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| At Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends, held at Stillwater by
adjournments from the 15th through the 18th of Eighth Month (inclusive), 2007.
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the
beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you,
ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise
that he hath promised us, even eternal life… But the anointing which ye have
received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as
the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and
even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children,
abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be
ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that
every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. 1 John 2: 24-25, 27-29 Friends
have gathered for the 195th session of our yearly meeting, asking our Lord for
assistance to hear Him so that we might obey and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We desire to be vigilant
for His commands to go out into the harvest so that our lives may be leavened
by His guidance and made new by the power of Christ within us. Reports
were received and read from the Quarterly Meetings, wherein it appears the
following named Friends were appointed as Representatives to this meeting: Salem
QM: Lois G. Edgerton, Verna H. Cope, Anthony J. Edgerton, Robert W. Stratton,
Winifred E. Stratton, Eunice M. Burkey, Rose M. Sidwell, and Conrad Lindes. Stillwater
QM: Richard Simon, Jim Creighton, Mike Kinch, Terry Wallace, Evelyn Groves,
Carl Smith, Susan Smith, and Elvina Krekler. Of whom
thirteen are present. The
following Friends have been appointed to the Yearly Meeting Nominating
Committee for the term beginning at the close of this yearly meeting session:
A. Marie Kirk Hawkins, Winifred E. Stratton, Myrtle E. Bailey, Sara Kirk, Ed
Kirk. The Lord
has treated us with several visitors. Roy and Martha Hampton of Whittier, Iowa,
are here with a minute signed by Deborah Fisch, Clerk of Iowa Yearly Meeting.
Susan Lee Barton of FWCC is here with a minute signed by Erica Pearson of Clear
Creek Monthly Meeting, Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting. The Clerk is directed to
endorse these minutes of behalf of the meeting. Also with us are Henry Jason of
San Mateo CA, Bridget Orozco of Queens NY, George Partridge of Nicholasville
KY, and Rosa Olivares of New Jersey. The
following message of greetings from Shane, Val, Ethan, and Rebekah Moad of
Beverley, Australia, was read. We send our prayers to them as they experience
health problems in their wider family. I tell you not to worry about your life. Don't worry about
having something to eat, drink or wear. Isn't life more than food or clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even
store grain in the barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't
you worth more than birds? Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about
clothes? Look how the wildflowers grow. They don't work hard to make their
clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn't as well clothed
as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields,
even though it is here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow. He will surely do
even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? Don't worry and ask
yourselves, " Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to
drink? Will we have any clothes to wear? Only people who don't know God are
always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need
all these. But more than anything else put God's work first and do what He
wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. Don't worry about tomorrow.
It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today. – Matthew 6: 25-34 Greetings Friends, Val, Ethan, Rebekah and I would like you all to
know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as you meet for Yearly
Meeting in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray your time spent
together will be a time to remember the things that are eternal. I know for our
family the world seems to rain down many distractions to keep us from things
that really matter. The distractions in this world are many and although in
this day and age we are told that we have many time-saving devices to help us
cope, it seems that this is not the case – we seem to be even busier and
struggling more to give our spiritual leadings top priority in our lives. We tend
to be fooled by the evil one that this life is the pinnacle of our being, that
we must get to a certain level or status among our peers for our lives to be of
worth. The
truth is, Friends, that this life is but a blink in the scheme of our Creators
workings. Our lives need to be much more than material things or workings; we
need to lay all before the Lord so we can truly live a life that is guided by
Him. Our own
lives this year have been blessed in many ways. The Lord has continually
provided for us and blessed us. Our children continue to grow in His grace and
have thankfully been able to resist the temptations that the world offers young
people these days. We have also been blessed from the continual support through
prayers and fellowship with Friends within OYM. It is truly wonderful to see
how the Lord has worked in bringing us all together from so many far flung
regions of the world. There
have also been some trying times. The most recent and most heartbreaking is the
news that my father (step father) has only a short time to be with us, as he
has Pancreatic cancer. This news of course has shocked us all, but to see his
faith in the Lord and his readiness to meet with his Creator has truly been a
blessing. Again it has also shown us the fragility of this life and the need to
stay focused on things eternal. So
Friends, our Christian love and prayers are with you, as I know our Lord will
also be. In Christ’s
love, Shane,
Val, Ethan and Rebekah Live in the protection of God Most High and stay in the
shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the Lord "You are my
fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you." - Psalm 91: 1-2 Leonard
Guindon provided the following Treasurer’s Report. We thank him very much for
his work as Treasurer, processing income and writing checks on our behalf. Treasurer’s Report to OYM Year Ending 7/31/2007 Balance on hand 7/31/2006 Checking
Account $1,184.49 Invested w/ Fiduciary Trustees $35,733.19 Total $36,917.68 Income Monthly Meeting Donations 23,661.00 Other Donations 3,470.00 Interest Earned 2,013.79 Book Sales 79.70 Total
Income $29,224.49 Expenses Walton Home 14,000.00 Friends Center 25.00 Christian Education Camp 1,500.00 OYM Travel Fund 520.00 ACFIA 500.00 FCNL 500.00 FWCC 500.00 Committee to Support Outreach 800.00 Book and Children’s Literature Cte 25.00 WFCF 250.00 Peace and Human Relations 100.00 Historical Committee 600.00 1 Junior Yearly Meeting 100.00 RSWR 500.00 Friends Disaster Service 500.00 Printing 1,025.00 Correspondent’s Expense 200.00 Copy Machine Supplies 100.00 OYM Property Trustees 1,000.00 Insurance 1,466.00 Water 40.00 Clerk’s Expense 300.00 Yearly Meeting Speaker Expense 60.00 Richland Graveyard Fund 500.00 2 Total
Expense $25,111.00 Income over Expenses $4,113.49 Balance on Hand, 8/1/2007 Checking
Account $3,288.37 Invested w/ Fiduciary Trustees $67,743.13 Total
$71,031.50 Notes: 1 – Includes $500 from Betty Hartley Estate 2 – Donation from Betty Hartley Estate Phil
Helms, David Eley, Mike Kinch, and Rose Sidwell were appointed to join with Bob
Stratton, Jack Smith, and Bob Rockwell as our Audit and Budget Committee to
audit the Treasurer’s books, recommend a budget for the following year, and
recommend a name for Treasurer for the following year. Bob
Rockwell reported for the Property Trustees. Leonard Guindon has repainted and
reglazed the windows and painted the soffits. We still owe him $1,304.00. The
Trustees still hope to move forward with an electrical update of the Stillwater
Meeting House. We appreciate Leonard’s physical and financial assistance and
the work of the committee. Yearly Meeting Trustees Report
8/15/2007 Leonard
Guindon has repainted all windows, shutters, and eaves on the Meeting House.
This included scraping, priming, and top coating as needed. It also included
reglazing of many of the windows and replacing some glass. A financial
statement of the project is included. We did
not have enough money to cover everything. We still owe Leonard $1,304.00,
which he is willing to wait for. The
electrical upgrade of the Meeting House, which we have been considering for
several years, will have to wait until funds become available. We would
like to ask for at least $1,500.00 to cover current indebtedness and maintain a
NOW account balance of $500.00. For
the Trustees, Bob Rockwell Trustees of Ohio Yearly Meeting
Property Expenditures starting 8/31/2006 through 8/31/2007 Money on hand 8/31/06 $2,406.06 Deposit 12/1/2006 1,000.00 Total $3,406.06 Painting Meeting House Scraping, glazing, painting Primed all exposed wood (oil based
primer) Top coat all windows, doors and
overhang with Sherwin Williams Super Latex 25 year paint Replaced three panes of glass Barnesville True Value - $60.95 Sherwin Williams - $525.87 Labor – 202 hours @ $15.00 per hour = $3,030.00 - $2,000 paid Bucket truck rental - $274.00 $3,890.82 Money Available 6/11/2007 - $2,000 paid on labor-rental cost of $3,034.00 $3,406.06 leaving $1,304.00 to be paid at a
later date 2,586.82 paid $719.24 New
Checks - $11.30 paid 8/15/2007 Total in checking account $707.94 Indebtedness $1,304.00 Victor
Peacock The following Document Committee report was read.
We thank them for their work and encourage all Friends to look at the epistles
in the Olney library. The
Document Committee met on Third Day and agreed that the epistles from Iowa
Yearly Meeting (Conservative) and North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
be read in their entirety. As time permits, the Committee requests that
excerpts from Australia, Baltimore, Germany, Great Plains, Japan, and New
England Yearly Meetings be read. The committee submits the names of the
following to write this year’s epistles: James Creighton, Edward Kirk, and
Winifred Stratton. [Note: The Epistle from North Carolina Yearly Meeting was
inadvertently overlooked during the business. It appears here, though it was in
fact not read on the floor.] North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) Epistle to Ohio Yearly Meeting To our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ohio Yearly Meeting: Greetings
from the 309th annual sessions of Friends in North Carolina. We feel the
absence of Friends representing Ohio Yearly Meeting at these sessions, and hope
that we will have Ohio visitors with us once again when we convene our 2007 annual sessions, to be held for
the first time in Wilmington NC. North
Carolina Friends are finding a place to stand in the present day with one hand
reaching back to our rich past, and one reaching out toward the challenges and
opportunities of the future. Daily Bible study has reminded us that we are a
community of memory of the past as well as a community of expectation and hope
for the future, and we must be continually examining and interpreting our past
so that it can be a support in present circumstances and a guide to future
efforts. Only by remembering and understanding our shared heritage can the
wisdom and experience gained by past generations be accessible to meet the
challenges of the dawning new day. It is
our experience, and we sense this is true of Ohio Friends as well, that there
are many outside our yearly meetings, Friends and non-Friends, who yearn for a
spiritual food they sense might be available in the Conservative tradition. We
can meet that hunger only if we understand our own history, remembering Whose
we are and how the relationship between God and our faith communities has been
strengthened or challenged over the decades and centuries. We pray
for every good blessing for Ohio Friends, so that you may find a place to stand
“stiff as an oak and clear as a bell” in your witness for God’s love
everywhere. On
behalf of NCYM-C, Sidney
Lee Kitchens, Clerk Faye
Chapman on behalf of the Nominating Committee handed in a report stating
concerns regarding appointing Friends to the committees working with youth
during Yearly Meeting sessions and to the Walton Home Board. We ask the Lord
what He calls us to do this year, then consider how to accomplish the task. One
Friend noted that we may fail to recognize potential availability and gifts of
nonresident members who may be able to serve. The discussion included mention
that the Walton bylaws place restrictions on length of service, but no other
committees restrict service. If we claim to listen to Him and be obedient, we
need to set aside time for this important task so we can be effective for the
Lord. Friends will consider these issues with members of the Nominating
Committee and take up the issue again tomorrow morning. Nominating Committee Concern Friends,
At the Meeting of Representatives held in Salem in Fourth Month, the OYM
Nominating Committee was encouraged to bring before this body some concerns
which had been brought to that group. We were also admonished to offer some
suggestions toward the solution of those difficulties which weighed heavily
upon us then and still remain. Your
Nominating Committee has met as a body in person and using telephone conference
calling. We have done this to discern the Lord’s leading in matters which we
now bring before you for your collective discernment. There seem to be two main
areas in OYM current committee work in which we have been consistently unable
to bring forward names of individuals gifted and willing to serve as committee
members. The first area is to find leaders for Jr. Yearly Meeting / Young
Friends during Yearly Meeting time and the second is in finding the “right”
candidates for service on the Walton Home Board. The
Walton Home Board has four vacancies as of the end of this yearly meeting
session. There are ten current members of the board. The by-laws require ½ of
the membership plus one member to be present to do business. There are eight
OYM members on the current board, four of which retire at the end of this
yearly meeting, and two members from the outside community. We have the names
of two Friends from OYM who are willing for “part time” service. At the end of
our 2008 yearly meeting session four more OYM member terms expire. Our deepest
concern about this matter is why we continue to have this difficulty and what
the Lord is wanting us to learn from this. The same
question comes to you with respect to our ministry to youth during yearly
meeting time. The ministry of Christian Education Camp seems wonderfully
successful. Is our yearly meeting time difficult for another ministry with
youth? Other
areas of concern come as a result, we believe, in having a committee system
which may be out of date for the work we are called to do as an increasingly
global yearly meeting ministry. Are there ways of doing committee work that are
more conducive to a global ministry? Are we being called to do more telephone
conference calling and more traveling under concern for Truth? Why are we
shrinking away from our local programs? There
are 136 working slots to be filled in our current yearly meeting committee system. There are 139 resident members,
more than half of which are not active in our monthly meetings. We estimate
that fewer than 50 people are asked to do most of what is done to accomplish
the mission of this yearly meeting. The
question of our awkward committee system was considered two years ago when the
idea of dividing the work into three large working groups was presented and
approved for a trial period. One working group did not organize. One met and
agreed to do as one group the work of four current committees. One very large
working group met but few of the small constituent committees ceased to
function. The observation was largely correct that we now have not 25
committees, but 28 and the same people have added labor. It seems
right that we look not only to a revamping of our committee system but mainly
to what the Lord is calling us to do at this time and what orderly processes He
might show us to accomplish these things. We are encouraged that the yearly
meeting is growing and we want to enlarge our ways of working to include this
global outreach, because it can enliven us, we can possibly bring our
experience and encouragement of new meetings and, most importantly, we can
contribute to our Lord’s Kingdom growth. We know
that worship and fellowship are the joys of our Christian communities. We also
know that a structure within which to do things saves time and energy (that is
one reason we use our Book of Discipline). There are two standing committees
mentioned in the Procedure section of the Book of Discipline – the Nominating
Committee and the Document Committee. There are now 25 additional committees
for which Nominating Committee has the responsibility of discernment of
appropriate gifts for service. The Document Committee might receive 100s of
epistles. The intimate sharing of epistles among yearly meetings and Friends is
not the same as it used to be. The scriptural wisdom of Psalm 127:1 is clear to
us: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Perhaps
our current committees need to be laid entirely before our Lord’s will and
Friends invited to prayerfully consider to what duty each is being called…
willing also to undergo clearness in these callings. The work given will be
done and the work NOT clearly given laid aside until mandated by God and
supported by Friends. Friends,
we lay these concerns before you and thank you and our Lord for your
intentional attention to them. We desire also that these issues be addressed
here and not returned to a committee for solution. The meeting now adjourns until 2:00 p.m. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends,
Eighth Month 15th afternoon session. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice
with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Recompense to no man
evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be
possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Be not overcome
of evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:14-15,
17-18, 21 We give
thanks to our Creator for sending another new visitor: Nancy Craft of Virginia
Beach Monthly Meeting, North Carolina Yearly Meeting. The
meeting heard the report of the Walton home. The meeting commends Nirmal and
Diana Kaul and their daughters Leela and Anita for their commitment to Walton
residents in their golden years and for their superb job at managing the
Walton. We have seen the fingerprints of God on the Walton as they endured a
frustrating year. We are amazed at Nirmal’s dedication, including taking shifts
on occasion when an employee is unable to work. Complications
from staff resignations and lower than expected occupancy challenged their
long-range facilities planning. The Walton has taken the initiative in
advertising a government program to assist in funding new programs. We are
encouraged by the senior day care program newly created. We look forward to
seeing some renovations, including the new RN’s office and the lounge (the
latter located in the former dining room). The
Walton needs our prayers and financial support for meeting its callings and
fulfilling its ministry. Without love for people, and a desire to serve, this
example of true service will be greatly hampered as it makes the transition
into the twenty first century. WALTON RETIREMENT HOME ANNUAL REPORT – 2007 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble.– Psalm 46:1 Time and
again, we have experienced God’s promise.
