Meetings for Listening

Threshing Session on Making Financial Contributions

October 23, 2005

Topic:  Whether or not Patapsco Friends Meeting should make financial contributions

Fourteen Friends were in attendance.  A couple of people left without speaking.

Questions:

A.    Should (or Why should) the Meeting support any Quaker or non-Quaker organizations, financially or otherwise?
B.    Reasons for the Meeting to make financial contributions to outside organizations/Reasons for the Meeting not to make financial contributions to outside organizations?

There was some discussion that the questions were not the right questions.  However, the session proceeded with people responding as they felt led.

Responses:

1.    Wardell:  The Meeting should not financially support other organizations.  Individuals should make individual contributions to organizations.

2.    Ken:  It is important to make distinctions between three situations:
a.    Giving money to an organization because we want to support that organizations’ work;
b.    Responding financially to an organization that is already giving the Meeting something;
c.    Responding to an organization in which we as a Meeting are already participating in.
Ken feels sympathetic not to give money in the instance of (a) above.  But he thinks there may be an issue of integrity in responding to the other two instances.  The FGC is one example of this.  It provided materials to us.  The Yearly Meeting is another example, and in one way, we don’t have to deal with that issue because by deciding to be part of the Yearly Meeting, we necessarily have decided to be a part of the apportionment process.  IAF is another example.  If we as a Meeting embrace the IAF process and efforts, then we should contribute.
Also, we need to distinguish between individual discernment and collective discernment.   Ken has considered how helpful it would be to leave his money to the Patapsco Friends Meeting so that through the discernment of the group, they could decide what to do with it!

3.    Sam:  If you participate in an organization, you don’t necessarily give money.  There is a tradition in religious groups to support each other.  It is important for the Meeting to participate in the local county.  Taking the IAF as an example, it is just a nominal amount to participate and Sam supports the idea of our Meeting doing that.

4.    Bob:  Career has been spent in non-profits.  A big piece of that is raising money.  Sometimes you can barely manage the organization on the money you have.  There is a concept of Free Ridership (like National Public Radio).  Occasionally, there are non-profit Quaker organizations that will need some expenses covered to carry out their mission and these one time situations merit consideration.  Patapsco should give in the name of Patapsco to give support.  By doing so, in a way we are getting out name out to the community as a form of outreach.  Some outside groups get money by charging for things.  FCNL is an example of this.  When they have their general meeting, they charge for attendance.  And the payment of this – which the Meeting covered for him –  is really a contribution to the FCNL.  The same is true for Pendle Hill events.  You can make some distinctions between this kind of contribution, in which you are also paying from some goods/services, and the kind of contribution which is completely a contribution.  But the two are actually very similar.

5.    Ramona:  Has worked for non-profits in the past and is aware that when contributions are received, they are more than just money.  They represent a message of approval and support – an outreached hand saying “yes” to what that organization does, and expressing appreciation for the efforts of that organization.  If it’s just the money, then it doesn’t matter whether it’s from individuals or groups.  But it is more than just the money or the amount of money – it is a symbol of support – and therefore, it is important for Patapsco to give contributions to show its support as a Meeting for certain causes or organizations.  Patapsco is more than a collection of individuals.  It is an entity and as an entity it should be heard from.

6.    Jim:  Experience on the Sandy Spring Peace Committee in this regard had a strong effect.  The Peace Committee had a budget for contributions to outside organizations.  They didn’t really know why there were giving particular amounts to particular organizations.  And the people in the Meeting didn’t know to whom the money was going.  It was a rote action.  The Peace Committee proposed to the Sandy Spring Meeting to have a threshing session on what the Peace Committee should fund, and that proposal was rejected and was termed inappropriate.  Jim has great misgivings about back room decisions about where the money goes.  On the other hand, he wants to support members of the Meeting in their leadings.  If individuals feel that working for organizations is part of their path, this issue should be brought to the Meeting as a whole so they can benefit from the discernment.   But if our motivation to support organizations doing good work is not spiritually based, then this is not good.  Also, the Meeting shouldn’t be a pass through organization.  As an example of this, people shouldn’t give contributions to the Meeting earmarked for the FCNL, thus getting a tax deduction (FCNL is not a non-profit since it lobbies) and then expect the Meeting to pass those contributions along to the FCNL.  This is not what Quakers are about.
What does it mean to give a gift?  We don’t attach an expected result when we give a gift.  We aren’t making gifts to organizations, but rather we are making contributions to organizations for following a particular program.  There are organizations to which we all want to say, “Yes.”  Some organizations though don’t really need the money.  They don’t need for the Meeting to say “yes” to those organizations.  There is a great deal of divisiveness for a spiritual body to make a financial decision.  When we had this discussion before, one of the conclusions was to have a three ring binder for individuals to collect info in about organizations that other people can be helped to decide on individual contributions.  This wasn’t carried out, but it was a good idea.

