Comments on: Twenty First Century traveling ministry: of uberQuakers, selfish Friends and the search for unity

By: Jeff Mead

Jeff Mead — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 22:26:52 +0000

Hey man! Good going here! I am a member of San Francisco Friends Meeting. I ride an ’05 Sportster 883 and love the dialogue here. If you’re still biking or ever in town, I hope you’ll drop by our meeting and come for a ride!
Jeff Mead

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:33:30 +0000

Hello all,
I appreciate yall´s comments on my work. I am now in Mexico and have continued to reflect on my trip.
What I would like to add, as something that may have not been entirely clear in this piece, is that for me a crucial part of community and avoiding “uberQuakerism” is dialogue.
I think Liz had a point that one should not feel guilty for taking on the concerns of a meeting and perhaps shouldering a great deal of meeting responsibilities as the Spirit moves them, but it is the SILENT EXPECTATION of this phenomena that I see as a danger. My impression is that many folks who take on this role do it quietly and are perhaps quietly appreciated in return.
As I struggle to communicate in this new and foreign place, I am reminded of the importance and downright holiness of communication.
´
I´ll still be motorcycling, don´t worry. And Oregon has always held a special place for me as my birthplace. Take care all, in peace,
Evan

By: peggy parsons

peggy parsons — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 09:32:12 +0000

Greetings to Martin and especially Evan,
I enjoyed this post for your thoughtfulness, but also because I like to know the Motorcyling Quaker ministers out there. I am impressed that you aquired the bike specifically for this purpose. I hope you continue to ride. My ride is a 750 cc Kawasaki Vulcan — sometimes referred to as my holy Kaw. I have traveled quite a bit among friends on her — to the point where if I come now and do not show up on the bike and in my ‘leather breaches’ friends may be a bit disappointed. I am afraid that due to the helmet hair situation I also often show up with ‘shaggy locks’. My longest trip was from Salem Oregon to San Antonio Texas and back to preach at an ecumenical women’s clergy conference. I had many adventures.
Ride safe Friend
Vaya Con Dios
Peggy Senger Parsons
pastor, Freedom Friends Church
Salem Oregon
freedomfriends.org

By: lizopp

lizopp — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 18:31:38 +0000

I am slow to say that I “agree” with Evan, Julie, and Joe. I would say that many of my experiences among (liberal) Friends reflect what Evan describes and vice versa. It’s a subtle distinction, but it’s one that I feel I must abide by. My experiences have shaped the spiritual concern that I now find myself carrying, yet I still have faith that God is still present, still available to the busiest of Friends, to the most individualistic of meetings.
I also find I bristle at Joe G’s description of becoming an uberQuaker. Joe, you write:
For example, I now realize why I don’t wish to join any committees: I don’t want to fall into the “uberQuaker” role while everyone swarms around me with their individual concerns, wishes, and demands.
Are we faithful if God asks us to be of service through committee work, and we turn away from that Opportunity? Do we turn away from such work because we are led to do so or because it is convenient for us to do so?
These are questions I’ve been asked by other Friends who have worked to keep me accountable–not to the meeting community, but to the Spirit.
I would say that not having enough Friends to carry the work of the meeting may be a symptom of not doing careful discernment around what leadings and openings should be pursued. Meetings can do service that is either an inch deep and a mile wide, or an inch wide and a mile deep. It sounds like a number of us have experienced the inch-deep-mile-wide variety of service carried out by a meeting…
At the Iowa Conservative sessions I attended last week, Friends heard from Mary Lord of the American Friends Service Committee. Among the many points she shared, I remember her emphatically stating:
We are not called to do EVERYthing, but we are called to do some things.
I have found that when I have resisted pressure from Friends to pursue something that I had no leading to do, and I made this clear to them, they seemed to appreciate rather than resent my setting limits.
Friend Mary also went on to say that if we are to make room to pursue God’s leadings in our life, then we must be willing to lay down those things that we are not called to do, so that there is space for God to speak to us–and space for us to Hear.
None of this, though, touches on the concerns, disillusionment, and frustration that Friend Evan touches on–concerns, disillusionment, and frustration that many of us familiar with Quaker Ranter have ourselves experienced and expressed.
Sadly, as yet there appears to be no widely accepted diagnosis of the root problem; just lots of symptoms that require attention in various degrees.
Blessings,
Liz, The Good Raised Up

By: Craig

Craig — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 15:11:17 +0000

Evan…we are proud of you!
What you write speaks to our condition as Friends.
Know that you are in my prayers.
‑Craig
Greensboro, NC
Friendship Friends Meeting

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:19:26 +0000

Maybe he’d be willing to put something together using Cafe Press like Martin did with the QR Reader?
Julie

By: Joe G.

Joe G. — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 10:53:47 +0000

I heartily agree with Julie, Evan. Firstly, God has already used you. I nodded and nodded through the entire piece. For example, I now realize why I don’t wish to join any committees: I don’t want to fall into the “uberQuaker” role while everyone swarms around me with their individual concerns, wishes, and demands.
I think I finally also understand that reletivism and individualsm are, in their worst forms, not a tyranny (as suggested by the new Pope); but, they are corrosive and undermine a sense of community. That’s because for there to be a sense of community there also be a positive sense of mutual obligation, care, as well as tradition that is passed on from one generation to the next.
How ironic that so many of us desire community. But, to do so means to release many of our own individual ideas, notions, interests, agendas, freedoms, beliefs, and the many other things that the mainstream society would like us to remain more focused on (being a consumer more than being a citizen).
Your thoughts also remind me of what one Friend at my Meeting often says, “We want community, but that takes work and a discipline to our ways.”
This post really has some great insights. In fact, I think I shall print it out for future reflection as I did with a recent post from Rich about liberal Quakerism and Christianity.
Thanks for passing this along, Martin.
Oh, will there be some sort of pamphlet or article by Evan so that more Quakers can read what he has to state?

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 09:01:03 +0000

Hi Evan, Great report. I'd like to say more but I'll just say that I found myself nodding at just about everything you said. You mentioned that you have growing to do before you'll be ready to contribute as you'd like. I think maybe you're short-changing yourself a little here. I think that, no matter where the Lord takes you, what you obviously have on your side that many others don't are several things: A willingness to be completely candid, honest and spontaneous. Also, you are very, very perceptive...an astute observer, and I admire this about you (mainly since it took me a few years longer than you to figure these things out myself). You are completely right about many being Quaker for selfish reasons and your vision about a truly God-centered people being willing to SACRIFICE is absolutely accurate. I look forward to your future work. God bless you!