Purpose, Faith and Practice

Curious about what is going on in QLSP? This is one of the new exciting processes that the body of the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program is working on. The body is striving to define itself, and is doing so by trying to create a Purpose, Faith and Practice document. The first step of that process is a blog. Here is Grace Ethier's description of the work of the blog. Find a link to the blog below the description.

Purpose Faith and Practice is a QLSP committee that is in the process of creating a document which will represent the community's purpose, faith, and practice. This document will be created by the body, for the body, as a living document that will hold our values and beliefs as we grow. The committee is using this blog as an online, centered space where communities members are invited to explore ideas the body is already thinking about, and also present new ideas to continue the growth. The hope is that one day, we will be able to transfer the excellent thinking and individual view points shared on the blog into the actual Purpose Faith and Practice document.
Committee Members for Fall of 2011: Deborah Shaw, Grace Ethier, Grace Sullivan, and Nate Secrest.

Here's the link: purposefaithandpractice.blogspot.com

North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM), "Integrity"

I had the most distinct pleasure of being with Friends from North Carolina YM-FUM this weekend in Black Mountain, NC. This was truly special for me, as I grew up in this yearly meeting. It was great to see old friends, meet new ones, and be able to fellowship with each other as we worshipped and took care of several business items.

Ron Bryan addresses the body on Sunday morning

The theme for the weekend was "Integrity". Beginning last year, this yearly meeting has been focusing on one testimony of Friends per year. Last year was the year of Peace and this year it was integrity. Ron Bryan, superintendent of Iowa YM was the invited speaker. Specifically, he challenged us to study early Friends, and their devotion to this testimony of integrity. he encouraged us to compare ourselves to those first Quakers who were ready to be thrown into jail, or even be killed simply for living their beliefs. His proposition was that integrity is the alignment of three elements in our life; what we say/think, what we believe/feel, and how we act/do. Ron finally left us with the famous qoutation which is placed over the big fire place at that "other" Quaker institution that says,

"... the ministers of Christ were not idle, but went forth and gathered sticks, and kindled a fire, and left it burning..."

We were challenged to not only live our lives so that a fire may be built, but that it may continue to burn when we move on.

Friends sharing fellowship.

There was much business to be done , not the least of which was approving the reccomendation of the Nominating Committee for a new Superintendent. Judy Ritter, Presiding Clerk, skillfully navigated the vast body of business that needed to be covered. The name of Randy Quate, pastor at Poplar Ridge, was offered by the committee to fill the position of Superintendent. After a time of questioning, the body approved of this nomination, and it was decided that Randy Quate would follow John Porter as the next Superintendent of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM). Other items of business included the recording of new ministers Jennifer York, Sarah Vestal, Georgianne Satterfield and Richard Wilcox. All spoke eloquently about their call to ministry.

The weekend ended with an inter-generational worship that featured presentations by the Young Adults, Junior Yearly Meeting, SOUL leaders, and Serentiy, the yearly meeting youth choir. We were then challenged by Georgianne Satterfield to confront the lies that we believe about ourselves. She challenged us to see ourselves as "good enough" for whatever task God has for us, and to not get too caught up in believeing tht we are not "accomplished" enough, or "successful" enough to do the work we are called to.

All in all, the weekend was full of life-giving encouragement to "let our lives preach". It was so good to see old friends and to meet new ones. Thanks to those at the Yearly Meeting office for all the hard work that was put into planning this. A fire was certainly left burning in me.

Reflection on First Year's Orientation

Here’s a reflection on the recent Quaker Leadership Scholars pre-term orientation for the incoming first years. One of the co-clerks of the Quaker Leaderhip Scholars Program for this academic year, Sarah Stangl ‘12, eloquently put together her thoughts on the retreat. Her reflections are insightful and informative. This post is a little longer than previous posts, but I assure you it is worth it. It’s a great pleasure to welcome Sarah as our first guest blogger.