He has indeed been our refuge and strength, and has helped us in all
kinds of situations. We praise Him and
bless His Holy Name, and give Him all the honor and glory for the ministry at
Walton Home. Because
of His very present help in all kinds of situations, we can gratefully report
that Ohio Yearly Meeting’s ministry of love and compassion to people in their
golden years has remained strong. Walton has been blessed with a superb team of
able, dedicated and committed workers who continue to provide an excellent service to the residents, including the
independent residents. We continue to
encourage the families to be involved in the care of their loved ones, as well
as volunteers in this ‘Love in Action’ ministry of the Quakers. In many
ways the past year has been perhaps the most arduous and challenging year. Each time a challenge seemed insurmountable,
we were reminded that we do not fight these battles alone. And, each time we have felt His hand guiding
us and helping us. For instance, when in
the month of April, just as we were preparing for the annual inspection by the
Department of Health, both our nurses resigned, for family and health reasons,
respectively, we found replacements
within a very few days. Our new head
nurse is Mary Jo Moore, who had worked at Walton Home in the nineties. She is
now a Registered Nurse and will have more responsibilities, which will also
allow us to provide skilled care to recuperating residents for 120 days. You will recall that we had been looking for
an RN for the last four years, and the one God has sent our way is an answer to
prayer. We
gratefully acknowledge the involvement of the Barnesville Ministerial
Association, who graciously provide spiritual nurture to our residents by
conducting worship services on Sundays; Agnes Timmons, who conducts the
Sing-Along, singing hymns and sharing spiritually uplifting stories, including
some humorous ones, on Thursdays; Diana Polinski, who conducts the Gadget Band
on Wednesdays and Saturdays, singing old songs - spiritual, patriotic, and
romantic - which is followed with a game of Bingo on both days; and Martha
& Randy Giffen, who have faithfully led the Bible Study on Saturdays. All of these friends and Friends, ministers
and others, are truly our fellow-laborers, and our hearts are full of gratitude
to them for their involvement in the spiritual nurture of our residents. We have
continued to experience low occupancy throughout the year, which made it
difficult to take care of many things for which we had hoped and planned. But, by God’s grace and with careful
planning, we managed to stay afloat. Even with the approval of Medicaid Waiver
for Assisted Living, we could not improve our occupancy. We had hoped that we would fill the six rooms
approved, but we have had just two residents under this program. Both came because we sought them. The main reason is that the Medicaid Waiver has
not been given any publicity by the Department of Aging. We have approached the concerned authorities
in the Department of Aging, about this matter, and we were told that we could
do our own publicity. Therefore, we have been doing just that. We sent announcements to all the doctors and
social workers in the Ohio Valley. We distributed announcements at the Belmont
County Business Showcase in which we participated again this year. And, we advertised in all the newspapers in
the Valley. The new nurse and I visited
Senior Citizen centers in our area, handed out the announcements, and answered
all the questions the Seniors raised about the program. We plan to continue to
visit these Centers and have also invited seniors from these Centers to join
our residents for games and refreshments.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce have received regular updates about
the new programs, and last week the Walton Home hosted the Chamber for
breakfast and their monthly meeting for business. Medicaid
Waiver has been extended to another category which will prove to be very
helpful to us and some of our residents.
Those residents who have lived in an Assisted Living facility for at
least six months, and have run out of funds, are now eligible for
Medicaid. This will help at least three
of our present residents in the near future.
This provision became law on June 30, and within four months it will be
implemented. Recently,
after showing around an elderly woman and her son, he said that Walton was the
best kept secret in the town. His mother
has since become a resident. We have
decided to do a lot more advertising than we have ever done in the past. At the
suggestion of a good friend of Walton, we have decided to offer a service that
no one was offering in this area - Adult Day Care. We have made announcements in the newspapers,
as well as through the Churches, the Chamber of Commerce and Senior Citizen
centers. We have received inquiries from
three people so far. We hope to admit
three or four Day Care residents on a regular basis. The only question the people have raised is
that they cannot believe that we can provide this service - care from 7:00 a.m.
to 7:00 p.m. including three meals and snacks - for just $30.00 a day. Besides providing a much needed service to
the families who are taking care of their loved ones at home, we are looking at
it from a public relations point of view.
We want people to come and ‘taste’ our services, and become potential
residents in the future - just another way to counteract low occupancy! We were
only able to transfer $16,000.00 from the General Fund to the Growth Fund last
year in order to pay toward the debt we owe to the Sky Bank. However, with the interest money, donations,
etc. we were able to pay $58,000.00 toward our debt last year, and as of June
30, 2007, our debt stands at $340,056.99.
We hope and pray that we can do better next year. So far,
our appeal against the property taxes has not received any response. We have been told that appeals as old as
three years have not been considered yet.
We have also been told that while our appeal may be considered for the
Assisted Living Facility, but there will be no exemption for the Independent
Living apartments. So, the Walton Home
will be paying taxes, but we hope not to the extent we are paying now. During this calendar year, we have paid
$24,764.86 which is a big chunk of money, especially with such low occupancy.
But, we thank God we have managed to balance the budget. Because
of the budget constraints we have had to postpone proposed projects that had
been considered by the Board, including the plan to convert the basement
recreation room in the new building into a conference room. It will cost anywhere from $15,000.00 to
$20,000.00 to make the necessary changes: such as turning the two small storage
rooms into a fully furnished kitchen.
Another project, which cannot be postponed anymore, is the extension of
the sewer line to the Manager’s House, and then on to the Smith House and the
two new apartments which are in the planning stages. We would also like to do some landscaping to
make the grounds look nicer, especially the area between the two driveways. Against
the backdrop of all these needs, we have been sad to see donations
dwindling. We received $9,495.00 for
both the General and the Growth funds, a lot less than we had anticipated. We hope and pray that members of the Ohio Yearly
Meeting will continue to support us with both finances as well as their prayers.
We need both. We cannot
over-emphasize the importance of Walton’s wholesome and compassionate ministry
to people in their golden years. The
Edward and Mary Haworth estate will hopefully be settled by the end of this
year. The IRS now has all the tax
returns but has not communicated back to us.
Their communication will determine when the estate can be settled, and how much there will be left for distribution.
Since the initial Executor had not submitted any tax returns, these were five
years late, and we have no clue as to how much penalty and interest will be
charged to the Estate. Ernest Hartley,
as the replacement Executor, has done an excellent job in hunting down all the
assets and finally being able to file the returns. We are very grateful to him
for his help. Since
the OYM Fiduciary Trustees will report about the Plummer property in detail as
to all that has transpired during the past year, we will limit our comments to
simply inform you that the Walton Home Board has reiterated its interest in the land, should the Olney School
have no use for it. If the Olney School
cannot use it for educational purposes, then we would request that the
Fiduciary Trustees make sure that Walton Home has the first option to lease the
land. As we
indicated in the past, we receive constant inquiries about independent
apartments. One of the parties
interested in coming to live here at Walton has indicated that he will pay the
lease amount, plus a donation to help us build two apartments behind the Hoyle
House. Each apartment will be accessed
from the ground - the benefit of living on top of a hill. John Rockwell has designed the apartments and
we are in discussion with the two builders who will submit their bids soon. The
apartments will be environmentally friendly and will cost a lot more money than
regular construction. The apartments
will be built with concrete walls, with insulation on both sides of the walls,
with triple pane glass windows, and will be finished with stucco on the outside
and drywall on the inside. The
apartments will be heated through geothermal heat. We believe with the lease of the second
apartment, the additional funds we need may not exceed more than $50,000 to
$75,000.00 for the building. Therefore,
we request you to help us - please! Our
Endowment Fund invested with the OYM Fiduciary Trustees now stands at
$318,851.00, far less than the million dollars we had hoped for during the
first ten years. All of you have the
opportunity to safeguard this vital ministry of OYM, by making a provision in
your will for a portion of your estate for Walton. You can also establish a
“Memorial Fund,” in the name of a departed loved one. A sizable Endowment Fund is very essential
for an ongoing ministry like Walton, and we would like you to partner with us
in meeting the ongoing needs of this ministry. We are
profoundly grateful to Ohio Yearly Meeting for the Annual Grant of $14,000.00
last year. Your practical help is
clearly an indication of your commitment and love for the ministry at
Walton. We hope and pray that OYM will
continue to support Walton at the same level or more, if possible, financially
and through your prayers so that we may continue to help those who are unable
to pay even our modest room rates.
Wages, food and utilities costs have increased considerably,
recently. We cannot raise the room rates
to the same extent, hence the need for your help! Finally,
we would like to thank the Ohio Yearly Meeting for its ministry to people in
their sunset years, and to the members of the Walton Home Board for their labor
of love, their help and guidance. We
thank you all for affording us the privilege of being the chief stewards at
Walton. It is our prayer that God will
continue to bless our stewardship and enable us to serve our Lord by serving
our fellow-man, thereby bringing joy and comfort to those we serve, and honor
and glory to God our Heavenly Father. Our
daughters, Leela and Anita, both pursuing college education, join us in
extending our warm greetings to you and yours. Respectfully
Submitted, Nirmal
& Diana Kaul, Managers Report of the President of Walton
Home Board Dear Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends: “The Walton Retirement Home, ‘a Friendly Community since
1944,’ is a non-profit ministry of Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends giving loving
and compassionate care to the elderly in a home-like setting, meeting physical
and spiritual needs, regardless of race or religion, in the name of Jesus Christ,
our Lord.” The
Walton Home Board has met regularly this year, and our meetings have been well
attended by members and some guests. Our managers, Nirmal and Diana Kaul, have
continued their outstanding fiscal management often at some sacrifice to themselves.
When both of our part-time LPNs resigned in Fourth Month, we took this
opportunity to re-evaluate our staffing and goals and hired a Registered Nurse.
Many prospective residents ask if we have an RN on staff, and having one allows
us to provide more services such as recuperative care. We are optimistic that
the increased expense in salary will pay off in many other ways. In the
face of continued low occupancy, some might question if there is still a need
for the Walton Home. A re-reading of our mission statement above and knowledge
of the growing numbers of elderly who now do or soon will need the kind of care
that Walton provides assures us that there is still a ministry to be fulfilled.
There are many reasons for the low occupancy. Resistance to change on the part
of the elderly and/or their families is often a large part. Misinformation and
sometimes outright prejudice on the part of local social workers and other
health care providers who could and should be making referrals is a problem. We are
very pleased that Nirmal and Mary Jo Moore, our new RN, have met with several
local organizations and senior citizen groups to tell the story of the Walton
Home. Mary Jo has also visited prospective residents in their homes to help
them see the value of Walton. Most rewarding has been the response to Nirmal’s
development of an Adult Day Care/Caregiver’s Respite program at Walton. Not
only is this a much-needed program in the community, but may well help some
elderly transition to full-time residence at Walton and makes use of the empty
rooms in the meantime. To date we have three applicants for the Adult Day Care
and this month have accepted four new residents. We thank
the Yearly Meeting for its financial support of the Walton Home. Even though
our rates are as much as ½ less than those of other assisted living facilities,
there are still many who need a subsidy for part of their room fees. We would
ask that individual members also consider gifts to the Walton Home for the
endowment or building funds. We ask also that Yearly Meeting members speak
positively about the Walton Home in their conversations with elderly who might
be seeking a retirement/assisted living facility. Your continued prayers and
support are needed. Respectively
submitted, Susan
R. Price, President Walton
Home Board, Eighth Month 2007 WALTON RETIREMENT
HOME Financial Profile as of June 30, 2007 Fiscal Year Income Expenditure
Renovations Loss (-) or &
Loan Payments Gain (+) 1991-92 198,489.75 183,054.12 13,565.00 (+) 1,870.63 1992-93 199,916.94 183,064.66 15,200.00 (+) 1,652.28 1993-94 216,154.11 184,294.78 31,239.85 (+) 619.48 1994-95 245,124.33 198,950.70 43,000.00 (+) 3,173.63 1995-96 256,887.40 206,052.16 49,000.00 (+) 1,835.24 1996-97 272,583.76 231,438.12 38,000.00 (+) 3,145.64 1997-98 281,520.21 235,438.99 44,000.00 (+) 2,081.22 1998-99 283,681.28 252,802.85 35,000.00 (-) 4,121.57 1999-00 368,627.40 291,116.36 81,250.00 (-) 3,738.96 Loan
Payments 2000-01 396,063.71 344,764.93 49,000.00 (+) 2,298.78 2001-02 439,072.47 369,105.97 69,200.00 (+) 766.50 2002-03 481,718.52 422,252.03 57,000.00 (+) 2,466.49 2003-04 444,849.60 385,354.44 58,000.00 (+) 1,495.16 2004-05 461,501.31 388,442.75 55,000.00 (+)18,058.56 2005-06 440,966.92 412,195.78 24,000.00 (+) 4,771.14 2006-07 450,051.22 433,332.84 16,000.00 (+) 718.38 $678,454.00 Deposited with the OYM Fiduciary Trustees Endowment Fund (Restricted)
$318,851.00 Building Fund (Unrestricted)
42,100.00 Outstanding debt to Sky Bank, as of
June 30, 2007
$340,056.99 Note: Since all the major renovations were completed by June,
2000, beginning with the 2000-2001 fiscal year, General Maintenance was added
to the General Operating Account, and the Growth & Maintenance Fund was
changed to GROWTH FUND account. This
change made it possible to deal with loan repayment, lease refunds, and
contingencies from the Growth Fund Account, which makes the accounting process
less complicated. Hence the adjusted figures since 2000-2001 fiscal year. Accountant’s Compilation Report To the Board of Trustees, Walton Retirement Home We have
compiled the accompanying statements of assets, liabilities, and equity (cash
basis) of Walton Retirement Home as of June 30, 2007, and the related
statements of revenues and expenses (cash basis) for the 2007 year then ended,
in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services
issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
compilation is limited to presenting in the form of financial statements
information that is the representation of management. We have not audited or
reviewed the accompanying financial statements and, accordingly, do not express
an opinion for any other form of assurance on them. Management
has elected to omit substantially all of the disclosures ordinarily included in
financial statements prepared on the Cash Basis of Accounting. If the omitted
disclosures were included in the financial statements, they might influence the
user’s conclusions about the Company’s assets, liabilities, equity, revenues,
and expenses. Accordingly, these financial statements are not designed for
those who are not informed about such matters. William
A. Knox August
10, 2007 Walton Retirement Home Balance Sheet Cash Basis, June 30, 2007 Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted General
Fund Growth Fund Endowment Fund Total All Funds ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $35,412 $16,883 $52,295
Investments – Fiduciary Trustees 42,100 318,851 360,951 TOTAL ASSETS 35,412 58,983 318,851 413,246 LIABILITIES
Note payable – Sky Bank 0 340,057 0 340,057 TOTAL LIABILITIES 0 340,057 0 340,057 FUND BALANCES:
Unrestricted 35,412 (284,074) (245,662)
Restricted 318,851 318,851 TOTAL BUND BALANCES 35,412 (281,074) 318,851 73,189 TOTAL LIABILITY AND FUND BALANCES 35,412 58,983 318,851 413,246 WALTON RETIREMENT HOME STATEMENT OF SUPPORT, REVENUES, AND
EXPENSES, AND FUND BALANCES For the Year Ended
6/30/2007 Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted General Fund Growth Fund Endowment Fund Total All Funds SUPPORT AND REVENUE
Room and Board 389,344 389,344
Apartment lease 0
Maintenance fees 47,141 47,141
Food 5,671 5,671
Donations 3,400 20,595 23,995
Interest/ investment income 59 58,805 58,864
Other 4,495 4,495 TOTAL SUPPORT AND REVENUE 450,051 20,654 58,805 529,510 EXPENSES
Utilities 49,792 49,792
Provisions 32,100 32,100
Payroll (including payroll taxes) 273,396 273,396
Taxes 24,800 24,800
Insurance 14,077 14,077
General operating expenses 15,408 15,408
Office supplies and equipment 2,253 2,253
Professional fees 1,500 1,500
Special projects 0
General maintenance 20,008 20,008
Interest 19,920 19,920
Principal payments 38,080 38,080 TOTAL EXPENSES 433,333 58,000 0 491,333 REVENUE & SUPPORT EXCESS (DEFICIT) 16,718 (37,346) 58,805 38,177 OPERATING TRANSFERS (16,000) 25,455 (9,455) 0 FUND BALANCES, ENDING 35,412 (281,074) 318,851 73,189 Following a time of announcements, the meeting adjourned
until tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends,
Eighth Month 16th morning session. [Jesus] entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into
his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying
on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be
of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And, behold, certain of the scribes
said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts
said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say,
Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know
that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the
sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he
arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they
marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. - Matthew 9: 1-8 The Lord has
treated us today with the presence of Dave Casterline of Plainfield, New
Jersey, and Paulette Meier of Community Meeting, Cincinnati, Ohio. The Yearly Meeting Membership Recorder provided
the following Membership Report. Much of the Report documents the organization
of Keystone Fellowship Monthly Meeting. We mourn the departure of several
Friends, and we rejoice in the joining of eighteen new Friends. We appreciate
the report and the service of the Membership Recorder. 2007 Membership Report for Ohio
Yearly Meeting Total
Membership Seventh Month First,
2006 (Last Year) 531 Gains: Births
or adoptions 1 Certificates
Received 8 Requests 9 Total
Gains 18 Losses: Deaths
5 Certificates
Transferred 9 Membership Discontinued 7 Total Losses 21 Net
Loss for the year ― ― 3 Total
Membership Seventh Month First, 2007
(This Year) 528
Affiliate
Member 62 Affiliate
Associate Members 14 Associate Members 28 Sojourning Members 0 Waiting 3 Membership
Summary (Including Associate Members) Membership under
5 years of age 4 Membership
from 5 to 18 34 Membership 18
and over 490 Total
( Same as above) 528 Resident
Status of Members Resident Members 158 Non-Resident
Members* 370 Total 528 *Members
shall be considered non-resident when they live at least 30 miles from the
meeting and attend less than one First Day Meeting per month. School Report
(Members attending schools) Attending
Pre-School 2 Attending
Olney Friends School 2 Attending Public
Schools 14 Attending
Private Schools 11 Attending Home
Schools 0 Attending
College 28 Total 57 1. Number of weddings under the care of this
Yearly Meeting— 0 2. Number of members married this year under the
care of Friends—0 3. Number of members married this year NOT under
the care of Friends— 2 Total
members married this year (Total of 2&3)
2 Names of
those married and dates of the marriages: 7/1/06 Shelley Ann (Scott) Buettner to Joel
Rockwell 11/4/06 Kimberly Cooper to Tim Mahler
Names of
ministers recorded this year: 0 Names of new
elders appointed this year: 0
Names of
members received by birth, certificate or request: Date Name Reason as above 8/2006 Simon Watson (affiliate)
Request 8/05/06 Mike Kinch Transfer from Rockingham to
Keystone 8/05/06 Terry Wallace Transfer from Rockingham to Keystone 8/05/06 Seth Hinshaw Transfer from Stillwater to Keystone 8/05/06 Charles Thomas Jr. Transfer from Middleton to Keystone 8/05/06 Penny Thomas Transfer from Middleton to Keystone 8/5/06 Steven Geyer Request 8/5/06 Charlotte Geyer Request 8/5/06 David Eley Request 9/17/06 Sharon A. Helms Request 10/17/06 Robert L. Hopper Request 10/26/06 John Chapman Benson
Certificate of transfer from Purchase
Meeting, New York To Stillwater 12/2006 Raymond W. Stanley
Certificate of transfer from Stillwater to Middleton 12/2006 Huldah L. Stanley Certificate of transfer from Stillwater
to Middleton 2/18/07 James H. Drummond Request 4/22/07 Valerie Hibbard Request 5/2007 Darrell Gene Hilliard
(affiliate) Request 5/18/07 Kaylie Allana Parsons
(affiliate/assoc) Request of parents Membership
losses by death, certificate of removal, request to be released: Date Name Reason
as above 7/7/06 Bee A. (Thomas) McPeak Death
(Age 87) 8/5/06 Charles Thomas, Jr. Transfer to
Keystone 8/5/06 Penny Thomas Transfer to Keystone 9/16/06 Mike Kinch Transfer to
Keystone 9/16/06 Terry Wallace Transfer to Keystone 11/19/06 Raymond W. Stanley Transfer to Middleton 11/19/06 Huldah L. Stanley Transfer to Middleton 11/19/06 Seth B. Hinshaw Transfer to Keystone 11/19/06 Cleda M. Mott Request for release 11/19/06 Perry L. Mott Request for release 11/19/06 Eric L. Mott Request for release 11/19/06 Kimberly (Mott) Saderholm Request for release 11/19/06 Amy E. (Mott) Watson Request for release 12/17/06 Christian M. Ravndal Transfer to Yellow Springs 12/17/06 Janeal Ravndal Transfer to Yellow
Springs 2006 Stephen T. Lenart Lost contact, discontinued 2/6/07 Heather Lee Henderson Death 2/15/07 Esther S. Heacock Death (age 95) 3/17/07 Beatrice Sayre Death (age 80) 5/2007 Dominic Kent Request for release 5/12/07 Florence A. Guindon Death
Names of Overseers:
