Monthly Meeting Minutes
Minneapolis Friends Meeting
June 9, 2024
Stephen S., Presiding Clerk – Jeannette R., Recording Clerk

1. Approval of Agenda—Clerk

The Clerk shared the proposed agenda. The agenda was approved.

2. Approval of Minutes of May 12, 2024 – Clerk

The draft May 2024 Monthly Meeting minutes were circulated in advance of meeting for business. The May 2024 minutes were approved.

3. Ministry and Counsel Report

Membership Requests
Ministry and Counsel has received two membership requests. Clearness committees will be convened soon.

4. A minute of unity with the International Friends Church

A minute of unity with the International Friends Church as they celebrate their 12-year anniversary was presented.

Minneapolis Friends Meeting unites with members of the International Friends Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota in celebrating your twelve-years of faithful worship together in the Light of Christ. It has been many years since Minneapolis Friends hosted a meeting with Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM) staff to initiate the establishment of International Friends Church.
Many of us remember our times of worship with Mumia and Phena Shimaka and her family, the good times we shared at camp, and the Light and love they shared with Minneapolis Friends Meeting. Some of us journeyed with you when you worshiped in the park and now at Wayside Church. We were privileged to welcome International Friends for the meeting for worship remembering the life of Margaret Shimaka. More recently we have been enriched by the participation of youth from International Friends in the life of our Meeting.

It is very fitting that we celebrate together today as we prepare for joining Friends from around the world in “Living the Spirit of Ubuntu: Responding with hope to God’s call to cherish creation and one another”—the theme of the Friends World Committee for Consultation World Plenary to be held in South Africa this August. Ubuntu is a Zulu or Xhosa term sometimes translated as “I am because you are.” It is the belief in a universal bond that connects all humanity, or we might say the Spirit of Christ in which we all find unity.

And Ubuntu reminds us that to live a life in the Light of Christ is to live a life of love and hope. On this day of celebration may we all unite in hope and love for one another and for all of God’s creation that sustains us.

The meeting approved the minute

The Clerk expressed appreciation for Ministry and Counsel

Friends approved the Ministry and Counsel report as presented.

4. Annual Mid-morning Program Committee Report

What we do:
We provide a gateway for other committees to educate Friends on the work they are doing within their respective committees. Our task is to organize the use of the 10:15 – 11:00 AM time slot so there is a variety of program material. The content comes from the individual committees as well as ideas that we may present to committees to pursue as appropriate. Content includes education, community building, topics to help our well-being, fun events, and personal growth. We also keep some time slots available in each season to accommodate things that arise, such as George Lakey’s visit, for example.

We meet approximately every other month during the school year. I have already reached out to committees and other special groups to reserve time for this coming school year.

Accomplishments:
28 mid-morning programs covering a staggering variety of topics including a family festival, non-violence, environmental concerns, personal assessments, LGBTQ topics, our own meeting story, solar energy, delegation to Cuba, FNVW updates, Spiritual Journeys, and so much more. We had guest speakers 9 different weeks! A complete addendum of topics, week by week is available.

Challenges and the Future:
We have been fortunate to have more requests than openings for Mid-Morning Programs. This is a testament to all of the committees and the work they do. This year will again have 28 slots to fill. As of this writing about 12 have been spoken for. What a great start!

We are also redesigning the mid-morning meeting planner to better include the technical capabilities that we have here at Minneapolis Friends Meeting as well as reflecting continuing requests from previous MMP’s. It will be finalized at our next meeting.

The next committee meeting is August 4, 2024 and an invitation was extended to committee members and clerks to put in requests before then, so the committee can start laying out the coming fall schedule. The first meeting with the newly nominated committee members was good fun and there are already new ideas being considered. It is exciting to be able to share the work the meeting does within this forum!

We are always open to new suggestions and concepts. All of our members are approachable and will listen to your thoughts and ideas. We welcome and encourage feedback on all sessions of the mid-morning program.

Closing:
We are open to leadings of the spirit within each meeting and encounter we have. Our meetings begin and end with settling silence. The MMP committee has great individual strengths that we are looking forward to utilize to the best benefit of the committee, and the meeting as a whole.

A member gave thanks for the service of Ellen S. and her leadership over the past 6 years.

A question arose: Can individuals or groups of people request a slot without the sponsorship of a committee? These kinds of requests are forwarded to a committee and that committee considers the request first.

The meeting accepted the report of the Mid-morning Program Committee

5. Property Committee Annual Report

The clerk of the committee shared the current and recent members of the committee and also highlighted many individuals and their contributions to the work of the property committee.

While there are challenges finding the time to complete all the tasks and finding enough committee members, there is a lot of joy in the work of making sure everyone’s experience here is safe, comforting and rewarding.

The committee had numerous accomplishments over the past year. These included: rebuilding of the front porch, buttoning up attic air leaks, getting a handicap parking space designated and installed, pruning trees, and adding basement ventilation by using the exhaust hood.

This coming year the committee anticipates upgrading the insulation in the attic, painting the exterior of the building with attention to the exterior trim work, finding a new snow removal contractor, making the entry way more welcoming, and additional items.