7.  Rosemary:  Managed non-profits for most of career.  There is a feeling of support for the work when contributions received.  Most of the time, they were underfunded.  Outside support was more than the money.  In this kind of Quaker setting, there would need to be criteria and a process for contributions.  Would be interested in an open meeting for decisions to be made.  If we could design a procedure that the Meeting could support, Rosemary would support the Meeting making contributions.

8. Sherri:  Our Meeting has been talking about this topic for a long time.  She has worked in non-profits for many years, and grew up in a family without much money.  Has difficulty with the position that if we don’t participate actively in an organization that it’s meaningless to give a contribution.  Money is extremely valued for itself.  It is what pays the bills.  She is uncomfortable with withholding money when funds are needed, if we can’t give assistance and help as well.  Would support the Meeting corporately giving contributions.  When we withhold contributions, this says something about our Meeting.

9. John Farrell:  (sent via email)  I generally concur with the idea that as a meeting we don’t need to contribute money to outside organizations.  I believe it is important that we be aware of various organizations which provide services which we as Quakers support.  Accordingly, we have tried to provide periodic presentations from a variety of organizations so we at Patapsco Friends might be informed and more able to make contributions which we, as individuals, might find appropriate.
My concern about contributions to outside organizations focuses on the term ‘outside’.  I don’t consider other Quaker organizations which are working to support our professed values as Quakers, which are supported by BYM of which we are a part and contribute to financially, to be ‘outside’ organizations.  When the P&SJ Committee supported allocating part of our committee budget by sending AFCS $75.00 to co-sponsor the Eyes Wide Open exhibit, this decision was not supported by PFM.  Clearly, when we act as a committee we speak for Patapsco Friends Meeting.
I believe committees within PFM ought be to able to make special contributions in support of programs offered by fellow Quaker  groups with BYM.

10. Terry:  A few points:
a.  As a Meeting, we should not be wedded to a particular group or organization.  There needs to be ample accountability and visibility.  This shouldn’t be done out of habit.  We shouldn’t limit the number of groups.
b.  We can encourage personal giving.  People can give in the name of the Meeting.
c.  With regard to the idea of the list that Jim mentioned, Terry started to put together a draft of a list of groups, and this will be continued.  This can tie the individual giving to the Meeting as a whole.

11.  J…:  Has tremendously mixed feelings on this issue.  On the one hand, wants to support groups.  On the other, is not sure what process to decide this could work.  Isn’t clear whether such requests or proposals would come to the Meeting or to another group.  Thinks decisions need to be made by a broad group.  Doesn’t want the business meeting to be bogged down in a lot of controversy.  Wonders what process there could be to resolve this issue.  One thing she likes about the Meeting is that we are a small budget Meeting.  If we were to start making contributions to other organizations, it would mean more money to come into the Meeting and she is not sure that she wants that.  We don’t have a bunch of money hanging around.  We can also give time contributions rather than money contributions.  Monetary contributions are not the only way.  We need procedures that would work re: money without causing divisiveness.  It may not be worth it to discuss money issues.

