Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business, July 14, 2024
Minneapolis Friends Meeting
Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business
July 14, 2024
[Names and materials have been edited for publishing on the web]
[Due to overnight severe storms in the region the meeting house is without power – no AC, fans or Zoom]
In Attendance: Stephen S – presiding clerk, Tom W – recording clerk, 30 other attenders in person [no Zoom attendance]
1. Silent worship
2. Agenda was read and approved
3. Minutes of June 9, 2024, Monthly Meeting for Business – Approved
4. Tom H Memorial Minute – Clerk asked for volunteers to write a memorial minute for Tom H. Carolyn V. agreed to work on it. Clerk asked that others who are interested should contact him or Carolyn.
5. General Fund Audit Report—Suzanne F The audit report was read. She and Carolyn met on June 20 to discuss the payment of bills out of MFM general funds. The current process was reviewed: Carolyn receives the invoice, she ensures the invoice is signed by the appropriate committee clerk, she writes a check to the individual or organization and then logs the check in the meeting’s accounting system (QuickBooks). Suzanne verified a number of random payments to ensure the process is being followed. She observed that there is a separation of duties being followed to protect the meeting from errors or misappropriation of funds: check writing is done by Carolyn, bank reconciliation is done by Mike F, and there are two receiving clerks -Gib and Roland – with Linda F in training. This separation makes it very unlikely that false checks or checks with large errors could be processed through the checking account. Suzanne reviewed the most recent bank reconciliation and found the numbers line up with the meetings’ accounting system. Logging of two duplicate checks had been documented and corrected. She noted some very old outstanding checks and recommends that Stewardship follow up on those uncleared transactions. In summary, she found the general funds accounting process to follow all the proper procedures for check writing and documentation. Our meeting relies heavily on volunteers, and she believes we have the proper controls in place to minimize the risk of errors or misappropriation of funds. There was no discussion. Clerk acknowledged the service Suzanne is doing.
6. Stewardship and Finance 1st Quarterly Report (short report)—Mike F
First Quarter of Budget Year 2024-2025 started April 1 and ended June 30.
Donations, Contributions and Bank CD Interest: $26,132
Total Expenses for first quarter: $19,827
NET Change after first quarter: + $6305
Percent of Top Line to Curtailed 2024-25 Budget of $132,335 19.7%
[Since there was no way to display the full budget digitally or on Zoom, it will be attached to the end of the minutes.]
Discussion: Friend asked if the expenses included any end-of-last-year expenses that were paid late. No, but there may have been some small donations that were included late. The report mostly reflects only new budget year expenses. Friend asked if it is unusual to be in the black at this time of the budget year. The budget surplus is running higher this year, typically it is around 12-15% at the end of 1st Quarter. Carolyn reported that there were some checks that did not get reported when the report was made. She will make an effort to get it done on time, going forward. Presiding clerk remarked that 1st Quarter contributions, while strong, are still less than 25% of the yearly budget.
7. Peace and Social Concerns (P&SC): Land Acknowledgement Statement—Deborah J. A sub-group of P&SC, the Right Relationship with Indigenous People has been temporarily inactive, but they have been working a long time on this project and want to present it to Meeting, today. The statement was read.
Land Acknowledgement Statement
‘We recognize that Minneapolis Friends Meeting is located on the ancestral and contemporary lands of the Dakota Oyate and Anishinaabe Nations. We recognize that we have benefited from the theft of Native land. We honor Native stewardship and their continuing presence, and we strive to replace the legacy of injustice toward Indigenous peoples through truth-telling, opportunities for healing, and collaborative action.’
After a brief discussion the Land Acknowledgement Statement was APPROVED by Meeting.
Clerk introduced a different minute to address how and when Meeting would use the Land Acknowledgement Statement. This elicited a longer Discussion. Friend remarked that at the large agency where they work, they had revised the statement, recognizing that it is not so much a land acknowledgement as it is an acknowledgment of the treaties that have been made over the years. These treaties are living agreements that we must hold to. No action is needed, now; it can be revised later, but the history around treaty rights and land use is very complex and we need to acknowledge that complexity … A question was raised about putting the statement on the Meetings web site. Yes. It will be posted there … Another Friend asked if it is to be read at all activities and if we should make reading it mandatory. Bill Hendricks said it would be read only before public gatherings and business meeting, not before worship and committee meetings … Friend agrees that this is just one step we can take in the process and that Meeting should take a leadership role on this issue within the community … On September 22 Paula P will be doing a mid-morning program here, at the meeting house, on Quaker Indian Boarding Schools: Facing Our History and Ourselves … Another Friend reminded us that while he appreciates the desire to feel good about what we are doing regarding land acknowledgement, we should be mindful that over the course of history, the Anishinaabe took the land from the Dakotas. The Dakotas took the land from other peoples. He asks us to look into our own hearts so we can remove the feeling of ownership of the land that we have as we live our lives today, instead of projecting onto the historical record. Until each individual stops believing in ownership of land, we are continuing to perpetuate the process … There was a suggestion to post the land acknowledgement statement in the front entry so visitors can see who we are; but another Friend cautioned us not to make the display too formal or permanent since it may need to be revised in the future. Based on the discussion Clerk made some changes to the proposed minute and re-read it.
