DQM 2023-01-29
Dover Quarterly Meeting
Meeting virtually via Zoom.
29 January 2023
Present: We began the meeting at 1 p.m. with the following Friends present.
- Concord – Heidi Babb, Mark Barker
- Dover – Jeremiah Dickinson, Beth Collea, Bill Woodward
- North Sandwich – Susan Wiley
- New England Evangelical Friends – Muchuma Niva, Aggrey Karani
- Weare/Henniker – Dick Ludders, Ann Ludders, Marian Baker
01/23 Previous minutes — The minutes of our meeting on 31 July, and on 30 October were approved as received.
02/23 Treasurer’s report — Our finances are the same as the last time, other than 12¢ of interest.
03/23 Report from Marian —
Marian thanked the Quarter for their financial and prayerful support.
She shared some of the highlights from her recent travels in ministry in Kenya. First, she led a workshop at Friends Theological College on Travelling in Ministry for East African women who do ministry in other cultures. One surprise was that the women at the end of the workshop decided to form a WhatsApp group called QW TEAM (Quaker Women Travelling in East Africa Ministry), to support each other, as well as to all contribute funds to enable another conference and to help each other during immediate family losses. This group continues daily to share and pray for each other.
In one area of Uganda, it was found that the best way to find out what is happening, is to quietly visit (without notice) during a regular Sunday worship time. Otherwise, there are constant appeals for financial help, some of which are not based on actual facts.
In Tanzania, the womens conference was hosted by a brand new meeting (2 years old) that finished the roof on the building the week before we arrived. As hosts, their women were busy cooking and cleaning for us and often didn’t get to attend the sessions, so three of our team went out to wash and cook the noon meal, so the women could attend the sessions. Even the male pastor was so impressed, he joined in washing the dishes (not a normal thing for men to do in that culture).
At the African Pastors Conference although there were 1000 present, (800 women and 200 men), all speakers were men except for Esther Mombo, who gave a moving talk about what important ministry that women have always done-both hospitality ministry, ministry in prisons, and challenged the men for having a njogo (rooster) theology where the rooster leads the flock and makes a lot of noise while the majority of the flock (the hens) do most of the work quietly.
When Marian went to Samburu, she was advised by the WhatsApp group (QW TEAM) to take Rosina, the first Samburu woman to earn a bachelors degree (in theology from Friends Theological College), to help interpret. Rosina also helped the team stay in a local house with Samburu people (not at a hotel), and they were able to walk to the local meeting on foot cross country and spend the whole day. After the workshop the women were asked for feedback, which seemed to be the first time for the women to ever be asked their ideas and opinions about anything. The women then eagerly shared ways they could do sewing and beading projects to help raise money, as well as shared a need for someone to come train Sunday School teachers. On Sunday they returned for worship and were asked to give the sermon. The team chose Rosina, as she could speak their language and translation would not waste time. All women, children, and men listened on the edge of their seats, as they had never heard a woman give a sermon in their language. It was amazing that the male leaders of the Samburu came to the team the last night to thank them profusely for coming, for listening to the people and encouraging all, and shared they wanted us all to return to share more about Quakerism, Sunday schools, and especially asked Rosina to return to help them! It is amazing how simple listening and being observant of needs can make a profound impact when visiting other cultures.
During her times in Kenya, she also assisted in helping with the oral interviews of elders that are being gathered for the new Africa Quaker Archives in Kenya by the QREC Africa (Sunday school teachers).
She also shared that likely four Kenyan women Friends pastors hope to come to USA this summer that would be available to visit local meetings. Marian is available to also visit local meetings to share about the ministry with women in East Africa.
04/23 Update on minister’s gathering —
Four Friends from our Quarter attended this gathering led by Brian Drayton and Noah Baker Merrill. There were Sara Hubner, Darcy and Brian Drayton, and Marian Baker. The gathering had a rich mixture of long time ministers plus some very new Ministers. Hopefully there will be other gathering planned in the future.
05/23 Reports from monthly meetings —
Concord – They did not buy the land next door to them, but were surprised that those who bought it plan to manufacture class 2 automatic weapons. Thus they are likely to have some future sharing of peace actions concerning it.
They have gotten An invitation to Quaker eldering book published by Inner Light books which they are finding helpful.