12.  Susan:  It is a question of honoring our time.  Agrees with Wardell that it is individuals who give money.  It can be through the Meeting or we can give it directly, but it’s really individuals either way.  Possibly we could give as a Meeting if we could develop procedures and if we could decide who to give it to.  Being able to meet our budget would depend on some people giving money.  Sandy Spring had a significant budget for the Peace Committee to give money.  When it comes to maintenance, we need to give money for that.  Or, if we say we can’t meet our budget item for contributions if we don’t have money, there is a real problem with that.  It is hard to figure out what worthy causes to support.  It is a very important exercise for each person to do.  One Meeting got a big amount of money.  You can bet that they are having long long sessions trying to figure out what to do with it.  We can’t turn this responsibility over to the Meeting.  Susan really doesn’t understand the distinction between the individual and the entity.  If as a Meeting we sat and threshed and came to unity – this wouldn’t have anything to do with spiritual leadings.  And, this is not an issue of withholding money.  We don’t have money we are withholding.

13.  Ken:  The Development person for FGC has a new title:  Associate Secretary for Development and Interpretation.  Laboring in a business meeting over money is a teachable moment.  There is a benefit in learning about what the organization is trying to do – there is value in that.

14  John Buck (emailed to the clerk, but not read at the threshing session)  I would greatly appreciate it if the Meeting would contribute to selected organizations. The responsibility to select those organizations should be assigned to a present or newly formed committee. The organizations selected should be those that, in the judgment of the committee, reflect the values and concerns of the Meeting. My reasons are that (1) I think that the Meeting should make statements as a Meeting, (2) I might choose to make contributions to those organizations above and beyond what the Meeting makes and would benefit by someone else having vetted them first, and (3) I willingly delegate such decisions to a duly formed committee and do not feel that the decisions need to come before business meeting for approval.

15.  Doris Rausch (emailed to the clerk, but not read at the threshing session)  I agree with John that we do not NEED to contribute money to outside organizations.  However, if any outside organization has goals which we as Quakers could support, I see no reason why we, as a matter of principle, should not.

Finances, Process and Policies

Policy on Expenditures (7/2005)

From the minutes of the meeting for worship with a concern for business, 7/3/2005:

Friends discussed PFM’s redrafted Policy on Expenditures. The policy was approved with the understanding that it is a living document and can be revisited as necessary.

Patapsco Monthly Meeting of Friends
Policy on Expenditures

Every year, each Patapsco Friends Meeting committee should submit a proposed committee budget to the Treasurer in preparation for the annual Meeting budget approval process.

Committee Expenditures

Committee clerks may submit requests to the Treasurer to use that committee’s budgeted money, and two of the following (the Treasurer; the Clerk; the Assistant Clerk) may approve such requests without discussion by the full Meeting, for the following kinds of items:

1. Paying expenses for Meeting sponsored (meaning approved at the monthly business meeting) events or projects; or routine activities overseen by the committee in question.
2. Buying publications or religious education materials/books for the Meeting or community, related to the topic served by the committee in question.
3. Personal assistance to an individual as approved by the Personal Assistance Committee

Expenditures requested by individuals

One of the following (the Clerk, the Treasurer, the Assistant Clerk) may approve requests from individuals without discussion by the full Meeting, for the following kinds of items:

1. Expenses the individual incurred on behalf of the Meeting for food and food related items for the simple meal, or food supplies for the kitchen.
2. Expenses the individual incurred for food for the monthly Grassroots meal.
3. Copies for the Meeting/miscellaneous

Two of the following (the Clerk, the Treasurer, the Assistant Clerk) may approve requests from individuals without discussion by the full Meeting, for the following:
Scholarships for Patapsco Friends to attend Quaker events and conferences or non-Quaker events and conferences which foster or promote Friends’ principles.

Guiding Principles for Scholarships

The budget item for scholarships should serve members and committed attenders, should serve as many people in the Meeting as possible, should be distributed fairly, and is meant to empower individuals both to represent the Meeting at Quaker or other events and/or to foster Friends’ principles or to enhance the individual’s spiritual growth and that of the life of the Meeting.

Sponsored Friends (either with scholarships or not) are invited to report back to the Business Meeting on the experience in order to enrich the life of the Meeting.

See specific guidelines for scholarships below. These guidelines may change from year to year.

All Other Requests for Expenditures

All other requests for expenditures by individuals, committees or outside groups should be brought to the Business Meeting as a whole for consideration.

