Weekly Announcements for May 29, 2026

With apologies, the BYM Weekly Announcements did not go out on Friday due to a technology glitch.

Conscientious objection is not passive. It is an active and deliberate engagement with one of the most serious questions a person can face: Would I participate in organized killing if my government told me to? If the answer is no, build the evidence for that answer now.

Recently, over 50 youth and community members gathered at Stony Run Friends Meeting to learn how to document their beliefs as conscientious objectors to war. Learn more about the event here…

For youth conscientious objectors, and those who support them, please visit Stony Run's webpage on conscientious objection, and share our highly actionable, one-page leaflet: "Registering With The Selective Service System As A Conscientious Objector To War."

Submitted by Andrew Gorby (Stony Run)

Friends Supporting Friends is a working group of the Yearly Meeting that can assist Meetings and BYM Friends upon request.  We can provide support, education, facilitation, mediation, coaching and deep listening for BYM Friends experiencing unresolved conflict, differences and tension interfering with the spiritual health of the community.  To find out more or to request assistance, contact one of the two co-clerks:  Ramona Buck; ramonabuck@gmail.com; 443 418 0392; Richard Thayer; richardevanthayer@gmail.com; 443 845 5717

June is Pride Month! Join Homewood Friends on June 20th for a lively afternoon considering our queer Quaker ancestors and contemporary queer spiritual practices. 

Join BYM Friends for a special workshop to honor Juneteenth holiday weekend, Saturday, June 20th at 9:30am – 11:30am. When we gather in worship, we do so in love of the Spirit, love for one another, and gratitude and respect for the tradition of decision making of Friends.  And even with that, we sometimes hurt one another with our words and unspoken communications, due to the habits we bring with us from our mainstream society.

The practice of noticing racial (and other) harm during business meetings is one way we can learn and grow as a community.  In real time, we look at ourselves, and give and receive feedback, all with the love and support of the Spirit and trusted Friends. This workshop is planned for people who have done soul searching on antiracism, have attended workshops and read books or other materials about antiracism, and wish to grow in a new area of skills.

The workshop will be given by Lauren Brownlee (Bethesda) who has worked with a variety of Friends Meetings, schools, and organizations on equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging issues.  She currently serves as Deputy General Secretary of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and as co-clerk of the Quaker Coalition for Uprooting Racism Steering Committee. See: Patterns of Racial Wounding and Racial Justice in Quaker Communities, co-authored by Lauren Brownlee and Zenaida Peterson, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #495.

This workshop will be much like the one given last December, but you are welcome to take it a second time or encourage others in your meeting to please join us.

Chesapeake Quarter will meet on June 28 at Sandy Spring Friends Meeting. This quarter's meeting will include the special program Faith & Practice Information & Listening Session on Prejudice & Discrimination Revisions. Chesapeake Quarter includes Friends from Annapolis, Stony Run, Gunpowder,  Homewood Friends Meeting; Little Falls, Patapsco, Patuxent, and Sandy Spring Friends Meetings, but all Friends are welcome to attend. 

Alumni of BYM Quaker Camps gathered for our first-ever alumni campout last weekend at Catoctin Quaker Camp. In addition to the upcoming camping season, Friends were excited to learn about this fall's Family Camp - back again in 2026! Family Camp will take place Sept 25-27, 2026 at Opequon Quaker Camp. Registration will open later this summer! 

The BYM Peace and Social Concerns Committee reports receipt of recent Minutes regarding U.S. and Israeli War with Iran from Herndon Friends Meeting, Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting, and Shepherdstown Monthly Meeting addressing the unlawful and unconstitutional use of U.S. military force against Iran. In light of this, the Committee would like to share all three minutes in the Baltimore Yearly Meeting community and invite other Monthly Meetings to share any minutes they may also have drafted on this concern with the BYM Committee and with fellow Meetings. The BYM Peace and Social Concern Committee will be hosting an information session or interest group at Annual Session to discuss these minutes further with a particular emphasis on identifying concrete actions Friends can take to engage thoughtfully and faithfully with these issues.

Submitted by Douglas Vaughn, on behalf of the BYM Peace and Social Concerns Committee

Contact the Committee at peace@bym-rsf.org

• Stewardship & Finance, Mon, Jun 1 @ 7:00pm
• Trustees, Mon, Jun 4 @ 7:30pm
• Ministry & Pastoral Care Coffee Hour, Tue, Jun 9 @ 7:30pm
• Grief Support Group, Wed, Jun 17 @ 7:00pm
• Interim Meeting, Sat, Jun 20 @ 12:30pm

To submit your items for the BYM Weekly Announcements,
please email Admin@bym-rsf.org. 

Baltimore Yearly Meeting
17100 Quaker Lane | Sandy Spring, MD | 20860 USA
www.bym-rsf.org

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17100 Quaker Lane | Sandy Spring, MD 20860 US