Myrtle E. Bailey, Susan D. Bailey, Eunice M. Burkey, Faye M. Chapman,
Verna Cope, Anthony J. Edgerton, Marie Kirk Hawkins, Ardith E. Henderson,
Mildred S. Henderson, D. Raye Hodgson, Sara L. Kirk, Elvina M. Krekler,
Kimberly A. Newlin, Victor G. Peacock, Louis F. Rockwell, Dean A. Sidwell,
Evelyn L. Sidwell, Rose M. Sidwell, Huldah L. Stanley, Frances I. Taber, Karen
L. Walsh Names of Elders: Howard E. Bailey, Mildred E. Cooper, Lois G.
Edgerton, James Randall Giffen, Rebecca
J. Hawkins, Katharine Jacobsen, Diana Kaul, Kathleen Kovalick, Anna S. Peacock,
Robert Rothwell, Evelyn L. Sidwell, Richard A. Simon, Susan S. Smith, Robert W.
Stratton, Winifred E. Stratton, Richard Wetzel Names of Ministers:
Howard E. Bailey, Myrtle E. Bailey, Seth B. Hinshaw, Martha M. Giffen,
Richard A. Hall, Nancy H. Hawkins, Edward N. Kirk, Conrad Lindes, Archie L.
Newlin, John Smith, Winifred E. Stratton, Robert Wilber. Monthly
Meeting Clerks: Chesterfield: James L. Creighton Chestnut Ridge: Burton Doudna Keystone Fellowship: Steven Geyer Middleton: Lois G. Edgerton, Marlene T. Cooper, Asst. Rockingham: Susan S. Smith
Salem: Carey L. Newlin, Eunice M. Burkey (Asst) Ardith
E. Henderson (Alt) Short
Creek: Elvina M. Krekler Stillwater: Thomas F. Rockwell, Leonard D. Guindon Winona: Rose M. Sidwell, Evelyn L. Sidwell Recorders: Chesterfield: James L. Creighton Chestnut Ridge: Evelyn M. Groves Keystone Fellowship: Charlotte Geyer Middleton: Verna H. Cope Rockingham: Fred Ceppa Salem: Elma S. Dixson Short Creek: Elvina M. Krekler Stillwater: Dorothy R. Guindon Winona: Rose M. Sidwell Submitted by Dorothy J. Smith, OYM
Recorder The following Travel Fund Report was read. They have not had
a large call on funds during the previous year, and one member of the committee
stated that a similar appropriation as that of last year should be suitable. We
commend the committee for their work. Travel Fund Report Balance 8/1/2006 $2,029.08 Income Expenses Ohio Yearly Meeting 500.00 Faith Community Christian Donations 20.00 High School 200.00 Interest (12 months) 13.06 Total Income 533.06 Total
Expenses 200.00-1 Balance
7/31/2007 $2,362.14 1 - $200.00 donation for Lily & Reuben Rockwell’s Senior
Mission trip, approved at Fourth Month Representative Meeting Respectfully submitted, Dennis Rockwell, Treasurer The Memorial Committee Report was read. Friends appreciate
the late endeavors of the committee and approved of the report. We direct the
Audit and Budget Committee to take into account the cost of the three memorials
expected in the coming year. Report of the Memorial Committee The
Memorial Committee senses a need to work on four additional memorials for
valued Friends, recently departed. We have started collecting information on a
memorial for Jesse Starbuck, a Friend of keen spiritual insight from Salem. We
had hoped to have the text complete by this time, but family difficulties for
three of our committee members hampered our progress. Our
committee felt in best wisdom to draft a letter to all meetings, asking for
recollections of Friends and family of the four. We have set a deadline of New
Year’s Day, 2008. Information collected at that time will be written up. First
drafts should be ready to be sent to all meetings to allow Friends time to give
additional thoughts or insights. A final version should be ready to be
presented at the spring Representative Meeting for final approval. The three
memorials we have a sense should be completed by this time next year are for 1)
Jesse Starbuck, 2) Everett Hartley, and 3) Floyd and Mary Hawkins. The memorial for Jesse Starbuck, of
course, will also include much on his wife Clara. The memorial for Everett
Hartley should include much on Martha as well as some information on Harvey
Hartley not included in his unofficial memorial. The fourth memorial we are considering is one we
feel should be a little larger than our recent memorials. For this reason, we
believe that the memorial for Bill Taber will likely need more time so we may
investigate more fully what is appropriate. On
behalf of the committee, Seth Hinshaw, convenor. ------- Susan
Lee Barton reported on need for prayer requests for various Christian groups in
Bangladesh, whose human rights are being severely violated. We understand that
part of the problem is derived from a current attempt to establish Islam as the
state religion. The concern of the Nominating Committee from
yesterday was resumed. Some Friends who were not aware of the extent of the
need have come forward, and the Nominating Committee believes some additional
stone turning techniques may resolve some problems. The committee feels no need
for Friends to continue the discussion on the topic at this time, as the
immediate issues have been resolved somewhat. We encourage all committees to
consider the appropriate size during the coming year in consultation with the
Nominating Committee. One
Friend also noted that the working groups have not functioned during the past
year, and they are now discontinued. Friends also felt that those Friends
appointed to specific functions or Representatives to Friends organizations
might be collected separately in the printed minutes from the committee
membership lists. The meeting read the First through Fifth Queries with the
proposed Yearly Meeting summaries. The text of the Quarterly Meeting answers
were provided to Friends in handouts but were not read at this time. The
following Yearly Meeting summaries were approved. First
Query. Our meetings for worship are
well attended by most of our active resident members. Though some members find
punctuality challenged by distances necessary to travel to meet together, and
by responsibilities such as care of small children, most are punctual in
attendance. Most Friends arrive for worship spiritually prepared and with the
intention of experiencing meditation and deep communion with God. Some find it
difficult to clear our minds of worldly concerns and from our human thinking,
which closes us off from being able to follow leadings of the Lord and His
work. We
recognize that worship together is help in our lives. Our meetings are held in
prayerful obedience and waiting for the Holy Spirit. When the vocal ministry is
clearly of the Lord’s direction, the Spirit of Love prevails and Friends
experience the Lord’s presence with moments of spiritual depth. We encourage and continue to hear gospel
ministry that praises our Lord Christ Jesus and uplifts our spiritual life. We
welcome all who visit and encourage them to come again. Most meetings express
concern to be more active in inviting others to worship with us so the
Christian witness of Friends may be more widely known. Some are feeling called
to be more faithful and to do more personal witnessing about our testimony of
worship in spirit and in truth, in the name of Jesus. Second
Query. We call on the Savior’s strength to accomplish a forgiving spirit.
We strive to forgive when we are wronged, although it can be difficult at
times. Friends have endeavored to forgive those who have hurt them, but we
recognize that without Christ we fall short. Some Friends note a renewed focus
on the need to rely on God’s love for all of us and to understand God’s part in
opening hearts to love and forgiveness. Friends
have experienced the importance of being mindful of the reputation of others,
both those with whom we are close and those beyond our immediate boundaries.
Generally we are careful to be positive and free of judgment or criticism when
speaking of others, always striving to be truthful while not spreading stories
or gossip. Observations made after seeking God’s guidance are more likely to be
made in love, free of ill feelings, and truly helpful. We are
commanded to love one another as Christ loves us. This is a tall order to love
this deeply, yet with Christ’s help and knowing that He gave His life for us,
we strive for this goal. We have tried to react in a spirit of love toward
those who have values that conflict with ours, or those who annoy us, whether
at home or driving down the highway. To respond in love is to allow resentments
to fall away. We foster love of our neighbor sometimes through loving prayers. Friends
are not always eager to deal with differences among us. Some meetings report
that they have met the causes of disharmony quickly with love. Though some
Friends differ in small matters they behave in love toward one another. To follow
the leadings of our Lord is our greatest desire. Third Query. We believe our homes to be places of refuge from the world, places of
peace, joy, and contentment that afford some positive influence upon our
children, grandchildren, and their friends, and to some degree in our local
communities. Love in a home generates peace, joy, and contentment in our own
hearts as we experience God’s hand guiding us and as we follow His will for our
lives. This is true whether our family at home consists of only one person or a
husband, wife, and several children. Our homes are direct influences for good
through our hospitality, especially for public worship, which occurs regularly
in some homes, and public Bible study which occurs in others. One meeting noted
that our homes may be an influence for good by keeping our homes neat,
uncluttered, and attractive. Another noted that our living and practicing
examples often have more influence than our words with our children and our
neighbors. Friends
continue to emphasize the value of gathering the whole family together
regularly for Bible reading, particularly in times of crisis. We all have
experienced the need for a reminder to identify the hand of Christ guiding us
through life and to be willing to accept and obey Him. Sometimes it is many
years before we see that the things we have taught our children in early life
actually mean something to them and that they truly are close to God. Fourth
Query. “He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). As we have grown in the Light of
Christ Jesus, we have been repeatedly nurtured in healthy habits of prayer,
thought, and deed, and leave behind unhealthy practices. Vanity can be a
motive, but ideally we feel we are caring for the temple of God. We know that
God has a purpose for each life, and this kindles a spiritual awareness to take
care of ourselves. Friends
have been concerned to get enough sleep and keep our minds and bodies active.
Since every one who strives for spiritual mastery is temperate in all things in
order to obtain the incorruptible crown, Friends are careful to continue in
physical labor and other exercises to sustain physical fitness – especially
when aging challenges our strength. It takes discipline to keep healthy habits
high on our priority lists. Most
report care to follow proper diets to minimize weight gain and maximize proper
nutrition, yet express struggles with temperance in eating. Most
Friends abstain from the use of alcohol,
tobacco, other intoxicants, and the improper use of drugs. While small
improvements were noted, we have not all been successful in making our bodies
“pollution-free” temples of God. Fifth
Query. All Friends feel the desire to help others even though we are not
always in a position to do so. Christian love transcends the boundaries of
privacy, but explicit communication of needs more quickly points out the
direction of counsel and assistance. Friends sometimes miss openings to help
because they are unaware of a need until the opportunity to help is past. One
meeting recently learned a lesson in thoughtful prayer as they sought
discernment in assisting a stranger in need. The meeting desired guidance to be
faithful children of God and representatives of Friends. Specific actions
Friends have participated in include helping another move to a new home;
providing household goods, financial assistance, food and clothing to community
members; transporting the elderly; and writing letters. Friends have benefited
from visitation, and Friends would like to see more visitation taking place.
Many assist outwardly and all recognize the value of prayer. We find when we
give and accept help, we are brought closer together in the Lord’s love. Prayer
helps us see the needs of others and equips us to better assist with their
burdens. Some Friends acknowledge that they could help more by either opening
up to those around them or by relying less on institutions to take care of
those with more immediate needs. Some Friends expressed a concern that it is
not always clear how much money raised for compassionate causes is used for the
needy rather than for solicitation. Some
meetings reported opportunities for counsel, though others reported no direct
counseling with members. During counseling, Friends have seen the value of
reflecting the love and compassion we have received from Christ Jesus upon
others. The following excerpt from the Epistle
of New England Yearly Meeting was read. We were reminded that our worship and our witness are one.
Corporate worship is the union of the love of God with the love of neighbor.
Our obedience to God requires surrender of our individual wills and
preferences, as well as intense listening to God and to one another. Throughout
this week, we have felt the love of God over all, blessing us many times with
the grace of confession, submission, and integrity. Following a time of announcements, the meeting adjourned
until 2:00 p.m. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends,
Eighth Month 16th afternoon session. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the
flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season
we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:7-10 We welcome among us Tom Roberts of Westfield, Indiana. Lois Edgerton returned a minute granted to her by the
Representative Meeting last spring, endorsed by Deborah Fisch, Clerk of Iowa
Yearly Meeting. We thank Lois for her concern and also thank Tony for
accompanying her to cultivate our connection with them. Lois also provided a
brief written report on the Iowa sessions, which was read. Report on Iowa Yearly Meeting 2007 The theme of this year’s Iowa Yearly Meeting was
“Sustaining Ourselves.” The evening presentations centered around different
aspects of this theme. A native
of Kenya, now a member of Ames Meeting, showed pictures and talked about her
plans to provide a library in the village of Maliki in honor of her parents.
Yearly Meeting children then decided to make cards and sell them to help with
her project. A panel
of speakers, including Joey Giffen-Hunter from Scattergood, talked about their
experiences with sustainable living. Marshall
Massey spoke of lessons he encountered from different Friends as he walked part
way and rode part way from Omaha to speak at Baltimore Yearly Meeting last
year. Sixth
day evening, Ned Stowe, FCNL’s Legislative Secretary spoke of FCNL’s efforts to
promote long-term protection of the environment, including a description of the
renovation of their building in Washington, D.C. He asked, “What would Love
have us do for creation, for our grandchildren and great grandchildren? What
would Love have us do for the forest creatures who are just beginning to feel
the effects of climate change?” I found
the meetings for business to be held in a worshipful manner. They have a new
P.A. system which helps everyone to hear the clerks and messages from the
floor. Even the stretch breaks were done in worship. I was
enriched by my experience. I found some differences and some similarities to
our own yearly meeting. It reinforced the need to keep our yearly meetings in
touch with one another. Thank you for the opportunity to make this a personal
contact. Respectfully
submitted, Lois Edgerton The report of the Christian Education Camp was read. The
Yearly Meeting owes Diana Kaul and the planning team a great deal of gratitude
for another excellent camp experience, organizing and drawing on the gifts of
adult and teen counselors. The campers are enthusiastic and eager, and Friends
report all involved had a good time in this ministry of our Yearly Meeting.
Diana pointed out that this is the Lord’s ministry and does not belong to any
specific person, but we want again to recognize her contribution. Christian Education Camp 2007 Report to Ohio Yearly Meeting Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God
will be with you wherever you go. -
Joshua 1:9 “Courageous
in the Lord” was the theme of the 2007 Ohio Yearly Meeting Christian Education
Camp, held Sixth Month 17th to 20th on the campus of Olney Friends School.