If the Treasurer and/or the Clerks receive a request for expenditure which seemingly is covered by the above policy, but about which either has any doubt, they may discuss it further with the person or committee requesting the expenditure. If clearness is not reached, such questions and concerns should be brought to the Business Meeting for further guidance.

Items Approved by the Meeting as a Whole

Payments approved by the Meeting as a whole (such as the BYM apportionment) may be paid by the Treasurer without further discussion.

Last modified, June 2005
Approved, Meeting for Business, July, 2005

Guidelines for Scholarships

While scholarships/grants may be given for a variety of events, not all of which may by known or anticipated, specific guidelines are given for those which occur most often.

Those members or committed attenders who plan to attend BYM events (examples: Yearly Meeting, the Women’s Retreat or one of the summer camps); or broader Quaker events such as FGC or Pendle Hill would qualify for a grant, as follows:

The cost of one week of camp per child

25% of the annual BYM cost

25% of a BYM sponsored event (other than camp, covered above)

25% of FGC (at the lower end of living arrangements, such as camping or
cooperative dining)

25% of the Pendle Hill Cost

People needing more than the above amounts should not hesitate to request more for consideration.

Note: these guidelines for scholarships were revised 2/6/2011.

Adult Discussion and Study

2005 End-of-Life Workshops & Worship Sharing

“Of the two births we experience, we can only prepare for the second–which we call death. May your time of preparation be full and happy.”

Quote courtesy of Steve Stahle

No one will leave this world without passing through the door of death, which may create difficult time for us and for those whom we love. We have planned these gatherings to address the needs of the Patapsco Friends Meeting community in our preparations. Each will feature speakers in the field, an introduction to local, national, and Quakerly resources, and an opportunity to ask questions.

Note: Resources collected from these sessions are now in 2 binders in our library. Also, coming soon, electronic resources will be available on this website.

June 26, 2005: Opening Worship Sharing

“Do I find time to reflect on aging and dying of myself and those who are close to me? Have I given consideration to preparing for my death?”

“What role does suffering play in our spiritual journey and our relationship with God? How much suffering should we endure to honor life? How much are we prepared to endure? What else do we require from life in order to be willing to endure suffering?”

“What is the essential quality of life that makes it sacred and obligates us to preserve it? What criteria do we use in deciding when it’s right to pull the plug or withhold care? When is life complete?”

“How can I be helpful to my family and friends who are preparing for dying?”

September 25, 2005: The Process of Dying

Meeting the needs of a dying person, hospice, living wills

October 30, 2005: Death and Taxes

The legalities of dying–wills, power-of attorney, estates

November 20,2005: After a death

Celebrating a life and grieving

January 22, 2006: Final Worship Sharing

Feel free to ask any of the End of Life committee for details about these important meetings.

Patapsco

Spiritual State of the Meeting Report, 2004

“Friends, How has the Spirit moved among you since we last met?”

A Spiritual State of the Meeting Report for 2004

Patapsco Friends, both individually and collectively, listened for the Spirit in our worship, in our business, in our activities and in our lives. While we have not always been successful we can point to a Spirit-led growth in many aspects of our meeting.

Early in the year three Friends joined together to share leadership in teaching Quakerism 101. That series was well attended, and Friends appreciated more fully the spiritual depth of worship sharing. In part as a result of these sessions two Attenders found both time and the financial support of the meeting to continue their search by attending a short weekend retreat at Pendle Hill on Quakerism.

An offering for sale of the original Quaker Meeting House in Ellicott City led to a serious testing of how the Meeting would handle a potentially divisive issue. Our decision was to focus on the spiritual questions that this opportunity raises for us individually and as a meeting. In that worship sharing we explicitly considered several questions: How do I listen to others when their position differs sharply from my own? Do I allow that all are seeking God’s will as faithfully as I? At the same time, how do I listen for the common ground that unites us and for the “third way” that harmonizes viewpoints we perceive to be in disharmony. Do we trust in each other to both share our thoughts with love and to hear each other with love? Do we trust in each other to embrace the diversity of perspectives among us? Do we seek unity among that diversity?

