Friends Center Director's Report

Friends Center General Programming

A steady stream of speakers and programs that washed through Friends Center in the fall continued unabated through the winter - in spite of Mother Nature's best efforts to dissuade transport with ice and snow. Ben Pink Dandelion and Janet Melnyk, the J.M. Ward Visitors, spoke to a large audience about Quaker understandings of the Apocalypse and very helpfully met with students in classes and small discussion groups.

Luby Casey Campus Ministry Visitor Michael Birkel spoke to a surprisingly large group, given that the whole college was shut down owing to ice. His co-Casey speaker, Mike Heller, was unable to get to Greensboro. Michael's good humor, deep knowledge of John Woolman, and academic expertise in Christian history served him very well in connecting with many people on campus.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr, an eminent Islamic scholar, was brought to campus by the joint sponsorship of Friends Center, student senate, and Peace & Conflict Studies. He attracted a large and diverse audience to a panel discussion on science and religion and around 300 to a presentation on "The Heart of Islam," including many community members.

Dan Snyder spent ten days in residence on campus addressing issues of linking the inner life of contemplation and the outward life of activism. His time was well spent between Quaker Renewal Program workshops, class visits, public presentations, and individual conversations.

James Childress, the Judith Weller Harvey Quaker Scholar, spoke on biomedical ethics to a standing room only crowd and met with the ministers of NCYM (FUM) for their annual gathering on campus.

"Occasional" speakers always wander through campus. Novelist Barbara Wright, daughter of friends of Friends Center Dick and Marietta Wright, spent time in Quakerism classes and shared at an informal tea & talk in the Hut. The Greensboro Jewish Federation shared Rabbi David Forman, a founding director of Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel, with us for another tea & talk. The list could go on for some time!

Friends Center helped organize a panel presentation on the anniversary of the Iraq war. In conjunction with Peace & Conflict Studies, faculty and community members from various disciplines and walks of life reflected on the war.

Friends Center, Peace & Conflict Studies, and the Greensboro Peace Coalition also teamed up to bring the Jerusalem Women Speak tour to campus. An Israeli Jew, Palestinian Christian, and Palestinian Muslim spoke about the personal impact of the conflict to a crowd of over 250. The News & Record reported sympathetically on it in a front-page article the next day. That didn't prevent me from getting the expected "hate e-mail" from a local critic!

My Quaker Studies capstone course is working on a Quaker/Bible curriculum project for use by New Garden Friends Meeting. They are designing an experimental First Day School curriculum that will link the eight "normative" Quaker testimonies with central Quaker figures and key Bible passages. I am teaching two sections of Quaker history, one in the daytime, and the other as a Fast Track night course for CCE. Between the two there are 50 enrolled. They have worked on researching Quaker involvement in education and will be doing final papers on broader topics of Quaker history, with some of them reporting on their research for Quaker Festival Week, April 18-26.

Speaking of which, Quaker Festival Week will feature campus historical tours, film, worship, QLSP senior project presentations, a report on the Friends Disaster Service trip, a visit by Phil Gulley, discussion groups, and more.

Additional activities during the winter and early spring have included exciting conversations about the possibility of moving Nathan Hunt's log cabin from Clark and Jeanette Wilson's property to campus for use as worship space. The college wants to acquire it (the Wilson's are donating it), but Friends Center has been asked to do the yeoperson's share of raising the necessary funds. We will talk about this project at our steering committee meeting. A final decision will have to be made no later than late May, as the developer who has purchased the Wilson property is moving fast.

Friends Center has been in ongoing conversation with the President's Office at Guilford about the issue of Quaker identity at the college and has worked with students who share a concern that the college stay close to the principles of its Quaker affiliation. Kent Chabotar has been frank and open about the pressures brought to bear on him from all sides of the issue, not only on issues of identity, but also on matters such as military recruitment, flag poles, ethical procurement policies, and Quaker student recruitment. We feel we have been of some positive assistance in keeping Friends' concerns on the front burner.

