Published: April 2, 2021
~
Dear Friends,
With both sadness and joy, the planning committee announces our new dates:
Pacific Northwest Quaker Women’s Theology Conference
July 6-10, 2022
Cascades Camp in Yelm, Washington
Yes, that’s a year from this July.
We received over 60 responses to a survey of past attenders, considering a conference in 2021. Several things stood out: when we are released from pandemic purgatory, many attenders said their first priority will be visiting family members they have been unable to see and hug in many months. We share in this joy; we hope to visit family this summer, as well.
Other attenders were concerned about safety, and felt that June, 2021 was too soon to safely convene.
Cascades Camp is well suited for our conference, but has no openings for later in the summer, 2021. They have loyal groups who schedule the same weeks year after year. We are not surprised. It is a beautiful site.
Finding a week that does not conflict with other scheduled Quaker meetings was challenging. We regret that our conference will overlap with Friends General Conference annual gathering in Virginia in 2022.
Survey respondents were clear that they wanted accessible lodgings appropriate for beloved members of our community who have accessibility needs. This was wise and compassionate, and limited the choices of dates available to us.
Another part of the decision was that the mid-summer schedule will open up the opportunity for teachers and other educators to attend. We hope that these dates work well for you.
Some of our respondents asked about holding a virtual conference this June. While many organizations have created dynamic online experiences, we feel that the mission and skill-sets of the planning committee are leading us to spend our energy on the in-person experience. We are praying that you can find the spiritual nurture that best feeds you during this challenging year.
We look forward to a wonderful time together next year, in 2022.
More information, including cost and program, will be available on our websitein the months to come.
Click here to learn more.
Please save the dates: July 6-10, 2022! We hope to see you all next year.
Blessings,
Pacific Northwest Quaker Women’s Theology Conference 2022 Planning Committee Members:
Joy Preston, clerk
Katie Buckley
Judy Maurer
June Thomasson
Susanne Ratcliffe Wilson