· June 13: Summer schedule begins. First Meeting for Worship is from 9:00 to 10:00 and second Meeting for Worship is from 10:30 to 11:30. No forums are scheduled during the summer months. Childcare is offered during both meetings. First Day School runs from 10:45 - 11:30. The meeting will return to the regular schedule in mid-August.

· July 3 – 10: Friends General Conference Gathering in Massachusetts (contact Catherine Elkins or Betty Flash).

· August 19 – 22: Religious Education Committee of Friends General Conference is having another conference for Quaker parents and teachers at Camp Asbury in Silver Lake, NY.

Forums

The Adult Religious Education committee schedules Forums and would welcome suggestions of topics or presentations. Forums will continue from 10:15 – 11:00 throughout May and into the first week of June. Childcare is provided.

· May 23

Movements in the Wider Religious Society of Friends

· May 30

Fifth Sunday Friendly Frolic (Quaker Games)

· June 6

Quaker Calisthenics led by Ministry & Worship (living in the cross, led by John Woodbury and Robin Harper)

Chapel Hill Religious Society of Friends

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

Minutes of May 9, 2004

We opened with a period of worship, during which we considered the following query:

Do we have reverent respect for all forms of life on the earth we share?

Clerk Carolyn Stuart welcomed Friends to meeting for business, including Joshua Torell and Nick Mann, who are attending for the first time. She reviewed the agenda.

Minutes for the April 18th Meeting for Business were approved as published in the newsletter.

Ministry and Worship

Robin Harper presented the report (attached) of the State of the Meeting meeting, which was held on March 7, 2004. We approved the report, expressing our appreciation to M&W for the care with which it was prepared. We approve distributing it to meeting committees and asking them to consider it, and to making it part of the clerk’s retreat this fall.

Request for Support as a Conscientious Objector: Nicholas Mann

Nicholas Mann, son of Pam Schwingl and Pat Mann, read a letter (attached) requesting meeting support for his stance as a conscientious objector. We note that Nick has been considering this stance for some time; he attended a meeting workshop on conscientious objection in January, 2003 and has discussed the matter at length with many Friends in the meeting. Friends expressed their prayerful support of Nick and his position. We minute our wholehearted support of his position and approve having our trustees, Emilie Condon and Bettie L. Flash, sign the Selective Service Registration Form in this meeting for worship with attention to business in witness of Nick’s statement regarding conscientious objection.

Copies of Nick’s letter, the Selective Service Registration Form, and the meeting’s minute of approval will be placed in the meeting’s lockbox. Nick’s witness is an example to all of us.

Request for Support as a Conscientious Objector: Joshua Sprigg Torell

Joshua Sprigg Torell, son of Pat Sprigg and Curt Torell, read a letter (attached) requesting meeting support for his stance as a conscientious objector. We note that Josh has been considering this stance for some time; he attended a meeting workshop on conscientious objection in January, 2003, has met with a clearness committee (consisting of Bob Gwyn, Bonnie Raphael, Dirk Spruyt, and Tom Herndon [not a Friend, but Josh’s high school chemistry teacher and Ultimate Frisbee coach and someone who has known Josh for a long time]) to help explore his beliefs, and has discussed the matter at length with many Friends in the meeting. Friends expressed their prayerful support of Josh and his position. We minute our wholehearted support of his position and approve having our trustees, Emilie Condon and Bettie L. Flash, sign the Selective Service Registration Form in this meeting for worship with attention to business in witness of Josh’s statement regarding conscientious objection. Copies of Josh’s letter, the Selective Service Registration Form, and the meeting’s minute of approval will be placed in the meeting’s lockbox. Josh’s witness is an example to us all.

We also minute our thanks to Curt Torell and Alice Carlton for helping our young Friends explore their beliefs on this issue. We recognize a need to find ways to extend this process out into the wider community and provide a way for young people who are not Friends to explore their beliefs. The Conscientious Objector Guidance (COG) Committee (Alice Carlton, Curt Torell, and Bob Gwyn) has had a number of ideas about next steps; they encourage others to join them to provide energy and ideas, so that more can be done.

Peace and Social Concerns

Chapel Hill Monthly Meeting is blessed to have Friends who have chosen to serve on larger Quaker bodies, such as committees within Friends General Conference (FGC) and Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). To be most effective, organizations such as FGC, FCNL, and others need the participation of Friends from a variety of meetings. Through connecting us to the wider world of Quakers, these Friends enrich the life of our meeting.

It is a sign of the strength and vitality of the CH Meeting that we have Friends who have been asked to serve on national Quaker organizations. Unlike those Friends whose meetings are members of yearly meetings, CH Friends have personally borne the cost of their participation on national Quaker organizations. We approved a recommendation from the Peace and Social Concerns Committee to establish a separate fund, the Meeting Fund for National Quaker Service, to provide financial support for those Friends serving in Quaker organizations. This fund would allow support for continuing leadership, as opposed to the Mary and Claude Shotts Fund and the Leadership Development Fund, which primarily support those who are just beginning their leadership duties or who are attending workshops or other educational opportunities to learn more about leadership. The Fund will be under the care of P&SC. We approve adding $2000 for this fund to the proposed 2004–2005 budget (to be presented today for possible approval in June), and direct the Treasurer to roll over any funds remaining at the end of the 2004–2005 fiscal year into the fund for the next fiscal year.