Growing out of the concern about the identity of the college and a meeting with some concerned area Friends, Kent has sought ways to increase his presence at the sessions of the North Carolina yearly meetings and will lead the main interest group at the annual sessions of NCYM (FUM) on Guilford College. The FUM yearly meeting is also holding an Open House for the college at its new Hilltop Road offices on Sunday, April 25, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Kent and the yearly meeting will invite and encourage all in the college community to attend, and Kent has told the senior administrative staff of the college that they are expected to be in attendance!

Other interesting conversations have been with some of the new Quaker Trustees, in advance of and following the February Board meetings; New Garden Friends School and the possibility of Friends Center space in their new high school building; and articulation of part of the college's response to student concern over contracts with Coca-Cola.

In activity beyond the campus, I taught classes or short programs at North Carolina A & T, First Presbyterian Church, Alexandria Friends Meeting, the Franciscan Center, the Shepherd's Center, and Earlham College, served as the 2004 Betty Carter Peace Lecturer at Earlham in March, and agreed to teach a course this fall at Wake Forest University Divinity School on American Quaker history. A series of my devotional essays has been published in the April- June, 2004 Fruit of the Vine and a reflective piece was included in the reading packet for the FWCC gathering in New Zealand.

I've had the usual number of memorial services and weddings to help plan. The surprise of the winter was the opportunity to attend the wedding of our second daughter in California!

Planning continues with my wife, Jane, and Jonathan Malino for our co-leadership of Friends United Meeting's work trip in July to Israel and Palestine. Continued travel warnings in the Middle East have necessitated Friends Center's dropping its role as a co-sponsor - owing to the college's concerns about liability, but a few students and faculty from Guilford continue to plan to participate, along with a scattered number from around FUM-land and even overseas. Currently, a group of 12-15 is expected.

Additional planning is taking place between the college, Friends Center, and Quaker House for a June 4-6 observance at Guilford of the 35th anniversary of Quaker House. I will be participating on a panel considering the Quaker identity of our colleges at the annual FAHE conference at George Fox University in late June.

Speakers Planned for 2004-05

Confirmed speakers for next academic year include:

• September 6: Visit by Lloyd Lee Wilson, former executive director of FGC and clerk of NCYM (Conservative), as the JM Ward speaker.
• January 23-28: Visit by Tom Mullen and wife Nancy Faus Mullen as Luby Casey Campus Ministry Visitors.
• March 24-25: Visit by artist James Turrell as Judith Weller Harvey Quaker Scholar.

Campus Ministry

If you have continued to receive the bi-weekly GCRO Caw campus ministry newsletter, you have kept up with ongoing campus ministry events, including the stellar performance of steering committee member Eldora Terrell on the concordance caper!

Highlights from the past few months include a very successful Religious Emphasis Week, with attendance at all events exceeding 500. Deborah Shaw continues to meet with the women's spirituality group and helps coordinate the monthly Taize worship service, sponsored by the Initiative. Sandy Bowles, a Friend and coordinator of women's health and gender issues at Guilford, has begun a Bible study with students, and April Bailey, a CCE student and associate pastor at Battle Forest Friends, leads a Bible study each week on campus.

A Seekers Session on utilizing Guilford's Quaker principles was held during the first half of the spring semester, attracting a group of faculty, staff, and students to consider Guilford's Quaker identity issue. The meetings were encouraging to those in attendance as they shared their concerns and recognized that they had companions. A passional attraction group on the cartoon character, Pogo, met for a few sessions, with the few Pogo aficionados on campus enjoying such classic panels as "Whose God Is Dead?"

The revival of Friday brown bag lunch discussions has been linked with requirements in the Quaker history course to attend a certain number of speakers and programs on campus, with reflection possible either through attending the Friday discussion or handing in a paper. Attendance has been great! And discussion has been very good. The revival of stump speeches has been less successful. While two or three speeches occurred each week, it was usually from the same line-up of suspects. When students suggested that moving the event to Friday for the Board of Trustees meeting in February would attract more speeches, it was done. That Friday there was an hour's worth of speeches! Subsequent Fridays, however, have not maintained even the previous average.

