A Minute of Concern from Jamestown [NC] Friends Meeting

The Jamestown Friends Meeting throughout its 51-year history has been extensively involved in the activities of the North Carolina Yearly Meeting-FUM.

A substantial number of its members have participated as Yearly Meeting committee members, officers, and on the staff.  Several of  its members have also served as committee/Board members. officers and  staff of the Friends United Meeting.

We are deeply troubled by the aggressive actions of some Meetings and individuals to excommunicate from the Yearly Meeting those Meetings and members who do not subscribe to their theological perspectives.  We recognize there is diversity of  belief and  practice within the Yearly Meeting but we acknowledge this as a positive which adds to the life and strength of our collective witness as a Yearly Meeting. The calls for division and expulsion contradict our understanding of Quaker belief and practice, including the time-tested Quaker process of  considering changes and reaching decisions.

We hold that local Meetings have the freedom to discern what our Risen Lord Jesus Christ through His continuing revelation calls them to be.

We acknowledge that the truths of the Bible are inspired by the Holy Spirit and were given by their authors to be used for our consideration and guidance but not to force creeds upon persons to qualify them for membership. Our Faith and Practice provides guidance in matters of Meeting policy but is not viewed as the final authority.

Among the proposals from the New Committee for moving forward we value Option 2 because it leaves local Meetings the freedom to discern for themselves whether they choose to continue as a part of the Yearly Meeting or withdraw. We choose to be in fellowship with Friends in the Yearly Meeting.

We recognize that this option necessitates a period of time for evaluation of the procedures to follow so that the Yearly Meeting can continue to exist as one body. Careful attention should be given to find ways for reconciliation among us.

May we be open to Divine guidance and move forward with intentional corporate listening and  action.


Approved  in  regular session of Monthly Meeting on July 5, 2015.


Clarence Mattocks, Clerk