Finance Committee

Catherine Elkins, clerk of the committee, presented the first reading of the budget (attached) for fiscal year 2004–2005 and answered questions.

Treasurer’s Report

Catherine Elkins presented the Treasurer’s report and answered questions. We accepted the report with thanks.

Nominations Committee

Faye Stanley, co-clerk of the committee with Pam Schwingl, presented the first reading of nominations (attached) for service to the Meeting. She also highlighted committees for which a few open positions remain: Adult Religious Education, Children’s Religious Education, P&SC, Mary & Claude Shotts Fund/Leadership Development Fund, Piedmont Friends Fellowship, and Nominations (which will be filled separately in autumn). We encouraged Nominations to add a “service” category to the listings for CRE, Youth Religious Education, and Interfaith Council to recognize the many people who devote considerable volunteer time as First Day School teachers and as helpers at IFC, but who are not members of the committee itself.

The committee requests any suggestions about how to encourage our young Friends to have more involvement or leadership in our committees. We express great thanks to the Nominations Committee for their work in identifying all of the volunteers.

Clerk’s Report

· Carolyn Stuart read a letter from Max Drake requesting a clearness committee for membership. Ministry and Worship is in the process of forming a clearness committee.

· Carolyn Stuart, Emilie Condon, and Gwynne Pomeroy are coordinating meeting volunteer efforts during the relocation of homeless men while the Community House is being renovated. Friends are asked to help with this project. For the week that the men are at the Carrboro Century Center, May 23–29, Friends have filled the two volunteer slots for Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday. One Friend has volunteered to work on Saturday. Two Friends are working during the overnight shift (11:00 PM to 7:00 AM). Several of our meeting teens are accompanying their parents to the Carrboro Century Center. We need five more Friends to work the 8–11 PM time periods for Tuesday May 25th (two Friends), Friday May 28th (two Friends), and Saturday May 29 (one Friend). Friends interested in volunteering for these time slots are asked to call or email Carolyn. If you can volunteer during another week (the men will be relocated until September 25th), call or email Colleen Jelley, Congregation Relocation Coordinator. If you would like to help the members of St. Joseph’s CME church with lunch or dinner, call or email Trina Ozer .

Announcements

· Buildings & Grounds Committee is organizing a work morning, May 15th, 8:30 to 12:00: pancake breakfast at 8:30, worship at 9:00, followed by working together. Please come.

· Youth Religious Education reminds us that May 23rd is when we celebrate our youth who are graduating from high school, college and law school! All the high school teens will remain with us for worship, as well as any other graduates who can be there. After our “worship with attention to graduation,” we will have a special potluck (with cake!) in the multipurpose room. Please plan on helping us celebrate this milestone in the lives of our youth.

· CRE & YRE announce that on Saturday, May 22, the meeting will have its second intergenerational games night. Bring a dessert to share and a willingness to engage in some fun – the games will be provided. We hope to have representatives from all generations joining together for fun and fellowship. Dessert begins at 6:30, games shortly thereafter.

· Keep in mind that the summer schedule begins on June 13th: first Meeting for Worship at 9:00 and second Meeting for Worship at 10:30. No forums are scheduled during the summer months. A summer program for children takes place during the hour of second meeting. (One Friend wishes to be minuted as requesting that Ministry and Worship reconsider keeping the time for the Second Meeting at 11:15 throughout the year.)

Mail Received:

Pronica News from Nicaragua (newsletter); special offer from Friends Journal to receive discounted copies of special issue on aging (given to Care & Counsel Committee); newsletter from Wm. Penn House in Washington, DC; flyer from Friends World Committee for Consultation; AFSC newsletter on the Emergency & Material Assistance Program; Annual Report of PAX World Fund; Philanthropy Newsletter of the Triangle Community Fund.

We closed in worship.

Attending: Carolyn Stuart, Judith Purvis, Matt Drake, Catherine Elkins, Pat Mann, Nick Mann, Ruth Zalph, Margie Brache, Peter de Leeuw, Pam Schwingl, Bettie L. Flash, Arny Post, Curt Torell, Emilie Condon, Nancy Milio, Josh Torell, Martha Gwyn, Bob Gwyn, Faye Stanley, Maria Darlington, Robin Harper, Alice Carlton, Susan Inglis, Bob Cooper.

Judith Purvis, Recording Clerk

Spiritual State of the Meeting Report

May 9, 2004

The purpose of a report on the spiritual state of the meeting is to offer some insight into the meeting’s spiritual condition. As members of Ministry and Worship we have reflected on this condition with the help of responses from our day-long gathering and through the feedback of some members outside of the committee. We pray that the words will convey both all that we have to celebrate as well as those areas we are being called to attend to with greater vigilance.

Our gathering on Saturday, March 7, began with worship sharing, within which participants were asked to share their sense of where our Light is strongest in our Meeting, as well as where our Light could be brighter. There were several areas within our Meeting around which Friends found abundant Light and cause for celebration. These were voiced primarily as an appreciation for the strength and love manifest in our Friends’ community. Many spoke of their feelings of being supported and of being at home in our Meeting. Our love for one another is the heart of our community.

Many also gave voice to their thankfulness for the strength of our First Day School program. Douglas Steere writes that in prayer the seeds of concern have a habit of appearing and that these seeds are given to us to nurture so that they may bear fruit. And so we may celebrate in the fruits of our concern today the seeds that were recognized and tenderly nourished in years past. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Friends were called to nurture our First-Day School and we now witness the fruits of the work done across the years in our teen program. We are truly blessed by the devotion of so many and we note how extraordinary this program is for a faith community our size. The whole meeting community has become aware of the presence of our teenagers particularly through our meetings for worship for graduating seniors and for the advising on the meaning of conscientious objection and minuting the intent of young Friends if a future draft were to be instituted. We continue to show our care to the FDS through our support for a FDS coordinator. Love is evidently present in our First-Day School.

And, several Friends observed the strength that is present in our expressions of faith in action. In particular, Friends both new and old continue to serve on the boards of Carolina Friends School and Quaker House in Fayetteville. We are also involved in actively supporting the Inter-Faith Council. We are represented in marches, vigils, and witnesses for peace near and far.

There is also respect and dedication to Quaker process. In the fall of each year, many of our committees listen intently and discern with care how their charge from the Meeting should be interpreted in light of the needs of the Meeting in any given year. This is a necessary step in deepening our knowledge and understanding of one another and strengthening our ability to listen more openly to others and to the community. We commend this practice of listening and discerning the needs of the Meeting through the lens of our given committee assignments.

Friends also shared their feelings about ways our Light could be stronger. A question was repeated by many as to whether or not we are being sufficiently stretched and challenged as Friends. This question is being asked by many across the wider Religious Society of Friends. It is rightly ordered and should be followed by a deep seeking no less intense than that of the seekers in the 1640s and 50s. We wish to encourage, then, all leadings that will nourish us in listening to one another, and through one another to the Light by which we are guided.

Out of reaching and delving deeper, out of challenging ourselves to be our best, necessarily rise differences and tension. Several Friends challenged our Meeting to not only tolerate the differences that arise within our community, but embrace them. Deeper spiritual community cannot be gained without struggle, without our letting go of the need to change one another, without remembering that we are each a member of one body. So we should not be surprised that we meet struggles, not only because a community cannot be deepened without struggle but also because we are not immune from the tensions that are so apparent in the world outside of our meeting's doors. So we encourage those Friends who may recognize stark differences with another Friend to reach out to one another and to seek that still ground which binds us all. We encourage other Friends to help facilitate our dialogue so that we are not satisfied with the status quo, but recognize in our friction opportunities, recognizing that perhaps new seeds are being planted but have yet to find fertile ground.

As we embrace our differences, we must also ask, “What is our common faith?” We resonate with calls from our daylong gathering to go beyond our differences to actively listen to what draws us together. After many years of the wider body of Friends assimilating people from a diversity of religious backgrounds and theological views, perhaps it is now time to assess where we are and, having been joined, discover what it is that unites us. As Quakers, we acknowledge that Truth is being continually revealed, which allows us to find meaning in our rich Christian heritage as well as in other faith traditions. So we sense that we are entering a period in which we need to attend to what gathers us together and articulate what we are called to witness today. What is our spiritual root and in what language can we describe that root? Are we being called to be a distinctive and prophetic people, and if so, in what ways is this to become manifest? How can we say and live what we believe with humility?

Many Friends feel a need, indeed a hunger, coming from the outside world, for our message to be brought out into the world. To quote one Friend, there is a need for “a clear and defined voice in the community for messages that must be offered persistently and clearly, because this is such a grave moment in history…In the past, Quakers have paid the price and (yet) experienced the richness that comes from speaking and acting in a truthful way.” Other Friends stressed the need to continue to balance that witness with care for each other and ourselves. Just as we need to attend to a world so desperately needing to know our testimonies and the faith from which they are drawn, so there is an equal need to take time for one another, lest we be overwhelmed by the militarism, conflict, fear, bigotry, and suffering—both physical and spiritual—that abound.

And finally, several Friends reminded us that we need to take care that we embrace and make welcome all visitors. We have not always been diligent in introducing ourselves, maybe more than once, and specifically inviting newcomers to potluck, teas, and even just to come back. It is good to remember that we were all once newcomers.

At every moment we live together with all that we can celebrate—our children, our active faith outside our Meeting, our Quaker process of listening—and also with those areas to which we may bring greater attention—our need to educate and challenge ourselves in our faith, our handling of differences, our desire to articulate our faith to the world, our care for newcomers. There is a rhythm to communal life that, over many years, can be sensed like the lolling of a great ship. But we sense today a new urgency to profess our truth and love in all aspects of our lives as a prophetic ministry, calling all people to a new life freed from the cycle of violence. We pray that in our urgency we will not extend beyond the Light given to us and that we will remain faithful to our practice of worship and of spending and taking time for one another, listening and opening our hearts to one another.

We ask that Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business approve circulating this report to all committees, asking that they reflect upon the report, and that it be included in the clerk’s retreat this fall.

APPENDIX

The second half of our day was spent writing queries around particular areas of Meeting life. We wrote these queries within small groups, and then these same small groups were given the assignment of answering another group’s query. Below are the queries that we wrote. The area of Meeting life that each group selected precedes the query.

