At its October 3, 2026, meeting, the Friends United Meeting General Board approved two significant governance and financial management documents: a new Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual and a new Delegation of Authority Policy. Together, these policies provide a clearer financial-control framework and represent an important step in strengthening stewardship, accountability, transparency, and organizational sustainability. The General Board is responsible for establishing organizational policies, approving the annual budget, and overseeing FUM’s business between Triennial Sessions.
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Presiding Clerk Sarah Lookabill describes the transition plan under which FUM is currently operating.
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"...In response to these challenges, we have been diligent to examine our policies and procedures for ways to improve our ability to responsibly manage donor funds. We are bringing our financial audits up to date and hope to be current by June, 2027. We have a new Financial Policy Handbook. We have contracted with Edge Accounting to provide CFO Services. We are exploring hiring Everence regarding our Advancement Planning. These challenging situations are not being ignored or swept under the rug. Our General Board, Executive Board, and staff are committed to making changes in our daily operations that increase accountability and reflect responsible stewardship of our resources..."
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Several weeks ago, Kelly Kellum gave his last report to the General Board of Friends United Meeting. As Kelly leaves the office, and an interim team steps forward to carry on the work of Friends United Meeting, we believe that last report is a fitting farewell.
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The Executive Board of Friends United Meeting recently approved a Search Committee to conduct an international search for the next General Secretary of Friends United Meeting.
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Cuba in 2026 is facing one of the most severe crises in its recent history. Life now is marked by 20–24 hour blackouts, extreme shortages of food and medicine, soaring inflation, and a dramatic collapse of fuel supplies. Only one fuel tanker arrived between December 2025 and April 2026, leaving entire provinces without electricity for days at a time. As a result, families struggle to cook, refrigerate food, pump water, or access medical care. Friends on the island report searching endlessly for basic items like rice, oil, soap, and toothpaste, and facing medical conditions that become fatal simply because medicine, transportation, and electricity are unavailable.
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