QLSP First Year Retreat  August 15-18

I can’t believe that it is already time to usher in the new generation of “Quaker Leadership Scholars” here at Guilford. While it is hard to see the summer end, I think we are all eagerly anticipating a great year in the QLSP. We are all grateful to have started off on the right foot with a tiring but wonderful first year retreat last week. The new first year students arrived on campus, excited but nervous, Monday afternoon. They were greeted by the lovely Deborah Shaw '84, director of the QLSP program, as well as our new star-do-it-all Friends Center intern, Nathan Sebens ‘06, and our three co-clerks, Liz Nicholson ‘12, Sarah Stangl ‘12, and Heather Von Bodungen ‘12. There was also a celebrity sighting of two QLSP second years, Mace Smith ‘14 and Keenan Lorenzato ‘14.

A favorite icebreaker is this game, called Ninja.

      As soon as we had finished our hour or so of meet and greets, name games, sharing of summer experiences and finishing last minute preparations, we all piled into the notorious Guilford vans and headed to High Point Friends Meeting. Emily Albert (second year QLSP) warmly greeted us, gave us a tour of the beautiful meetinghouse and facilities and helped us feel at home. We settled in quickly, reconnecting with our inner-child on the large playground behind the meetinghouse, playing various ice-breaker type games, and eating delicious pizza. After dinner we opened the space for some worshipful sharing and listening, in which the returning QLSP students briefly shared their spiritual backgrounds and talked about what QLSP has meant to them during their time at Guilford. It was great to hear several personal narratives as an introduction to QLSP. We wanted to demonstrate that QLSP is a very diverse group and has very diverse meanings for the members of our community. The evening ended with some down time, in which we all enjoyed some Hide-and-Seek, singing, and late-night snacks.

            We woke up bright and early Tuesday morning and headed to a service opportunity in High Point. We met the first year Bonner Scholars students, accompanied by the Bonner staff and some service site project coordinators. After introductions between the two groups, we spent the morning listening to a panel of local good-samaritans discuss the growing concerns of the hungry, the homeless, and the mentally ill in the Greensboro-High Point area. They shared some very moving personal testimonies about facing and overcoming such difficulties. The panel’s presentation certainly served as a call-to-action and as an introduction to the community’s needs to those of us new to the area and new to the Guilford service experience.  It is so important that we not forget or ignore our call to live with compassion and strive to allow all members of our community to reach their full potential.

Many students slept on the lawn at Tony and Judy's.

            After the presentation ended, we said goodbye to our Bonner friends and headed to Pilot Mountain for a picnic lunch and an afternoon hike. The weather was splendid and the view from the “knob” of the mountain into southern Virginia and northern North Carolina was beautiful. We were spoiled with beautiful views that day because our next stop was Fancy Gap, Virginia, a small Virginian town tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Tony Lowe and Judy Upchurch (parents of QLSP graduate Ruth Lowe ‘10) opened their beautiful home to us for the evening and their hospitality was just as breath-taking as the scenic views from their front porch. A table full of homemade baked goods, along with cozy couches for napping and lots of open space to run free helped us feel right at home. After a delicious pasta dinner and energizing game of Frisbee, we settled into a worshipful gathering to listen to the Quaker witness of our hosts Tony and Judy, as well as Trish Sebens ’72 and Jeff Sebens (parents of our very own intern Nathan Sebens ‘06). They each shared unique and thought provoking messages which all spoke to the importance of embracing diversity and convergence within the varied spectrum of the Religious Society of Friends. The evening winded down with musical sharing and sleeping under the star-lit night sky.

One of our tasks was cleaning and organizing cots.

            Wednesday morning introduced us to the service component of the Quaker Leadership Scholars program. We spent the morning and part of the afternoon at the Red Cross headquarters Galax, VA. With our combined efforts we were able to clean and store the facilities cots, clean out the organization’s car, and clean, sort and re-arrange the organization’s donation shed. During lunch we briefly learned about the Red Cross’s history and role in the community. It was a messy but enjoyable morning and we walked away with some fun knick-knacks as well as a better understanding of the significance of emergency response organizations such as the Red Cross.