Friends were invited to join the committee as a member or to help out with special projects.

The clerk expressed appreciation for the quality and humor of the report as well as the wonderful gifts that this committee brings to the meeting.

Friends accepted the report of the Property Committee.

6. Nominating Committee Report

A handful of nominations were brought forward and approved. These included:
• a representative to serve on the Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) committee for the meeting
• and two meeting members to serve as co-clerks of Social Committee

The QVS committee has three people from Minneapolis Meeting, and three people from Twin Cities Meeting.

It was reported that the American Friends Service Committee is looking for a meeting liaison. The meeting was asked to approve seeking a representative for AFSC and that nominating committee identify a representative.

Friends approved the appointment of an AFSC representative from the meeting.

Friends approved the two nominations presented by the nominating committee.

7. Peace and Social Concerns Report

Consideration of Meeting membership in the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers
Committee members asked that at a future date, the meeting consider joining the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers (MAP). This is a peace and justice coalition, whose current foci includes protecting democracy and addressing climate change.

There was a reminder that the meeting does not have the money budgeted for this type of expense and there was a concern expressed about joining as a meeting. The Meeting may take up the issue again after the upcoming threshing sessions which will determine financial priorities for any expenditures that would go back into the meeting budget.

There are individual memberships to MAP which interested meeting members could consider.

Request for approval for a talk by Jeff Halper
A committee member brought forward a request for approval for the use of the meetinghouse on July 7 for a talk by Jeff Halper.

In early May, a representative of Women Against Miliary Madness contacted the Meeting to ask if we would like to host a presentation by Jeff Halper. Information was shared about Jeff Halper which included information that he was nominated by the American Friends Services Committee for the Noble Peace Prize. He is an advocate for a democratic state with equal rights for all-including the returning refugees. See more information about Jeff Halper attached.

She shared his presentation description.

FROM GENOCIDE IN GAZA TO DECOLONIZING PALESTINE: TOWARDS A DEMOCRATIC STATE FOR ALL BETWEEN THE RIVER AND THE SEA

Even as the genocide in Gaza continues, the US and Europe are plotting with Saudi Arabia to “normalize” Israel’s place in the region, leaving the Palestinians trapped in the tiny enclaves of Israel’s apartheid regime forever. While our attention and hearts are focused on Gaza, we civil society actors cannot abandon the wider fight for Palestinian rights and a better future for everyone between the River and the Sea, now in a critical phase.

As a founding member of the Palestinian-led One Democratic State Campaign (ODSC) Jeff will present the ODSC’s program for replacing Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory with a democratic state with equal rights for all-including the returning refugees. This, he argues, is the only substantially just way forward, but it is strewn with complex and difficult issues that we will discuss. There will be lots of time for discussion.

Peace and Social Concerns has contacted Mayim Rabim and gave them all this information. While they do not agree with all his perspectives, they are comfortable with a presentation at the meeting house.

Social committee is willing to host the potluck. Ministry and Counsel has approved hosting the event.

The clerk reflected that the Peace and Social Concerns Committee has done its due diligence. The meeting would need to support another hour of meeting tech and provide a Zoom host.

A question arose asking if the talk on July 7th would be open to the public. It was shared that there are plans to publicize this presentation. The meeting discussed security and whether a special zoom link should be created for the July 7th event. The committee will take that under consideration.

The meeting approved inviting Jeff Halper to do a presentation at the meeting house on July 7, 2024.

8. Northern Yearly Meeting Report
A member shared her experience with Northern Yearly Meeting. It was a return to a pre-COVID approach to holding yearly meeting. She reflected that it was a wonderful way to spend the Memorial Day weekend.

There has been a change in the structure. Business meetings are held before the yearly meeting gathering. This allows other kinds of in-person activities to be maximized. These included worship sharing groups, youth programs, and various types of fellowship. A meeting member helped with the nursery program.

A question was raised of how many people from Minneapolis Friends Meeting attended? Only 4 Minneapolis Friends attended this year. There are fewer participants from Minneapolis Friends than any other FGC meeting in the region.

A number of Friends shared their current and past experience with NYM –
• A member expressed how important it was in his development as a Friend and encouraged the participation of others.
• A member reflected on the beauty of the camp and the simplicity of the setting – there are golf carts for those that need it, but people mainly walk. There is a lake with swimming, boating etc.
• A member reminded the meeting that Friends can join yearly meeting sessions by Zoom.
• The clerk shared that it was wonderful to be there. Of the 210 people attending, 53 were children – it was really alive.

Northern Yearly Meeting is facing a budget crisis. They approved a budget that requires a 20% increase in meeting contributions – and an additional $20,000 from individuals. Friends were reminded that our meeting has an interdependent relationship with many Friends organizations – including Northern Yearly Meeting.

9.Announcements and communications
There was a reminder that we agreed that the back row of benches would be for those who use masks. Efforts are being made to heighten the awareness of the policy.

The meeting received a thank you letter from Quaker Voluntary Service for the meeting’s contribution.

The clerk asked that meeting members hold a member and his husband in the light and offer prayers for his peaceful passage. The member is in hospice and has not been able to return home.