Twenty-five campers from grades one through eight were in attendance along with
five high school aged counselors and five adult counselors. All of
the high school counselors were experienced from previous years at camp and
worked very well as a team. This was evident in their increased confidence in
leadership roles as well as their spiritual modeling for the young campers.
High School aged counselors included Lily and Rueben Rockwell, Katie and Sam
Puterball, and Allison Guindon. Some of the previous years’ high school
counselors who were involved in mission trips at the same time as camp, or
occupied with jobs to help with college expenses, were unable to return this
year. We were
blessed with two new adult counselors this year. Janet Hammer and Dari
Sabatino, mothers to five of our camper boys, added their gifts of nurturing.
If schedules permit, they would like to return again next year. JoMae Rockwell,
who returned as camp nurse and craft activities leader, tirelessly ministered
to the campers. Elvina Krekler lovingly grand mothered the quadrant of younger
girls, and Diana Kaul led the morning Bible lessons. Spontaneity
and flexibility are essential when working with young campers and nature. A
sudden and severe cloudburst occurred our first evening while the caravan of
eager campers was enroute to the Barnesville Pool. Though the rains let up
after a time, the thunder and lightning persisted and we had to cancel our hour
of reserved swimming. Get acquainted games were quickly organized by counselors
under the safety of the large park shelter. Although we were able to enjoy the
hot afternoon dips at Barkcamp, a heavy downpour our second evening once again
changed our plans to swim in Barnesville. Campers
were introduced to a new activity this year called TAG time. Scheduled right
after breakfast, they were asked to spend Time Along with God – reading a
portion of scripture, reflecting on questions related to the scripture as well
as to their own personal experiences, and concluding with a time of praise and
prayer. This personal devotional time was not only preparational for the day,
but allowed for greater sharing during Bible sessions. Christian
Education Camp is successful each year through the efforts of many willing and
helping hands, both prior to camp and during camp itself. Committee members who
are not physically available during camp are faithful in holding the campers
and counselors up in prayer, which is equally essential. We are also grateful
to members of Stillwater Meeting, who were available to offer their time and
gifts as needed. The
treasurer’s report follows and shows a smaller ending balance than the past
year. The OYM grant and additional donations have continued to make it possible
for children to attend camp at a minimal cost compared to other available
camps. We are grateful to the Yearly Meeting for their continued support of
this vital outreach ministry for the children of our yearly meeting and the
wider community. Olney has reserved the dates of 15th to 18th of Sixth Month
2008 for our next year’s session of Christian Education Camp. On
behalf of the Christian Education Camp Committee, Diana L. Kaul Christian Education Camp Financial Report 2007 Income Expenses Balance on hand, 8/31/2006 $992.22 Deposit to Olney $250.00 OYM Grant 1,500.00 Payment to Olney 2,400.00 Camp Registrations 1,255.00 Other Expenses 510.12 Donations 240.00 Interest Income 9.15 Totals 3,996.37 3,160.12 Balance remaining, 08/2007: $836.25 On behalf of the Christian Education
Camp Committee, Clifford Guindon, Treasurer The Friends Center Committee produced the following report.
They have organized two events during the past year and have made the Morlan
available for many other events and overnight stays. The Committee played an
important role in organizing activities in Sixth Month when several FCNA
campers returned to the Stillwater community after three decades. The committee
expects to hold three events in the coming year. Several Friends expressed
thanks for the work of the committee. One Friend mentioned a concern about the
recent dialogue with Muslims, which was followed by several members expressing
their viewpoints. The Friend who had the initial concern said his impetus was
to endeavor to treat Muslims the same way ancient Friends had interacted with
American Indians. Friends Center Report to Ohio Yearly
Meeting 2007 The
Friends Center Committee continues to focus on how best to serve the yearly
meeting as well as the wider community of Friends. With meaningful topics in
mind and careful attention to divine guidance, we aim to bring people together
in a relaxed pastoral setting where, hopefully, participants can experience
spiritual growth. We welcome family overnights, personal retreats, and groups
who ask for use of the Morlan. In an
effort to continue the dialogue with Muslims begun at yearly meeting with the
presentation one evening, and to share mutual concerns for the right
relationships among all peoples for a surer way for us to go forward peaceably
as God would have us be, we held a Friends Center weekend this past fall with
the theme, “Muslim-Christian Quaker Experiences of the Living God.” The
presenters were Dr. Ghulam Haider Aasi, Director of the American Islamic
College and Drs. Harold and Mai Vogelaar. Harold is a Professor at Lutheran
School of Theology. All three came from Chicago. Twelve people attended this
session including students and a faculty member from Earlham College. It was a
useful time of sharing and developing respect for each other in our faith
traditions and beliefs. A
structured sojourn, in which folks interested in learning how spiritual
formation grows from the manner and life of Conservative Friends, was planned
for a weekend in Third Month. People stayed with five host families in
Stillwater Meeting, absorbing the atmosphere of our daily life, work, and
worship. Participants expressed appreciation for the weekend. Good use
was made of the Morlan. There was an afternoon meeting by the local Spiritual
Formation group; a two night writers retreat organized by a faculty member of
Muskingum College; a one day a month meeting of Episcopalian preachers; and a
retreat for Olney dorm leaders. The Friends Music Camp rented the house for a
month of staff use. It was used for a family reunion, and for many individual
overnights. Although
not a Friends Center program, in Sixth Month more than 80 people gathered,
starting with a weekend of former members of Young Friends of North America,
joined by current young adult Friends and merging into a week long retreat.
Members of the Friends Center Committee were asked to make presentations at
each evening session. On First Day, Fran Taber gave her Reflections on growing
up a Conservative Friend. Second Day Jack Smith spoke on Conservative Friends’
use of Scripture. Third Day, John Benson and Richard Simon spoke on our use of
Prayer. Fourth Day, Katharine and Ken Jacobsen shared on Eldering. Fifth Day,
Susan Smith discussed our practice of business meetings. These folks plus Susan
Bailey and local Friends moved in and out through the week. In a quote from
Pamela Haines, “Those who came were drawn together by a common hunger to know
God experientially, to be present to the spirit, to be led.” There are plans
for another gathering next year. On the
weekend before this year’s Yearly Meeting, Friends Center hosted a gathering of
new and isolated Christian Friends Meetings and Worship Groups. Jack and Susan
Smith acted as coordinators. Twelve participants explored together matters of
mutual concern and interest. We have
planned three weekend offerings for the coming year. Chris Ravndal is to lead a
Centering Prayer Workshop in Tenth Month and Brian Drayton will lead one on
Talking About Christ in Liberal Friends Meetings in Third Month. In Fourth
Month we expect to offer another Structured Sojourn Among Conservative Friends.
We are glad for the addition of John Benson, Terry Wallace,
and Susan Bailey to the committee. Friends Center Financial Report FY
06/07 FY 05/06 Income from Programs
Events 1,808.75 184.00
Donations 70.00 399.00
Overnights/Use of Morlan 1,518.00 2,806.50 Totals 3,396.75 3,389.50 Other Income
Interest from savings 9.14 12.51
OYM Contribution 25.00 25.00
Misc. 402.54 500.00 Total All Income 3,833.43 3,927.01 Expenses for Programs
Promotions 260.90 71.78
Utilities 1,460.96 1,498.08
Food/Supplies 27.65 6.16
Maintenance supplies
incl. housekeeping 475.37 489.08
OFS – Food/Mary Davis 1,229.50 696.00
Transportation/Honorarium 592.00 0.00
Misc. 402.54 0.00 Total All Expenses 4,448.92 2,806.10 Income from Programs 3,396.75 3,389.50 Expense from Programs 4,046.38 2,806.10 Gain (loss) from programs (649.63) 583.40 Reserves 6/30/2007 6/30/2006 Checking Acct. 1,104.13 1,723.76 Savings Acct. 3,670.49 3,661.35 Total 4,774.62 5,385.11 Comments on figures presented: 1. Event income was up because of two programs
(Christian/Muslim Dialogue and Structured Sojourn). 2. The 402.54 misc. income is reimbursement by
OYM Fiduciary Trustees for county real estate taxes which was paid and listed as
misc. expense. 3. The report shows a loss of 649.63 from
programs 4. The money in the savings account includes
money given to the Friends Center for a new water heater and materials for
rebuilding the front porch, sidewalk, and ramp to the basement. The following report of the Peace and Human Relations
Committee was read. They have conducted some important work keeping our
concerns for human rights before the communities in which we live. Included in
their report is a statement approved by Iowa Yearly Meeting on immigration and
torture. One Friend expressed a desire to proclaim “Peace and good will to
all.” The meeting discussed committees using funds for travel rather than going
through the Travel Fund. Several Friends felt the Travel Fund committee would
be a more suitable committee for discerning reimbursements for travelling
Friends. Peace and Human Relations Report 2007 The
Peace and Human Relations Committee feels a great loss in not having Randy
Giffen here as our convener. We wish him a hasty recovery and that he will join
us again soon. As a
combined committee, we are responsible for representation to FCNL, William Penn
House, FWCC, and Indian Affairs. We had no one to go to the FCNL annual meeting
or to Penn House. Marie Kirk Hawkins, David Male, Faye Chapman, and Rebecca
Hawkins attended various FWCC gatherings. We hold Becky Hawkins in our prayers
as she is attending the FWCC Triennial in Ireland this week. Anthony J.
Edgerton, David Nagle, and Mary Alice Pino attended the annual ACFIA meeting in
Richmond, Indiana. Mary Alice gives a full report elsewhere. Our committee is small and most of our (and
hopefully all of yearly meeting) peace efforts are done locally. The committee
met once during Yearly Meeting last year and once in the spring in Salem, Ohio.
We have ten young people on file who have filled out our “Registration of
Position for Conscientious Objectors.” Each one has been sent a copy of OYM’s
Statements Opposing War. Tom
Swain, as Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, has been authorized to help
formulate a Friends National Interfaith Peace Conference. Invitation will
include the National Council of Churches and other religious bodies to be held
at Arch Street Meeting some time next year. The scripture passage will be, “Be
not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” They intend to work with
other Friends groups in preparing for this. We hope there will be interest in
this within our yearly meeting. We have
received thank you letters from Lily and Reuben Rockwell for our support of
their trip to Alaska. We also received a thank you from Chuck Fager for our
donation to support the Quaker Conference on Torture. Iowa Yearly Meeting has
included with their epistle two minutes, one on torture and one on immigration
in the hopes of starting conversations. We include these with our report. We were
happy to have Susan Lee Barton attend this week’s committee meeting. She asks
for prayers for the people of Bangladesh and the Nepal Yearly Meeting. Their
people are being hunted down and tortured with little help from authorities. The Committee would like $500 to facilitate
members going to conferences. For
the committee, Lois G. Edgerton. Treasurer’s Report for the Peace and Human Relations
Committee 8/1/2007 Date Paid
Out Receipts Balance 7/18/2006 Balance on hand $653.58 8/16/2006 Adam Morsi YM Speaker 199.69 453.89 9/5/2006 Deposit 10.00 463.89 8/16/2006 Credit Hominy check 100.00 563.89 9/2006 Credit books sold 6.00 569.89 9/28/2006 Donation Hominy Friends Center 100.00 469.89 11/3/2006 Book sale 2.00 471.89 12/15/2006 OYM check 100.00 571.89 3/18/2007 Tony Edgerton to FCIA 75.00 496.89 3/30/2007 Mary Alice Pino to FCIA 75.00 421.89 4/23/2007 Lily Rockwell travel 50.00 371.89 4/23/2007 Rueben Rockwell travel 50.00 321.89 4/23/2007 David Male travel 75.00 246.89 4/23/2007 Shawna Roberts travel 75.00 181.89 4/23/2007 Becky Hawkins travel 75.00 96.89 7/1/2007 Balance on hand 96.89 Sincerely
for the committee, Verna Cope The following minutes were approved by Iowa Yearly Meeting
Conservative in session during the week of Seventh Month 24-29, 2007. It is
being sent to you by the Yearly Meeting clerk at the direction of the Yearly
Meeting. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these. - Mark 12:31 There
once was a frame of reference in this country that said, “Slavery is a reality.
The best we can do is hope to regulate it and work for the just treatment of
slaves.” John Woolman stepped out of that frame of reference and said, “Slavery
is wrong.” His vision was the end of slavery. Today there is a frame of
reference that says, “Illegal immigration is a reality. The best we can do is
regulate immigration.” We step out of that frame of reference to say, “All are
worthy of a decent life.” A
discussion of immigration must include a tremendous range of topics. We
recognize that our way of life forces the involuntary migration of people from
their homelands. Our vision is that life in the United States of America not
depend upon the exploiting of others’ labor for our own comfort. Our vision is
that we insist our country treat all people, both in and outside of its
borders, with fairness and justice. Our vision is that our country develops
trade policies that do not cause the suffering of other people. The
effect of our country’s economic, foreign, and military policies on people all
over the world are not contained by our borders. It is our vision these
policies come to reflect a national will to always consider what constitutes
the greater good of all. Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative urges other
yearly meetings to join us in this vision. We open ourselves to discuss God’s
way of achieving that goal. “When we confront evil with its own means, those means mark
our own character, both personal and national.” – Oxford Friends Meeting Minute
(Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting), 2005 As
Quakers, we seek to live in the power and love of God. We believe that all
people can be guided by this love and power. We know that if we intentionally
harm another we will separate ourselves from the one we harm and from God.
Therefore, we are grieved and shamed by the knowledge that our country is
sanctioning and practicing torture. In many places around the world, we torture
in the name of national security. At home, we use some of these forms of
torture in our prisons in the name of public safety. Torture is never
acceptable. Torture violates the souls of both the one torturing and the one
being tortured. We call on our country to stop torture now. Specifically,
we urge the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of our government to
abide by the existing laws and treaties, including the true meaning of the word
‘torture.’ We pray for the healing of both the tortured and the torturers. The ACFIA report was read. Changes in the structure of ACFIA
have allowed them to streamline organizational needs and making more funds
available for travel of ACFIA staff. We understand the new ACFIA role will be
communication among the centers formerly under their care and among the wider
Society of Friends. A Friend noted several yearly meeting members have been
involved in Indian-related activities through the years. Associated Committee of Friends on
Indian Affairs Report 2007 To Ohio Yearly Meeting THEME: “God's Greatest Performance” “...he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ:” - Philippians 1:6 On a
beautiful, warm day Lois & Tony Edgerton, David Nagle, Verna Cope and Mary
Alice Pino met at Richmond, IN on 3rd Month 30 & 31, 2007 for the annual
ACFIA Conference, which was held at First Friends Meeting in Richmond, IN
(where Keith Kendall worships). We, again, were blessed by wonderful fellowship
and gracious hospitality. This
session focused on the changes within ACFIA and it's centers. The ACFIA members
were growing older and not as available to carry on work at the various
centers. The presiding clerk of ACFIA, John Key, visited all the centers during
the year. After assessing the needs, responsibilities, and financing, John
presented his findings and suggestions to the ACFIA membership. He recommended
that each center which have become monthly meetings under Yearly Meetings,
should become more independent from ACFIA and seek the necessary oversight from
their respective YM. ACFIA would in turn still seek to help where it can with
these centers. There has been great Love given over the years through ACFIA. From the centers: • MOWA/Choctaw
became the oversight of North Carolina Yearly Meeting, while using Guilford
College students for internship work at the center. The center became a
thriving mission from NCYM's commitment to continue the center. David Allen is
the Interim Director. Anyone can access their website:
www.ncymfum.org/MOWA/index.htm • Mesquacki
Mission needed more active support which Iowa Yearly Meeting intends to supply.
This would hopefully give Victor and Brenda White the desired help they need.
The center is 20 years old this year and has seen many people come and go
through the church doors with little concern for being a part of maintaining
the spiritual needs of the church. The physical buildings are in good shape,
but the spiritual side continues to challenge the church with membership
fluctuating over the years. • Kickappoo
Center will take responsibility for its own monthly meeting under the care of
Mid-America Yearly Meeting, and has become more independent from ACFIA. Next
year they will host 135 year anniversary celebration of Friends involvement
with the Kickappo tribe, and next year's ACFIA annual conference. Even though
the Center is taking over financial management, etc. there is a need for
monetary/labor help for guest house repair, barn/storage construction/ van
replacement, building roof replacements/repair. • Hominy
Friends has been a regular monthly meeting under Mid-America Yearly Meeting,
but continues to need “work projects” and/or donation help . There has been
many events during this past year: Nagle's new daughter, Anika Hope; David's
mother passed away; Quivering Arrow Camp, recorded minister-Maynard Hinman; new
members, Vacation Bible School, AA meetings in the fellowship hall, and other
exciting events. • Council
House has been in need of a missionary/pastor for the meeting. It has been in
limbo for several years, and is used annually for Quivering Arrow Camp for the
children. The center needs donations for a new roof and building maintenance.
