Group plans for Yearly Meeting sessions
Churches leaving Northwest Yearly Meeting have each named representatives to an interim committee, and the group plans to meet on June 7, in Salem. Members of the committee include the following:
- Joann Boswell, Camas
- Chris Durost, West Hills
- Joanne Halgren, Eugene (alternate)
- Cecilie Hudson, North Seattle
- Faith Marsalli, Klamath Falls
- Marie Matsen, Eugene
- Helen May, Camas
- Elizabeth Price, Eugene
- Elijah Walker, West Hills
- Carol Whorton, Klamath Falls
- Jan Wood, North Seattle
The committee is considering the following questions in preparing an agenda for the meeting in June: “What presentations, if any, do we need to hear? What business items do we need to approve to move forward? What working groups do we need to name and get started?”
The represented churches and others interested in being part of a new organization will worship together at Yearly Meeting in July. Joann Boswell <joannrenee@gmail.com> is collecting input from anyone who has ideas or suggestions for what should be included, discussed, or accomplished at Yearly Meeting.
Church to decide status at later date
Four monthly meetings, all of which hold an affirming statement, will not be allowed to remain members in Northwest Yearly Meeting after the restructure: Camas, Eugene, Klamath Falls and West Hills. Yesterday, a fifth monthly meeting approved leaving as well.
In a meeting for business Sunday, North Seattle Friends approved the following minute:
Northwest Yearly Meeting has announced a restructuring process, which will create a newly Yearly Meeting on or before June 2018. Churches leaving Northwest Yearly Meeting may become independent or join the new Yearly Meeting. In response to this information, North Seattle Friends Church minuted their decision to leave Northwest Yearly Meeting during the restructuring period. As the newly formed Yearly Meeting has not yet been created, North Seattle Friends Church will decide on independent status or membership in the new Yearly Meeting at a later date.
Lorraine Watson as pastor, Jan Wood as clerk, and Cecile Hudson were approved as representatives to the newly forming entity. April 22 is the next gathering for this group.
Patty Federighi remains our rep to NWYM as long as we belong to NWYM.
In the process of creating structures that begin a process to form a new Yearly Meeting or Association, we trust and empower our representatives to discern and take action on our behalf. We understand that any substantive matters will be brought back to North Seattle Friends for discernment.
Approved.
Watson sent an email, saying that she remains hopeful.
The meeting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22, will be at Eugene Friends Church, 3495 W 18th Ave, Eugene, OR 97402.