CMM 2025-03-09

Minutes of Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting of

the Religious Society of Friends

9^th of Third Month 2025 [1]

03.01  Fifteen Friends gathered in person and via Zoom for meeting for worship with attention to business, Third Month 9, 2025.

03.02  Minutes from Second Month 2025 [2] were approved as presented on the website.

03.03  Use of Last Names.  We discussed our existing practice of not using last names in our minutes and newsletter.  Some friends wish to have full names referred to.  Friends agreed that moving forward there continues to be a concern for privacy and we will maintain our current practice.  We will remove last names from our committee listings [3] on the website.

03.04  Zoom Link.  The Clerk asked the Meeting if it would be willing to have our Zoom link for worship posted on the web site.  Friends appreciate the current method of asking participants to sign up to participate.

03.05  Website.  Jonah reported that he is in the processes of moving our web site to a new host and replicating our existing site so that it can be upgraded to operate on the current and future versions of Drupal, the site software.  The benefits of this move will be to enable better security and site improvements over time.

03.06  Report on the State of Society 2024.  The draft report on the State of Society in 2024 [4] was read by Ministry and Counsel Clerk Ruth H.  The committee solicits input from the Meeting by email to MinistryAndCounsel [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.

03.07  Ministry and Counsel also reports 1) it is working on the contact list to more closely reflect the Meeting, 2) the committee will offer a half-hour meeting for healing on Third Sundays from 9:30 to 10:00 beginning this month (the intention being to provide attenders with a special time to worshipfully uphold individuals and groups of individuals in their time of need), and 3) Quarterly Meeting on 5^th Sunday will take the place of our normal 4^th Sunday program.  Ministry and Counsel’s full report is appended.

03.08  The minute in support of LGBTQIA+ individuals heard at the last Meeting for Business was presented again by Sharon K on behalf of the PSEC Committee.  The Meeting made a few small edits and unites with and adopts the following statement.

Concord Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends affirms the following minute as our true testimony to our faith through the Living Spirit.

Friends experience the varieties of love and gender expression in our community as gifts of God.  We are all children of God, and we all have equal potential to reflect the Divine Light in our lives.  The Light of the Living Spirit is present in all beings and we lift that Spirit in all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and others (LGBTQIA+).  We recognize that trans men are men, trans women are women, and nonbinary people exist; they are a blessing to our community.

We affirm the rights of trans people of all ages for privacy, gender-affirming medical care, and non-discrimination in all aspects of society.  We recognize the vulnerability of children and we honor the awareness of their gender identity.  We commit ourselves to providing the love and support they need to flourish as they are led by Spirit to live into their identity.

Together we commit to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive community where LGBTQIA+ voices of any age are heard, affirmed, and celebrated.  We deeply respect their experiences and we recognize their contributions are vital to our shared journey.  In doing so we seek to embody the love and acceptance that are at the heart of our faith.

03.09  Vigil for a Cease Fire in Gaza.  The Meeting discussed the weekly vigil for a cease fire in Gaza in light our low level of physical commitment to it.  The Meeting has decided to hold over this discernment to next Meeting for Business and to hold it up to the light.  If members are feeling called to this work, they should reach out to PSECC [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org.  We appreciate the faithful witness of the Friends who have sustained the vigil, anchoring its presence on the city plaza for the past year.

03.10  The PSECC Committee also reported 1) that AFSC is not able to participate in our 4^th Sunday Program this April, 2) they are working on a resource list for Friends who wish to be informed and take action on issues of peace and social justice and solicits additions to the list, and 3) their work would be enhanced by broader participation in their efforts.  The full committee report is appended.

03.11  Peace Pole.  A dedication/celebration of the installation of our Peace Pole, will be planned by an ad hoc committee consisting of Ruth, Elaine M, Kathy, McKenzie, with Sharon as convener of the group.

03.12  Level II Sanctuary Community.  Kathy U reported on the history of our relationship with the UU Church of Manchester which is a Level I Sanctuary Community.  Concord Meeting is a Level II Sanctuary Community in support of the UU Church in Manchester.  If they take on individuals seeking sanctuary they will have a high level of need for support to staff their building 24x7.  Training will be provided.  We are grateful for the report and it is attached.  People who are interested in receiving the training should speak with Kathy U and we will return to this issue in a future meeting.

03.13  Finance Committee.  The Treasurer reported the Statement of Operations through February 2025.  Income was $27,730, 81% of budget at 75% of the year.  Expenses were $24,640 or 72% of the annual budget making our Year-to-Date net income $3,090.  We anticipate a breakeven position by the end of the fiscal year in May.

