Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends Minutes, May 18, 2025, DRAFT2

Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, May 18, 2025, with eleven people in attendance at the Meetinghouse and five by Zoom.

1. Meeting Opening

Clerk, Sarah Sprogell, opened the meeting with the following: “Words of Blessing to You in your Service.”  (From a New England Yearly Meeting postcard.)

May you remember that you are never alone. 

Invite help. Invite accompaniment. 

You have everything that is needed at this moment in time and in this place. 

May you find the courage to give yourself over to service. Let service shape your life. Though the burden may, at times, feel heavy, the blessings are great. 

May you feel the joy of service you graciously take on.

May you be bold and humble.

May you remember that you have been called.

May you receive as much as you give and give as much as you receive.

May you feel trustful of Friends and fell their trust in you, as well.

2. Approval of Minutes of April 2025 

Meeting approved the April minutes.

Martha Hinshaw Sheldon offered this update to the minutes. She announced, with regret, that she will not be traveling to Tel Aviv this coming summer due to airline challenges that could not be overcome.

3. Finance Report — Nancy Marstaller

Please refer to the finance report. 

With respect to quarterly income balances, note that a CD, having accrued interest over a few years, was cashed in and resulted in the accumulated interest being recorded. The total was put in the Meeting’s pooled fund. In addition, a grant from the Obadiah Brown Benevolent Fund added to increased revenue for this quarter. 

Expenses are all as anticipated. Note that some regular operating expenses have increased this year, e.g., electricity costs. These increases will be noted in preparing budgets for next year. 

Maker Cafe has spent $539 after hosting 6 events, leaving seed money for the rest of the year. Note that after having covered the costs for the most recent travel to Cuba, the Sister Meeting account has funds remaining as a result of several generous donations. 

The meeting accepted the report with gratitude. 

4. Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour

An extremely positive event that focused on Wabanki studies among teachers, presenters, and others was held at Kate Furbish Elementary School. 

Another initiative is underway to provide ongoing support for teachers who want to incorporate Wabanki studies in their classrooms, K-12. 

UU Church in Brunswick held a Working for Justice Community Partners event at which Social Justice Book project was shared at the Indigenous Awareness table.

The Meeting accepted the report, with gratitude. 

5. Trustees — Sarah Sprogell.

No written report. A small but hearty group gathered for clean-up day on Saturday. 

6. Meeting Care Coordinator Report: 

Report is attached. The Meeting Care Coordinator received an inquiry about participating in the Gay Pride celebration on June 14th and asked whether or not to join with the Interfaith Council of churches. This seemed like a good idea given that the date is also the date for “No Kings” protests across the country, which might draw people in other directions.

6.  Seasoned Item: Vestry/Fellowship Room — Sarah Sprogell

Ad Hoc work group to be formed to continue thinking about and working on the Vestry. Tess Hartford and Ellen Bennett volunteered. Renee Cote also offered to help with the doing. 

Remember that October 5 is Meeting-wide birthday celebration, so it’s important to leave calendar space on either side to prepare for that event. 

7. Report from Falmouth Quarter Called Meeting — Sarah Sprogell

Please see the minutes from the Called Meeting. 

The subject of the Called Meeting was to consider the purpose, format and length of Annual Sessions in future years, and to discuss concerns that have arisen around Yearly Meeting sessions being held this summer on the campus of UMass, Amherst. Rich discussion ensued about many things, e.g., protests on college campuses, needs on the part of Yearly Meeting in scheduling and building sessions, and what witness on the campus of UMass might look like. 

Letters from Yearly Meeting Clerk and rising Clerk addressing this will be included on the Durham Friends website, alongside material included for the Falmouth Quarter Called Meeting. Please look for all of the documentation related to this issue on the website.

NEYM is facing financial strain, with Yearly Meeting sessions taking up a large part of their operational funds. Meeting is asked to consider how we might be led as a Meeting as we approach the work of the Yearly Meeting, and our role in it.

8. Request from Brunswick Meeting — Sarah Sprogrell

Brunswick Meeting is no longer able to meet at Curtis Library this summer, and perhaps beyond. They are looking for a space, and they asked if they might share our Meetinghouse. 

The sense of the Meeting was that we would be delighted to share our space. Observations and suggestions were shared. No decision needs to be made at this time; discussions are ongoing, and we are one of the options Brunswick Meeting is considering.

9. Margaret De Rivera Transfer Request — Sarah Sprogell

Margaret De Rivera is contacting Narramissic Valley Monthly Meeting to request a transfer of her membership to Durham Friends Meeting. The request will go through Ministry and Counsel and an ensuing welcoming committee will be formed. 

10. Newton, NJ Meeting correspondence — Doug Bennett

Correspondence received from Newton Friends Meeting, which is located in the middle of Camden, NJ. They currently use a school building as their meeting space, and have a meetinghouse that was built in 182? They are seeking funds to save and restore the Meetinghouse for continuing use as a community center. It was proposed that we send $100 to honor both our birthday as well as their history and good efforts. A second proposal was that we send $250, one dollar for every year of our Meeting, which was heartily endorsed. This request will be seasoned and will return at next month’s Meeting for Business.

11. Other business

Still looking for people to fill out standing committees including M&C, Library, and Finance. Joyce Gibson agreed to rejoin M&C. We heartily approve!

Linden Jenkins is speaking tonight on her time is Israel and Palestine, on Zoom, and you have to register at NEYM.org events. 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

12. Closing

Clerk asked Meeting attenders to resettle and appreciate the work of this gathered group. 

Respectfully submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk

Attachments