The short essay below is by a Friend who has spent much time in Africa, working with the Africa Great Lakes Initiative (AGLI) project. I believe Dave makes some cogent points. In particular, I agree that “engaging” Friends United Meeting (FUM) over the issues of homophobia, and the other matters listed in my post below, … Continue reading Dave Zarembka: “Not To Engage FUM Is Cowardly”
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 … Continue reading The Shame of Kenya: Epistles of Hate
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 … Continue reading Wrestling With A Roomful Of Elephants:
Q. Did you [Delbert Vaughan, then President of the Houston Graduate School of Theology] or your Board know about the 1991 Cease and Desist orders when they got the deposit from North Carolina Yearly Meeting?
A. I wouldn’t dare tell you yes or no. We knew what we were doing….I hope you don’t put out any indication that we didn’t know what we were doing. Our Board of Directors knew what they were doing. There was total information by the Board….I don’t want our school publicized with something that’s wrong or irregular or where we didn’t know what we were doing….I’d just as soon you left our school out of this. (repeated several times)…We all respect our school, it’s been a good school, a clean school, we don’t want to be hurt by any news, worthy or unworthy.” . . .
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 … Continue reading “Roomful of Elephants” – A Response by Patrick Nugent