Bennington Friends Meeting

Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business

Held at the Senior Citizens’ Service Center

Bennington, VT

November 17, 2019

Present were Timmy Bullock, Priscilla Tracy, Michael Wajda, Eliza Navias-Bell, Lucie McKee, Allison Levie, Auberta Galusha and Juliet Wright

As thou beginnest with the Spirit, keep to it in thy going on and conclude in it, and this will preserve thee from tiring thy brethren, and causing them to wish for thy silence.

                                                                        Samuel Bownas, 18^th C

Out of the silence the clerk read the above quotation.

The minutes for meeting for business for October 20, 2019 were read.

2019-44 Priscilla Tracy reported on behalf of ministry and counsel.

2019-45 Meeting for business is grateful to be reminded of our practice as Friends for each of us to be respectful and worshipful in all communication, operating out of the space of love and respect for all persons. This holds true for all communications, whether letters, email, phone or in person.

2019-46 Meeting for business wrestled with the question of how to offer pastoral care to Rosemary Zimmerman. Meeting for business has determined that we will initially be in touch with Rosemary via Noah Merrill. We will discuss with him the possibility of a visit with Rosemary and the timing of such a visit.

2019-47 Eliza Navias-Bell reported on behalf of Naming Committee. The committee is putting forth the name of Michael Wajda for recording clerk. We approve him as recording clerk and are delighted to have him begin with us starting in January 2020. He has requested a back-up recording clerk. This will be addressed in January 2020.  

2019-48 Since we did not spend the money from our sufferings budget, meeting for business confirms the January 2019 decision to contribute $1500.00 from the Sufferings budget for the Coalition for the Homeless.

2019-49 Meeting for business approves creating an ad hoc committee to discern the priorities for disbursement of the approximately $5,000.00 cash during the current year. Allison Levie is interested in serving, possibly also Eliza Navias-Bell, Maryann St. John and Priscilla Tracy. Allison Levie will serve as clerk of the committee. The committee will bring for approval to meeting a list of recommendations for making contributions to the meeting. We are asked to direct any suggestions for such contributions to Alison.

2019-50 Auberta Galusha reported on behalf of Interfaith Council. Michael Wajda will join Auberta as a representative of Bennington Friends Meeting to the Council.

After a period of silent worship, the meeting adjourned.

Timmy Bullock, clerk

Juliet Wright, recording clerk

Minutes for Ministry and Counsel

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Present were Priscilla Tracy, Auberta Galusha and Juliet Wright

Pastoral concerns discussed.

19-18 Ministry and counsel asks meeting for business to consider options for more respectful and worshipful communication pertaining to topics of the business and operation of the meeting.

19-19 Noah Baker Merrill has requested a phone conversation with Timmy Bullock in regards to Rosemary Zimmerann’s membership and relationship to the meeting. Timmy is scheduled to speak with Noah by phone on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 2:00 pm. Timmy is going to communicate to Noah that meeting would like for Rosemary, and Noah, if necessary, to attend meeting for worship and ministry and counsel on Sunday, December 8, or Sunday, January 12.

In preparation for this phone call, Ministry and Counsel is recommending that Timmy bring forth to Noah the following topics or questions:

• Bennington Friends Meeting is concerned about Rosemary’s current travails and want to support her during this difficult time.
• Our main concern is that we have received no response to our letter, which was mailed in August and sent electronically in October.
• Does Noah have information he can share with us from Rosemary that would help us to understand her silence?
• Rosemary has not been at our meeting for at least one and a half years. A member of meeting ran into her at NEYM and offered face to face support.
• What can we share in addition to our letter? Does Noah have a copy of it? Did Rosemary mention it to him?