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An Open Letter to Friendsfrom Margaret SlavinDear Friends,Meetings are being approached to evaluate thevalue of the Quaker Education Program, and alsothe Youth Secretary work. That in itself may increaseawareness among us about these programs, but I amfeeling a little alarmed at where things stand.It has become apparent to me that many Friendshave not even heard of these programs, much less havesupported them financially. This is the reason why wecreated the positions in the first place: we are out ofcontact with one another across the country and areprecariously few in numbers. I hope that most activeFriends read The Canadian Friend, but in reality Iknow that even this assumption may not necessarilybe true. Canadian Friends read Quaker material fromthe US which is helpful for the spiritual journey,but not for being informed about the movement ofSpirit in our own Yearly Meeting. Others read QuakerConcern and are aware of our social justice work, butmistake that for the whole national life of CanadianYearly Meeting.All I really know about our two new programs isthat Sue Starr has produced material that we have beenneeding and requesting for at least ten years. I knowthat Katrina McQuail has sent out queries and othermaterials that are helpful and challenging regarding therole of the youth among us. Also, I hear that Katrinais hard at work among Young Friends. I know fromexperience that our Society is fragile, and that CYMwent through a deep and lengthy process to find itselfled to create these two part-time positions. Since thenthe lack of financial support has been discouraging.The programs would not have gone past the first yearif funds had not become available from a one-timesource – the J. Ross Rogers bequest. Most Friends andAttenders I have spoken with haven’t heard of thesepositions, and are unaware of the need for support.From these conversations and from what I heard atCYM, I fear that the continuation of the positionsremains quite tenuous.I feel that if we cannot continue these positions forat least a second three-year term, then we are risking thedemise of the Religious Society of Friends in Canada.Also, we are indicating that we do not really believe inour process as being Spirit-led. Or maybe we believe itis Spirit-led, but we no longer will follow the Spirit!According to my own back-of-the-envelopefiguring, if each active Friend and Attender sendsjust $60 a year to CYM, over and above any usualdonations, these programs will have no troublecontinuing. If a Friend cannot afford the $60, send $6.If a Friend can afford $600, send that. We don’t haveministers and most of us do not have Meeting Housesto support. If we value the role of Friends in our liveswe need to support these two positions.Maybe in another three years it will be appropriateto listen again to our leadings around Quakereducation, and around the role of the youth amongus, but right now, surely we need to be faithful to ourleadings. I am writing this letter in that spirit, hopingit will inform others and that we will continue thisgood work.In FriendshipMargaret Slavin, Peterborough Monthly Meeting4May 2013 - The Canadian Friend