Dover – Their sanctuary project is moving forward, out for bid for contractors, after the receipt of a $50,000 matching grant. It is helping them get a new website. Alan Sifferlin, a retired architect from Lawrence meeting has been helping them find a way to construct the building without damaging the historic meetinghouse (on the NH Historic Register). The local Friendly kitchen had to focus on takeout meals during covid and still has many people coming in person. The cemetery committee has been busy weeding, brush cutting, and they now offer green burials. (This led into some discussion about what were green burials, and the different ways people are doing green burials.) Dover Friends are willing to come speak to other meetings about their sanctuary project.
Gonic – None
New England Evangelical Friends, Nashua – Their new pastor, Aggrey Kalani, was introduced. Aggrey came to NH from England after years of ministry in Nairobi, and is a public health administrator. (Their meeting has grown by one). They are planning with other diaspora Friends to hold a series in March on Quaker Faith and Practice - both from an American perspective and from an African perspective. Diaspora Friends gather for an hour of prayer at 8 p.m. the first Saturday of each month by Zoom.
North Sandwich – They are treading water. They do not have Zoom. The crop walk was completed. They have not been active in local projects. They look forward to renew meeting in person on Easter Sunday, 15th April. A few will be witnessing in Concord concerning Climate Change as part of the Sandwich Climate Group.
Souhegan Worship Group – Marian reported that when she met Brian and Darcy at the Ministers Gathering, she learned that Darcy had put a sign on the Odd Fellows Hall in Milford, where they meet, and it attracted one new attender.
Weare/Henniker – They are meeting in person with masks each week except for the second Sunday when they meet via Zoom for business meeting. They recently watched the video of Beacon Hill Meeting about the Quaker Schools for Indigenous peoples that they found interesting and disturbing to learn of our historical mistreatment of our indigenous neighbors. They continue to voluntarily tax themselves for carbon use that has raised substantial donations give quarterly to Friends organizations who work on climate change issues.
West Epping – None
06/23 Book suggestions —
The Quaker Quicks series of books were suggested, including the one on What do Quakers Believe? The Quaker Institute for the Future has books for free/pay-as-led. They are in PDF format and include a good one on Energy Choices. Friends were encouraged to check the ConcordFriendsMeeting.org website and link to the Library for details.
We closed with gratitude at 2:30 p.m. purposing to meet again 30 April 2023.
| Respectfully Submitted by, | Accepted as the Approved Record, | |
| /s/ Marian Baker, Recording Clerk | /s/ Jeremiah Dickinson, Presiding Clerk |
Dover Quarterly Meeting of Friends
New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, Religious Society of Friends
℅ LeeAnn M Stevens, Treasurer, 400 Webster St, Manchester, NH 03104
| Holdings at Holy Rosary Credit Union (Rochester, NH), Beginning Balances as of 2022-09-30 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking Account | $479.40 | Allocation | ||
| Savings Account | $1,005.43 | Unrestricted Funds | $672.94 | |
| Certificate of Deposit | $0.00 | Restricted Funds | $811.89 | |
| TOTAL | $1,484.83 | TOTAL | $1,484.83 | |
| Holdings at Holy Rosary Credit Union (Rochester, NH), Ending Balances as of 2023-01-29 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Checking Account | $654.40 | Allocation | ||
| Savings Account | $1,005.55 | Unrestricted Funds | $847.94 | |
| Certificate of Deposit | $0.00 | Restricted Funds | $812.01 | |
| TOTAL | $1,659.95 | TOTAL | $1,659.95 | |
| Unrestricted Funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-30 | Beginning Balance | $672.94 | |
| 2022-11-01 | Donation: NSFM (received with gratitude) | $50.00 | |
| 2022-12-06 | Donation: Dover MM (received with gratitude) | $75.00 | |
| 2023-01-23 | Donation: Weare MM (received with gratitude) | $50.00 | |
| 2023-01-29 | Ending Balance | $847.94 | |
| Restricted Funds** | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-30 | Beginning Balance | $811.89 | |
| 2022-10-31 | Deposit dividend | $0.04 | |
| 2022-11-30 | Deposit dividend | $0.04 | |
| 2022-12-31 | Deposit dividend | $0.04 | |
| 2023-01-29 | Ending Balance | $812.01 | |
Respectfully submitted,
/s/ LeeAnn M Stevens
Treasurer, submitted 2023-01-29
**Restricted Funds are the “Mary G. Morrell and Horatio S. Morrell Trust Funds. Such funds are dedicated to help ‘poor...ministers… in the service of the Lord.’”