If anyone wants to visit, donate money or time for maintenance work, contact
Frankie Johnson, clerk at 918-786-5772. • Wyandotte
Meeting became an independent monthly meeting a few years ago and has done very
well. With
these changes ACFIA decreased staffing and eliminated the need for an office.
This cut expenses, freed up time for travel or work groups, and gave more
funding to centers' needs. At one time ACFIA's finances dwindled with rising
costs, particularly insurance. Due to some recent, gracious bequeaths, ACFIA’s
finances have been “fairly healthy.” ACFIA
still maintains an address, taking monetary donations from it's membership. We
can donate funds to individual centers or directly to ACFIA general fund. The 6th
Day evening speaker, Steve Pedigo, Western Yearly Meeting Superintendent, spoke
about the “Faith Journey.” He related this with the theme, “God’s Great Performance.” He listed three things
involved with this journey: revelation from God for the journey, faith-saying
yes to Him, and obedience to follow through with this journey. This idea was
connected with the Scripture reference of “walking by faith and not by sight.”
While creating this image of a “Faith Journey,” Steve connected the faith
journey of ACFIA with the thought that the labor is not about ACFIA people, but
about God, and God does the finishing of the work. When the work is finished
which seems to be with some of the ACFIA centers, we can rest with the thought
of “well done…faithful servant.” One
ACFIA member recognized the uncertainties ahead for ACFIA relations with the
various centers, relating the image of ACFIA being parents and how difficult
the transition is for separation. He also related that the missionaries needed
more control of the centers, and less oversight from ACFIA would encourage
this. North Carolina Yearly Meeting bought the property of the Mowa/Choctaw
center, and has had growing input from the local people into the mission needs.
This committee requests the gracious donation of
$500.00 towards ACFIA. Respectfully
submitted by ACFIA OYM representatives, Tony
J Edgerton, David E. Nagle, Mary A. Pino The Historical Committee reported on its work in the past
year. The display table is now being used for a display of historic material
from Short Creek MM, which recently turned 200 years old. Though the committee
has expended funds for a new heater, they do not feel the need for funds from
the Yearly Meeting this year. Next year (2008) is the bicentennial of Barnesville
village, and one event is planned (8/17/2008) for the Stillwater Meeting House.
The event, “Meet our Quaker Ancestors,” will document stories of several
interesting Stillwater Friends. The year 2008 is also the bicentennial of
Stillwater Monthly Meeting. Historical Committee Report The OYM
Historical Committee has had an interesting year. We purchased and installed a
gas heater in the north Heritage Room last fall. Thanks to Myron Johnson and Carl Smith for doing most of
the physical work and thanks to committee members and others who donated money
toward the purchase price. We were fortunate in that we received from the
Yearly Meeting a portion of a bequest from the estate of Betty Hartley. We’ve
installed a ceiling fan in the north room as well. The dehumidifier seems to be
working during his, hot humid summer. We’ve
not had any bus tours this year. However many folks visited the Heritage Rooms
when in the area for “Apple Pickers Reunion,” Olney Commencement, the Sojourn
Among Conservative Friends, and other events. We
encourage Friends to visit the Heritage Rooms during Yearly Meeting as well as
the displays on the north side of the meeting house. The
large table in the south Heritage Room features an interesting display of items
relating to the history of Short Creek Monthly Meeting. We like to change this
exhibit from time to time. We’d be glad to hear from any monthly meeting or
individual who would like to do a temporary exhibit on this table. Plans
are underway for a “Meet our Quaker Ancestors” presentation to take place
immediately after Yearly Meeting in 2008 as part of the Barnesville
Bi-Centennial Celebration. On
behalf of the Committee, Theodora M. Johnson Treasurer’s Report Balance on hand, 8/8/2006 $687.19 Income:
Interest 0.85
Heritage Room sales 78.00
Heritage Room donations 41.94
YM allotment 100.00
Hartley bequest 500.00
Donations toward heater purchase 235.00 Total income 955.79 Expenses
Print‘n Copy “Presence in the Midst”
and “Fierce Feathers” 44.14
Grainger Inc. (heater) 953.54
Tax & misc. for heater 10.00
Barnesville True Value (heater couplings) 30.72
Utilities 150.00 Total expenses 1,188.40 Balance on hand, 8/13/2007 454.58 Balance in Wesbanco Savings Account 404.58 Balance in change, Heritage Room 50.00 Loisanne
Rockwell, Treasurer The Sixth Query was read, followed by the proposed Yearly
Meeting summary, which was approved. Sixth
Query Answer. We are
disgusted with the war in Iraq and feel helpless. We pray for a peaceful
resolution and a divine intervention. Truly knowing and submitting to God
empowers us to cease our fighting both within and without, thus enabling us to
live in the life and power which takes away the occasion of all wars. Friends
have been careful to avoid thoughts of war and violence, striving to reach peaceful solutions to our problems. We have
often fallen short of explaining meaningfully Christ’s work within us and
continue in the ongoing battles with our own pride, arrogance, impurity – the
sin in our own lives. Though
we disapprove of the war effort, we have not withheld a portion of our tax
payments which go to military expenses, and we are uncomfortably aware that we
involuntarily contribute to the war effort. One Friend reported that the
government spends 41¢ out of every dollar for the present wars in which it is
engaged. To
attempt social action for peace without the Spirit of Jesus Christ is futile as
one Friend has experienced. Friends regret that so much of the world does not
understand and heed Christ’s teachings of peace. We have a responsibility to
live and share this message. Friends
have written letters to elected officials about military issues, participated
in peaceful demonstrations to encourage others to seek more peaceful and
constructive ways of active dialogue, expressed support for peace through FCNL,
helped youth complete forms setting forth their nonresistant convictions, and
participated in the “Every Church a Peace Church” activities. We deeply regret
the great divisions among the peoples of the world and are frustrated by those
who claim to be true children of God, yet actively facilitate evil and violence
toward others. Excerpts from the Epistles of Great Plains Yearly Meeting,
Australia Yearly Meeting, and Baltimore Yearly Meeting were read. Excerpt from Great Plains Yearly Meeting: Our keynote speaker was Taoyate Obnajin, “He stands with his
people,” a Lakota Native American. Obnajin has attended several conferences of
the World Christian Gathering of Indigenous Peoples, and he travels and
lectures under the name of Richard Twiss. Taoyate expressed concern that most
non-Indian have been unable to discern values in Native American cultural
expressions of Christianity, and therefore have seen little need to assimilate
these expressions as part of their own. Taoyate taught us that many Native
cultural viewpoints are in fact quite biblical, valuable, and may even be
necessary for the life and growth of the
broad Christian community within North America. By sharing and emphasizing his
native view and experience against the backdrop of his deep faith in and love
for Jesus Christ, Taoyate has truly enriched our Yearly Meeting. Excerpt from Australia Yearly Meeting: We have, within our Yearly Meeting, Friends who can translate
this into the following languages. Please let us know if you require this
epistle in a language other than English. Languages: French, Spanish, Kirundi,
Swahili, and German. At our Yearly Meetings, it is our practice to remember that
all the land was once occupied by the aboriginal people of Australia, and to
ask their permission to hold our meeting on their land. The school stands on
the traditional land of the Mouheneener people, but as we were unable to find a
living descendant of these people we were welcomed to the land by Aunty Eva
Richardson, a respected elder of another Tasmanian aboriginal group. Excerpt from Baltimore Yearly Meeting Our beloved Friend Tom Fox, a Christian Peacemaker Team
member, was kidnapped in Iraq on Eleventh Month 26, 2005, then shot and killed
on Third Month 9, 2006. Our grief, especially our campers and Young Friends
grief, is profound. A moving memorial meeting, an evening panel of heart-felt
sharing and sharing and other activities helped us understand that Tom’s
ministry and death are a witness to the whole world and a legacy for the
future. Our Young Friends and Young Adult Friends honor Tom’s memory by moving
forward in Tom’s playful spirit and humor. The meeting then adjourned until ten o’clock tomorrow
morning. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends,
Eighth Month 17th morning session. When the people therefore saw that
Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came
to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side
of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered
them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw
the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not
for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting
life. - John 6:24-27 We welcome among us Esther Thatcher
of Afton, Virginia, Kim Palmer of Whittier, California, and Harlan Alexander of
Chicago. Highlights of the minutes of the
Representative Meeting during the past year were mentioned. We approve their minutes
and anticipate that the full text of those minutes will be printed in the
coming Yearly Meeting minutes. AT A REGULAR SESSION OF THE
REPRESENTATIVE MEETING OF OHIO YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS HELD AT SHORT CREEK ON
11-18-2006. The meeting opened with the reading
of a Thanksgiving poem and the reading of Isaiah 12, followed by a period of
waiting worship. Roll call shows that 19 members are
in attendance, along with 7 visitors. We are glad to welcome new members Mike
Kinch and Charles Thomas, Jr., from Keystone Fellowship Meeting, as well as
Clifford Guindon and Conrad Lindes who accepted continuing terms of service. Minutes of the 4-15-06 meeting were
read. The Nominating Committee reports that Dorothy J. Smith and Elvina M.
Krekler have agreed to serve another year as clerks of this body. Their service
is appreciated. They also suggest the name of James A. Warrington to serve on
the Representative Meeting Nominating Committee, term expiring in 2009. Other
Nominating Committee members are Archie Newlin, term expiring in 2007 and
Kimberly Newlin, term expiring 2008. We approve of these appointments. The Book and Children's Literature
Committee has prepared a pamphlet for young children and visitors about what a
Quaker meeting is. It is entitled "A Special Place." We feel this is
very well written and will be beneficial in helping our children have a better
understanding of the meeting for worship. We approve the printing of this
document and its distribution to each meeting. David Warrington, President of the
OYM Fiduciary Trustees, has given a report on the Plummer house, along with
some background information on how the situation has developed and the
directives from OYM in handling it at this stage. The Olney Friends School
Board of Trustees has sent a proposal to the Fiduciary Trustees for a temporary
way to reduce the burden to the school while having the school continue to
provide appropriate oversight of the Plummer house as stipulated in the lease
agreement. The proposal is as follows: 1. Hazard and liability insurance for
the Plummer house property will continue to be covered by the school; the
building will be written on the actual cost value (ACV) basis for an annual
premium $308. 2. Olney Friends School will continue to pay property taxes ($531
for tax year 2005). 3. The school will turn off all utilities to the structure
except electricity (to keep a lamp on a timer operating). Water pipes will be
drained to prevent freezing and the furnace and water heater will be shut down
and the natural gas turned off. 4. The school will continue responsibility for
lawn mowing, snow removal if indicated and regular inspections of the exterior
of the property. Since the annual cost for maintaining the Plummer house is
estimated to be $1,200 or more, the school does not want to commit to paying
this amount indefinitely for a building for which they have no use, and suggest
demolition of the building as the logical next step. The Olney Board is
concerned that it continues to be a potentially significant liability hazard
for the school as well as an unnecessary financial drain. The Fiduciary
Trustees have considered this proposal and have agreed that it seems a good
temporary solution until some clear direction for the broader long-term use of
the property can be developed by the Joint Committee—Olney, OYM Property
Trustees, and Fiduciary Trustees. The Fiduciary Trustees are concerned that we
uphold the terms of the bequest given by Charles and Ellen Morlan in the 1940's
that use of the property benefit Olney School. We appreciate the Fiduciary
Trustees' diligence in trying to find the right way to handle this situation. Faye Chapman reports for the
Nominating Committee that Keystone Fellowship Meeting has appointed David Eley
and Mike Kinch as their representatives to the OYM Nominating Committee. There
are vacancies on the Walton Home Board and on the Junior Yearly Meeting/Young
Friends Committee. Names have been brought forward for these vacancies but they
have not yet been cleared. The name of Susan Bailey is suggested to fill the
2008 position on the Agenda Committee vacated by James Creighton. David Male
and Marie Kirk Hawkins are unable to attend the FWCC Triennial meeting in
Ireland in 2007. They suggest the name of Becky Hawkins to represent OYM at this
gathering and she has agreed to go. In addition they suggest that Johnny Dufry,
an affiliate member of Winona, be named to attend if way opens via FWCC and his
schedule. The committee in its deliberations seemed to feel a heartfelt
heaviness as they tried to do God's work as committee members of OYM. Conrad
Lindes has agreed to write a letter to monthly meetings to help address some of
these concerns and feelings. The committee senses great needs for future care
for the Walton Home, for our young people and for ways we may better do our
work with our global membership. We need to be open to God's will and hold our
committees in prayer as they go about their labors. We approve these
appointments and commend the Nominating Committee for its work. We have read a letter from Roland
Kreager, General Secretary of Right Sharing of World Resources, thanking OYM
for the $500 donation. There being no further business, the
meeting closed with the reading of Psalm 67 and a time of worship. We will plan
to meet again on 4-21-07 at Salem, if so permitted. Dorothy
J. Smith Elvina
M. Krekler, Clerks AT A REGULAR SESSION OF THE
REPRESENTATIVE MEETING OF OHIO YEARLY MEETING OF FRIENDS HELD AT SALEM ON
4-21-07. The meeting opened with the reading
of Romans 8:26-28 followed by a period of waiting worship. Roll call shows that
19 members are in attendance, along with 9 visitors. Your attendance is
appreciated. Minutes of the 11-18-06 meeting were
read. Archie Newlin's term on the
Representative Meeting Nominating Committee expires this year. The Nominating
Committee reports that he is willing to accept another term of service,
expiring in 2010. Other members of the committee are Kimberly Newlin and James
Warrington. Their service is appreciated. We have read a letter from Lily and
Rueben Rockwell telling us of a Faith Community Christian High School senior
mission trip to Anchorage, Alaska, planned for 5-14 to 5-20, 2007. The 6
students and two chaperones will be hosted by two families from the Anchorage
Friends Church and hope to minister to the people of Alaska by putting on a
Vacation Bible School-like program to help remind people of their rich
Christian heritage, and working with the Salvation Army visiting and helping do
crafts with elderly people. Other ministry opportunities may be helping the
Alaska Food Bank. The cost per person is about $1,000. They have been able to
raise some funds through fund-raisers, but have not yet reached their goal.
They are asking for our assistance in supporting this ministry with a financial
donation and/or prayer support. Since the OYM Travel Fund Committee is
comprised of 3 close relatives to Lily and Rueben, they felt it important that
funds disbursed by them be approved by a larger body of OYM members. Lily and
Rueben are requesting a minute of introduction from Stillwater Monthly Meeting
at its meeting tomorrow, 4-22-07, and ask that the Representative Meeting Clerk
be authorized to endorse that minute when it is written, before it is forwarded
on to Quarterly Meeting. We feel blessed that these young people of our meeting
feel called for this kind of service and feel it right to recommend that they
be given $200 from the Travel Fund, with individuals giving as they feel led.
The clerk is authorized to endorse the minute of introduction prepared by
Stillwater Monthly Meeting. All of us will hold Lily and Rueben up as we pray
for a safe, successful, and spiritually uplifting experience for them. Lois Edgerton has asked that we
consider whether or not we should appoint people each year from our Yearly
Meeting to attend Iowa Yearly Meeting and North Carolina Yearly Meeting as our
representatives. It seems we often don’t have representation at these meetings
and such interaction is important to all of our yearly meetings. Since Lois has
a concern to attend Iowa Yearly Meeting this year, and since that meeting comes
before Ohio Yearly Meeting, the clerk is authorized to write a minute of
introduction for Lois to take on her travels. The matter of appointing future
representatives to visit Iowa Yearly Meeting and North Carolina Yearly Meeting
should be brought up and discussed at the yearly meeting sessions this year. We have read a report from the
Friends who attended the FWCC Annual Meeting in Third Month. It was held at
Moses Brown School in Providence, RI. The theme of the meeting was taken from 2
Corinthians 9:6-15, citing the Lord's generosity to us and the potential of
that power flowing through us as generosity to all mankind. The group had an
opportunity to learn a good deal about Providence during their visit. Interest
groups were well attended by those interested in our work in the United Nations
and our efforts to end torture. There was even an interest group entitled “Peace
through Pieces: Burundi Quilting Ministry,” a project OYM might be interested
in considering. Two OYM members, David Male and Shawna Roberts, were panelists
for the workshop, “Convergent Friends: Reclaiming the power of Primitive
Quakerism in a Postmodern World” which was very well attended. Continuing
dialogue on this is expected in our meetings. We are glad that these Friends
were able to attend these meetings and we appreciate their report. We have read a letter from Frances
Taber informing us that a small group of "apple pickers," who used to
pick apples for Rockwells and Doudnas in past years, and Friends who were
active in the Young Friends of North America organization in the 50's and 60's
want to come back to Barnesville to remember what that fellowship meant to
them. They are joined by some of today's young adult Friends who are interested
in envisioning what an equivalent fellowship for this generation might look
like. They have been in communication with the Friends Center and are planning
an event at Olney and Stillwater on 6/22-29/07. They plan a weekend focused on
remembering and re-envisioning a young adult Friends movement, followed by a
week called Quaker Camp at Stillwater. This is to be a low cost, low key,
worship centered gathering with the intention to allow room for the movement
and leadership of the Holy Spirit. They are asking members of the Friends
Center Committee to make presentations each evening on a series of topics from
the point of view of Conservative Friends. They would also like for other
members of the yearly meeting to join them for any or all of the time, for
worship, fellowship and dialogue. Information and registration materials will
be sent to each monthly meeting. The Nominating Committee reports that
Loisanne Rockwell is willing to serve on the Adult Leaders for Junior Yearly
Meeting and Young Friends Committee. The Nominating Committee continues to
struggle with trying to discern exactly what the function of their committee
should be. They strongly feel that the committee structure needs to be
examined. We no longer have an abundance of members to fill all the committees
They have been unable to fill the vacancy on the Walton Board, and the Adult
Leaders of Junior Yearly Meeting and Young Adults Committee currently has 4
members, but they feel they need 6. Do we have too many committees? The plan to
combine the committees does not seem to be working at the present. It has been
suggested that the Nominating Committee include these concerns, possibly with a
plan for eliminating some committees, or suggesting other methods of developing
committees in their report to Ohio Yearly Meeting. Marie Bundy has given a report from a
group which is concerned with preserving the Plummer house. They have
investigated possible ways in which preservation of the house could benefit the
community, the yearly meeting, and Olney. They have asked that their group be
appointed as an adhoc OYM committee as they go forward with their plans. We
appreciate this committee's energy in following their leadings and developing
their plans, but since we already have a yearly meeting committee (Joint
Committee from Fiduciary Trustees, OYM Property Trustees and Olney Friends
School) coordinating plans for the Plummer house we encourage Marie's group to
continue their planning and give their final report to the Joint Committee for
inclusion in the report to OYM. We need to seek vision on how that property can
be used to benefit a yearly meeting that is growing, as well as Olney Friends
School. David Warrington reports from the
Fiduciary Trustees that things have changed very little in regard to the
Plummer house since last report. As well as the group that Marie is working
with, the Walton Home continues its interest in developing independent apartments.
