25-3 Roll Call
Susan Davies, PB clerk, noted attendance in the room and on Zoom.
Bold is present in the room; others are on Zoom.
Susan Davies (PBClerk), Kathleen Wooten (PB Recording Clerk, pro tem), Travis Belcher, Thomas Brenner, Darcy Drayton, Martin Forsythe, Elizabeth Hansen, Carolyne Lamar Jordan, Meg Klepack, Frances Lightsom, Edward Mair, Allison Randall, Carole Rein, Martha Schwope, Liesa Stamm, Diane Weinholtz, Donn Weinholtz, Morgan Wilson, Mary Zwirner.
Ex-officio members: Marian Dalton (Treasurer), Scot Drysdale (Finance Clerk), Sarah Gant (clerk, Meeting Accompaniment Group), Rebecca Leuchak (Presiding Clerk), Noah Merrill (YM Secretary), Jackie Stillwell (YM Secretary Supervisor, clerk of Nominating Committee), Carl Williams (clerk of Ministry and Counsel).
Regrets: Willa Taber
Visitors: James Giddings, Maille Wooten, Honor Woodrow
25-4 Comments Regarding Recent Lawsuit re: Religious Freedom
Noah Merrill, YM Secretary, summarized the process and happenings up to this point in the history and current status of the recent lawsuit. He included mention of other denominations in the lawsuit, and the current legal status as he understands it.
YM clerk Rebecca Leuchak shared her process of prayer and holding of NEYM. This has been brought to C&A for further consultation and prayer. The concern and love for our community was a guiding Light. Support moving forward for our NE Meetings is ongoing and a priority. Abundant resources and communications with NEYM leadership have been shared widely. The clerk further shared her awareness of courage and hope in this time for Friends present. Gratitude for the NEYM minute regarding timely public statements was expressed.
25-5 Approval of Minutes
Friends approved the minutes from the December 14, 2024, meeting.
25-6 The Condition of the Quarterly Meetings—Verbal Report, Permanent Board Clerk
The clerk informed the body regarding the recent meeting held to consider the work of the quarterly meetings. The clerk reminded Friends of the Permanent Board to be engaged with the quarterly meetings and their essential work in this time.
The clerk summarized the current condition of the Salem QM, and the need for her administrative recommendation regarding ongoing management needs of the Salem Quarter Fund (presented in Advance Documents for this meeting). She also noted that current NEYM Faith and Practice guidance pertaining to quarterly meetings (1985) specifies the Yearly Meeting’s role in regard to quarterly meetings that are in need of support. Friends affirmed the direction of the clerk’s recommendation for the Salem Quarterly Meeting.
25-7 Traveling in the Ministry Update: Marian Baker—Verbal Report
Marian Baker (Weare) shared an extensive verbal report of her travels in the past year. Highlights included:
- Women in East Africa
- QWTEAM (Quaker Women Traveling in East Africa Ministry)
- A letter and endorsement from QWTEAM
- Sharing that a QRC Africa group will be meeting/convened by Marian in early October 2025
- News of Marian’s travel to Hartford Meeting’s Sunday School
- Marian would love to be invited to visit other meetings.
Permanent Board accepted Marian’s report with gratitude for her ministry.
25-8 Gordon Bugbee & Mary Zwirner Travel Minute
Sarah Gant (Beacon Hill Meeting), member of their Ministry Oversight Committee, presented a travel minute and background information on behalf of Gordon Bugbee and Mary Zwirner (attached). Friends approved endorsing their travel minute.
25-9 New Proposed Puente Delegation
The members of the proposed spring 2025 Puente de Amigos delegation to Cuba are: Carolyn Stone (Wellesley FM), Richard Lindo (Framingham FM), Erik Philbrook (Wellesley FM,) David Barabas (Wellesley FM). They will travel from 24 April 2025 to 4 May 2025. Friends approved this delegation.
25-10 Bodine-Rustin Fund Recommendations
The Legacy Gift Committee presented recommendations for the Bodine-Rustin Fund.
Friends approved the recommendations.
25-11 Mosher Book and Tract Expenditure for Publications
Noah Merrill, Yearly Meeting Secretary, presented this item of business. Consistent with our approved policy, the Office Manager and Yearly Meeting Secretary are bringing to the Permanent Board three recommendations for funding from the Mosher Book & Tract Fund of New England Yearly Meeting. The three recommendations are:
- A grant of up to $500 to support the publication, printing, and distribution (to all local meetings of NEYM) of the address given by Lloyd Lee Wilson to Sessions 2024.