While we did not find unity as a Meeting to offer for the property, the process of worship sharing on the topic was very meaningful and reaffirmed our commitment to act only as we are lead by the Spirit.

The Spring and Summer saw a continuing series of ‘Meetings for Leadings’: a worship sharing group concerned with the general nature of Leadings, as well as the particular spiritual leadings of individuals. The sense of these meetings that there are common elements to all of our struggles with spiritual discernment led to moments of deep sharing.

In May we had an opportunity to support those in the meeting with a concern for Friends in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Adrien Niyongabo, African coordinator of the Friends Peace Teams Trauma Healing and Reconciliation Project, and Gini Floyd, who celebrated her 84th birthday in Kenya while facilitating AVP workshops, spoke to us at a fundraising dinner about the vital work being done by Friends in this troubled region.

Patapsco Friends also hosted the Chesapeake Quarterly Meeting in June. Here again our concern to present a spiritually meaningful program led us to invite Tony Prete, a student and teacher of the Bible, to present two seminars on the Psalms. We learned there not only about the pattern or style of the Psalms, but also how intimate was the relationship between the writers and their God.

In Business Meeting we reaffirmed our intent not only to subsidize Friends to attend camps, conferences, retreats and meetings, but also to actively ask Friends to represent the Meeting. The spiritual growth of the Meeting depends on active seeking and participation of our members not only in the meeting activities, but also in the wider Quaker community. Our affirmation led us to send Friends to camp, to the Center for Talented Youth summer program, to Pendle Hill retreats, to Baltimore Yearly Meeting, and to FCNL’s annual meeting. Friends at Patapsco have volunteered for a number of BYM committees and have become active in the wider community.

In the Autumn, following on the Meeting for Leadings, a Patapsco Friend led us in a series of six intense sessions on ‘Sacred Spaces’. Focusing on prayer and other means of connecting with the divine, these again were patterned on Quaker worship sharing. These special opportunities for worship sharing were held against a background of more on-going activities: Bible Study was held consistently throughout the year, and ‘Friendly Bunches’ were also active.

We are grateful that our spiritual community includes people of many ages, both young and old. The children are important participants in our Meeting. Through their silent but lively eyes during the first fifteen minutes of Meeting, their exuberance at simple meals, their sweet singing of Quaker songs wafting into the Meeting after they leave, their eagerness to put up and take down the welcome signs, their down to earth discussions during First Day School, they exhibit hope, energy and a burst of reality for the rest of us. In addition to coming to Meeting, a number of them have become dedicated Quaker campers.

Planning and implementing a program for First Day School cannot be done ‘out of the Spirit’, and our teachers are in many ways our Spiritual leaders. Most importantly for growing our maturing Meeting, our Middle School young people are helping to teach the younger children in First Day School.

Sensing a sincere interest among our Attenders on the question of membership, Ministry and Care organized a series of worship sharing meetings based on readings from the Pendle Hill pamphlet “Members One of Another” by Thomas Gates.

Some Friends felt that our brief consideration of the Queries and Advices for a few moments before the business of Meeting for Business was inadequate. We started our experiment of devoting one hour a month to the consideration of a set of Queries in a worship sharing environment. In these session we are beginning to get beyond the perfunctory questions of Quaker practice, and discover the deeper spiritual ground on which those Queries are based.

In May the Meeting received an invitation from an inmate at the Maryland Correctional Institute at Hagarstown to hold a meeting at the prison. At first this seemed impossible to the Ministry and Care Committee. Later, however, a member was “reached” by this request and the opportunity it offered us to remember those closed in by high walls of concrete and our own forgetfulness. Negotiations with the administration began in September and meetings are scheduled to begin in January, 2005. A number of Patapsco Friends have spontaneously volunteered to join this effort.

As Thomas Gates declares: “Membership in a Quaker meeting is a spirit-led journey of coming to know ourselves as individual-in-community, a journey on which we experience meeting as a place of acceptance, a place of shared values, a place of transformation, and a place of obedience.” Patapsco Friends Meeting has made a serious commitment to that journey, and has travelled far in 2004.