We need to keep in mind that since the land was originally given to benefit
Olney, any discussion of its use needs to include members of the Olney
community. David also told us that a Preservationist Consultant in connection
with Ohio Historic Preservation Society, is working to name Stillwater and
Olney as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. We have been reminded that the Youth
Pilgrimage has openings for leadership and participants in this year's
pilgrimage. We need to encourage our members to heed any call they have for
this service. Anyone interested in serving this year needs to apply by 5-15-07. We have received letters of thanks
from Olney Friends School for the Hostess Fund money, and from the Associated
Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs and the Friends Committee on National
Legislation for the donations sent by OYM. There being no further business, the
meeting closed with the reading of Colossians 3: 14, 15. We will meet next time
on 11-17-07, if so permitted. The question was posed whether we might meet at
other meetings on occasion. Short Creek is willing to have us in 11th month,
but if any other meeting would like to host Representative Meeting at any time,
please let us know.
Dorothy
J. Smith Elvina
M. Krekler, Clerks The meeting heard the report of the
Fiduciary Trustees. They reported on the distribution of funds in their care,
the use of Yearly Meeting properties leased to Olney, and the future of the
Plummer property. The meeting greatly appreciates the hard work and solid
report of the Fiduciaries, especially in regards to the Plummer property. One
Friend reported on the history of the Plummer house, including the 1952
renovation. Ohio Yearly Meeting holds the title to the Plummer property, as at
the time of the donation in 1940, the yearly meeting held title to all school
properties. The Fiduciary Trustees have discussed issues surrounding ownership
of school-related properties but do not have a recommendation at this time
regarding property ownership. It was recommended that the Fiduciaries send a
copy of the Charles Morlan letter and relevant documentation to all meetings.
An extract from the minutes of the Walton Board was read, stating the Walton’s
interest should Olney have no use for the property. We seek to eventually determine
the leading of the Lord so we can find unity and peace in our decisions. Fiduciary Trustees of Ohio Yearly
Meeting of Friends Report for the Year Ending 6-30-2007 For the year ending 6-30-2007 the
Fiduciary Trustees are managing trust funds as shown below: Education Funds $538.019 Walton Retirement Home $360,951 Ohio Yearly Meeting $
87,743 Monthly Meetings $384,382 Reserve Fund $149.282 Total Assets $1,520,377 We are thankful to be able to pay
5.0% return on the trust funds in our care for the year ended Sixth Month 30,
2007. Total Income $
53.630 Expenses Distribution of Earnings: $
20,687 Return to Trust Funds $
50,778 Added to Reserve Fund $
2,852 Total same as above: $
53,630 We currently have three (3) loans outstanding with Ohio
Yearly Meeting members totaling $204,691. As
directed by the Committee on Financing Educational Concerns, during the past
year the Fiduciary Trustees distributed $1,600 to the families of eight (8) Ohio
Yearly Meeting children attending private secondary schools: two (2) at Olney
and six (6) at other schools. Also as directed, $2,182 was sent to Olney
Friends School in support of scholarships, a Christian Quaker presence at
Olney, the library, the farm, and for repairs and improvements. Olney
Friends School continues to faithfully make payments for the purchase of the
Main Campus. Olney has completed four of the six annual payments. The total
value of payments made and interest earned through 6-30-2007 is $61,422. During
our annual lease review with Olney Friends School in Seventh Month four items
of note were discussed: • Timbering plan for the Plummer Woods • Plans for use of the farmland and facilities • Application to have Olney and Stillwater Meetinghouse
listed on the National Register of Historic Places • Status of the Plummer House and its future Olney
has worked with James Stafford of Muskingum Valley Woodland Services since
early in the year to develop a management and timbering plan for the Plummer
Woods. A contract has been awarded to harvest approximately 97,000 board feet
of timber from 37 acres. Olney has kept the Fiduciaries informed of the
progress in developing this plan and we have approved the plan to harvest. The
proceeds of the harvest will used by Olney in compliance with the wishes of
Charles and Ellen Morlan that "...the Plummer farm may be a blessing to
the school" and "...that those who may have the care of this property
in the years to come may carefully consider what will be to the best advantage
of the school." Olney completed the sale of the dairy herd during the past
year and is continuing to consider ideas and working to formulate plans for the
use of the farmland and farm facilities. Olney continues to be committed to faithful
oversight of these lands and has hired Larry Dyer as a Sustainability
Coordinator to work toward a long-term plan for the use and preservation of
both the farmlands and natural land resources that are included in the lease
from Ohio Yearly Meeting. In
[Second Month] of this year the Fiduciary Trustees were contacted by someone
working with Olney to look into having the school listed on the National
Register of Historic Places. They wanted to contact Ohio Yearly Meeting because
after looking into the history of the school it was concluded it would make the
most sense to list Stillwater Meetinghouse as well as Olney Friends School as a
"historic district" given their common development and joint history
as Friends settled in this part of Ohio. The Fiduciaries informed them that
they should also contact Tom Rockwell as Clerk of Stillwater Monthly Meeting
since, in a legal sense, they are the actual owners of the property. After
researching the impact of being listed on the National Register of Historic
Places the Fiduciary Trustees feel clear that to be listed would not be a
burden on Stillwater Monthly Meeting or Ohio Yearly Meeting and will not
restrict our ability or freedom to manage, maintain, and use the meetinghouse
as we would deem appropriate. The listing is simply recognition of the site as
one of historic interest. One advantage for Olney would be that some
organizations or foundations might grant money to listed sites to assist in
their preservation. The application process goes through a state agency before
it is submitted to the National Park Service for a decision on the designation.
We expect to be informed before a final designation is made so the Yearly
Meeting does have an opportunity to object but the Fiduciary Trustees do not
see any reason to oppose the designation. In a
special report on the Plummer House condition given by the combined committees
of the Fiduciary Trustees and the Trustees of Ohio Yearly Meeting Property
Committee at Ohio Yearly Meeting in Eighth Month 2006 it was proposed that: • The combined committees continue to
discuss with the school administration what arrangements could be made for the
oversight, care, and maintenance of the Plummer House while it was unoccupied. • We communicate more with the Walton
Board to develop a clearer vision or plan for possible development of an
independent living community on the property affiliated with the Walton Home. • No action would be taken to upgrade
or dismantle the Plummer House but that it would continue to be monitored for
safety, security, and integrity. • That the combined committee report
to Representative Meeting in Eleventh Month about developments and progress in
finding a clear direction and to request guidance or authorization for action. The
Fiduciary Trustees reported to Representative Meeting in Eleventh Month that we
had accepted a proposal from the Board of Trustees of Olney Friends School that they would continue to carry hazard and
liability insurance, pay all property taxes, turn off all utilities except
electricity, drain all water pipes, and continue responsibility for lawn care,
snow removal, and regular inspections of the Plummer House. This is at an
estimated cost of $1200 per year. We also
reported that we still saw no clear direction developing, that more time was
needed to allow ideas to ripen and see what develops. We expressed the sense on
the part of the OFS Board and the Fiduciaries that this process should not
stretch on "forever" but that we should not rush to a decision before
appropriate consideration and waiting. The
combined committee has not met during the past year because there has been very
little change or development of new ideas concerning the Plummer House since
last yearly meeting. The Fiduciary Trustees reported this status on behalf of
the combined committee at the Fourth Month Representative Meeting. To date we
have received three general ideas for possible use of Plummer House; while none
have been fully developed into detailed proposals they remain sincere
interests. These include: • A strong desire by Marie Bundy to see the structure of the
Plummer House saved because of its history as a homestead of the first family
of Friends to settle in [Warren Township]. She has gathered a group interested
in supporting this purpose. They have been trying to gauge and generate
interest in such an effort as well as trying to define a purpose for the
preserved structure. In general, the concept for use of the rehabilitated
structure would be as a general purpose facility for lodging, retreats,
reunions, and activities of the wider community. • John Stanley has expressed a strong interest in preserving
the building and feels that he would be able to finance the renovation by using
the building for apartments. John has recently purchased the Leeds\Metzger
property in Barnesville from Olney Friends School and has converted it into
rental apartments. He has successfully converted a number of structures over
many years for similar use. John has expressed the interest to eventually gift
the property back to Olney after he recovers his investment to rehabilitate the
structure. John has also expressed the desire and willingness to defer the
rehabilitation of the Plummer House to someone located closer to Barnesville if
a viable plan to preserve the structure were to be approved. • In Eighth Month 2006 the Walton Home Board recorded a
minute that they would be interested to make use of this land for future
development of an independent living community. Nirmal Kaul, Director of the
Walton Home, has continued to express an interest in such an effort. The
Olney Board of Trustees is aware of these ideas and sent a letter to the
Fiduciary Trustees in Sixth Month clearly stating their interest in the Plummer
property and their willingness to work with Ohio Yearly Meeting to carry out
any appropriate, well-planned endeavor involving the Plummer House. "The
board and the school administration are in agreement that we wish to reaffirm
our position on both the Plummer House and the Plummer property so that there
is no misunderstanding on the part of Fiduciary Trustees about where we stand.
Charles Morlan in his letter of 12-7-1940 granting the gift to Ohio Yearly
Meeting for the benefit of Friends Boarding School eloquently stated why he and
his wife Ellen were making the gift and what benefit they hoped would be
derived from it. You have appropriately quoted from this same letter in your
communications to Ohio Yearly Meeting and we would encourage anyone who has
questions about the management of the property to read it in its entirety. It is
instructive. ... We continue to believe that it is in the best interest of the
school to hold the property for all the reasons and uses Charles Morlan
outlines in his letter. However, the Plummer House no longer serves the school
or Ohio Yearly Meeting in its current state. We will be pleased to cooperate
with any well-planned move to restore the building for historic and/or
practical purposes. If it requires sub-leasing or selling a small plot of
ground surrounding the house, we will cooperate to facilitate either course of
action. But as we indicated one year ago, if no such plan emerges the house
should be taken down and removed from the property. Without evidence of
continued care taking and renovation for a good purpose, it is a liability on
the property. Olney Friends School and Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends both are
at risk for owning and leasing a vacant property and Olney continues to pay
expenses because it remains standing." The
sense of the Fiduciary Trustees has not changed from what was presented in the
special report one year ago: • There are serious structural deficiencies in the house. • Several floor beams, joists, and sills need to be replaced.
There is evidence of rotting wood and we strongly suspect there is more
extensive damage than is immediately obvious. • The electrical service has deteriorated to the point that
safety of residents and for the structure is a valid concern. • It was the general sense of our combined committee that it
is not worth investing $150,000-$200,000 in the current structure. The
estimated cost of repair would be much better spent to build a new structure to
replace the existing house. • In the interest of safety and liability we feel it would be
best to remove the existing structure at some point. We have
not seen a proposal or a clear path to raising the funds needed to restore the
structure. There is optimism among some that this can be done. There are some
that feel a concern that the energy, effort, and expense to manage and maintain
a structure for use as a general-purpose facility are being underestimated.
There are some that feel that if the Yearly Meeting were interested in
developing a general-purpose facility it would be more likely to succeed and
attract users if the expense of rehabilitating the structure were devoted to a
new structure. The
interest by John Stanley to preserve and rehabilitate the structure seems to
have more experience and judgment as a practical manner but John's opinion of
success could change if he has more opportunity to investigate the condition of
the house and expenses more completely. His intention to gift the property back
to Olney at a later date makes this idea a real potential benefit to the
school. In the
idea of developing an independent living community associated with the Walton
Home the Fiduciaries feel there are questions that should be thoughtfully
considered about what is the most appropriate action and how would this be
structured in a way that would fulfill the Morlan's wishes "...that those
who may have the care of this property in the years to come, may carefully
consider what will be to the best advantage of the school, not only at the
moment, but in the long look ahead." It is the sense of the Fiduciary
Trustees that these decisions should be carefully considered and made
cooperatively and jointly by Olney and Ohio Yearly Meeting. The
Fiduciary Trustees are aware that an informal meeting to present and discuss a
general proposal by Marie Bundy to preserve and hopefully rehabilitate the
Plummer House was held yesterday. We have not been able to consider this
proposal as a committee and therefore do not have any specific recommendations
about the vision it expresses. If the Yearly Meeting should decide to allow
more time for more detailed and specific proposals to be offered, the Fiduciary
Trustees will faithfully support and participate in the evaluation of them as
instructed. Respectfully
submitted on behalf of the Fiduciary Trustees, David E.