            Our last stop of the retreat was Science Hill Friends Meeting in Asheboro, North Carolina. We arrived late Wednesday afternoon and were greeted by Michael Fulp Jr. ‘05, pastor of Science Hill and QLSP graduate, as well as our very own Frank Massey, gifts discernment coordinator for the Friends Center and a QLSP guru. Michael Fulp gave us a tour of the meetinghouse and then the co-clerks spent some time explaining the structure and functioning of QLSP to the first years. Max Carter, campus ministry coordinator and director of the Friends Center, and his wife Jane Carter also joined us for the evening’s activities. After some down time and a delicious dinner, we listened to Michael’s personal testimony as a QLSP alumnae and an individual called to ministry. While his story provoked a lot of laughter, it was also an important insight into the strength and effect of the QLSP community and the wider Quaker community in Michael’s life.

            After Michael’s sharing, the first year group looked inward and began the important work of spiritual sharing on a personal level. The co-clerks and the returning second years, along with the help of Deborah and Frank, led the group in the “Spectrum Activity”, in which we had the opportunity to visually recognize the diversity of spiritual background and beliefs within the group. This activity provoked some deeply centered sharing and served as a good starting point for the important work that the first years will be doing this year as they get to know themselves and each other. We ended the evening with a worshipful sharing of our expectations, both for our selves and for the QLSP community, over the upcoming year. The evening’s sharing demonstrated that the first year experience is bound to be an at-times challenging yet fruitful journey. 

            We arose early Thursday morning for some hearty Quaker oatmeal to help us prepare for our return to campus. After cleaning, packing and giving thanks for a wonderful first retreat, we piled into the vans and headed back to Guilford. We arrived back on campus just in time to throw ourselves into the chaos (and CHAOS) of the arrival of the freshman and the beginning of orientation. While it was slightly overwhelming to jump right into the hustle and bustle of Guilford life, we were grateful to have had a week long opportunity to ground ourselves, seek spiritual center, and begin to make good friends in the Guilford community. We look forward eagerly and anxiously for the growth and challenge that the upcoming year holds in store for us. Thank you to all involved in planning and carrying out the retreat for introducing us to the Guilford QLSP experience.

Sarah Stangl '12, Co-Clerk QLSP

Incoming First Year Quaker Leadership Scholars

The Quaker Leadership Scholars Program held it's annual "Incoming First Year Pre-term Orientation" earlier this week. It was a great time for incoming students to come together with the clerks of the program as well as other returning students who helped to lead this orientation. Consider this your introduction to the newest QLSP Class.

The new First Years, their hometowns, and their meeting affiliations are listed below :
Back Row (Left to Right):
Jenna Lombardo - Glenmore, PA Uwchlan Friends Meeting (Philadelphia YM)
Elizabeth Croce - Orlando, FL Orlando Friends Meeting (Southeastern YM)
Middle Row (Left to Right):
Chad Wagoner - Archdale, NC Deep River Friends (North Carolina YM - FUM)
Dexter Allen - Franklinville, NC Marlboro Friends Meeting (North Carolina YM- FUM)
Raina Martens - Champaign, IL Adelphi Friends Meeting (Baltimore YM)
Nate Secrest - Lakeport, CA Redwood Forest Friends (Pacific YM)
Julia Draper - Tallhasee, FL Tallahasee Friends Meeting (Southeastern YM)
Luke Hartford - Chapel Hill, NC Durham Friends Meeting (North Carolina YM -C)
Jon Macemore - Wilkesboro, NC Forbush Friends Meeting (North Carolina YM - FUM)
Front Row (Left to Right):
Charlotte Cloyd - Atlanta, GA St Luke's Episcopal Church / Atlanta Friends Meeting (Southeastern YM)
Eli Joyce - Greensboro, NC First Friends Meeting (North Carolina YM - FUM)
Juliet Smith - Kinderhook, NY Old Chatham Friends (New York YM)
Briana Halliwell - Clinton, ME Vassalboro Friends Meeting (New England YM)

Transforming Lives: Friends United Meeting Triennial Session

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
-Romans 12:2 NIV

After visiting Wilmington, NC not two weeks ago, on Wednesday of last week I packed my bags to head a little farther, to Wilmington College in Wilmington, OH. This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure of attending the triennial sessions of Friends United Meeting. I was especially excited to attend my first Triennial.  I grew up in an FUM affilliated yearly meeting, and was glad to finally have the opportunity to attend the sessions this year.