College Meeting for Worship continues to attract a good attendance when the speaker is well known and involved on campus, but it remains rather minimalist - both in terms of the typical speaker's preparation, musical offerings, ministry out of the silence, and other contributions to the worship. Morning and midweek worship continue apace with low average attendance but occasionally surprising numbers around the Hut's fireplace.

A spring break work trip with Friends Disaster Service to Hyde County, NC was a resounding success. Fifteen students and I accompanied some sixty FDSers in the week's activity of building two new houses and working on several others damaged by last year's hurricane. As always, there was stimulating conversation among the students and older adults, challenging encounters with different theological and social cultures, and time for reflection and worship together. Some of the students want to return with FDS to Hyde Co. in May, and another trip to the same area has been planned to coincide with our fall break.

April events include a panel on Quaker education planned by the speakers and programs committee of QLSP, with the support of the Initiative, the President's Office, and Friends Center. Guilford's own Kathy Coe, Jim Hood, and Adrienne Israel will be on the panel, along with visitors Tom Hamm from Earlham and Tom Farquhar, former head of Westtown. Quaker Festival Week, April 18 - 26, will feature the usual QLSP senior project reports, Quaker history class research reports, campus historical tours, worship, and speakers.

Cherese Wolfe, InterVarsity staff for Guilford, daughter of Friends minister Ray Lamb and wife of Forbush Friends youth leader Shannon Wolfe, has announced that she is being reassigned, with a new staff person coming in the fall. We will be sorry to see her leave Guilford; she has been very supportive of students and worked well with campus Quaker programs.

Sandy Bowles has indicated a deep interest in working more closely with campus ministry programs and is being invited into closer participation. She has been a wonderful addition to the Guilford community.

Adult Programming

Dan Snyder's two Saturday QRP workshops on peacemaking and the life of the Spirit were held at Deep River Friends Meeting with an average of twenty in attendance. Some new faces were present, and Deep River was wonderful in their hospitality. Dan's insights into bridging the gap between the inward life of contemplation and the outward life of activism were very helpful

James Childress began the spring QRP series on ethics in public life by speaking on biomedical ethics to over one hundred packing Founders Gallery. Subsequent sessions at Springfield Friends Meeting have averaged twenty-two, with topics of ethics in ministry, politics, law, sports, and business being explored. The leaders have been excellent. Again, some new faces are present, along with the faithful core group. Gene and Eldora Terrell are acting as hosts and have provided a very warm welcome.

The fall 2004 QRP series will most likely use Michael Birkel's A Near Sympathy: The Timeless Wisdom of John Woolman as a book study. Hugh Spaulding, clerk of the continuing education for pastors committee of NCYM (FUM) has given his approval. Co-sponsorship from that committee and the evangelism committee will again be sought.

Strong consideration is being given to having writing workshops for the winter QRP offerings and seeking Quaker writers such as Haven Kimmel, Kristen Henderson, Barbara Wright, and others as resources.

A spring, 2005 series has not yet been determined.

Funding

As of this writing, the Annual Fund stands at $48,711, with $15,000 of that amount committed to QLSP from the White Fund at First Friends. Recently a $19,000 gift has come to Friends Center from the Viola and Wilbert Braxton bequest. The goal for the year is $45,000. A "last gasp" letter will be sent in May.

Sales of College Spirit are approaching $2,000, with sales encouraged after an article appeared in the Guilford alumni magazine. Reviews are coming in Quaker journals. An additional $2,000 has been received as an increased contribution because of the book.

