Bennington Friends Meeting

Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business
Held at the Senior Citizens’ Service Center,
Bennington, VT
February 19, 2017

Present were Timmy Bullock, Priscilla Tracy, Arnold Ricks, Auberta Galusha, Eliza Navias-Bell, Lucie McKee, Dorothea Izzo and Juliet Wright

The danger in Society doth not lie so much in that some few may have a differing apprehension in some things from the general sense, as it doth in this, namely, when such that do so differ so suffer themselves to be led out of the bond of charity, and shall labour to impose their private sense upon the rest of their brethren, and to be offended and angry if it be not received. This is the seed of sedition and strife that hath grown up in too many to their hurt.

Stephen Crisp 1694

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

2017-8 Auberta Galusha reported on behalf of Ministry and Counsel.

2017-9 Responding to a letter from Helen Fields, meeting for business is happy to offer the gift of $2,000.00 from Rachel Carey-Harper to the Mount Anthony Union Middle School Agricultural Program. We will notify Helen Fields informally of the grant, with the date and the means of presentation to be determined. The meeting also intends to participate in the food-oriented programs at the school. Meeting has also charged itself with the goal of raising at least an additional $500.00 in order to support local environmental organizations, specifically Bennington 350.org and One World Conservation Center. The meeting is grateful for the chance to enhance empowerment in the community.

2017-10 Meeting for business approves holding a discussion of the Worship Chapter of the new Draft Faith and Practice, pages 46 – 61, on May 7, after potluck. Juliet will act as discussion facilitator. Our goal is to understand the emphasis of the text on Worship, and perhaps to look at this text in contrast with the current Faith and Practice.

2017-11 Meeting for business is deferring discussion on Joseph Tracy’s recommendation that meeting consider how we as a meeting can enter into conversation with individuals holding far right convictions.

After a few moments of silent worship, the meeting adjourned.

Timmy Bullock, clerk
Juliet Wright, recording clerk

Minutes for Ministry and Counsel

February 18, 2017

Present were Timmy Bullock, clerk ex-officio, Priscilla Tracy, clerk, Auberta Galusha, Juliet Wright

Pastoral concerns discussed

17-4 Ministry and Counsel is reminding itself that meeting will hold a Hot Chocolate Social to celebrate Lucie McKee’s membership after the April Potluck.

17-5 Ministry and Counsel recommends reading and discussing the Worship Chapter of the new Draft Faith and Practice, pages 46 – 61 on May 7, after potluck. A discussion leader needs to be named.

17-6 Ministry and Counsel has received a letter from Helen Fields who teaches at Mount Anthony Middle School. We recommend giving strong consideration to her proposal for the allocation of the $2,000.00 for food and gardening for education purposes. Her letter gives the details of her proposal. Ministry and Counsel sees Helens work as meeting the criterion of empowering students being enabled to learn the skills that will help them be more productive and healthy.

17-7 Ministry and Counsel recommends that we discuss a proposal from Joseph Tracy in which we consider how meeting can enter into conversations with individuals holding far right convictions.