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Bulletin 02.08.2019
 
Draft Abuse Prevention Policy

Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends (SCYMF) recognizes the incredible responsibility we have to protect the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of young people and vulnerable adults in our community. 

We recognize that having a policy is just the first step in protecting young people and vulnerable adults from harm. It is our hope that this policy will be the springboard toward creating a culture at SCYMF of safety and vigilance toward preventing abuse of everyone in our community.

Click here to read the full draft policy.
 
Recording Process Revision

Proposed revision for the confidentiality portion of the recording process: “The committee then initiates a 60-day period in which folks can give feedback to the committee. These may include positive affirmations and testimonials, cautions and concerns, or reports of problematic behavior. 

“The author of the feedback must identify themselves and give contact information to the committee in case further conversation were needed. However, upon request, any identifying details in the content of the messages and the identity of the reporter will be held in strict confidentiality by the committee to be shared with none other than with emergency response professionals in the case of imminent danger or a reportable offense.

Click here to see the full recording process.

 
From Camas Friends

To prepare for the discussion at our quarterly gathering on Feb. 16th on “What is God Calling Us to Do?” Camas Friends held a threshing meeting after meeting for worship on Feb. 3rd. Some highlights follow:
  • Sierra Cascades Yearly Meeting has operated with a good order of Quaker business.
  • Participation is a core value.
  • We also prioritize giving voice to those that have have been overlooked or excluded in the past.
  • From our baggage, there are things we need to learn and things we need to unlearn.
Read the rest of the notes here.
 
From the Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met on Saturday, October 20, 2018, with the following agenda:
  • Accepting online contributions
  • Travel reimbursement policy
  • Year-to-date financial report
  • Budget and investments
Click here to read minutes from the meeting.
 
From the Quarterly Gathering

Minutes from our Quarterly Gathering at Eugene Friends Church in October 2018 are now available online. Click here to read those minutes.

You can also find them online.
  • Visit scymf.org
  • Hover over the <Records> menu item and select <Minutes>
  • Select <Narrative Records>
  • Select <10.20.2018 Quarterly Gathering>
 

Jesus invites a handful of fish-catchers to become people-catchers. These folks then “left everything and followed him.”

Except, they didn't

leave

everything.

They may have literally left their nets. They may have “left” some ultimate goals in exchange for participation in Jesus’ ultimate goals.

But they brought their wounds. Their self doubts. Their overconfidence. Their tempers. Their skepticism. Their fears. Their noble and/or misguided ambitions. Their limited knowledge. Their lack of experience. Their biases. Their shame and mechanisms for hiding that shame.

And Jesus made space for all they brought. He welcomed it and them. He had no illusions about the limitations and growth areas of the people he called. And he called them nonetheless.

Matt Boswell
Camas Friends

Announcements

Quarterly Gathering will be at West Hills Friends Church on Saturday, February 16, 2019. Preregister by sending your name, email address and church/meeting affiliation to registrar@scymf.org. If you are bringing children under 18, please send their names and ages. Please let us know if you need transportation or housing before or after the Quarterly Gathering. West Hills Friends is located at  7425 SW 52ndAve, Portland, OR 97219. Click here for the full schedule.

Quaker Heritage Day 2019 at Berkeley Friends Church, Saturday, February 23, 2019, 9:00am to 3:30pm. “The Prophetic Voice of John Woolman” presented by Jon R. Kershner, Ph.D. Click here for more details.

Brian Drayton will lead a retreat, “Dwelling in Watchfulness: a Weekend for People with a Concern for Ministry” the weekend of March 15–17, at Friends Center in Barnesville, Ohio. Brian shares the following words of invitation: “This weekend offers a rare opportunity to gather with Friends from several yearly meetings to explore our experience, our challenges, our joys, and our growing edges in the service of gospel mnistry. If you cannot come, please encourage others to consider it — especially younger ministers.” Email Ken Jacobsen (kenkatharine@earthlink.com) for more information.

Quaker men from churches and meetings throughout the Northwest will gather at beautiful Camp Tilikum, March 29-31. Their 2019 theme is Identifying, Sharing & Living Into Spiritual Gifts. Click here for more information, or you can click here for a registration form.

The second annual Pastors Conference will be Tuesday, April 23rd (noon), to Thursday, April 25th (noon), at McMenamins Edgefield (2126 SW Halsey St, Troutdale, OR 97060). We intend to create a space for ministers to continue building supportive relationships with each other, to verbally reflect on our respective ministries and receive encouragement, and to listen to how the Spirit is working in our congregations and in SCYMF as a whole. All are welcome, keeping in mind that discussions will focus on the joys, challenges, and possibilities of our lived experience of pastoral ministry. Please contact Matt Boswell (matt@camasfriends.org) for information about registration, costs, and more details about what to expect.

Our next Annual Session has been scheduled for May 24–26, 2019, at Canby Grove.

Reedwood Friends Church, Portland, Oregon, is seeking applications for the position of full-time pastor.  Reedwood is an urban, Christ-centered, multi-cultural church that welcomes all seekers of truth.  Until recently Reedwood was part of Northwest Yearly Meeting, but it is now an independent Friends Church of approximately 70 affiliated persons. Applications may be made by sending a cover letter, CV and written statement showing personal commitment to Quaker values and testimonies to Susanne Christopher, Clerk, pastoral search committee, jobs@reedwood.org. To see the complete job description, click here https://reedwoodfriends.wordpress.com/

Are members of your local church receiving this newsletter? Use the email forward button below to share this issue, or encourage anyone interested in subscribing to do so by completing the form on our Contact page. You can also find our newsletter online.

If you have an announcement you’d like to have included in the next Bulletin, please send it to newsletter@scymf.org.
 
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Sierra-Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends
1002A N Springbrook Rd #258
Newberg, OR 97132-2024

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