Greg reported on the status of our anticipated direct-pay funding from the US Treasury of about $15,000 to help pay for the geothermal system.  In error, the IRS has rejected the tax return we filed as not filed timely.  In early January we engaged Sen. Shaheen's office for assistance with the IRS.  They intervened through the Taxpayer Advocate Service.  That office responded to tell the Senator’s office that they have begun a review of our case and expect to have resolution by May 1.  Barring unforeseen complications resulting from new US executive branch actions, we continue to anticipate a favorable outcome with the IRS.  The full Finance Committee report is appended.

* “A budget is a moral document” ~ often attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)

NB. The Income & Expenses Sheet was created with two decimal points, which were removed for readability, the cents being unimportant to the overall understanding.  This can have the effect of throwing off any given sum by a dollar due to compounded rounding.  —  Prepared by Greg Heath and Chris Haigh.

Peace, Social, Environmental Concerns Committee (PSECC) [14]

Sara S, Clerk; Sharon K; Heidi B

1. Proposed Minute on LGBTQIA+ -
   
   ACTION- We bring the proposed Minute on LGBTQIA+ (which follows below) to business meeting for consideration which was held over from last month’s business meeting.
   

   “Concord Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends affirms the following minute as our true testimony to our faith through the Living Spirit.
   
   “Friends experience the varieties of love and gender expression in our community as gifts of God.  We are all children of God, and we all have equal potential to reflect the Divine Light in our lives.  The Light of the Living Spirit is present in all beings and we lift up that Spirit in all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and others (LGBTQIA+).  We recognize that trans men are men, trans women are women, and nonbinary people exist; they are a blessing to our community.
   
   “We affirm the rights of trans men, women, and youths for privacy, gender-affirming medical care, and non-discrimination in all aspects of society.  We recognize the vulnerability of children and we honor the awareness of their gender identity.  We commit ourselves to providing the love and support they need to flourish as they are led by Spirit to live into their identity.
   
   “Together we commit to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive community where LGBTQIA+ voices of any age are heard, affirmed, and celebrated.  We deeply respect their experiences and we recognize their contributions are vital to our shared journey.  In doing so we embody the love and acceptance that are at the heart of our faith.”

2. Peace and Social Justice Resource List [15] -
   
   In response to February 23^rd Fourth Sunday Program for the need of a resource list to guide members in their peace and social justice activism, PSECC has embraced and is developing an information resource of topics including a list of organizations to be included on the website.
   • ACTION- Members are encouraged to send resource information on organization websites, political representatives, apps, blogs, books, etc. to PSECC [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org (subject: Peace%20and%20Social%20Justice%20Resources) .
   • ACTION- Assistance will be needed in formulating the Meeting website to house the collected resource information.
     
      
3. Solemn Vigil for Cease Fire in Gaza-
   
   5 or 6 persons regularly attend the weekly Gaza cease fire vigil, 2 of which are Concord Friends members.  Other participants attending are mostly NH Peace Action and NH American Friends Service Committee members.
   • ACTION- Due to the small attendance numbers, PSEC questions the effectiveness of the vigil and asks Friends if the Concord Friends Meeting vigil sponsorship be laid down or suggest a schedule change for the vigil to be held once a month rather than weekly. Concord Friends sponsorship began in early 2024.
     
     Some alternative ways to participate in the Gaza cease fire effort may be:
     • Phone Congressional representatives and write letters to publication editors
     • Pair with and support the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) efforts
     • Pair with and support the Peace Action Coalition for Peace in the Middle East
       
        
4. The Peace, Social and Environmental Concerns Committee consists of three people.  Right now, there are so many things that merit our attention and actions.  We invite all persons to participate with us as they are led and welcome all to attend our next zoom meeting Tuesday, March 25, 10:30 a.m.  We will be flexible to adjust our meeting schedule so those with schedule conflicts may attend.
   
   We urge everyone in the Meeting to share with us their peace, social justice, and environmental leadings, andto be aware of calls for assistance that we may act on.
   
    
5. 4^th Sunday Presentations for April and May -
   
   The AFSC presentation for April 4^th Sunday program is being rescheduled for a future date to be determined.
   • ACTION- Notify Ministry and Counsel to plan another presentation for April 4^th Sunday program.
   • PSEC and the Outreach committees continue work on the Peace Pole dedication/celebration scheduled May 25^th.  Area residents and organizations will be invited to worship with us or join us after worshipfor an ice cream social (coordinated by Hospitality), followed by the peace pole dedication.