1) SPIRITUAL NURTURE, MINISTRY, & RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Query: What are the core beliefs and convictions we want to nurture among all generations in the Meeting?

Core beliefs and convictions:

our faith in day-to-day practice

there is that of God in each person

there is an integrity to workings of the Spirit in our lives, in terms of

the richness of inner lives, and responsiveness to the needs of the community

Quaker Truth is experienced and evolving

individual leadings are tested, seasoned, and tried in the context of

the community

we do not define faith—but support Friends’ process of working it out

We teach by “osmosis,” by enveloping young Friends in a community

where they see and experience beliefs and convictions

What do we need to do more of?

explicit teaching of alternatives to violence

teach Quaker history

experience differences in the world of Quakerism by going outside of

Meeting to places like—Pendle Hill, FCNL, other Meetings

2) MEETING FOR WORSHIP

Query: Is the Meeting for Worship atmosphere conducive to worship? Do we as a Meeting have a shared expectation for Meeting for Worship?

temperature
vocal ministry not always divinely inspired
honoring silence with space
importance of coming to Meeting prepared to worship: spiritually, physically, emotionally
do attenders come on time/wait for children to leave?
expectant waiting
acceptance of diversity in dress, in belief, in practice
loving atmosphere, feeling welcomed, accepted

3) CARE FOR THE MEETING COMMUNITY

Query: In caring for the Meeting community, how well are we doing in:

integrating the two meetings for worship?
welcoming newcomers and helping them learn who we are?
identifying and addressing individual needs for care?
dealing effectively with differences—meeting them head-on and

listening carefully?

How do we pay attention and respond to the various needs (personal and community) in our Meeting, whether or not we belong to one of the “care” committees?

· In the Light email

· newsletter

· Joys and Sorrows

· letters and teas for newcomers

· Carol Woods residents check on each other

· FDS coordinator

· casseroles/visitations

· Lake Hyco

· social events

· “adopting” people to check in with

· how can we make it more obvious to people how to let Meeting know of needs

· invite people who we aren’t familiar with to join in activities—either inside or outside of Meeting

· How do we make ourselves aware of the needs of the wider Quaker community, and make the Quaker wider community know our needs?

4) PEACE

Query: What is our vision of the Peaceable Kingdom? Are we prepared to extend our vision of the beloved community and nation that involves sharing resources, opportunities for all, and the diminishment of American power?

· As a Meeting we believe love and unity create peace.

· As a Meeting we find unity in the biblical description of the Peaceable Kingdom.

· We could also reach unity on reducing America’s military might.

· The Meeting does give away half (financial? ed.) of its resources in a sharing way.

· However, defining and achieving sacrifice is a challenge for individuals.

· We do not challenge each other to sacrifice our resources and future opportunities.

· We as a Meeting need to develop ways to challenge each other regarding “What is enough?”

· We need to support each other in the sacrifice of resources and opportunities in the cause of Peace.

5) STEWARDSHIP OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Query: How do we as individuals and as a community prepare for and reduce the impact of the coming environmental collapse?

· Our Faith community does not subscribe to an Apocalyptic vision. We believe that Truth is continually revealed, and while keeping aware of the very real clear and present dangers to the environment, we should be wary of the despair that comes from contemplating a doomsday scenario.

· We are called to be a more gathered community out of our concern for the environment by:

Bringing to Meeting decisions that we make as individuals and

· families that are pertinent to stewardship—we can do this by sharing through committees. Thus we may open others to questions and responses that others may not have considered.

· We can provide support to those called to witness and activism by joining with them as accompanying elders or in active prayer, etc.

· We can share goods and services among Friends to reduce the environmental duplication of bought items, etc.

· Do we know what goods and services other Meeting members have to share?

6) SIMPLICITY & INTEGRITY

Query: How well do we as a Meeting witness to the needs of the world to be free of violence and to love the creation of which we are a part?

· Benevolences are a high percentage of our budget.

· Nominating Committee, by identifying gifts and nurturing leadership, helps make our witness more effective.

· We still “tread heavily” over the earth.

· We have a number of people in Meeting who remind us by example of needs and ways we can respond.

· We have celebrations that witness to simplicity—e.g., birthdays, weddings.

· We encourage some carpooling to Meeting and other events, but could do so much more.

· Construction of Meeting buildings involved care for environmental concerns—we helped educate Weinstein about environmental concerns in the process.

Letter from Nicholas A. Mann

May 8, 2004

Dear Chapel Hill Friends Meeting,

I’m writing this letter to let the meeting become aware of my personal decision regarding the Selective Services. I hope this letter to be documentation of my faith, beliefs and reasons for coming to the conclusion of recognizing myself as a consciences objector.

Throughout my life as a Quaker, and a member of the Chapel Hill Friends Meeting I have become aware of my personal faith, guided by teachings of Quakerism, that have helped shape my beliefs regarding my objection to warfare, and killing of other people. I strongly believe that violence is not the answer, and there are many other ways of conflict resolution that don’t entail bloodshed. The idea that killing another human being will solve a problem or justify another wrong seems unmoral, and against the teachings of God. I believe all people have that of God in them, and are to be treated with that respect, and viewed as equal under the eyes of God. And with that being the case, I don’t feel I could justify killing against my faith as a mechanism of resolution.

