Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, April 19, 2026, with nine people in attendance at the Meetinghouse and two by Zoom.
1. Meeting Opening
Clerk, Nancy Marstaller, opened the meeting reading a psalm by Dwight Wilson:
There is a lightness that flows from surrender
to Your will that we become what You intended.
Becoming guided is an extended gift
whose horizon stretches beyond view.
Stepping away from our selfish practices,
we arrive at the designated place,
pause to inhale, and continue forward.
2. Approval of Minutes of March 2026
Meeting approved the minutes of the March meeting.
3. Letter from Southeastern Yearly Meeting (SYM) regarding Leslie Manning’s visit.
Clerk read the letter from the co-Clerks of SYM. Please see attached.
4. Ministry and Counsel — Renee Cote
Meeting expressed its great appreciation for Leslie’s faithful and meaningful presence at SYM.
Meeting approved Susan Gilbert for membership in Durham Friends Meeting and the Religious Society of Friends.
Reminder that the first of two listening sessions will take place next Sunday, April 26th.
The adult study sessions on Parker Palmer’s “Healing the Heart of Democracy” will take place 2nd and 4th Sundays in May and June.
4a. State of Society Report study group
The attached report was read aloud. One small change was recommended.
Meeting approved the State of Society Report.
5. Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour
Please see report. From the overall report, specifically the report submitted to FCNL was read aloud. The movie “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” by Abby Martin, was lifted up as something that P&SC should consider showing this fall. It will be available on YouTube and Apple TV.
6. Woman’s Society Request — Dorothy Curtis
Woman’s Society requests permission to conduct the plant sale this year, beginning in May. Distribution of funds raised will be determined.
Meeting approved this request.
7. Falmouth Quarterly Meeting Representatives
Tess Hartford and Joyce Gibson will attend as our Meeting’s representatives. Sarah Sprogell and Leslie Manning will be asked if they will be representatives, as well.
8. Other Business
The status of the Eileen Babcock estate was reviewed. Please see report. Meeting expressed its appreciation to Doug Bennett and Sarah Sprogell, who have worked consistently to bring this matter to closure.
9. Closing Worship
Next meeting for business will be May 17th. Clerk ended the meeting with a second psalm by Dwight Wilson.
Thank You for the reminder that we are
never separated from Your love.
You mend our brokenness as well as the rifts
that create valleys between peoples.
You are living inside divine wholeness.
Daily we bathe in holy compassion
that offers us myriad chances to improve
our relationship with You and our neighbors.
Meeting expressed its thanks to Nancy for clerking a good meeting.
Respectfully Submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk
