaking to clerking, building networks among different types of Friends, and across interdenominational and interfaith groups, particularly relating to concerns around the environment.  Quakers are her home and her people, and she feels honored that Friends chose to record her as a minister.