Friends United Meeting is an international association of Friends Meetings and Churches, and represents  one of the larger "branches" of Friends. FUM supports yearly meetings in several countries, including the US, Kenya, Belize ad Cuba. It was great to see Friends gathered from all over the world to see old friends, meet new friends, worship together, do business, and meditate on the theme of "Transforming Lives".

I have always found great meaning in Romans 12:2. It was good to come together with Friends through worship sharing groups, devotions, and plenary speakers to study what this verse means for our lives personally, but also as a larger organization. We heard several translations of this verse, and each one seemed especially relevant to the gathered body. We were challenged by out-going General Secretary Sylvia Graves to look at how this transformation would affect our personal and corporate relationships to FUM. Randy Quate, pastor of Poplar Ridge in North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM), spoke about how maturing in our faith and spirituality is necessary for this transformation. And Welling Hall, Professor at Earlham College, discussed the often hard to accept fact that the patterns of the world mentioned in the verse are violent and that we are, often without our awareness, complicit in them.

Incoming General Secretary, Colin Saxton

There was a lot of business to do, not least of which was to welcome the new General Secretary, Colin Saxton. He most recently has served as Superintendent  for Northwest Yearly Meeting, and seems really excited to be taking on this new role. In his incoming remarks, he stated that he hoped we could also be excited about this new era for FUM. In a bio for Barclay press, Colin states that, "As a rather hopeless idealist, I am convinced that Jesus really wants us to be joined together in him and to learn what it means to embody his way of life to the world." I personally think this hunger for unity is necessary for anyone who accepts a position of a leadership in this group that includes people with very different views on theology, and the mission of the church as a whole. Another large item of business was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Quaker Life. Katie Terrell, editor of Quaker Life, reported on the last 50 years, and unveiled the 50th anniversary commemorative issue. Other business included hearing reports from numerous partner projects around the world, approving Cliff Loesch as the next Presiding Clerk alongside the other clerks who will serve the next three years, the laying down of the Friends Extension Committee, and much more. As you might suspect, when you only meet once every three years, there is a lot of work to do.

Perhaps the most striking part of the Triennial was the sense of community. I always felt welcome, even as a newcomer. I had so many fruitful conversations, especially over meals, with people whom I would not come into contact with every day.  I seldom find myself in such a diverse group of people, representing different groups in theology, geography, age, and nationality. The diversity in the group was palpable, but seldom a hindrance. I was a part of an especially deep worship sharing group, and enjoyed sharing fellowship with folks in several interest sessions. Friends United Meeting is a group of Friends who struggle with very real differences, and yet they were able and willing to come together, to simply be with each other without animosity.

It was an exceptional experience for me to come among Friends to worship, pray, and be spiritually fed. I felt that the Light was strengthened in me, and I know that all who were present were blessed.



Nathan Sebens '06, Friends Center Intern

On Coming Home: Part II

Now that you know how I got here, let me tell you a little bit of what I have been up to. It has already been exciting work. My position, intern, is defined as assisting in all things Friends Center.

I would like to fill you in on what some of my bigger projects have been. The project I have probably devoted the most energy to is creating a web presence for Friends Center. It has been quite an experience. I took a class on computer programming in high school, but as I approached this project, that class seemed like a lifetime ago. I have been learning about html, facebook pages, and many other things. It's been fun to learn, and has expanded my horizons. Feel free to check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Friends-Center/. 

I have also been working on an updated alumni database for the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program. As we approach the 20th anniversary of the program, we are trying to collect information for potential reunion activites next fall. The other big project I have been working on is a brochure that contains information on the speakers we are bringing to campus this year. Working on this has gotten me really excited to hear the folks who are coming, and what they can offer our community here at Guilford. The list includes several authorities in their respective disciplines, including Shane Claiborne, Najeeba Sayeed-Miller, and Stephen Zunes. Keep your eyes open for that brochure. If you are in the area you won't want to miss these speakers.

