December 5, 2009
“Listen carefully. Imagine a sower going out to sow, scattering the seed widely. …” (Mark 4:3)
Dear Friends everywhere,
We greet you with joy to share God’s movements among us during a regional consultation of Friends gathered Dec. 5that North Seattle Friends Church, in Seattle, Washington. Together, we resoundingly affirm the authenticity of the leading described in the attached vision statement modeled after the program, “On Being a Spiritual Nurturer,” under the care of “A Ministry of Prayer and Learning devoted to the School of the Spirit.”We prayerfully considered many questions and new ideas, and discerned way forward in coming months. Now we wish to invite all western Quakers into the circle of our prayer over this seedling of a program, and welcome your participation in its growth and development.
What is a program “On Being a Spiritual Nurturer”? In a full-blown form, it would be a series of residential retreats over two years; it would invite participants to deeper spiritual practice and communal support, to study scripture, the Judeo-Christian heritage and Quaker spirituality; and its aim would be to nourish growth in relationship to God and spiritually enrich our home faith communities. A similar program of prayer and learning has been active in the Eastern United States for nearly 20 years and has included some Friends from the West Coast (http://www.schoolofthespirit.org).
Thirteen Friends gathered December 5th to tend the leading for a western program. Our number included members of four Western yearly meetings, both pastoral and unprogrammed Friends: North Pacific, Northwest, Western Half-Yearly Meeting of Canadian Yearly Meeting, and Alaska Friends Conference. Christine Hall facilitated the consultation with eldering support from Cathy Walling and accompaniment by Charley Basham and Patty Levering. Patty is one of three core teachers of the “On Being a Spiritual Nurturer” program in the East under the care of the School of the Spirit Ministry.
The interweaving of experience of pastoral and unprogrammed Friends at this consultation provided rich learning throughout the day. Deep respect and appreciation for our many strengths enlivened our consideration. In addition, we were richly tended by the hospitality of North Seattle Friends Church. Both lunch and dinner were offered through the generous talents of North Seattle Friends Church member, Patty Federighi.
We began on Saturday morning by hearing the spiritual hungers of our far-flung faith communities and the “soil conditions” for potential planting of a School of the Spirit Ministry program in the West. Christine Hall, Charley Basham and Patty Levering shared the story of the leading thus far. As we began to connect Western communities’ longings to the vision, we were caught up in affirmation, especially for the desire for a program like this closer to home, the right use of Quaker gifts on this half of the continent, and the joy of contributing to the work of healing and reconciliation between the various branches of Quakerism. We considered questions that rose about what needed further discernment. We were united with enthusiasm in our “Yes!” and felt no “stops” at all. The afternoon bubbled with energy in three small working groups that brought forth new ideas on finance and corporate tending, outreach and promotion, and curriculum and program development. Before dinner, all were invited into a time of silent creative reflection and integration offered up in honor of Lynn Waddington, artist and Washington Friend whose memorial meeting took place the same afternoon.
A recurring theme throughout the day reminded us of the incredible abundance of God—like small seeds yielding a hundredfold harvest, or generous plenty revealed unexpectedly in Jesus’ feeding of thousands. Together we grew in trust in Divine generosity to counter fears of scarce resources and skeptical communities. We experienced Way Opening as we lived into the blessings that come from moving forward in faith.
In the evening, we addressed action steps and our personal leadings to commit to some portion of this work. Several stepped forward to serve on a start-up “Western Program Oversight Committee,” including: Charley Basham (convener), Susanne Kromberg, Marge Abbott, Ashley Wilcox, and Eugene Norcross-Renner. They intend to meet via phone conference to create a plan to present to the Board of the School of the Spirit Ministry at the end of January. They will discern and nominate others to serve on a more permanent Western supervisory board. Christine Hall was affirmed to serve in the role of administrator and core teacher to continue moving this vision forward. Her first responsibilities will be to draft a start-up budget and draft follow up communication with everyone who was invited to this consultation. We concluded our gathering by sharing thoughts for this epistle. The day ended with gratitude, affirmations, prayer, and the song, “We shall go out with joy, and be led forth in peace…” (Isaiah 55:12).
We recognize that starting up a program of prayer and learning will not be easy, just as participation in the program itself will not be easy. It will ask much of us in many different ways. Yet those challenges feel exciting, stretching, and somehow freeing. What began as a delicate seedling entrusted to a small circle of Friends, is ready to share with the wider Quaker community. First one or two, then this small consultation group and soon more will gather around something wonderful God is doing in our midst. The Divine Spirit has fired us up, enlivened us with energy and ideas for this ministry. If the story of what God is doing among us moves you as well, please consider how you might contribute or participate. Opportunities abound for service on the Western oversight committee, in planning, fund raising, outreach, teaching and of course participating in program offerings. Will you join us?
May the seeds of this possibility find fertile soil in your faith community and multiply a hundredfold for the spiritual nourishment of our Religious Society of Friends.