- A grant of up to $1,900 to Maggie Fiori (Portland) to support the purchase, possible printing, and distribution of copies of her art pamphlet “STOP and Listen,” a tract exploring the experience and practice of Friends waiting worship.
- A grant of $5,500 to support the timely publishing and promotion of Brian Drayton’s (Weare) forthcoming book, “The Gospel in the Anthropocene.”
Friends approved these three recommendations.
Questions were raised regarding a reprinting of the 2014 Faith and Practice; the Yearly Meeting Secretary will follow up with the Office Manager.
25-12 Update on NEYM Financial Status
Marian Dalton (Brunswick), Yearly Meeting Treasurer, presented an overview of our current financial situation. See the budget subcommittee report for more information (report appended). A budget first draft was not presented today to the Permanent Board for a first reading, as there are many unknowns still to be considered in the budget process.
25-13 Recommendation from the Board of Managers
Erik Philbrook, on behalf of the Board of Managers, brought the following request to the Permanent Board: The NEYM Board of Managers (BoM) and the YM Secretary are requesting that Permanent Board approve our YM Secretary’s signing of a contract between the NEYM BoM and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), allowing the BoM to become a member of the organization. Friends approved this recommendation.
25-14 Yearly Meeting Secretary’s Report (attached)
Noah Merrill, YM Secretary, reviewed the main parts of his written report. He noted the recent opportunities for contact beyond NEYM, and the USA, as a Friend with many others, in encouragement and witness. This engagement and witness have seemed like a countercurrent to the political state of the world at this moment. Noah reminded us of the small and concrete faithful acts we are invited to in this time.
In addition to his report, Noah shared very recent updates, including a visit to UMass Amherst as our 2025 Sessions location.
Rebecca Leuchak, YM Presiding Clerk, shared her reflections from her recent visit as to the suitability of the UMass space, and usage of the Archives.
Phil Veatch, Rising YM Clerk, shared his impressions from the recent visits. We were also reminded of the cost of sessions.
The YM Secretary also shared the concerns from Northeast Kingdom Meeting (NEK) regarding our use of the UMass Amherst campus in light of previous protests over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the way the protests were handled by the university. Noah and Coordinating and Advisory are in communication with NEK regarding the issue. A local Amherst Friend spoke to how grateful she was that the Quakers of NEYM would lend their presence and Light to Sessions in Amherst this summer. A Friend expressed gratitude for the tender holding of this concern, and suggested we might approach the UMass leadership with our concern, as witness, if required of us.
The YM secretary spoke to the budget of the Friends camp. Fiscal year 2024 documents have been submitted for PB review (report appended). No action is needed at this time, but we are encouraged to read the reports. Contact Anna Hopkins Buller, Director of Friends camp, with questions.
25-15 Nominating Committee Clerk’s Report
Jackie Stillwell, clerk of Nominating Committee, presented the following names for approval/affirmation
- Friends Camp Committee member, Ben Bingham 2027; Friends approved
- Representative to AFSC, Peter Woodrow (Portland) 2027; Friends approved
Names to be referred to Moses Brown Board Nominating Committee for consideration:
- Dr. E. Pierre Morenon (Providence MM), for Moses Brown Trustee, (to be discerned by Moses Brown Nominating Committee); Friends affirmed
- Anna Hopkins Buller (Friends Camp director) for Moses Brown Trustee (to be discerned by Moses Brown Nominating Committee); Friends affirmed
25-16 Progress Report on Development
The Yearly Meeting Secretary referred to his report (attached) regarding Development updates.
25-17 Sessions 2025 Update and Sessions Visioning
The Yearly Meeting Secretary referred to his report (attached) regarding Sessions updates.
25-18 Friends Camp Financial Status Update
Anna Hopkins Buller, Friends Camp Director, submitted a written report (attached).
25-19 Presiding Clerk’s Report/Coordinating and Advisory Reports
Rebecca Leuchak, Presiding Clerk, presented her reports (attached). Her presentation included the following announcements: The theme for YM Sessions 2025 will be “Streams in The Desert,” from Isaiah 43:19: “Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” The Plenary speaker will be Gretchen Baker Smith (Westport MM), and Bible Half Hours will be presented by Kirenia Criado Pérez (Havana Cuba MM).
25-20 Memorial Minutes
The memorial minutes for Eden Grace, Rud Ham, Christopher McCandless, Jean McCandless, Rose Miller, and James Ramsey, here attached, were all approved for sending on to Sessions 2025.