Another option that I know many pacifists take when dealing with this situation is to declare themselves incapable of fighting in the Army, but to accept another non-combat position in the military. This is something I have considered, but realized it still undermines my faith and beliefs. To accept a non-combatant position would still be supporting the military in the greater scheme of things, and participating in the killing of others. I also feel that to accept a non-combatant position instead of fighting would be very hypocritical, and weak. I feel that my belief is strong enough that I must follow it the entire way, and not take the easy way out, by supporting the military in a non-combatant role.

This decision has come from a long process of deep thought, and inner seeking to find my true faith respecting this complicated and possibly life changing choice. I do truly believe though that this decision reflects my personal beliefs and faith towards an issue I strongly believe in. I will stand strong by my decision and endure all possible consequences that may come from it, but I will know I’m doing what I believe is right under my faith.

Nicholas A. Mann

Letter from Joshua Sprigg Torell

May 8, 2004

Dear Friends,

About a month ago, I became eighteen years of age. This means that I am required to turn in a selective service registration form within 30 days. On the form, I am going to indicate that I would like to apply for conscientious objector status even though there is no such place to indicate it on the form. I plan to fill this request in the margins. Along with several other requirements, I am supposed to prove that my beliefs are deeply held and thus need to have documentation of my intentions prior to being drafted. Because of this, I ask that two representatives of the meeting act as witnesses to my testimony of non-violence. I also request that the meeting keep a record of this letter in its lockbox for further proof of my convictions.

I understand that I am still developing my beliefs and ideas about life, and I recently met before a Clearness Committee of this meeting to further help me explore my thoughts. This meeting helped me affirm my convictions about a co- status in three areas:

-I have a deep, firm, and fixed belief against personal participation to war in any form. War and any violence should only be used as a last resort. Self-defense is the only form of violence I condone in any way, and war has virtually never been in this fashion. No war has been fought on US soil for purely self-defensive purposes since the Revolutionary War. There is always another option to violence, no matter how small a situation and I personally try to find that alternative. This is why I feel that I could not personally participate in a war. I cannot however, forcefully stop others from controlling their own lives because that would also be a form of war.

-This conviction is based upon my moral and ethical training. During my raising, I was taught never to use violence. My parents helped to show me the alternatives by never hitting me or using any violence. There are many times that I did something that another one of my friends would have been hit for, but I was never struck. This only reinforced my morals and ethics involving non-violence.

-I sincerely feel that everyone has the right to enjoy his own life without the forceful interference from others. To kill another individual, in any situation, would be to take away her chance to make her own decisions and take away any chances at future happiness and fulfillment. War kills people. While other things both good and bad arise from the outcome and the process of war, the simple fact that people die cannot be escaped. While many of these individuals decided to willfully join the fight and thus accepted that their may be a fate of death and killing, I personally could never fight without violating severely my deeply bound ethics.

Please accept this letter and a copy of my Selective Service registration form as a record of my convictions. I sincerely hope that this documentation is never going to be needed and our country will begin to look for more peaceful ways of resolving conflict. I also hope that if our country believes that war is needed that those that go off to fight, on both sides, truly believe that it is what they want. In the meantime, I thank you for your support and willingness to stand by me and my beliefs.

Sincerely,

Joshua Sprigg Torell

Chapel Hill Friends Meeting Budget

	Next Fiscal Year	Current Fiscal Year
	2004-2005	*2003-2004*
	Draft	*Budget*	*Up to 4-30-04*	*% Budget*	*Balance*

Facilities Expenses
Utilities	3,500	3,500	3,157	90%	343
Insurance	5,000	5,000	3,790	76%	1,211
Landscaping		200		0%	200
Maintenance & Improvement	1,500	1,200	861	72%	339
Total Facilities Expenses	10,000	*9,900*	*7,807*	*79%*	*2,093*
Committee Expenses
Finance	400	400	272	68%	128
Contingency	1,000	1,000	1,969	197%	(969)
Hospitality	250	250	132	53%	118
Library	400	800	137	17%	663
Ministry & Worship	2,150	1,550	1,088	70%	462
Nominations	100	100			100
Overseers	50	100			100
Peace & Social Concerns	200	200	334	167%	(134)
Publications	3,000	2,800	2,282	82%	518
Religious Education - Adult	200	200	30	15%	170
Religious Education - Children	7,000	7,000	2,167	31%	4,833
Religious Education - Youth	1,000	1,000	1,709	171%	(709)
Total Committee Expenses	15,750	*15,400*	*10,121*	*66%*	*5,279*

Support for Quaker Concerns - Internal
Physical Plant Reserve Fund	1,500	1,500			1,500
Leadership Development Fund	3,000	3,000	3,000		0
Meeting for Suffering	135	135			135
Social Action Discretionary Fund	6,000	3,000	1,600		1,400
Meeting Fund for National Quaker Service	2,000
Overseer's Fund	1,000	1,000	1,000		0
Total Support - Internal	13,635	*8,635*	*5,600*		*3,035*

Support for Quaker Concerns - External
Adult Religious Education Committee					0
Friends Center, Guilford College	150	150	150		0