Respectfully offered on behalf of consultation participants by,
Christine Betz Hall
christine at whidbey dot net 360-341-1994, Clinton, Washington
Participants:
Marge Abbott, Multnomah Monthly Meeting, Portland, Oregon, North Pacific Yearly Meeting
Charlotte Basham, Chena Ridge Monthly Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska, Alaska Friends Conference
Patty Federighi, North Seattle Friends Church, Northwest Yearly Meeting
Christine Hall, attendingWhidbey Island Worship group, Washington, member of Chena Ridge Friends Meeting, Alaska Friends Conference
Kathy Hyzy, Multnomah Monthly Meeting, Portland, Oregon, North Pacific Yearly Meeting
Susanne Kromberg, Salmon Bay Monthly Meeting, Seattle, Washington, North Pacific Yearly Meeting
Patty Levering, North Carolina Yearly Meeting Conservative
Eugene Norcross-Renner, Oysterville Worship Group, Washington, North Pacific Yearly Meeting
Lynne Phillips, Vancouver Island Monthly Meeting, Western Half-Yearly Meeting of Canadian Yearly Meeting
Cathy Walling, Chena Ridge Monthly Meeting, Fairbanks, Alaska, Alaska Friends Conference
Lorraine Watson, Pastor ofNorth Seattle Friends Church, Northwest Yearly Meeting
Ashley Wilcox, member ofFreedom Friends Church, Salem, Oregon, sojourning with
University Friends, Seattle, WA, North Pacific Yearly Meeting
Jan Wood, North Seattle Friends Church, Northwest Yearly Meeting
A Vision for Quakers in the Pacific Northwest School of the Spirit Ministries: A western regional Quaker program for prayer and learning
Revised November 2009 by Christine Betz Hall and Charlotte Basham
What might it look like?
• A series of residential retreats for adults offered over a one or two year period. A two-year cycle includes eight, three to five day “residencies.”
• All participants commit to regular personal spiritual practice, intentional study with readings and guided reflection.
• The focus is on deepening spiritual practices, listening to and following the Spirit in everyday life, spiritual formation in community, and service or ministry as compassionate caring for others in many forms.
• Topics are grounded in Christian spirituality and in Quakerism, including various forms of prayer, spiritual practices, use of the Bible, adult spiritual formation, and venues of spiritual formation.
• Each participant meets between retreats with a care committee ideally from the home faith community that reports to both the SotS program and the home community.
• Facilitators will include seasoned Friends with diverse experience and theological perspectives.
Who might attend?
• Quakers (members and attenders) from programmed and unprogrammed faith communities in yearly meetings in the western U.S. and Canada, Mountain States, and Southwest.
• Non-Quakers with an affinity for this program as space allows.
• People who:
◦ desire a more committed contemplative life.
◦ seek spiritual understanding and literacy.
◦ wish to discern and grow in their gifts in service to others and the common good.
◦ yearn to more fully integrate their inward and outward life in the Spirit.
• Admissions includes completion of application with two references, and a clearness process in participant’s home community to test the leading to enter this program.
Where might it take place?
• After extensive research, two western venues seem to meet our needs and frugal budget: Tilicum Retreat Center in Oregon, and Quaker Center in Ben Lomond, California.
Coordination:
• An advisory committee of individuals from unprogrammed and Pastoral Friends meetings.
• Staff with experience in spiritual formation, Quaker process, and ability to articulate theological implications of program themes, chosen through prayerful discernment of the advisory committee.
• Decisions rising out of prayer and careful spiritual discernment (“Quaker process”).
Costs:
• Unknowns: Yearly, Quarterly and Monthly Meeting contributions; scholarships possible; transportation costs to retreats; books; development and recruitment expenses;
• Retreat lodging and food costs (fall 2009 quotes): 2-night retreat w/food at Ben Lomond (near San Jose, CA), $1,600; at Tilicum (George Fox U Conference Center near Portland, OR), $2,260.
• Comparable participant fees: School of the Spirit (PhilYM), $6,100 for eight 5-day retreats over a two year period; Spiritual Formation Program (Baltimore YM), $290 for two 3-day retreats within a year.
Foundational ideas:
• Spiritual development takes time, so the program meets over one or two years.
• Growth in the Spirit requires commitment to personal spiritual practice—regular “times of retirement” as the early Quakers said. This is an inner reorientation of priorities that changes how we “spend” our daily hours.
• Inner attentiveness, continuing self-reflection and humility form the basis for a healthy spiritual journey.
• Our inner lives with the Divine can lead to rightly ordered activism. Inner spiritual “work” becomes outward spiritual leading, activism or life activities, which in turn invites more inner spiritual reflection, etc.
• The word, “school,” implies a continuing dialogue within us—an individual and the Inward Teacher. But it also recognizes the importance of dialogue between us—a process of response and reflection between one person and a faith community, and between an individual and a heritage of people of faith.
• Spirituality includes more than what one thinks about God or the Holy, as well as more than what people inwardly experience about the Divine. This program reflects a holistic orientation that addresses embodied reality and spiritual activism alongside theology (“words about God”), scripture and faith tradition.
• The program will set an understanding of spirituality in the context of the ongoing Judeo-Christian story. We seek to combine a clear Christian grounding with the ability to recognize spiritual openings and committed spiritual journeys in whatever form they appear. We will draw inspiration and thematic study material from the vibrant interfaith movement in the Northwest.
Contact for inquiries:
• Christine Betz Hall:christine at whidbey dot net 360-341-1994, north of Seattle on Whidbey Island: 7351 Barred Owl Way, Clinton, WA 98236
• Charlotte Basham, charley dot basham at gmail dot com 907-479-2006 Chena Ridge Meeting, Alaska Friends Conference