Warrington President,
Fiduciary Trustees of the Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends David Warrington responded to several
questions regarding outstanding loans, owners of various pieces of real estate,
and the history of recent property decisions. The Fiduciary Trustees own much
property, including the Walton Home, on behalf of Ohio Yearly Meeting. David
also mentioned that, from a legal perspective, the Stillwater Meeting House is
owned by Stillwater Monthly Meeting, which holds the title to the immediately
surrounding property. We approve the Fiduciary Trustee
report and now turn to Plummer property matters. One Friend noted that the
interests of the Plummer house and the interests of the Plummer property might
be best considered separately. Nirmal Kaul mentioned that the Walton home, as a
ministry of Ohio Yearly Meeting, pays the taxes on its property, since its rent
is $1 annually. A document produced by the Plummer
House Project Group was read. This report brought forth some potential vision
guidelines for the house, outlined some contacts already made with some professionals,
and recommended a proposed timeline for the coming year. The report asks for a
project management group to act on behalf of the Yearly Meeting for one year. Vision
Statement for the Plummer House We see the Plummer house as a
valuable untapped resource which has great potential benefits for both Ohio
Yearly Meeting and Olney Friends School. The
fact that the house was built on property owned by the first Quaker family that
settled here makes it an Ohio Yearly Meeting homestead. Its simplicity and
peaceful atmosphere can provide a focus and setting for outreach to our widely
scattered members, to local inactive members, to other Yearly Meetings and
Quaker groups, as well as building a bridge to the local community and
providing facilities for various educational purposes in support of Olney
Friends School. The house, restored to early Conservative Quaker simplicity
with its rural setting and woodlands, would provide an atmosphere of peace and
quiet, reflective of the values and testimonies of Conservative Friends. The house should be
utilized, not as an historic relic, but as a Conservative Quaker homestead
equipped for a wide variety of uses. LONG TERM VISION:
In time, the house can accommodate OYM, OFS and community uses such as: - Lodging and
meeting places for OYM sponsored events, and groups from other Yearly Meetings
or Quaker organizations; -Additional space
for Friends Center programs, retreats, and rooming; - Lodging for OYM
family celebrations, funerals, reunions; - Olney off-campus
activities and class activities including educational purposes; - Lodging for
Olney parents, alumni and visitors; - Olney Faculty or
Board retreats; - Space for rest
and respite for Olney staff; - A focal point for
community activities in cooperation with Stillwater Meeting and OYM; - Modeling of
environmentally sensitive “green” uses such as solar energy and greenhouse
gardening; - Community
lodging for area visitors. (Currently there are only two bed and breakfasts in
this area which charge $55-$90 per night and Barnesville visitors often have to
go to St. Clairsville or to Cambridge for lodging.) - Space rental for
family reunions, church groups and community events such as weddings, class
reunions, workshops, meeting rooms. (Locally, the Grange Hall, Senior citizen
building and Park buildings rent for $50 to $100 per day and the Plummer house
has considerably more outside space for parking and outside activities.) - Other
suggestions have been a youth hostel type arrangement for Belmont Tech students
coming for special classes and workshops. INTERIM VISION Short-term, the
best use of the house will be a residence for a couple or family devoted to
fostering development of the long-term uses. Residents will be mutually
agreeable to both OFS and OYM and must be approved by Representative Meeting or
Yearly Meeting. This interim arrangement may last ten years or longer while
potential uses are fully developed and funds are raised to support these
long-term uses. The Plummer House
Project Group A group of 7 -10
Stillwater Meeting members who share this vision for the development of the
Plummer house have been meeting to work out how this vision can be
accomplished. We have been
researching the potential future uses for the house and identifying needs it
might fill, the results of which are listed above. We have made some initial
inquiries regarding local community support for example: - Dave Mertz,
director of the Historic Preservation Program and his assistant, Vicki Burton
have offered advice and assistance with their areas of expertise. They also are
a good resource for potential grant funding. - Bill Knox,
Accountant, Barnesville Development Consultant, and board member of Barnesville
Independent School (below the Meetinghouse) has indicated his interest in the
project. - Floyd Simpson,
Drover’s Trail Scenic Byway Committee Chair and Belmont County Tourism Council
board member has sent a letter indicating strong support and willingness to
contact others on our behalf. - Willis and Betty
McDonald, owners of the Gingerbread House bed and breakfast in Barnesville have
offered to give us the benefit of their experience. - Neighbors on
Dusty Lane, the location of the house, are taking it upon themselves to watch
over the property while it is vacant. The extent of
repair and remodeling to put the building into useable shape are being
investigated. The Historic Preservation Department of Belmont Technical College
in St. Clairsville has recommended getting an “Historic Building Report” which
would give specific information and cost estimates on two levels - 1) What
needs to be done to stabilize the house, make it safe and meet minimal
standards 2) What would need to be done to have it ready for the intended use
of the building meeting applicable codes. They estimate this may cost up to
$5000. A third and more expensive level of improvement – restoring the building
to something like its original condition – is not being considered. The group has sent
an initial questionnaire to the Ohio Historical Society to find out if the
building could be a candidate for the National Registry of Historic Places and
has heard back from them that it would surely qualify. If such a designation
were pursued it could open more opportunity for grant money. Olney Friends
School is presently engaged in historic building identifications that may
already include the Plummer House. PROPOSED NEXT
STEPS AND TIMETABLE 1. Setting time
limits and a schedule – One major concern
is that efforts to organize and utilize the Plummer House should not go on
indefinitely. The proposal is to set a time limit of 365 days (until Yearly
Meeting, 2008) to organize a Management Group and develop a plan that is
prudent and feasible. If the Yearly Meeting is not satisfied with the
organization and progress after 365 days, then the Management Group should be
laid down, and the future of the Plummer House should revert to the limited
options, including removal of the house, as identified at Yearly Meeting sessions
2006. 2. Authorization
to organize – The most limiting
factor inhibiting concrete progress during the past year has been that the
persons interested in future uses of the Plummer House have no authority to act
in any way, even to make inquiries, on behalf of the owners of the property.
For example, the most coherent and integrated way of approaching cost estimates
for various stages of repair would be, first, to obtain an Historic Building
Report as mentioned above. No one is authorized to ask for any such report or
even to ask for actual bids for such services. Already there have
been individuals wishing to make donations in furtherance of the goals and
purposes embodied in the long-term vision outlined above. At this time, anyone
making a donation could not have any reasonable expectation that the donation
would actually be used for the purpose intended, because neither Ohio Yearly
Meeting nor Olney Friends School has any budget devoted to future use of the
Plummer House. In these circumstances it has been impractical to ask any person
or organization even to consider making a donation. The second step
therefore seems to be for the Yearly Meeting to appoint a Plummer House
Management Group to serve for one year, with the possibility of reappointment
at Yearly Meeting sessions 2008, with responsibilities including: - Accept
management responsibility for maintenance of the property for one year; - Raise funds from
individuals, groups and foundations, including grant applications, in support
of this Vision Statement; - Request bids for
the Historic Building Report and bids for immediate repairs necessary to make
the building habitable year-round; - Ascertain the
practicality of depositing and disbursing funds through either Olney Friends
School or Ohio Yearly Meeting (thus making it unnecessary to establish a new
bank account) and initiate this accounting function with an approved budget of
$0 (zero) expenditures in excess of funds received; - Receive
tax-deductible contributions for deposit, and make necessary disbursements not
to exceed funds received, for ordinary and necessary upkeep of the property
(e.g. grass cutting and yard care, utilities, and insurance) and for the
Historic Building Report. - Identify and
recommend a resident couple or family satisfactory to both Ohio Yearly Meeting
and Olney Friends School and bring name(s) to Representative Meeting in autumn
2007 or spring 2008; - Consider refinement of this Vision Statement
and bring suggested changes and improvements to Representative Meeting 2007-2008
and Yearly Meeting sessions 2008. 3. Development of
a feasibility study that addresses needs, sources of funding (development
plan), and a business plan, within one year; 4. Communicate
with Olney Friends School on behalf of Ohio Yearly Meeting with reference to
management of this property (OFS has expressed a willingness to work
cooperatively with an organized group); 5. Recommend
long-term phasing and staging of repairs and capital improvements for the
Plummer House. ------- Following the reading of an excerpt
from the epistle from Japan Yearly Meeting, the meeting adjourned until two
o’clock. Excerpt from Japan Yearly Meeting This year marks the 120th year of
Quaker mission in Japan. We deliberated the issues which are meant to meet the
change of time. They included a restructuring of the yearly meeting, the
financial difficulties, and the renovation of the Friends Center Building which
was built way back in 1922. Sometimes discussions were very heated. However it
was agreed that the renovation of the Friends Center Building will be
commenced, the cost covered mainly by the donation we have received from the
Alaska Church with whom we have had a long association and to whom we have
given the piece of land long in their use. The shrinking membership and the
deficit financing running over the past five-year span are dual problems with
which we are most concerned. In our deliberations during the session we have
discussed these issues openheartedly. Admitting there are differences of
opinion, we have renewed our commitment to search and reach a unified view upon
these and other matters as well. This is a test measuring whether we are living
up to our faith as members of the Society of Friends. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends,
Eighth Month 17th afternoon session. … it is evident
that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing
concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the
similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after
the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he
testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For
there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness
and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. - Hebrews 7:14-19 We welcome among us Emma and Wes
Daniels of Barberton, California, Friends Church, and Martin Kelley of Atlantic
City Area Friends Meeting. The meeting resumed discussion of how
to proceed with the Plummer House. We earnestly ask God to direct us in the
love of Christ as we seek His will in this matter. Copies of the Charles Morlan
letter were handed out to allow Friends to consider his intentions. Charles
P. Morlan R.R.
No. 1 Salem,
Ohio 12-7-1940 To the Boarding School Committee Dear Friends: Having
felt for some time that it would be right for us to contribute something which
would be of both present and future value to our beloved Boarding School, and having considered several
possible avenues where help would be useful; at the suggestion of the
Superintendent which was approved by a member of the Farm Committee, we have
felt most comfortable to provide for the purchase of the Carver Bundy farm,
formerly owned by the Plummer family. This
farm was being leased by the school to supplement its farming and pasture land.
The subject was mentioned to the Committee at its meeting in Tenth Month. With
its approval, arrangements were made for the transfer of the property, the deed
being signed and delivered Tenth Month 24th 1940. Our
interest in the school dates back about half a century when we became students
fresh from the somewhat limited environments of our home neighborhood. Here we
had our first experience away from the home circle. From that time our deep
interest in and love for the school developed through the years: through
service as teacher, through our first home together in the cottage back of the
school, through the close association when Father and Mother Edgerton were
Superintendents, and later when Mifflin and Mary Anna Hall served in that
position, through our own children, who, like their parents, had their first
lessons here away from the home life, and continuously since that time through
our membership on the Committee. This background and these contacts have made
the school very dear to us and have developed a deep and abiding faith in its
mission and its future. It is
our hope and belief that the Plummer farm may be a blessing to the school, not
only as an addition to its farming acres, but also in its possibilities for
wholesome recreation, for teaching useful wood lore, for the study of plant,
animal and bird life in their natural habitats, and for demonstrating practical
reforestation and the conservation of timber and the wild life of the woods.
Possibly some of the hillsides could be planted to trees which would eventually
yield valuable lumber. We feel that the magnificent forest on this farm should
be preserved. Such woodland is becoming a rare thing in our country, and we
need to start growing new forests for future use. We believe the timber should
be used before it deteriorates too much, but it should be taken out with care
so as not to injure or destroy the young growth which will gradually take the
place of the mature trees. We are lovers of trees and woods and trust that
those who may have the care of this property in the years to come, may
carefully consider what will be to the best advantage of the school, not only
at the moment, but in the long look ahead. As for the present, we have full
confidence in the good judgment of our present management. The
house on this farm is an old landmark. We can remember watching for it when
approaching Olney on the train, way back in our student days. It is, however, a
question whether it is worth spending much for restoration or repairs. If it is
there are several possibilities for its usefulness. We want to leave its
treatment entirely to those in care. In
making this contribution, we feel humbly grateful to our Heavenly Father, the
Giver of every good and perfect gift, whose favor through the years has made it
possible, and whose face we believe has shone upon the school all through the
hundred years of its history. May this child of the Yearly Meeting, in the
years to come, be kept upon the foundation of Truth and administered under the
guidance of Divine wisdom, that it may be a blessing to many boys and girls who
will go out from its doors to become men and women of influence in their
communities. May they be living examples of the Friendly way of life,
demonstrating the indwelling love of Christ and His power to transform men and
women, and through them, the world in which they live. With
love we are your friends, Charles P. and S.
Ellen Morlan The vision now before us is intended for the greatest
possible use and benefit for the yearly meeting and the school. The committee
asks for no money, only the time necessary to explore what is possible. The
committee has drawn on energies and vision of some inactive members and takes
advantage of the fact that the school does not have the energy or resources to
do anything with the house. Several Friends associated with the School Board
are involved in the group making the request. One Friend mentioned the proposal
has no risk for the yearly meeting or school but instead is acting to help heal
some old wounds. Friends
appeared willing to allow the group to continue their work to investigate the
relevant issues. Should the committee plan for future yearly meeting
involvement or emphasize an effort drawing more from the wider community? The
meeting felt that the requested 365 days will produce the needed validation
from the Lord if it is in His mind for it to proceed. We yearn to make a
conscientious decision to turn the opportunity into a blessing, not a burden. The
interest group has identified several immediate steps to take. We now create a
committee for Plummer House Management, which will begin to manage the property
immediately, take actions 2-5 as found in their vision statement under
“proposed next steps,” proceed with the raising of needed funds, and produce to
our next yearly meeting session a complete business plan. The committee is
directed to report to the Representative Meeting as needed and collaborate with
the Fiduciary Trustees and school regarding responsibility for the house and
its immediate surrounding property. The Friends appointed to the committee are:
Marie Bundy, John Benson, Leonard Guindon, Donald Guindon, Debora Taber, Dennis
Rockwell, Tom Rockwell, and Martha Giffen. The Nominating Committee report was
read and approved. We commend the committee for their hours and hours of work. 2007 Nominating Committee Report to
OYM What is our Lord calling us to do at
this time and what orderly process is He revealing to us so that we may
accomplish it? This is the central query posed to Friends by your Nominating
Committee this year. We are mindful of the truth given in Psalms 127:1,
"Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." We have appealed to the wider body of
the yearly meeting to help us discern the names of gifted Friends to fill
several vacancies in our committee system. We have also received counsel from
you about how we may more effectively do the work of the Nominating Committee. Our Book of Discipline admonishes us
to "be engaged, therefore, not only to meet together for the worship of
God, but also for the exercise of a Christian care over each other, for the
preservation of all in unity of faith and practice, answerable to the
description which He, the ever blessed Shepherd, gave of his flock, 'By this
shall All men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.'" (John 13:35) These are several kinds of advice we
have thankfully been given by you: A. Let us clearly state what we
understand that the Lord is calling us to do at this time. B. Let us seek together to know what
groups are needed to do the work given to be done in this time. C. Let us diligently canvass the
gifts and leadings of all our members at the monthly meeting level (resident
and non-resident) for this time. D. Let us reduce the size and number
of our committees as appropriate for the on-going yearly meeting work and the
new work given during this time. E. Let us explore NEW ways of
enhancing our ministry to youth during yearly meeting time. F. Let us work together with the
Walton Home Board to enliven our responsibility to those who are in our midst
and care during the twilight time of life. To the accomplishment of these
current and on-going goals, we submit the following names for your approval
[included in the list at the end of the yearly meeting minutes] The meeting heard the epistles
drafted by the epistle committee. Each was read separately and approved, some
with minor changes. We thank the committee for their deliberations and very
good job. To Friends
of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative): Dear
Friends, “Jesus saith unto her: ‘Said not I to thee, that, if thou wouldst
believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?’” Once
again Ohio Yearly Meeting Friends are gathered for our annual sessions amid the
beautiful hills of southeastern Ohio. We
are glad to be joined by visitors from other Yearly Meetings and by some who
want to learn what concerns and motivates Conservative Friends. All are welcome, and we are strengthened by
their friendship and their sharing with us.
It is a special blessing to have Roy and Martha Hampton from your Yearly
Meeting among these visitors. Our
Yearly Meeting continues to be small in numbers. We are sensing a growing desire to make our
business sessions more significant as a part of our worship and service to God. In this age of technical advances, we are
unable to be isolated from what is happening around us. We are glad for the reminders to be in the
world but not of the world. Some of our
young people are showing that living in a tradition is not enough and are
pressing to know the truth and reality of a relationship with the Lord. We might credit some of this desire as an
outgrowth from the Christian Education Camp held in Sixth Month each year. And we do know that by example, with trust
and prayer, the Lord does work in our midst.
His is the power, and His is the glory. We have been enjoying evening programs of
ministry and information. Some who have
shared with us have been members of Ohio Yearly Meeting, and others are from
distant places. Some of our adult members have been
working all week with Junior Yearly Meeting Young Friends. They crown the week’s endeavors with a
presentation on Seventh Day evening. We
always count on this time as a special blessing. Our newest Monthly Meeting in Stillwater
Quarter, Keystone Fellowship Monthly Meeting, is located in the eastern
Pennsylvania area. They hosted a
spiritually rich Conservative Friends Worship Gathering in Sixth Month. It should be noted that the Wider Fellowship
of Conservative Friends plans for another Gathering at Stillwater in Sixth
Month of 2008. In Christ’s love, Seth B. Hinshaw, Clerk To Friends
of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative): Dear
Friends, “Jesus saith unto her: ‘Said not I to thee, that, if thou wouldst
believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?’” We are pleased to have Nancy Craft with us
again as she has so often been in years past, recalling to us treasured ties of
shared faith and practice. We ask her to
convey our love and greetings to you. We have gathered once again for the
refreshment of spirit that the Lord pours out upon us so abundantly as we seek
Him together in precious times of worship and fellowship. We are having a deepening assurance that
God is calling us to changes. The
changes that may need to take place leave some feeling like we approach shaky
ground while others look forward to a special refreshing. In our committee work, we find that a very
few workers are carrying the major load of our Yearly Meeting. In one committee meeting this week a vision
was given of the present structure of our Yearly Meeting as a large square,
heavy building sagging under its own weight.
A stream flowed nearby and lying across this stream were unsteady
stepping stones. Across the stream was a
beautiful meadow with lush tufts here and there that did the work of
maintaining God’s meadow. We are being
asked if we are ready to step out on those unsteady stepping stones in trust of
our dear Lord and have us come into His fresh provision and calling with new
vision. There is a deep longing for
restructure and asking Father God what He would have done under the umbrella of
Ohio Yearly Meeting in the immediate year ahead. Most long for more times of teaching,
worship, fellowship, and reaching out to others. Times of sharing what God is doing in our
lives, now, would be faith building and encouraging as we continue to
seek and walk with our Lord on a daily basis.
