Permanent Board Meeting | August 5, 2023

PB 23-28 : Opening Worship

Friends opened with a period of worship.

PB 23-29: Clerk’s Welcome and Introduction

Leslie Manning, PB Clerk, welcomed Friends to 2023 NEYM Annual Sessions

The recording clerk called the roll:

Bold = present in the room; underline = present on Zoom,

Leslie Manning (PB Clerk), Susan Davies (PB Recording Clerk), Kimberly Allen, Thomas Brenner, Deana Chase, Martin Forsythe, Christopher Gant, Elizabeth Hansen, Meg Klepack, Frances Lightsom, Edward Mair, Christopher McCandless, Jean McCandless, Bob O'Connor, Carole Rein, Martha Schwope, Liesa Stamm, Willa Taber, Eleanor Warnock, Diane Weinholtz, Donn Weinholtz, Mary Zwirner

Ex-Officio: Scott Drysdale (Finance Clerk), Sarah Gant (Meeting Accompaniment clerk), Rebecca Leuchak (Presiding Clerk), Noah Merrill (YM Secretary), Robert Murray (YM Treasurer)

Regrets: Elizabeth Reuthe (Secretary’s Supervisor), Peter Bishop, Darcy Drayton, Joyce Gibson, Ian Harrington, Newell Isbell Shinn, Roger Jasaitis, Anna Radocchia, John Reuthe, Aaron Sakulich (resigned), Morgan Wilson, Kathleen Wooten

Visitors: Marian Dalton, Bruce Neumann, Melody Brazo, Becky Phipps, Robert McClellan, Catherine Simmons, Linda Jenkins, Emily Savin, Johanna Jackson, JT Dorr, Meredith Collins, Pat Moyer, Tom Vargo, Gail Melix, LouAnne McDonald, Macci Schmidt, Adam Korhman, Carl Williams, Jennie Isbell Shinn, Frederick Martin, Jeremiah Dickinson, Susannah McCandless, Megan Jensen, Minga Claggett-Borne, Phil Veatch, Ben Warner, Travis Belcher, Polly Attwood, Mary Link, Betsy Roper, Kristina Keefe Perry, David Coletta, Holly Baldwin, Peter Blood Patterson, Wendy Sanford, Susannah Schell, Kim West, Jackie Stillwell, Jonathan Vogel Borne, Lynn Taber, Mey Hasbrook, Lisa Graustein, Melissa Foster, Michelle Wright, Em McManamy, Alan Sifferlin, Janice Sifferlin, Elaine Emily, Janet Hough, Jennifer Smith, Sarah Smith

PB 23-30: Minutes from the PB meeting of May 20, 2023 at Hartford, CT 

Friends approved, with revisions

PB 23-31:YM Secretary’s Report (report appended)

Noah Merrill, Yearly Meeting Secretary, brought for PB approval the outline for a visioning and design ;process /span>for 2024 YM Sessions and beyond (appended). This process seeks to lift up and carefully and collectively discern “What do Friends need from Sessions?” For important practical, long-range planning reasons the visioning process needs to be underway in the fall of 2023 in order to be well positioned for 2024. The Secretary clarified the request for PB to first approve, in principle, the arc of the process, with PB approval of later stages in steps. Any significant changes envisioned for Sessions 2025 will need to be approved by Sessions 2024, hence the need to begin the process this fall.

1. Will PB affirm the need to begin this process for the fall of 2023, or before January 2024?
2. Will PB approve initiation of a year-long, multi-stage visioning/exploration process, to prepare for Sessions 2025?

Friends approved, with one Friend requesting to stand aside.

PB 23-32: Request for approval to re-apply to Friends Foundation for the Aging (justification appended)

Consistent with the YM grants policy, the Secretary requested that PB Friends approve YM applying for continued funding from the Foundation on Aging. It is PB’s charge to approve the purpose; approval of the details is not sought.

Friends approved

PB 23-33: Presiding Clerk's (no written report)

Rebecca Leuchak, Presiding Clerk, expressed care and concern for victims of Vermont flooding damage and other weather impacts. She also encouraged Friends here at Sessions to be sensitive to the needs of vulnerable Friends due to the ongoing risks of COVID, encouraging mask-wearing, hand washing and other preventive measures. The Presiding Clerk expressed gratitude for the long and faithful service of Leslie Manning as Permanent Board clerk, and informed Friends of some of the items that will come before meeting for business at the 2023 Sessions.

PB 23-34 Naming Committee report (report appended)

Beth Hansen, reporting for the Naming Committee, thanked the other members of the Naming Committee, reminding Friends this is a new process, in only the 2nd year. The Naming Committee is bringing these names to serve on the Nominating Committee.

For approval to Class of 2026: Martha Schwope (Wellesley); Kathy Malin (Smithfield); and Christopher Gant (Beacon Hill) for help with a Nominating Committee special project

Jeremiah Dickinson, member of the Naming Committee, brought forward as recording clerk for the Naming Committee, the name of Beth Hansen.

Friends Approved these names

PB23-35: Nominating Committee report (report appended)

Jackie Stillwell, Nominating Committee clerk, reminded Friends that the current nominating process involves a time for hearing concerns, and hearing affirmations, of Friends who are candidates for service.

Jackie Stillwell brought for approval for YM Recording Clerk, to start immediately, the name of: Susannah McCandless (Burlington FM),

Friends Approved

And for Permanent Board Recording Clerk, to start at close of 2023 Sessions, Willa Taber (Fresh Pond)

Friends Approved

PB23-35: Youth Ministries Committee Purpose, Procedures, and Composition document

Jackie Stillwell also brought for approval the Purpose, Procedures, and Composition document for the Youth Ministries Committee. The document is prepared for approval at Sessions. The Nominating Committee is requesting PB approval to send to Sessions.

Friends Approved

PB 23-36: Recommendation from July 15, 2023, Listening Session for Salem Quarter, for Three Rivers Worship Group

Note about process: Because Leslie Manning, PB clerk had served on the discernment committee for Three Rivers worship group, Susan Davies,  PB Recording Clerk, clerked this minute. No back-up Recording Clerk was appointed to record this minute, PB 23-36.

PB took up the recommendation of the July 15, 2023 Salem Quarter Listening Session (hosted by the Permanent Board, for the Salem Quarter), to approve Fresh Pond's recommendation that Three Rivers Worship Group become a monthly meeting.

For a record of previous discernment and background pertinent to this minute, see PB minutes PB 22-47; PB 22-47.1 ; and PB 22-47.2 Decisions recorded in the aforementioned PB minutes were further approved by Sessions, 2022. The report from Salem Quarter is available in the Advanced Documents for the June 4, 2022, PB meeting, at p. 34.

Following discussion that included both enthusiastic support and firm opposition, unity was  lacking to approve the recommendation. Consistent with the 1985 Faith and Practice, and the draft NEYM Faith and Practice appendix on Establishing a Monthly Meeting, a visiting committee was proposed, to be formed of members from the Salem Quarter. Leslie Manning, PB clerk suggested three names of Salem Quarter Friends to serve on a Visiting Committee, to visit and worship with Three Rivers, and the Salem Quarter, and to report back to the Permanent Board: Regina McCarthy (Wellesley Friends Meeting), Ellen Neelands (Acton Friends Meeting), and Mary Zwirner (Beacon Hill Friends Meeting, and Permanent Board member)