Minneapolis Friends Meeting
Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business
January 10, 2021

Remote on Zoom   [Some names and information have been edited for publishing on the web]

In attendance:  John Kraft—Presiding Clerk  Stephen Snyder—Recording Clerk

Silent Worship

1.  Approve Agenda    APPROVED 

2.  Approve Minutes     Minutes of December 13, 2020 Meeting for Business were approved. 

3.  Ministry and Counsel Committee Report – Bill H.  In the past month Ministry and Counsel (M&C) facilitated two Mid-Morning Programs. Using the practices of Lectio Divina and worship sharing, the December 6th program explored how the Bible passage John 13:1-7 might speak to Friends today. M&C saw it as an opportunity to deepen community and explore the Biblical roots of Quakerism.  While the passage was challenging for some, it gave participants an opportunity to share something of their faith and better understand that of others.   On December 27, M&C hosted a program on nurturing vocal ministry using the Quaker Speak video, When to Speak as an introduction. The video and a flowchart, “Knowing When to Speak” led to sharing in small groups.  M&C hopes these events will add depth to our times of worship together.  In December, Meeting approved taking the marriage of Roger and Kim M. under its care.  They have now requested a meeting for worship to celebrate their marriage sometime in the coming months.  Heidi F. will take the lead in organizing the event.  Friends are encouraged to contact Heidi about helping with arrangements. In February Ministry and Counsel will be hosting a workshop on practices that can enhance our ability to enter deep, transformative worship. The worship will be offered on February 12th and 13th and repeated on February 19th and 20th.  The program will begin Friday evening with two sessions during the day on Saturday.  Each weekend is limited to 25 participants. Participants in both workshops will meet together for a final session on February 21.  Friends should register at the Minneapolis Friends office in advance to insure a place in the program.  Ministry and Counsel has worked on refining guidelines for closers of meetings for worship to make this process more centered and consistent. It is also considering how to address concerns that worship has at times seems more conversational than Spirit led.  Deep vocal ministry arises from promptings of the Spirit.  Commenting on vocal ministry or thanking others for their ministry can be distracting for other worshipers.   Discussion:  Friend wondered what the worship schedule will be on February 21 at the conclusion of the workshops.  There will be just one meeting for worship so that all participants in the workshops can worship together.  Friend expressed concern that the all-day workshop schedule on Saturday may be tiring for some.  Friend expressed appreciation for Tom H’s service on Ministry and Counsel.  He recently resigned for health reasons.  Friend noted that the practice of giving our name before offering vocal ministry may aid those on phone connections identify speakers, but it is distracting for others and is making messages more conversational.  Messages come from the spirit not from us as individuals.  Clerk asked if others had comments on this practice.  Some friends felt it important have introductions at the close of early worship so those on the phone can know who was present.  Knowing who speaks during worship can facilitate communication with these persons after worship.  Others noted that they listen with eyes closed and the Northern Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice says not to engage in unnecessary words.  Niceties such as introductions and expression of thanks during worship or explanations of context before getting to the heart of what the Spirit has given us can be distracting.  Clerk thanked Bill and those who shared on these topics. 

4.  Reports 

a.  Stewardship and Finance Committee Quarterly Report – Marilyn J.  At the end of the third quarter of the fiscal year contributions from members and attenders are covering expenses. Donations during the first 3 quarters of the year totaled $77,575 or about 66% of the budgeted amount. This quarter alone donations were $37,950.  Expenses for Quarter 1 through 3 totaled $38,792 which is only about 33% of the amount budgeted.  $10,500 was spent from the new Covid 19 Expense Fund during the first three quarters of the year.  The current general fund bank balance is about $155,500.  The Stewardship and Finance Committee is preparing the preliminary 2021-2022 budget for presentation at next month’s meeting for business.  Instructions for submitting budget requests were recently sent to committee clerks and should be returned as soon as possible.  Annual Contribution Statements for 2020 will be mailed out after January 31. The committee will also present the Mid-morning Program on Feb 28 on the general topic of Meeting’s budgeting process. Friends can send questions they would like to see addressed to Marilyn prior to the program.  Discussion:  Clerk wondered why only 1/3 of expenses budgeted have been spent. Meeting on Zoom has reduced some expenses. There is no one in the nursery. The custodian is working very few hours.  Program expenses are down.  The $26,000 contingency fund for ministerial staff is not likely to be spent.  The remaining $14,068 budgeted for contributions is not paid until the end of the fiscal year.  Friend wondered why utilities are not lower.  Utilities are about normal since they are billed at a flat rate per month which is adjusted annually. Friend wondered when the meetinghouse might be reopened.  Clerk indicated that this will not happen this quarter. In the next month or so a committee will be considering how best to reopen.  It may involve some sort of hybrid meeting.  The Clerk and others noted that the Meeting seems to be doing well financially and thanked the committee for its report and work on finances and budget.

b.  Conversations with City Council on Policing – John S.  Beginning in November a group of about 25-30 friends have been meeting on Zoom to discuss how best to respond to the need for police reform. The group decided to set up meetings with city council members in their respective wards to seek out their vision for policing over the next three years.   Long phone calls or Zoom meetings have occurred or been scheduled in several wards.  Responses have ranged from incremental reforms to abolishing the police department.  Accountability is a key issue.  Officer wellness is another. Many off duty police officers work long hours in a second job with no restraints by department. Many problems go back at least 50 years, so the group is not expecting a quick fix to these issues.  It is not too late for others to become involved.  John ended by sharing a few short facts about policing in the United States and other countries.  Discussion:  Friend noted that having so many members and attenders working on the same project is a breakthrough for Meeting. Clerk thanked John and others in the group for addressing these issues and indicated there will be more opportunities to continue this discussion going forward.

c.  My Grandmother’s Hands Book Group Update – Mary Jean P.  Following the events around the death of George Floyd last summer, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee began a series of discussions about how Meeting might want to respond to this event and the larger questions of racial justice.  As one response, the group agreed to read and reflect on My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies written by local author and therapist Resmaa Menakem. Mary Jean and John S. have been facilitating a group discussion involving 15-20 friends for the past six months. The central premise of the book is that using intellect to address reform has not worked because racism is embodied in trauma in our bodies.  This trauma, in white, black and police bodies must be addressed before we can make progress on reforms.  Even white people have trauma from our ancestors and our history of violence against each other and people of color.   The group explored this premise and practiced exercises to center and get in touch with our bodies and trauma we may carry there.  It was often hard to stay focused on the body as the brain does have a way of wanting to take over.  It is now time to pass on leadership and consider how Meeting might like to carry this discussion on racial justice forward.  John S. posed the query:  What is the culture of Minneapolis Friends Meeting with respect to race? Do friends know how to become an antiracist culture in Meeting?  Discussion:  Clerk thanked Mary Jean and John for their leadership and urged friends to call out racism when we see it.  Failure to call out racism is to give implicit support to it.  Friend suggested that meeting for business take up this topic to discern how Meeting might move forward with this issue.  Another friend suggested a model for discussing racism used among faculty at Friends School.  They split into small groups, each reading different materials, and then reported on what they had learned.  Their process felt like a worthwhile experience.  Clerk will put the topic on the agenda in February.  What is our next leading?

5.  Correspondence  Clerk noted that Meeting had received a Christmas greeting from Pat P. wife of beloved Jack P, former member of Meeting.

6. Meeting for business transitioned to second hour worship at 11:15 am.