Peace & Social Concerns Committee
American Friends Service Comm.	1,000	1,000	1,000		0
Carolina Friends School	6,180	6,180	4,635		1,545
Center for Ecozoic Studies		200	200		0
Friends Comm. on National Legislation	1,000	1,000	1,000		0
Friends Comm. on Unity w/ Nature	800	300	300		0
Habitat for Humanity - Orange County	250	500	500		0
Interfaith Council	6,500	6,500	4,875		1,625
National Campaign for Peace Tax Foundation		400	400		0
NC Council of Churches	400	400	400		0
Orange County Prison Ministry		500	500		0
People of Faith Against the Death Penalty	300	100			100
Quaker House	7,000	6,500	4,875		1,625
RAFI - USA		0			0
Right Sharing of World Resources	200	100	100		0
Rural Southern Voices for Peace	100	100	100		0
Schoolhouse of Wonder	300	300	300		0
Triangle Land Conservancy		0			0
Faith, Food and Farms	200				0
Total Peace and Social Concerns	24,230	*24,080*	*19,185*		*4,895*

Ministry & Worship Committee
Friends General Conference	700	700			700
Friends Journal	200	200			200
Friends World Comm.	350	350			350
Piedmont Friends Fellowship	550	550			550
School of the Spirit	200	200	200		0
Total Ministry & Worship	2,000	*2,000*	*200*		*1,800*

Total Support - External	26,380	*26,230*

Total Budgeted Expenses	65,765	*60,165*

Nominations For Committees 2004

Care and Counsel: Returning: Jennifer Leeman

Bonnie Raphael

Arny Post

Susan Inglis

Leslie Rountree

Jim Palmer

Kay Eager

Marnie Clark

Martha Gwyn*

Deborah Gibbs

No New Proposed Nominees

Ministry and Worship: Returning: Robin Williams*

Michael Green

Sharon Ringwalt

Allie Scales

Jim Bartow

Ruth Zalph

Chris Ringwalt

Marilyn Dyer

New Proposed Nominee: Alice Carlton

Bill Schweke

Finance: Returning: Richard Brown

Catherine Elkins

Steve Grathwohl

Asta Crowe

Etta Pisano

Ken Grogan

New Proposed Nominee: Terry Mehlman

Youth Religious Returning: Tom Munk

Education: John Hite Wren Hendrickson

Catherine Elkins

Jeff Brown

Dan Darnell

Curt Torell

New Proposed Nominee: Beth Kurtz-Costes

Bill Cleaver

Eli Darnell

Adult Religious Returning: Lloyd Kramer

Education: Nan Emory

Janet Jones

Ann Filiaci

Frank Coyle

New Proposed Nominees: Sue McMurray

Anne Kessimeyer

Childrens Religious Returning: Mike Bishop

Education: David Brower

Alexis Moore

Eloise Grathwohl

Susan Inglis

New Proposed Nominees: Carolyn Stuart

Nancy Martin

Kimberly Haufler

Buildings and Grounds: Returning: Margie Brache

Wade Barber

Peter DeLeeuw

Peter Malone

Tom Smith

Tom Whitmore

Matt Drake

Max Drake

Polly Ulin

No New Proposed Nominees

Nominations: Returning: Kathy Davis

Faye Stanley

Annette Broadwell

Pam Schwingl

Ed Brown

No New Proposed Nominees

Publications and Returning: Bobbie Ackley

Records: Tony Sullivan

Lisa Sullivan

Marsha Green

New Proposed Nominee: James Harper

Peace and Social Returning: Arnold Post

Concerns: Dick Ulin

Tom Munk

Maria Darlington

Tim Heninger

Nancy Milio

Ed Brown

Dirk Spruyt

Bob Gwyn

Martha Gwyn

Max Drake

No New Proposed Nominees

Library: Returning: Asta Crowe

Nancy Post*

Anne Filiaci

Nan Emory

Karen Bates

Durovich

Nancy Martin

Marilyn Dyer

No New Proposed Nominees

Visitation: Returning: Kay Eager

Faye Stanley

No New Proposed Nominees

Hospitality: Returning: Susan Burke

Marnie Clark

Carolyn White*

David Curtin

Bonnie Raphael

Kathy Davis

Dottie Heninger

New Proposed Nominee: Tara Carr

Tracy West

Mary and Claude Returning: Julia Cleaver

Schotts Fund: Bob Gwyn

Anne Filiaci

Renee Prillaman

No New Proposed Nominees

Quaker House: Returning: Tom McQuiston

Chris Ringwalt

Maria Darlington

Bob Gwyn

New Proposed Nominee: Wendy Michener

IFC: Returning: Frank Coyle

John Alexander

Lois Ann Hobbs

New Proposed Nominees: Emily Condon

Gwynne Pomeroy

Allie Scales

PFF: Returning: Curt Torell

Ainsley Morse

No New Proposed Nominees

CFS Board: Returning: Chris Stanley

Lynn Drake*

Pam Schwingl

Mike Bishop

Anne Flash

Judy Purvis

Hugh Meriwether

No New Proposed Nominees

CFS Early School Returning: Sue Caldwell (CHES)

Liason: Matt Drake (Hospitality)

John Hite (Resident)

No New Proposed Nominees

Clerk: New Proposed Nominee: Judy Purvis

Recording Clerk: Returning: Marsha Green

Recorder: Returning: Mike Green

Correspondence Clerk: Returning: Margaret Heyboer

Treasurer: Returning: Etta Pisano

Meeting Trustees: Returning: Emilie Condon

Bettie Flash

Lois Ann Hobbs

Needs as yet unfilled:

Adult Religious Education - 1 or 2

Children's Religious Education - 1

Nominations - 3

Peace and Social Concerns - 1

Mary and Claude Schotts Fund - 1 or 2

PFF - 2

Service members for CRE, YRE and IFC

Revitalization of PFF and leadership.