‘Friends approve the land acknowledgement as presented. It will be shared on the Meeting website and read at public events, before meeting for business, and at other Meeting activities deemed appropriate by the committees or organizers of these activities. It will also be posted on the meetinghouse door or entry. We acknowledge the complexity of the issues leading to this land acknowledgment and remain open to continuing revelation.’ Friends APPROVED this minute
8. Children and Families Committee Annual Report – Judith J [Judith was unavailable to present since Zoom was down] Cathy N shared that parents of children attending Meeting appreciate that we are providing programs for their children during the summer.
9. Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice Report—Kate W-J [unavailable online without Zoom] Jimbo substituted. They have been using “Quaking in America” as a study guide and they think it is time to expand outward and take on a project. After much discernment they have chosen the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan, working with direction and support from the organization, Unidos. The Climate Equity Plan has a goal of retrofitting homes with insulation so they become very, very efficient. At the same time, the program will train underserved and unemployed people to do the inspection and installation. There is an additional opportunity to participate in direct action by signing a postcard addressed to Mayor Frey that directs him to work seriously with companies that pollute the air and water and to pay their fair share – to help bring electric powered heat pumps into homes. There are postcards available in the front lobby if people are interested in participating. If you live in Minneapolis, send the postcard directly to Mayor Frey. If you live outside the city, return it back to the meeting house. This is a starting point. There will be more activities. Discussion: Much of the discussion revolved around the status of the Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice group – is it an official subgroup of Peace and Social Concerns Committee (P&SC) or is it an adhoc group that would not have standing to bring a request for action directly before Monthly Meeting for Business? Normally, such a request would come from a committee. Presiding Clerk said he had decided to bring the discussion before business meeting. Some still expressed concern that Meeting needs to be careful in what actions it takes – it is one thing to make an announcement about some action we could take, but another to sponsor it. Jim replied that it is not their intention to affiliate the postcard project with MFM, but to let people identify themselves as Quakers pursuing equity and climate change in the community. They are just a group trying to do the work of the Spirit in the world. They tend to describe themselves as being a committee, even though they are not. Jeannette R is sponsoring the same postcard project and encouraged others to send in their postcard. Many appreciated the opportunity to sign the card, but there was some caution about connecting MFM to the action. Clerk proposed the following revised minute: Minneapolis Friends Meeting accepts the report from the Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice group and invites others to join in this action in support of the Minneapolis Climate Equity Plan. Friends APPROVED this minute. Clerk added that it is good practice to have committees season requests before they are submitted to monthly meeting. P&SC is handed so many issues and they are asked to respond to them that he wonders why issues have to go through the committee all the time. Friend agreed that the clerk has the option to have anyone address business meeting, but he stressed that when it appears that MFM is supporting direct action then we need to be more diligent in how this happens. Another Friend agreed that it is important to keep our boundaries where they ought to be, and this minute reflects that. Something should not be described as a meeting activity until we all decide. John S gave some background on the Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice group. He and Mary J P are very involved with the group’s start-up and the group has been functioning for over 4 years. It could have been initiated by P&SC, but it arose spontaneously within Meeting from broad concerns about equity and community, and it really represents the vitality of Meeting. Friend appreciated the spirit that has inspired the group’s message and they want that spirit to continue to shine. There was a suggestion that it might help to have instructions clarifying how to describe the religious affiliation of the postcard writer, such as “as a Quaker”. Near the end of the discussion, Deborah J added that she understands that the Deep Inner Work of Racial Justice group is, indeed, a subcommittee of P&SC. There was general agreement on this point. Lolly L. raised a concern that she has been discussing with others within Meeting – making the distinction between a committee and an interest group. It is good to keep the distinction clear – making it clear when I am expressing a personal interest or when I am representing my business or place of worship. Is there an implicit endorsement?
At this point, with no power and the meeting house getting hot, the Clerk recommended we conclude meeting for business and postpone the discussion on the 10th item on the agenda – discernment around Meeting relationship and giving to Quaker and other organizations. This can be addressed in a threshing session when there will be more time for discussion. Clerk asked us to review the following points for discussion when we prepare for the threshing session:
10. Discernment around Meeting relationship and giving to Quaker and other organizations –Clerk
- What are Meeting’s obligations to Quaker organizations?
- What connections does Meeting want to make or preserve with other community organizations?
- Do we have a corporate responsibility to financially support these organizations, or should this be more the responsibility of individuals?
- What criteria might inform our discernment around these questions?
Friend wanted to know if it would be possible to create a designated fund that would be used to fund MFM’s connections to a wider Quaker world. Another Friend mentioned that the Mennonites have the Mennonite Central Committee that would meet that need. If you wanted to support an organization, you would send the donation to the Central Committee. A returning former member shared his observation on the deliberations of business meeting – “this is an amazing process where different ideas can be brought and aired”. He has been away for some time and greatly appreciates the Quaker process.
11. Business meeting closed with a period of silent worship