It seems good that this new vision is expanding our Yearly Meeting
borders to include many from around the world. It is exciting to
see how the Lord is working in the lives of our young people. One young prayer-warrior was noted as she
walked the aisles of the meetinghouse, praying for the Lord’s presence and that
His will might be accomplished in our sessions and beyond. Later in the week we will be hearing about a
mission trip in which some of young people took part. After much seeking the will of the Lord for
their mission trip, their desire to minister in Alaska was realized. Several of our meetings helped make this trip
possible with much prayer and financial support. We have had
reports of great blessings as Christian Education Camp took place once again in
Sixth Month on the campus of Olney Friends School. The leaders for this Christian Camp, as well
as those who faithfully serve our youth during Yearly Meeting, are such
treasures to our hearts, and we ask the Lord to bless them in this mission to
the next generation. Dear Friends, we
are living in a time of God’s favor, and it is time we proclaim “FAVOR” over every
aspect of our individual lives and the life of our meetings. We pray that God will minister blessings to
your every need, and that as we share in the future we may know of his faithful
work among you. Let us pray for and look
toward, with excitement and longing, His return.
In the love of Christ,
Seth B. Hinshaw, Clerk To Friends
Everywhere Dear
Friends, “Jesus saith unto her: ‘Said not I to thee, that, if thou wouldst
believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?’” Ohio
Yearly Meeting Friends gathered for sessions of the 195th Ohio
Yearly Meeting at Stillwater Meetinghouse Eighth Month 14th through
18th. During the
week we were reminded of the need to wait prayerfully to discern what work the
Lord would have us do. We have experienced God’s presence as we
worked through our corporate business; His assistance was clear, especially as
we labored from different viewpoints to unity, trying to know His will for
us. Early each day some shared in bible
reading, prayer time, or a discussion of our testimonies. The many experiences besides business—dining,
times of fellowship and the speakers at the evening sessions—once again offer
much for us to contemplate during the ensuing year. Yearly Meeting has been a time of blessing as
we have encountered familiar faces and made new friendships under the headship
of our Teacher, Christ Jesus. Friends in Ohio Yearly Meeting are
grateful for God’s care and His encouragement to our youngest members during
the Christian Education Camp in Sixth Month.
The camp enables younger Friends and others to learn more about Christ
and also continues to be an opportunity for them to comprehend His working in
the lives of those Young Friends who serve as camp counselors. We are enriched by those adults who do the
planning and organize the activities for the camp. A concern was expressed on the floor about
our mission to the youngest members during Yearly Meeting week, and some felt a
need to encourage OYM members to pray that way might open to reveal those who
might have gifts to assist in this very essential ministry. Since 1944, Ohio Yearly Meeting Friends
have supported spiritually and financially the Walton Retirement Home as a
ministry, even though few OYM members reside in the facility today. God’s continuing blessing of this venture is
demonstrated not only by the excellent care given residents by the
compassionate staff, but also in the involvement of many non-Friends in the
greater Barnesville community who have joined in making the end of life for
residents of the Walton as pleasant as possible. Ohio Yearly Meeting has been graced for
several years with inquiries from Seekers across the globe, resulting in many
affiliate members joining our Monthly Meetings.
Because God has seen fit to direct those individuals to us for their
spiritual care, we are just beginning to realize the ramifications involved in
a global Yearly Meeting ministry. If the
spiritual direction of these inquirers has been given to us, then Ohio Yearly
Meeting must make provision to deal with the issues arising from this
situation. A small beginning this year
occurred when the Nominating Committee made use of conference calls in addition
to its regular meetings in order to complete its work in a timely fashion. With the advent of members abroad, we need to
prayerfully seek God’s direction of our future action in this sphere. The Ohio Yearly Meeting’s Friends Center
has planned three diverse weekend activities for the coming year. In Tenth Month, Chris Ravndal will lead a
Centering Prayer Workshop; while in Third Month Brian Drayton will lead one on
Talking about Christ in Liberal Friends Meetings. In Fourth Month the Friends Center will offer
its second Structured Sojourn, in which folks interested in learning how
spiritual formation grows from the manner and life of Conservative Friends will
spend a weekend in the homes of Ohio Yearly Meeting families.
In Christ’s love, Seth B. Hinshaw, Clerk The meeting heard the following
report of donations to the Olney Hostess Fund and Monteverde Friends School. Report of Donations to the Olney
Hostess Fund and Monteverde Friends School Salem
QM Stillwater QM Total Olney Hostess Fund $140.00 20.00 160.00 Monteverde Friends School 80.00 40.00 120.00 Iowa Yearly Meeting’s epistle to Ohio
Yearly Meeting was read. We value the communication and area glad to have Roy
and Martha Hampton with us from Iowa Yearly Meeting. Epistle from Iowa Yearly Meeting to Ohio
Yearly Meeting 2007 7/28/2007 Greetings
from the 130th annual session of Friends in Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative).
We are blessed to be meeting on Scattergood Friends School campus in the midst
of a beautiful rural Iowa countryside. The lush green fields, which surround
us, make us aware of the many riches, which we are so fortunate to be able to
enjoy. This feeling of richness also makes us more aware of those who are not
so fortunate – those who do not live in a safe or peaceful place; who do not
have enough to eat to sustain life; who are overcome because they lack adequate
health care. We are all striving to be guided by that Inner Light of Christ to
bring harmony and compassion amongst us, to be caring and helpful to each
other, and to live our belief that “there is that of God” in every person. Our
theme for this session has been “sustaining ourselves,” and many of our
interest groups, speakers, and activities were directed in that area of
concern. Over the past years, we have been working on the revision of our book
of Faith and Practice. This year we approved revision of the section entitled
“Living our Faith,” which states that “Friends are called to make wise and
efficient use of the world’s resources, mindful that actions taken to meet our
present needs and wants affect the quality of life on earth. All humans share a
responsibility to consider the impact of our decisions on future generations of
all forms of life.” We read
the epistle from your yearly meeting with interest and appreciation. The
exchange of epistles and interchange of members helps us to strengthen and
continue the ties with our own brothers and sisters in Ohio Yearly Meeting. We
treasure the presence this year of Lois and Tony Edgerton, who have been with
us this week, and we are happy that our members Jean Eden and Lorene Ludy were
able to be with you last year. We are pleased to learn that Friend David Eley,
a regular attender of both of our yearly meetings, has recently become a member
of Ohio Yearly Meeting. Let us
continue to build our common practices of faith as we explore together what it
means to be a Conservative Friend. We pray for continued guidance, strength,
and joy as we prepare for and practice being God’s hands on earth for another
year. In
Friendship and on behalf of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative), Deborah
Fisch, Clerk We now adjourn until ten o’clock
tomorrow. Ohio Yearly Meeting of Friends,
Eighth Month 18th morning session. Friends were reminded of the City set on a hill, that cannot
be hid, in which the light shone in the midst of the darkness. Is it possible
that God is moving among us in a way that brings new life? We ask the Lord to
anoint efforts to nurture others through new avenues so that many new people
may become part of His Church and help the Light pierce the consuming darkness
of our age. Let your Light so shine before men that they may see your good
works and they may glorify our Father in Heaven. We recognize that we may only truly proclaim Jesus Christ as
Lord by His Spirit. We are encouraged to diligently seek and stir up the gifts
within us, to anticipate what will be set before us and recognize gifts of our
brothers and sisters. Sometimes just appreciating a smile lifts a downcast
countenance. Jesus told His disciples, Ye have not chosen Me, but I have
chosen you. He chose to do great things through fishermen and lowly workers.
The transforming power they knew may still be known as we experience His Light and
inward work in each of us. Woe unto us if we do not preach the gospel and
respond to His high calling for us in this day. So deep is the stillness, the place from which we are
nurtured and find peace. We come to worship because it is wonderful. We learn
answers to questions we never thought to ask, feel our lives being led by a
strength given to us, an overwhelming sense of God’s unimaginable love. It is a
treasure for the young and old. Take advantage of opportunities we may
experience through worship. We recognize that we have Someone to offer, Someone
to live by. As we preach the Gospel, we rely on Christ and seek His help in
time of need. We are glad to have Jim Eblin of Oregon with us at this
session. The meeting was encouraged by the Junior Yearly Meeting
report. We always enjoy hearing about their activities, and we commend the
faithfulness of the adult leaders, who sometimes miss yearly meeting sessions. Junior Yearly Meeting Report This
year we were blessed to be able to spend time with the children of our yearly
meeting. Our theme this year was The Kingdom of God. We looked into the Bible
to read what Jesus said about the Kingdom, and we wrote our own original
thoughts describing the Kingdom. This
year, we were blessed with several helpers. Katie Puterbaugh and Sara Kirk
provided child care for our littlest Friends. Diann Herzog joined us to assist
with our grade school age Friends. We are very grateful for their kindness and
assistance. The
children have particularly enjoyed developing their play for the evening
program on Seventh Day night. We enthusiastically invite you all to attend, and
look forward to seeing you there! For
the committee, Shawna Roberts We were also encouraged by the Report
of Young Friends. The meeting commends the adult leaders who receive the joy
from experiencing time with the young people. The Yearly Meeting looks forward
to the evening program by Junior Yearly Meeting and Young Friends. We thank the
families who are with us. Young Friends Report to Ohio Yearly
Meeting Fourth Day Morning: We are discussing
the Kingdom of God this week. We flushed out various thoughts, ideas, and
questions concerning the Kingdom. Some questions we discussed were: What is the Kingdom (our
understanding of it)? The choices we have in the Kingdom of
God What are the consequences, etc. This afternoon we may discuss the
Kingdom now. Fourth Day Afternoon: We wrote down
titles of parables that we associated with the Kingdom of God. We discussed the
power and severity of forgiveness. We also discussed the magnificent power of
healing. Our homework assignment was to survey members of Ohio Yearly Meeting
about the Kingdom of God and in the morning we will discuss the answers. Fifth Day Morning: The Young Friends
started their morning session by sitting in on a portion of the business
meeting. We then discussed Seth’s message, and the surveys that we have taken
thus far. We also sang fun songs such as “The Critter Song.” Fifth Day Afternoon: We discussed
what we would do for our presentation this Seventh Day evening. In the process
of this discussion, we reviewed and reflected upon last year’s Yearly Meeting
and presentation. We enjoyed a time of singing as well. Sixth Day Morning: Young Friends
welcomed a new member, reviewed minutes of previous meetings, worked on
presentation, and sang songs. Sixth Day Afternoon: Guest speaker
Henry Jason was questioned and helped us understand more about the Kingdom. It
was a joy to have everyone participate in the questioning and answering. We
ended with singing. Respectfully
submitted, Caroline Guindon, Lily Rockwell, Michaela
Rockwell, Blake Thatcher The following extract from Germany
Yearly Meeting’s epistle was read: “In the coming year, we will also be giving
special thought to what we really want to achieve in our work with children and
young people. After all, a quarter of the 209 people attending Yearly Meeting
were under 18.” Ohio Yearly Meeting of Ministry &
Oversight reported on its work in the past year. Their effort to leaven their
spiritual gifts is evidence of the continuing labor of the Lord to nurture the
entire body. We are glad to hear they held a midyear meeting, in which they
took additional time for in-depth discussions. We feel the receiving of more
God-breathed teaching at our sessions is due to these efforts. The meeting was
enriched by the spirit-given amoeba parable, and we look forward to seeing the
first illustrations to appear in the Yearly Meeting minutes. We are thankful
for their sessions and appreciate the report. Report to Ohio
Yearly Meeting from OYM Meeting for Ministry and Oversight 8/17/2007 Hearken unto me, my people; and give
ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my
judgment to rest for a light of the people. My righteousness is near; my
salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall
wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust. ... Hearken unto me, ye that
know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the
reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. … My righteousness
shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
- Isaiah 51:4, 6, 8 Ohio Yearly Meeting for Ministry and Oversight met
for a mid-year session in First Month. We also met this week on Third Day
morning and Fifth Day afternoon with about two dozen Friends present at each
session. We were glad to have a number of visitors this week, both OYM members
and from other places. As
we answered our new M&O queries, we saw identified in the answers a number
of shortcomings. We agreed to take the list of shortcomings back to our local
meetings, asking Friends in each group to choose a few to work on during the
coming year. We expect to find some progress when we gather a year from now. We
heard a report of the love and life in Christ that abounded in the Quakercamp
held here in Sixth Month. We
considered how we relate to inquirers, applicants for membership, and members
who rarely attend our meetings. We agreed that the bases for our relationship
with all of these should be the love that comes from Christ Jesus and also a
commitment to prompt and clear communication of our caring, including asking
each other about our joys and needs if we do not already know. We
were exercised by a concern for corporate repentance. It has been said that
without personal spiritual examination and repentance, there can be no
corporate revival or growth. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to examine us
personally and collectively. Many of us are aware of actions by which harm has
been done, to us or to others. Some of those events happened recently, and some
happened long before we were born. We know that the Lord can and does wash away
our hurts and pockets of anger. We may think that we ourselves have done no
wrong, but we have, each of us, done hurtful things. Our understanding is
slanted by our own needs, but God knows all perfectly, and God can open our
eyes. Scripture teaches us that no chastisement is joyous, but that God’s
correction is done in love and leads to spiritual growth and joy. We prayed:
Lord, thank you for your great and inexhaustible mercy. Help each one of us to
experience your mercy, your great inexhaustible love, to accept your correction
and your forgiveness, and to walk anew as your people in your love. At
the clerk’s request, Raye Hodgson, who teaches biology, told us about the
amoeba. There are hundreds of varieties of amoeba. An amoeba is very simple,
just a single cell without legs or even a mouth. The gel-like substance inside
them is called cytoplasm. Amoebas need to move and to get energy. We considered
how OYM is like an amoeba.
When one
side of the outer layer (the cell membrane) of an amoeba detects something it
needs, it extends a nearby portion of itself. That part, called a pseudopod,
liquefies its cytoplasm which flows into it and even expands the pseudopod. In
response to signals from along the pseudopod, the cytoplasm from the opposite
side of the cell starts to liquefy and move along toward where the pseudopod is
going. The pseudopod encircles the food it encounters and absorbs it. Thus the
amoeba retains its single cell but moves in the direction of what it needs,
gaining energy to continue its life. We saw that the pseudopod is a figure for
OYM’s outreach to other people, and that the change the yearly meeting is
experiencing is movement. When all the cytoplasm flows along together, the
amoeba gains needed energy and lives. Although OYM may embrace new members, it is clear that the
center of OYM is not new members, but is rather Jesus Christ, and what makes us
different from other Christian bodies is our set of particular beliefs,
practices, and traditions. To explain these facts in amoeba terms, Raye told us
about the amoeba’s nucleus. The nucleus is in the center and contains the
amoeba’s DNA, its “instructions for life.” Christ Jesus is OYM’s nucleus. We
learned that because of its nucleus, the amoebas are called “eukaryotes,” a
Greek work meaning, to our amazement, “true seed,” and “Seed” is a name used
for Christ. There are other special parts in the center of the amoeba, and
these we likened to OYM’s special beliefs and traditions. In the amoeba the
nucleus and the other parts flow along with the cytoplasm as the cell moves in
the direction it is going. Keeping all its parts is what keeps the amoeba
itself. So, too, in OYM, as we move in new directions, we must keep our
nucleus, Christ Jesus, and our distinctive faith and practice, our
“instructions for life.” We found
other meanings to this parable as well. When the amoeba gains energy from the
new food it has found, it sends messages back along itself to the cytoplasm at
the other side of the cell, alerting it to the new conditions and inviting it
to come, too. We saw that communication among us is important, for the
pseudopod that is reaching out needs the rest of the cytoplasm and the nucleus.
Furthermore, when an amoeba prospers and grows, there comes a time when it
divides into two, but the two parts retain the same DNA and the same
identifying characteristics. Before the amoeba can move in the direction it is
“called,” it must liquefy its cytoplasm. We likened this process to the
forgiveness that we must both give and accept, for without that softening of
our hard and stony places, we cannot live and grow. We also saw that although
the amoeba cannot choose to reject bits of suitable food around it, we have an
ongoing choice whether to accept the Way, the Truth, and the Life or not. The
ability to choose sets us apart from the amoeba, and is an essential
responsibility. With
love in Christ Jesus, on
behalf of Ohio Yearly Meeting for Ministry and Oversight, Susan S.
Smith, Clerk The Book and Children’s Literature Committee produced the
following report. The meeting is glad, as always, to hear of their work
distributing literature to teachers and students at Olney, and to young Friends
in private school, and the donation of Bibles to the young attenders. We
appreciate and approve the committee’s report. We understand that the Olney
board also appreciates the good neighborliness and connection coming through
this work. Book and Children’s Literature
Committee Report The Book
and Children’s Literature Committee met with the Olney School family for
Meeting for Worship on 9/17/2006. Following that, we handed our literature to
seniors, new students and staff, and then served refreshments. The 18
seniors received Mind the Heavenly Treasure. The 27 new students received
“Welcome to Our Meeting.” To the four new staff members, we gave Mind the
Heavenly Treasure, “Welcome to Our Meeting,” and “OYM Advices and Queries.” Three
seniors graduating from private Christian schools also were given Mind the
Heavenly Treasure. This
year, Bibles were given to two Yearly Meeting children. We
continue to sell a few publications throughout the year. We are
in the final stages of our pamphlet “A Special Place,” on teaching Quakerism to
children.
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