Openings for Fall at Carolina Friends School

CFS still has a few spaces in Sky and River Classes in the Lower School
(for six- and perhaps seven-year olds), as well as a few spaces for four-
and five-year olds at Chapel Hill Early School. If you are interested,
please call CFS at 383-6602 (Natalia Zartman x 221 or Kathleen Davidson
March x 240). Visit our web site at www.cfsnc.org.

Poem by Laurie Cobb

Silence

What is there in silence?

Confusion? Distraction?

Unhappiness?

Or can it be a time for clearing

out cobwebs and rubbish,

Or is it sorting, and evaluating,

coming through unhappiness

to joy.

Can it be seeing the mountain

top

above the mist.

Religious Educators’ Institute

The Religious Education Committee of Friends General Conference is having another conference for Quaker parents and teachers August 19-22 at Camp Asbury in Silver Lake, NY, Illuminating Our Divine Connections. It will offer six immersion workshops, 13 interest groups, two plenaries, and a full children’s program for religious education across the lifespan. Quaker religious educators and parents from throughout the USA and Canada will come together to explore how we can nurture the spiritual growth of Friends young and old. Marsha Green will bring more information to the CRE and YRE meetings.

Roommate Needed

Please hold Ben Ray in the light as he searches for a roommate. Ben is 23 years old, and was raised in the meeting. His mother is Donna Wyland, who helped many of us raise our children in the meeting. He is living in Timberlyne Apartments and needs someone to split the $680 monthly rent for his two-bedroom apartment. The apartment has cable and washer/dryer. The complex has a small swimming pool. Ben would prefer to stay within walking distance of his job at Harris Teeter on Airport Road, but would consider moving to another apartment or room on a bus line. Please contact Tom Munk or Ben if you have any questions or ideas.

Metal Tables Available

Hospitality Committee is in the process of replacing the metal/wood tables used for potlucks with lightweight ones that are easier to handle. Three lightweight tables and two rectangular ones were purchased last week and added to the ones purchased over the last two years. The original tables have served us well for about ten years. They are strong, well-built - and heavy. Two broken round tables are by the schoolhouse recycling pad and may be taken away, free-of-charge, by whoever wants them. (They need to be repaired.) Three heavy round tables and two rectangular ones in good working order are still in the closet and are available for personal use. Contributions to the Meeting for them will be appreciated. If you are interested in having one or more tables, please let Matt Drake know. (968-0044) He is coordinating their removal and replacement.

Women’s Group will Meet at Hyco Lake on June 16

The Women's Group that usually meets at Carol Woods in my apartment the first and third Wednesday mornings will meet at the Hyco Lake cottage instead on May 16. I'll also be calling all the women I think may be interested but would welcome a call from anyone I miss who is free during the day and would like to come. Marnie Clark

YOUTH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

Chapel Hill Friends Meeting

May, 2004

Middle School News

The first day of the summer FDS program will be June 13. The 8^th graders will stay with the middle school group until the fall (when they start the 9^th grade and join the high school group).

Kathy Davis and Marsha Green are planning the summer curriculum for the middle school. On some Sundays the middle schoolers will have a choice between participating in a game, drama, or music activity.

Meanwhile:

May 23 Buddhist Faith and Practice Lloyd and Jeff and guest

May 30 Catholic Faith and Practice Jeff and ___

June 6 Jewish Faith and Practice Lloyd and ___

High School News

The overnight lock-in held on Friday May 14 together with the Unitarian Universalist youth group was great fun. A large group of teens attended given strong representation from both our meeting and from the UUs. Let’s thank John Hite, Wrenn Hendrickson, and Marian Hirsch (UU youth coordinator) for their friendly adult presence as well as Tom Munk who provided support overnight.

On Sunday May 23 there will be a Meeting for Worship with Attention to Graduation. On that day we will celebrate the graduation of our seniors through thoughtful, inspired reflection and afterwards at potluck by having our cake and eating it too. Our high school honorees will be: Andrew Barker, Danny Blose, Nick Mann, Shannon Skinner, Erin Vickery, and Anna Young. Zoe Kelly who is graduating from college will also be honored.

Regarding the Conscientious Objector (COG) curriculum, Andrew Barker is planning to talk about his process in weighing his decision about CO status, date TBA. Nick Mann and Josh Torrell presented their CO letters to the business meeting on May 9. Curt Torrell and Alice Carlton with the direction of Mariah Darlington will be hosting a TV program on Channel 8, the cable People’s Channel, in which they will be interviewing several high school students and possibly some UNC students about CO status and issues. This is a work in progress, date TBA.

There is a way to download voter registration forms from the FCNL website. Go to www.fcnl.org and click on “vote 2004”.

