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Pastors and recorded ministers from the New Association of Friends and both Western and Wilmington Yearly Meetings gathered for food, fun, fellowship, and fulfilling connections at Quaker Haven Camp in Syracuse, Indiana, October 20–23. The organizers of the retreat gave the gathering of around 30 the gift of time and space. With the days lightly structured around a series of small group encounters which anchored the experience in deep reflection and mutual care and support, participants were free to be as present as able. The small groups operated using an adaptation of the Prayer of Examen. The examen is an invitation to pay careful attention to how the Spirit is moving in each moment of our daily lives, using our attention as a magnifying glass with which to view the seemingly ordinary moments of our lives, seeking to encounter the Divine.
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Prayers for the People and Places of the CaribbeanWe cry out to You, oh God. It is your presence, your Holy Spirit we seek. We pray this storm be met with impediment and frustration and struggle; that it might diminish is size and strength. May your will be done. May in this moment of fear and worry and anxiety as the wind and rain batter the islands of Cuba and Jamaica, as our Friends find themselves in the eye of the storm may they feel the comforting arms of the Holy Spirit wrapped tightly around them in our prayers. May in the coming days our hearts be open to the call of compassion, community and concern. May we find ways to embody your love, oh God. Hear our prayer. —Michael Sherman, North American and Caribbean Ministries CoordinatorI t has been a long and devastating night for so many people in Jamaica, as Hurricane Melissa, one of the most damaging hurricanes ever to strike Jamaica, made landfall, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Now the eye of the storm is on Cuba, one of the most vulnerable places I know.I invite the global community of Friends to hold all in harm’s way in prayer... praying for protection, peace, and strength amid this unfolding disaster. In the coming days, we will no doubt begin identifying opportunities to give generously in support of those most affected. Friends, thank you for your love and faithful concern.—Kelly Kellum, General Secretary
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Over the past few weeks, the Financial Task Force, Finance Committee, Executive Board, and General Board of Friends United Meeting have each met to carefully review our current ministries, financial realities, and future directions. Together, these bodies have sought to steward FUM’s resources faithfully while preparing FUM for a more sustainable future. Many Friends have also received a letter from the General Board, making Friends aware of FUM’s concerning financial position and the difficult decisions that this reality has required.On Friday, October 24, 2025, the General Board met to receive and consider the Fiscal Year ‘26 budget for Friends United Meeting. The Board discerned that the pathway forward will require a period of restraint, creativity, and strategic restructuring. The following represents some of the significant changes that result from the approval of this budget. Pause of Quaker Life Magazine After nearly seventy years of publication, the Board has made the difficult decision to pause future editions of Quaker Life. This decision was not made lightly but reflects current budgetary realities. FUM deeply appreciates our dedicated subscribers, and our office will be in contact with readers in the coming weeks regarding options related to this suspension. The General Board will also be discerning whether Quaker Life will fit into FUM’s ongoing communications ministries as we seek more sustainable forms of storytelling and outreach. Staff Reductions and Transitions The FY26 budget also includes a reduction in staffing levels, one of the most difficult decisions by the board and administration. We are saddened to announce that Kathleen Wooten, our Web and Social Media Specialist, will no longer be employed with Friends United Meeting, effective December 1. This decision in no way reflects on the quality of her work or the depth of her dedication. Kathleen has served FUM with excellence, expanding our social media presence and strengthening our communications ministry. She will be greatly missed. Please hold our staff in your prayers as they navigate this period of transition with courage and grace.
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This July, U.S. officials announced that the Indiana National Guard’s Camp Atterbury training facility would be used to detain undocumented immigrants. On Sunday, September 7, a number of Indiana Friends participated in a demonstration in Greenwood, Indiana, in front of Rep. Jefferson Shreve’s office, proposing that instead of repurposing Camp Atterbury for housing undocumented immigrants, funds that would be used for that repurposing be used instead to prioritize housing for Hoosiers. Demonstrators carried signs with messages advocating for compassion and justice for everyone living in Indiana.
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Earlier this month I traveled to Highgate, Jamaica, to participate in the annual sessions of Jamaica Yearly Meeting. From the beginning, I was blessed by the warmth, hospitality, and gracious welcome extended by Friends. The opening sessions brought Friends from across the island together in worship and fellowship. It was encouraging to witness the faithfulness of local Meetings as they entered into the business and worship of the body.
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The Joint Triennial of Friends United Meeting, Quaker Men International, and the United Society of Friends Women International is an important time of fellowship, worship, and discernment across our global family of Friends. The Triennial Planning Executive Committee met on August 26, 2025, to consider several important developments regarding the planning of the 2026 Triennial. It is with heavy hearts that we share the decision to suspend plans for the in-person Joint Triennial gathering originally scheduled for July 6–11, 2026. This difficult decision was reached after much prayerful discernment. Several factors contributed to the decision, the most significant being that U.S. immigration officials have denied visas to the majority of our international members who had applied to attend. Without the full participation of Friends from across our global fellowship, the essence of our Triennial—an event grounded in fellowship, worship, and discernment across cultures—would be diminished.
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