Capital Campaign Possibilities

At the February meeting of the Quaker Life Committee of the Board of Trustees, approval was given for Friends Center to embark on a feasibility study for the proposed "fund drive" for Friends Center (The college has encouraged a different phrase than "capital campaign.") Henry Freeman and Associates will be asked to conduct the study, with an appropriate start date of the study to be determined in consultation with the college.

The Quaker Life Committee responded to queries from the Friends Center Steering Committee with the following answers:

1. The goals of the fund drive will include the maintenance of some of the programs funded by the Initiative on Faith and Practice, especially QLSP; support of the mission of Friends Center; and the creation of more worship space.

2. The director of Friends Center would be making most of the "calls;" staffing would have to cover some of the director's current duties.

3. Friends Center and Guilford's Institutional Advancement will work together; care will be taken about overlap of donors and timing for the college's next campaign.

4. Upfront costs of the fund drive will come out of anticipated income.

5. The committee has not yet considered the question about clear ownership of the funds raised.

While current leadership of the Office of Institutional Advancement is encouraging a feasibility study and fund drive that would coincide with the college campaign - yet to be announced, discussions with the president indicate that a fall, 2004 feasibility study is a possibility.

Nathan Hunt Cabin

Through the generosity of Clark and Jeanette Wilson, a 1798 log cabin once owned by Nathan Hunt, a founder of New Garden Boarding School, has been made available to the college. After several trips to the excellently preserved cabin, college officials have determined that it would be appropriate to move to campus, probably for use in proximity to the Hut as expanded space for campus ministry.

One estimate on moving the 19' X 24' structure came in at $82,000, plus site preparation and renovation. Charlie Routh has been to the site, too, and has pursued alternative moving options.

The college definitely wants to move the cabin, given its historical significance, and has asked Friends Center to take the lead in raising the funds necessary for the moving. There is a good likelihood that the college could "front" the costs, in expectation of successful Friends Center fund-raising. Ideas have also been discussed for a "work bee" to do the renovations and connections to the Hut.

At the steering committee meeting, we will discuss ways of procuring the funds necessary to make the cabin available for the purposes of Friends Center and the college.

Quaker Recruitment and Identity Issues

It has been encouraging to see that Kent Chabotar has reported to the trustees, faculty, and wider Guilford community that a "strategic bet" of the college's strategic planning process is that Guilford will emphasize its Quaker heritage and Friends principles. Response to the "myths and facts" document which stated that Guilford was not a Quaker college led to a revision of that document and to clearer statements about the college's Quaker identity. When Kent had a major new sign erected on front campus, he made sure that it stated in bold letters, "Guilford College, founded 1837 by the Society of Friends." It is a hopeful sign - in more ways than one!

It has already been mentioned in this report that the college is working closely with NCYM (FUM) to solidify the ties between the two organizations. One result of this emphasis has been an increase in the number of programmed Friends applying to Guilford this year. As of this writing, nine pastoral Friends - all but one of whom is from NCYM (FUM) - have applied for admission, most seeking admission, also, into QLSP. One young Friend from NCYM (Conservative) re-enrolled at Guilford this spring, but to my knowledge there are no new applicants from the yearly meeting. With some intentionality, Friends Center invited Lloyd Lee Wilson to be the J.M. Ward Visitor this fall.

Work with the Initiative on Faith and Practice

The directors of the Friends Center and the Initiative have gone through a mediation process to help clear up different apprehensions of relationships; it was a helpful experience. Kent Chabotar has called together a group to consider the eventual transition of programs from the Initiative following the Lilly Grant. There has been one meeting, with the two directors meeting together to determine the agenda and write up "action points" following the meeting. Another meeting will be held in April.

Friends Center and the Initiative have been sharing speakers and programs, with the Initiative borrowing Friends Center speakers such as Michael Birkel and Dan Snyder for use in its "Discerning Vocation" series, and Friends Center using the April 5 education panel and this fall's Carrie Newcomer visit for its purposes. The Initiative again underwrote the costs of the spring break trip with Friends Disaster Service.

Max L. Carter, director Fourth Month, 2004