If any high school students are interested in volunteering for a shift at the homeless shelter either on May 18 or May 21 from 8 – 11 PM, contact Carolyn Stuart.

High School First Day School Program

May 23: Worship with attention to graduation

May 30: Artistic expression

RETREATS

June 10 – 13 SAYMA RETREAT on the grounds of Warren Wilson College near Asheville. There will also be a special graduation ceremony at this retreat for our graduating high school seniors.

July 3 – 10 FGC CONFERENCE at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst campus. Teens require an adult sponsor to attend but this can easily be facilitated by a number of willing adults from our meeting who will be attending. Overall registration fees and expenses are estimated at $500. Registration must be mailed in (forms are available at the Meeting House). Scholarships are available (contact Catherine Elkins or Betty Flash). Early registration is strongly encouraged to participate in programs of choice. Visit www.FGCQuaker.org for more information.

****************** FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES ****************

Another Parents of Teens Potluck is scheduled for Friday May 28 starting at 7PM at Alice Carlton’s home. Contact Alice if you have any questions or need directions.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR, Saturday, May 22, for more Intergenerational Games, coordinated by Marsha Green. Anyone who is a member of a generation, young or old, is welcome.

Query: Do we have reverent respect for all forms of life on the earth we share?

Chapel Hill Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

531 Raleigh Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: 919-929-5377

Clerk of the Meeting: Carolyn Stuart (919-929-2287)

Assistant and Recording Clerk: Marsha Green and Judy Purvis

Clerk of Ministry & Worship: Robin Williams

Clerk of Overseers: Martha Gwyn

Treasurer: Etta Pisano and Karon LaShaw

Meeting House Resident: John Hite

Meetings for Worship

(September through June 13)

First Day Meetings at 9:00 and 11:15 AM Forum at 10:15 AM

Child Care: 9:00-12:30 First-Day School: 11:15-12:15

(June 20 through August)

First Day Meetings at 9:00 and 10:30 AM No Forum

Child Care: 9:00-11:45 First-Day School: 10:45-11:45

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business:

1:00 PM on the second Sunday of each month

Committee Meetings

Third Tuesdays: Finance Committee, 7:30 p.m.

First Wednesdays: Ministry and Worship, 6:30 p.m.

Fourth Sundays:

Children’s Religious Education, 9:30 a.m.

Buildings and Grounds, 1:00 p.m.

Peace and Social Concerns, 1:00 p.m.

Hospitality Committee, 1:00 p.m.

Affiliations: Piedmont Friends Fellowship and Friends General Conference

Meeting Email/Telephone Tree

For meeting announcements and for In the Light via email, contact Mike Green. To activate the email/telephone tree, call the clerk of Meeting, or the clerks of Ministry & Worship or Care & Counsel, or Mike at 929-2339

Home Page on the Internet

The home page of the Meeting has the following address: http://www.rtpnet.org/chfm

Calendar

Note: For regularly scheduled committee meetings, please see the previous page.

Sun., May 23	9:00 and 11:15 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 11:15 through the first week in June)
Sun., May 23	10:15 a.m.	Forum: Movements in the Wider Religious Society of Friends
Sun., May 23	11:15 a.m.	Meeting for Worship with Attention to Graduation
Sun., May 30	9:00 and 11:15 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 11:15 through the first week in June)
Sun., May 30	10:15 a.m.	Forum: Fifth Sunday Family Frolic
Wed., June 2	10:00 a.m.	Women’s group meets at Marnie Clark’s home
Wed., June 2	11:30 a.m.	Conversations on Alternatives to Violence at Med Deli (every Wednesday)
Thurs., June 3	7:30 – 9 p.m.	Midweek Meditation at the Meetinghouse (every Thursday evening)
Sun., June 6	9:00 and 11:15 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 11:15 through the first week in June)
Sun., June 6	10:15 a.m.	Forum: Quaker Calisthenics led by Ministry & Worship (living in the cross, led by John Woodbury and Robin Harper)
Sun., June 6	12:30 p.m.	Potluck and IFC Sunday (each first Sunday). Welcoming to new members of the Meeting
Wed., June 9	7:30 p.m.	Small group meeting at Marilyn Dyer’s (2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays)
June 10 – 13		SAYMA RETREAT on the grounds of Warren Wilson College near Asheville
Sun., June 13	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30 through the summer)
Sun., June 13	1:00 p.m.	Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business
Wed., June 16		Women’s group will meet at Lake Hyco
Sun., June 20	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30 through the summer)
Sun., June 27	9:00 and 10:30 a.m.	Meeting for Worship (every Sunday at 9:00 and 10:30 through the summer)

May/June 2004

Contents

Important Dates

Forums

Chapel Hill Religious Society of Friends

Spiritual State of the Meeting Report

Meeting to places like—Pendle Hill, FCNL, other Meetings

Letter from Nicholas A. Mann

Letter from Joshua Sprigg Torell

Chapel Hill Friends Meeting Budget

Current Fiscal

Year

Nominations For Committees 2004

Openings for Fall at Carolina Friends School

Poem by Laurie Cobb

Religious Educators’ Institute

Roommate Needed

Metal Tables Available

Women’s Group will Meet at Hyco Lake on June 16

YOUTH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

Calendar