Letter from Glenn Morison, Canadian Yearly Meeting Representative to the Friends World Committee for Consultation
Dear Friends:
As your representative to FWCC, I am asked to inform you of the mission and work of FWCC and encourage your participation.
I can begin by drawing your attention to the fact that the vast majority of Quakers in the world differ from the average Canadian Quaker in four immediately distinguishable ways. Most Quakers in the world are younger, have darker skin, have much greater financial challenges and hold theology that is more conservative, by most measures, and more Christocentric than you would typically find among Quakers in Canada. Our work is to move forward with any implications of this reality… beginning by acknowledging that when we say “Quakers this…” or “Quakers that…” we are often describing only liberal unprogrammed Quakers as they exist in Canada. (Here is a link to a map depicting the World Quaker Population.)
The Mission of FWCC (Americas) is… Answering God's call to universal love. FWCC brings Friends of varying traditions and cultural experiences together in worship, communications and consultation, to express our common heritage and our Quaker message to the world.
The Vision of FWCC (Americas) is of… a thriving and integrated network of Friends from the Arctic to the Andes, woven together in transformative faith, learning to love, listen, and witness.
In the name of FWCC, Friends run the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in New York and Geneva. Areas to which the offices contribute include human rights, disarmament, the environment, economic justice, trade and development, criminal justice and action on refugees.
FWCC also lives out its mission through the travelling ministry corps. I understand that a relatively recent initiative to extend the travelling ministry in Canada never really found its breath. However, this travelling ministry program is available to you if cast your eyes south and invite a Friend or two to come and visit. You can see how to make this this step at the www.fwcamericas.org website.
Another Initiative is World Quaker Day. I encourage you to set aside October 4, 2020 or perhaps another date to make a way to celebrate this day by responding to the query, “What does it mean to be a Quaker today?” Resources can be found at the World Quaker Day website.
The work of FWCC (Americas) is challenged both due to the need for translation and the reality of the great disparity of wealth among the yearly meetings represented. While this challenge is met by volunteerism and a voluntary travel pool, FWCC relies on the donations of Yearly Meetings, Monthly Meetings and individuals. Twenty-five percent of all donations to the FWCC (Americas) are forwarded to the World Office of FWCC to help it do its work. CYM has budgeted to support FWCC (Americas) with $1,800 this year. I invite you to discern if you can include an annual donation in your meeting’s budget, and/or to invite members and attenders of your meeting to directly support the work of FWCC. Please note that because FWCC is an international organization, Canadian Yearly Meeting will facilitate this process by receiving any donations and passing them on.
In Friendship and Service,
Glenn Morison [CYM rep to FWCC]
[email protected]
53-200 Arlington Street
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0W6
204-298-7859
Dear Friends:
As your representative to FWCC, I am asked to inform you of the mission and work of FWCC and encourage your participation.
I can begin by drawing your attention to the fact that the vast majority of Quakers in the world differ from the average Canadian Quaker in four immediately distinguishable ways. Most Quakers in the world are younger, have darker skin, have much greater financial challenges and hold theology that is more conservative, by most measures, and more Christocentric than you would typically find among Quakers in Canada. Our work is to move forward with any implications of this reality… beginning by acknowledging that when we say “Quakers this…” or “Quakers that…” we are often describing only liberal unprogrammed Quakers as they exist in Canada. (Here is a link to a map depicting the World Quaker Population.)
The Mission of FWCC (Americas) is… Answering God's call to universal love. FWCC brings Friends of varying traditions and cultural experiences together in worship, communications and consultation, to express our common heritage and our Quaker message to the world.
The Vision of FWCC (Americas) is of… a thriving and integrated network of Friends from the Arctic to the Andes, woven together in transformative faith, learning to love, listen, and witness.
In the name of FWCC, Friends run the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) in New York and Geneva. Areas to which the offices contribute include human rights, disarmament, the environment, economic justice, trade and development, criminal justice and action on refugees.
FWCC also lives out its mission through the travelling ministry corps. I understand that a relatively recent initiative to extend the travelling ministry in Canada never really found its breath. However, this travelling ministry program is available to you if cast your eyes south and invite a Friend or two to come and visit. You can see how to make this this step at the www.fwcamericas.org website.
Another Initiative is World Quaker Day. I encourage you to set aside October 4, 2020 or perhaps another date to make a way to celebrate this day by responding to the query, “What does it mean to be a Quaker today?” Resources can be found at the World Quaker Day website.
The work of FWCC (Americas) is challenged both due to the need for translation and the reality of the great disparity of wealth among the yearly meetings represented. While this challenge is met by volunteerism and a voluntary travel pool, FWCC relies on the donations of Yearly Meetings, Monthly Meetings and individuals. Twenty-five percent of all donations to the FWCC (Americas) are forwarded to the World Office of FWCC to help it do its work. CYM has budgeted to support FWCC (Americas) with $1,800 this year. I invite you to discern if you can include an annual donation in your meeting’s budget, and/or to invite members and attenders of your meeting to directly support the work of FWCC. Please note that because FWCC is an international organization, Canadian Yearly Meeting will facilitate this process by receiving any donations and passing them on.
In Friendship and Service,
Glenn Morison [CYM rep to FWCC]
[email protected]
53-200 Arlington Street
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0W6
204-298-7859