There were two problems for the “Autonomites” in North Carolina YM-FUM, when they assembled for their first meeting at Quaker Lake Camp on January 28. One of the few things the Autonomites definitely decided was – they didn’t like their current name, the “Autonomy Group.” So that was dumped. (Goodbye, Autonomites; we hardly knew ye.) … Continue reading The Carolina “Autonomites”: What’s In a Name? What IS Their Name??
Confirming two reports first uploaded here earlier this month, a plan to split Northwest yearly Meeting over the issue of meetings welcoming LGBT persons was announced at the NWYM Mid-Year session in Oregon. Also, the YM has been confronted with a strong rebuff by a meeting that left it in 2015. First: copy of the plan … Continue reading Two Blockbusters: Northwest YM to Split Over LGBT Welcome; & A Lawsuit Coming?
Friends, welcome to Carolina Quaker Vocabulary 201.
Today’s new words are: “Autonomy” and “Autonomites.”
First we’ll go over the words themselves, then we’ll have some exercises.
Here are the standard definitions for “autonomy,” from the basic online dictionary:
au·ton·o·my — noun – definitions:
The right or condition of self-government, especially in a
a self-governing country or region.
Freedom from external control or influence; independence.
Synonyms: self-government, self-rule, home rule, self-determination, independence, sovereignty, freedom.
And an “autonomite” is one who conducts their religious life, in their community, on an autonomous basis, associating freely with others, following leadings of the Spirit rather than directives of human authorities.
Now for the exercises, getting familiar with the words and their meaning:
A North Carolina YM Committee clerk has given the name “Autonomy” to a new grouping of local meetings, as part of a NCYM reorganization plan. Does this name mean anything?
We will soon find out. On Saturday, January 28, at Quaker lake Camp, beginning at 10 AM there will be a gathering of Friends interested in the Autonomy grouping. Welcome the Autonomites.
I suppose it was just too good to last.
In August, North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM, or NCYM) considered and rejected a plan to split the yearly meeting.
Instead, it decided to reorganize, offering two sub-associations for meeting to move to, within a revised and shrunken Yearly meeting. NCYM would become a kind of umbrella holding company, mainly concerned with managing endowment funds and real estate.
This decision was challenged at the November Representative session: the pastor of New Hope Friends called for reviving the split plan. But there was no interest in, or discussion of that idea. (A week later, New Hope decided to leave NCYM.)
That same day, plans for revising and managing the reorganized finances & YM structure were approved.
So far, so good. The foul atmosphere of heresy-hunting and attempted purges which had choked the body for two years seemed to have dissipated.
But . . . .
It may have happened while Emma was sleeping so soundly last night, for surely she would have sounded the alarm as the Abyss, with its tank loaded with the fuel of Despair crept through the crack under the front door… the one I keep meaning to put another rubber strip on to keep out the cold wind. I’ve been meaning to do that for years, and now I wish it were only cold wind that crept through.
It’s not that it’s a gray and rainy day. It’s not the death of another precious friend. It’s not the pain that seems unwilling to leave. It’s a sensation I don’t remember ever experiencing ,even in the midst of long periods of deep depression.
I want to apologize, I think, for not recognizing the death of hope. Here I’ve been reassuring you that this is just a birthing process and that something beautiful will be born…not soon enough for some of us, but good will come of what seems like no-good. I’m pretty sure that is not true.
Despair may be the only sensible response to the new reality issued in by the election. I’m not afraid, certainly not for myself, but after more than a month of fooling myself and maybe you, I’ve joined the other side.
No. I am a little bit afraid, and I need you to hold me in the Light. I’m am not afraid of the new reality, but of my hopelessness.