Query #2 - Outreach
Do we encourage intervisitation within the Yearly Meeting?Apparently the term “intervisitation” meant different things to different folks and struck terror in the hearts of those who would prefer not to have well-intentioned Friends dropping in on their houses.
Ever creative, Friends thought that leaving our houses uncleaned and then charging each other for a home tour would be a splendid fund-raiser!
Most, however, see intervisitation as a chance to experience other Quaker meetings; many of us do that when we travel and highly recommend it. Each meeting does have its own character.
What are we doing to share our faith with others outside
our Friends' community?
Probably due to early
experiences with aggressive
proselytizing, some are reluctant
to speak with their friends and
co-workers about Quakerism, but
we have found that speaking out
of our own experience and
enthusiasm has a far different
quality than trying to convince
the other that they should share
our beliefs.
How do we speak truth as we
know it and yet remain open to truth as understood by
others?
Speaking with people who are
outspoken about a faith that
seems strange to us or even
dysfunctional can be easier when
we remember that every religious
group includes a bigger variety
of belief than we might think,
and when we remember that
there is a transcendent spirit in us
all.
Our retreat will be addressing ways to listen non-judgmentally to others with whom we may disagree.
Do we welcome everyone and
appreciate the gifts that
differences such as race, creed,
economic status, disability, age,
gender or sexual orientation
may bring to us?
Embracing diversity in our
meeting is not always as easy as
it might seem.
We are a fairly homogeneous
group, and it is easy, especially
for the introverts among us, to
categorize newcomers by
appearance or other outward
criteria. We would do well to
stay open to surprises!
A thought to conclude with: traditionally, conservatives keep that which is best, and liberals keep an open mind. The world needs both.