Below is the complete text of two epistles issued by East Africa Yearly Meeting — North.
I note that the 2007 Epistle comments on the statements at the FUM General Board session in Kenya, as well as responding to some reaction to them from a Yearly Meeting in North America.
From this 2007 Epistle, it appears to me that it would be a mistake to consider this matter in any way “resolved.”
FUM [Friends United Meeting] After Kenya (First posted on June 1, 2007)
[See the response linked below from Patrick Nugent, former head of the Friends Bible College, Kenya.]
Current Quote on Quaker dealings with Kenya Friends groups:
“While somewhat less colonial, the [Friends United Meeting] work in East Africa is still structured around economic disparities that promote patterns of dependency. FUM has made a lot of progress in this area, but old patterns die very hard. Impoverished Kenyans and Ugandans expect all help to come from outside, in the form of U.S. dollars.
A response by Patrick Nugent, who is soon to complete his work as Principal of Friends Theological College.
06/09/2007
Introduction: I’ve long admired Patrick Nugent for the high quality of his theological scholarship and reflection (see this essay for a fine example: http://www.quaker.org/quest/issue7-2-nugent01.htm . I also bow to his commitment to putting that theology into practice, as in his service in Kenya.
Continue reading “Roomful of Elephants” – A Response by Patrick Nugent