Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, May 19, 2024, with 12 people in attendance at the Meetinghouse and one attending by Zoom. Sarah Sprogell clerked the meeting.

1. Meeting Opening

Clerk began the meeting reading fromthe 1985 NEYM Faith and Practice, page 113, part of the section on Meeting Leadership, entitled All Are Co-Workers:

“The membership of Friends Meeting, or the Society of Friends, is made up of persons with varying gifts or abilities.  Each gift or each type of ability may be a form of ministry, and hence of leadership, and each member is a part of “the body” or the whole.  Each member in the exercise of such a gift or gifts of ministry is a nurturing, functioning part of the body….

Some members have gifts of teaching and counseling, or of organization and administration, or of vocal ministry or public speaking, or other similar gifts which identify them as leaders.  Members with other gifts are not simply passive followers, but all are co-workers in the care and nurture of the body and its members.  And all are co-workers in witness to our faith and in the service of love and justice in the world.”  – from a Pendle Hill workshop report on Friends as Leaders, 1979

2. Approval of Minutes of April 2023 — Ellen Bennett

A correction was requested in agenda item #4 Trustees’ Report: “Reports from Maine Home” should read “Maine House”.

With this correction, Meeting approved the minutes.

3. Finance Committee — Nancy Marstaller

The Quarterly Report was presented. Contributions are on track for the first quarter. Operating expenses are less than revenue at this time due to second quarter payment of contributions to sister/quaker organizations. 

Meeting accepted the Quarterly Report, with gratitude.

It was recommended that we resume regular passing of the offering plate. This topic will be taken up at Ministry and Counsel.

We canceled our employee compensation insurance as the Meeting currently has no employees, only independent contractors. Robb Spivey and Marion Dalton, conducting a financial review of Durham Meeting’s accounts, recommended consolidating some accounts to both simplify record-keeping as well as to take advantage of higher interest rates. We approved closing the Bernice Douglas Savings account (just over $12,000) and taking that money as well as $30,000 from checking and $28,000 from the capital account and moving it to our NEYM of Friends Pooled Fund account.

The estimated budget for travelers to Cuba are approximately $3,300 per traveler. Right now, $4,000 from the Meeting is available in the Sister Meeting account. Contributions from Portland Friends Meeting have brought that balance up to $13,000. Finance recommends making an additional $4,000 contribution to cover travel expenses for both Meeting members who hope to travel to Cuba next February. Overall expenses for the trip to Cuba will be brought forward at the June Meeting for Business for discussion and decision. 

5. Ministry and Counsel — Renee Cote

Please see attached reports. 

M&C discussed the use of Zoom during Meeting for worship. In response to requests for less technology during worship, beginning in January 2024, Meeting for worship is Zoom-free on 4th and 5th Sundays. Requests for less technology continue to be made. In response, two recommendations were made: 1. try a Zoom-free September, and 2. turn off the projector after the first hymn and turn it on again for joys and concerns. 

There was no unity around this issue. Clerk recommended a listening session, including evaluating the current Zoom/no Zoom Sundays each month. 

Craig Freshley’s letter regarding Zoom during Meeting for worship will be posted and available through the website. 

6. Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour

Please see attached report. 

The project to rename the park in Brunswick in recognition of the Wabanaki who first inhabited this region has gained momentum. We are working to form a town committee with the mission to expand from simple renaming to lifting up the history of the Wabanaki people. Two Town Counselors are guiding the process. A proposal will be going to the Brunswick Town Council in the Fall.

Friends had several suggestions for ways to get the word out about the very successful Social Justice Book Project publications, and the great work of this initiative via social media and at Quarterly and Yearly meetings.

The Meeting expressed its deep gratitude for the extraordinary work of Peace and Social 

Concerns with this project. 

7. Second consideration of divestment letter to MEPERS

Meeting approved having Clerk sign the letter on behalf of the Meeting. 

8. Other Business

Update on LACO: Town has asked LACO to leave its current location because of the state of the building in which it is currently housed. While they have not yet done so, the Town is required to give LACO thirty-days’ notice in advance of a move-out date.  The LACO Board is setting up a working group to explore options. The Local Baptist Church may have room for LACO. It was suggested that the Meeting write a letter in support of LACO and the importance of finding housing for the vital work it does This is a situation in flux. Note: Leslie continues as a second representative to LACO for the time being, until another Meeting member agrees to step into this role.

Doug Bennett reviewed how to view and use the Meeting calendar. 

9. Closing Worship 

Respectfully submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk

Attachments