2016 January Stewards Minutes

Using Peter’s map of Guatemala, on which each of the 15 pilgrimages was identified, Marjory described the cycle of their call which has now been completed. Working with PAVA (Programa de Ayuda a los Vecinos del Altiplano), begun in 1985 to help starving villagers during the war, the primary mission has been to build primary schools in different Mayan villages of Chimaltenango.

• In 2011, Aeren Martinez, a former Steward at Seekers, became the support staff person and Domestic Giving allocated $5,000 for pilgrimage scholarships. A number of young adults (2-3/trip) have benefitted from the scholarship funds.
• In 2013, Seekers made a 3-year commitment of $10,000/year to PAVA for a new venture: community libraries in three “model” villages. In addition, pilgrims contributed 25% of their $1100 fee to the project – about $5,000/year.
• Now two of the three libraries have been completed, the mission of PAVA is shifting a bit and the Banksons are over 75. It is time to set this down. We intend to keep our connection with PAVA and will be requesting $5,000 from International Giving for the PAVA scholarship fund so some of the outstanding students can have a high school education.
• Over the years, 28 current Seekers and 15 alumni Seekers have participated.
• For further information, visit the website at www.pavaguate.org.

State of Seekers: Trish and Brenda

-Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak

Beginning with this quote, Brenda sketched the ongoing, short-term and challenging pastoral concerns of the SLT. She touched on the limits of what Seekers can and should offer in light of Palmer’s caution and trust that others will be able to help when our resources are exhausted.

Trish named the major topics for Stewards in 2015:

• Giving – that, tired of the tithing discussion, our participation in the Faithonomics Conference moved us toward considering what to do with the rest of our wealth.
• Outreach – with changes in the Takoma Park neighborhood, a new group, led by Kevin and Keith, is forming to consider new ways to reach out to our neighbors.
• Peter’s stepping away from the SLT – after a year (and missing his voice), we can affirm the possibility of staying in the community after serving on the SLT.

Brenda identified the major topics for the SLT in 2015:

• Pastoral matters (discussed above).
• Othendweni – concern that there is no local organization (like PAVA) or stateside board (like Bokamoso) to create structures for accountability. Now that our 3-year commitment of funds has ended, the SLT questions further support from International Giving.
• Issues on Social Media – now that a couple of former members have used social media to threaten Seekers, the SLT recommends training in how to be more aware as we explore new avenues for outreach.
• Trish ended by looking forward to 2016:
  • Outreach will be an ongoing effort.
  • We need to evoke new leadership from within Seekers.
  • Some people (e.g. Banksons) will be making major moves.
  • We will continue working with money and time in our lives.
  • We expect to be incorporating new leadership on the SLT.

  After dinner, we continued in small groups around the following questions:

  • What were your mission group’s highlights and challenges of the past year?
  • What light has Seekers brought into the world in 2015?
  • What have been Seekers greatest challenges/failings in 2015?
  • What do you wish for Seekers in 2016?

  Due to time constraints, we focused on the last question in summary (Seekers in 2016):

  • What to convey to others? How can we find our voice “out there”?
  • How can we expand the circle? Draw new people in? Loosen our hold on tradition and make room for new/more?
  • How can we discover and trust the gifts that are already here?

  Final Notes:

  • Could we pay a seminary student 3 hrs/week for Sunday School curriculum help?
  • Christmas offering was $3,535 to be divided three ways.

  , followed by Soul Talk.

   Respectfully submitted,

  Marjory Zoet Bankson

  Jan 11, 2016