Another fun part of the summer is the opportunity to travel. As many Yearly Meeting sessions happen over the summer, we are enjoying getting out on the road and getting to see Friends. I had the pleasure of attending North Carolina Yearly Meeting - Conservative a couple of weeks ago (see previous blog post) and am really excited to be attending Friends United Meeting Triennial sessions this weekend in Wilmington, OH. I will also attend North Carolina Yearly Meeting - FUM over labor day weekend at Black Mountain, NC. One of my passions in Quakerism is inter-visitation. It is so good to be able to travel among F(f)riends and share in fellowship and worship. I don't think that I ever would have guessed how much work goes on here at Guilford over the summer, but everyone seems to be working at least as hard as they do during the year.

While change is inevitable, it also feels like there are some things at Guilford which will never change. Most of the changes that are apparent to me are in the facilities. Founders has been updated, there's an art installation on the quad, and another set of "new apartments".  But the spirit feels the same. My favorite part of my work has been meeting with students who are here this summer. They easily could have been students when I was a student here. There is the same search for truth, hunger for spirituality, and kind-hearted concern for others. It is so good to know that what was so crucial to my Guilford is experience is still alive and well. Guilford was such a formative experience for me in so many ways. Here I not only learned about music, but also about myself, and about the world. It's good to know that students are still thirsty for knowledge, and that that thirst is being assuaged, if not quenched.

And so that is what I am up to. If you would like to be in contact with me, please feel free to call or e-mail me. My office number 336.316.2379 and my email is sebensnp@guilford.edu. Also, if you find your way to campus, please stop by my office. It is located in the Community Center, in what used to be the meditation room.

Nathan Sebens '06, Friends Center Intern

On Coming Home: Part I

Four years ago, as I shook President Kent Chabotar's hand and received my diploma, I remember wondering, "Will I return to Guilford?". Then, it seemed clear to me that the answer was yes. However, it was not evident how or when this "return" would happen. Now, that is also clear. I am so excited to be coming home. I simply cannot imagine a better way to return to Guilford. I am both honored and humbled to begin my work as the first ever Friends Center Intern. This blog post will be dedicated to introducing (or re-introducing) you to me. I will start where I ended last, by filling you in on what I've been up to since Guilford. I will tell you where I have been, what I have done, etc...

Graduation '07, John Wilson Irwin, Saul Meyerson-Knox, Nathan Sebens, Amber Donaldson

I graduated from Guilford with a Major in Vocal Performance, a Minor in Quaker Studies, and as a member of the Bonners Scholars program as well as the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program. I officially graduated in December of '06 and was excited to continue my studies at the Earlham School of Religion, but took a temporary position teaching elementary music. I entered this position knowing it would only be for the spring, until I headed up to Earlham. I learned a lot about myself and the American educational system in those six months. I was grateful for the experience, but my real excitement was around the studies that awaited me at ESR.

So I moved to Richmond, IN in the fall of  '07 to begin a Masters of Divinity program at the Earlham School of Religion. While there, most of my classes focused on Quakers Studies, Biblical Studies, and Pastoral Care. I stayed at ESR for exactly one half of the program. In my last semester there, I felt as though I was being called to return to performance. I had begun to perform in the local community theater (Richmond Civic Theatre) and had accepted a position as a choir director for one of the local meetings (West Richmond Friends). It became clear that this was where my energy was. My passion had shifted back to the performance world which I had all but forsaken to attend ESR. And so, with the help of my community, I discerned that it was time to leave ESR and see if I could make performance my vocation, as well as my career.

