PYM Call To RepCom 2013 – Being Reached By The Life (PDF file)
PYM RepCom 2013 Announcement (PDF file)
REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE
Friday evening and all day Saturday
March 1 and 2, 2013
at Santa Cruz Meetinghouse
225 Rooney Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Clerk’s Call To RepCom
“BEING REACHED BY THE LIFE”
A CALL TO 2013 REPRESENTATIVE COMMITTEE
Of Pacific Yearly Meeting
1-2 March, Santa Cruz Monthly Meeting
Not by strength of arguments . . . and convincement of my understanding . . . came I to receive and bear witness of the Truth, but by being secretly reached by the Life. For when I came into the silent assemblies of God’s people, I felt a secret power among them, which touched me to my heart. –Robert Barclay, 1678
What unites us as Friends is not a set of appealing ideas and principles—but a shared experience that is available to us regardless of our theological views (or lack thereof). When we come together in deep worship, we awaken to that which is sacred, connecting us intimately to others and to all that exists. The “secret power” that Barclay names is not an ability to coerce, to mold the world according to our will. Rather, it is a stirring, empowering energy that enables us to love freely and live courageously—to “walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.” (George Fox)
A generally well-educated, articulate bunch, we in Pacific Yearly Meeting (including myself) sometimes lose touch with “the Life” and instead rely upon the passionate defense of Quaker “principles” that come from our intellects, rather than arising from the deeper heart-knowing that we call our Quaker testimonies. We attempt to manipulate one another through forceful rhetoric—thus creating partisanship, frustration and acrimony. The catalyst for “the secret power” that touches our hearts is humble, non-dogmatic kindness. Through this simple faith we grow in compassion, finding strength to heal our communities and to mend the world.
As we gather for PYM Representative Committee on 1-2 March under the generous care of Santa Cruz Monthly Meeting, I invite us to come with open minds and hearts, committed to kindness and careful listening—so that we may be “reached by the Life.”
PYM Committees often meet on Friday afternoon and evening prior to RepCom. So that we do not impinge upon that committee time, we will begin Representative Committee itself on Saturday morning at 8:30 am. If we are able to maintain good order and deep discernment, we may finish by early Saturday evening. If important work remains to us at that time, we find time on Sunday to complete our work.
Our RepCom agenda includes many of the usual items associated with preparing for the 2013 Annual Session: Finance, Treasurer’s and Registrar’s reports; approval of a fee structure; arrangements information; M&O report; planning for the Children’s Program and JYM activities; and more. A key issue for us will be consideration of our Youth Program Coordinator position, which comes up at the 2013 Annual Session for possible continuation, modification, or laying down. We will seek unity regarding a recommendation to the Annual Session on this weighty matter. In preparation for RepCom:
· Consider whether your report might best be submitted in writing in advance—thus freeing more of our time together for deep, unhurried discernment of the Spirit.
· To request time on the agenda, contact me at clerk@pacificyearlymeeting.org<mailto:clerk@pacificyearlymeeting.org> or ssmith@cmc.edu <mailto:ssmith@cmc.edu> ;
· Read advance documents carefully—especially those pertaining to the Youth Program Coordinator position.
· If you have not yet registered (the deadline is Friday 15 February), you will find a handy on-line form below.
I look forward to being with you, as we open ourselves to “being reached by the Light.”
In Friendship,
Steve Smith, Presiding Clerk
Pacific Yearly Meeting
What is RepCom?
All Friends everywhere, meet together, and in the measure of God’s spirit wait, that with it all your minds may be guided up to God and to receive wisdom from God. - George Fox (1657)*
What is it? Representative Committee (“RepCom”) meets each March to conduct any business of Pacific Yearly Meeting (“PYM”) that cannot be delayed. Actions include receiving nominations made since the previous annual session, receiving the report of the treasurer for the prior fiscal year, and approving necessary budget changes for the current year. RepCom may hear reports on plans for the annual session, make suggestions for its agenda, and approve a site change if necessary. RepCom also names an ad hoc Committee to Name the Nominating Committee and receives reports from College Park Quarterly Meeting, Southern California Quarterly Meeting, and monthly meetings not associated with either Quarterly Meeting.
Who is it? RepCom consists of one representative from each Monthly Meeting, the officers of PYM, clerks of Quarterly Meetings and all Yearly Meeting standing committees, the Registrar, the convenor of the Friends World Committee for Consultation representatives, and the immediate past clerk of PYM.
What is a Representative? The Representative of a monthly meeting reports back to the monthly meeting on the concerns and actions of RepCom and PYM. The Representatives bring the feelings and convictions of their Meetings to RepCom, but should not adhere to a predetermined point of view. Rather, RepCom members should join together in seeking divine guidance for the corporate sense of the Meeting. (see p. 175-176 of 2001 Faith and Practice for more details on these three questions).
REGISTER by Friday, February 15, using the registration form below, if you plan to attend any part of RepCom. If you are driving, the meeting’s website includes directions to the meetinghouse: www.santacruzquakers.org.
Travel reimbursement: PYM reimburses transportation costs up to a maximum rate of 25 cents per mile for representatives. Requests for such reimbursement should be made in writing to PYM Treasurer Ed Flowers, who will have forms for this purpose at RepCom in March. Please provide receipts to Ed if possible. Representatives traveling from Mexico City and Hawaii can be reimbursed up to $600. PYM Travel Expense Reimbursement Policies (PDF file)
Presiding clerk and specific agenda: Steve Smith, clerk of PYM, will preside at RepCom. He and I will send you further information, including an agenda, in one or more follow-up mailings.
Pat Smith, Assistant to the Clerk of PYM.
psmithatpp [at] gmail [dot] com
PYM RepCom 2013 Registration Form (PDF file to download, print out, fill out and mail)
OR
save all that effort and complete on-line form below: (email required to process confirmation)