  

ArtReach '10-'11, Nathan Sebens, Stevyn Carmona, Ashley Brown, Taryn Bryant

I think that the challenges one faces when they choose to make any type of performance a career are well-documented. I found that for the most part, all the stories I had been told were accurate. I continued to be involved with the local theater and the choir at West Richmond, but also found myself needing to spend more and more time in that haven for actors, the restaurant industry. I attended several professional auditions before I was offered my first paying role with The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati. Over the next two years, I went from being in the chorus for a couple of shows with the Children's Theatre, to becoming a full-time member of ArtReach, the touring arm of the same company. So I got my wish to be a full-time professional actor. It was amazing to be doing what I loved, and getting paid for it. However, near the end of my nine-month contract there, it again felt like something was missing. I missed the intentional spiritual community which had surrounded me at Guilford and at ESR. And so I was left to ponder what would happen next.

As my girlfriend and I discussed potential moves (we discussed things like an "around the world" trip, farming in Australia, and a move to San Diego), it became clear that we both wanted to move back to North Carolina. This was exciting at first, but very quickly the need for a job and a place to live began to weigh on both of us. I knew I would feel better if I could at least line up a few prospects (no small feat in this economy). And so I began to look for potential positions, especially but not exclusively in performance. At the end of one especially frustrating day, I thought to myself, "There probably isn't anything, but I'll check Guilford, just in case." And lo and behold, when I looked on the Guilford website, I found the listing for this job, and it immediately felt right. I had a very real sense that I had found what I was looking for. I didn't know if I was called to do this work yet, but I knew that I was called to apply. As the application process continued, it became obvious that this was the work I was supposed to do this year. And as they say, the rest is history.

So here I am, back at my Alma Mater, and loving the work that I am doing. Tomorrow I will post another entry entitled "On Coming Home: Part II" in which I will discuss the work I am doing here, and how it feels to be back on campus.

in the Light,
Nathan Sebens '06, Friends Center Intern

Living the Faith: North Carolina Yearly Meeting - Conservative

Sing and rejoice ye children of the day and the light; for the Lord is at work in this thick night of darkness that may be felt: and the Truth doth flourish as the rose, and lilies do grow among the thorns and the plants atop the hills, and upon them the lambs doth skip and play.
-The Journal of George Fox

I felt blessed to be able to visit with North Carolina Yearly Meeting - Conservative (NCYM-C) this past weekend. Their annual sessions were held at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The theme for the sessions was Living the Faith: Becoming the Beloved Community. This was the first time I had ever attended a yearly meeting that wasn't the yearly meeting I grew up in (North Carolina Yearly Meeting-FUM) and it truly was a wonderful experience.

Immediately, I was struck by the feel of the sessions. This group felt like a family that I was immediately welcomed into. It's very clear that they, as a body, have really struggled together to find what the Divine is calling them to, and are the stronger for it. This is a body that isn't afraid to gather together and really work through the hard issues.

Evelyn Jadin

The theme was contemplated through bible study, inter-generational evening sessions, and plenary sessions. The keynote address was given by a graduate of the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program here at Guilford, Evelyn Jadin '06. She challenged those gathered to honestly consider the work we are called to, as well as the tools we are given for that work. It seemed that all those who were present were ministered to by her message in some way, and a rich worship followed her speaking. The worship over the course of the weekend always felt covered, and led by the Spirit.

NCYM-C is a size that makes it possible to involve the youth in the work to be done at annual sessions. The younger members who were present really added to the sense of a gathered meeting community. I personally got to spend a morning helping to care for the Young Friends (on a trip to the beach, no less), and was impressed by their sense of community and interest in their own developing faiths.

It is always good to be able to come together and worship with those in our large family of Friends. Thank you to the Friends of North Carolina Yearly Meeting - Conservative for being so welcoming, I was certainly blessed to be with everyone there.


Nathan Sebens '06, Friends Center Intern

A Blog for Friends Center

Welcome to the new blog for Friends Center at Guilford College. Here we hope to post longer updates about what is going on here at Friends Center. This blog will be used for reflections on speakers, updates on visits made by our staff people, reflections on general Spirtuality and Quakerism, and hopefully much more. We also hope to balance the contributers between staff and students, so that you can be exposed to many points of view. We, as a staff, are really energized about the work that is before us, and hope that through this blog, you can share in that excitement. Thanks for coming along on this new and exciting journey with us!

Nathan Sebens '06, Intern at Friends Center