Joyfully submitted on behalf of the Peace, Social, Environmental Concerns Committee

Sharon K

Ministry & Counsel Report to Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business [16]

1. We are presenting the State of Society for 2024 [4] for first reading.  Please read this draft in advance (elsewhere in the newsletter).
2. We are working on trimming down our Contact List to more closely reflect the current attenders of meeting.  We note that there is a separate member list and contacting these non-active members is something we are beginning to work on.  There is another much larger list of people that receive the newsletter and that list is not our responsibility and not tied to membership or the Contact List.
3. We are led to offer a monthly Meeting for Healing before 3^rd Sunday worship.  This may expand to other times on Zoom.  See newsletter announcement [17].
4. Fourth Sunday this month will not have any program because we are hosting Dover Quarterly Meeting.  On 5^th Sunday (March 30).  Greg is leading the Quarterly Meeting in a “Listening Session on New England Yearly Meeting Sessions”.  This program will likely last until 2:30 or 3 p.m. It will be a potluck.  More details in coming weeks.  Would we want to hold a potluck 4^th Sunday so we will not miss this important time of fellowship?

Finance Committee Meeting minutes, Second Month 19^th, 2025 [18]

Concord Monthly Meeting Finance Committee

Attending:  Greg H, Chris H, and David W

Minutes prepared by David W, Committee Clerk

The Committee considered the following issues:

1. Cash available until arrival of an expected large U. S. Treasury check
   
   1. We have about $12,150 in our bank account, which includes the recent $2,000 gift from a NEYM Friend.
   2. Greg H. said our net income may fall by $3,000 in coming months, leaving a bank account balance of about $9,000 at the end of May.
   3. This is equal to the $9,000 in short-term loans owed to Meeting members, each of which is willing to leave the loans in place until the Meeting has sufficient funds to repay them without putting the Meeting at risk of insufficient cash for normal operations.
   4. The Committee agreed to leave the loans in place until the Treasury check arrives.
      
       
2. Status of U.S. Treasury rebate
   

   We filed our IRS forms timely with an extension to get our Direct Pay from the US Treasury of about $15,000 to help pay for the geothermal system.  The IRS has erred in processing our extension request and thus in approving forms and direct payment. 
   
   In early January we engaged Sen. Shaheen's office for assistance with the IRS. They helped us connect with the Taxpayer Assistance Service. They have responded to tell Sen. Shaheen's office that they have begun a review of our case and expect to have resolution of this issue by May 1.  Barring unforeseen complications resulting from new US executive branch actions, we continue to anticipate a favorable outcome with the IRS.
   
    

3. Purpose of $2,000 gift
   

   We discussed the degree of restriction on the Meeting’s spending from the $2,000 gift from a member of another Meeting in NEYM.  Since no specific restrictions were required by the donor (only suggestions), the Committee agreed to assign it to the previously established category of Social Justice Fund but to reclassify the $2,000 not as a “Donor Restricted Fund” but as a “Meeting Temporary Restricted Fund” using whatever criteria the Meeting chooses for withdrawals from that Fund.   The Committee further recommends that the Meeting’s PSEC Committee be encouraged to make proposals for withdrawals from that Fund, but that any withdrawals from that fund could be proposed by anyone, and that any withdrawals must be approved at a duly called Meeting For Business.
   
    

4. Proposed FY 2026 Budget
   
   Greg presented an estimated year-end Total Income and Expenses report showing a net income as of May 31, 2025 of about zero.  He pointed out, however, that it assumes:
   1. that more contributions may be received from Members who give annual amounts and thus boost the year-end Total Income amount above the estimate he showed the Committee;
   2. that most Meeting committees will draw down the rest of their annual budgeted amount before May 31, which rarely happens.  This should result in a higher year-end Total Income amount than shown;^. 
   3. property expenses could be higher if unexpected maintenance is needed, but could be lower if there is little more snow to be plowed;
   4. the Electricity year-end projection was accepted as very solid since Greg presented an analysis showing how he computed the estimated Electricity total for this fiscal year.  The resulting amount will be much larger than was approved in this year’s budget.  This is due to:
      
      1. unanticipated costs of transferring ownership of the Solar array to the Meeting
      2. all of the months since the Meeting took ownership (October) have been when the sun is low in the sky and not generating as much electricity as other times of the year; next FY our net electricity bill will be lower than the $1,000 we have been budgeting since installation of the solar array seven years ago.
         
         The Committee agreed that:
      1. Chris and Dave are to gather projections for expenses from each Meeting committee by the end of March;
      2. Greg is to use an estimated 2% inflation rate for most of the regular property expenses (unless the Property Committee suggests a different amount), and for most of the Support contributions next FY;
      3. we propose a 2% increase in rent for one year to the Child Care program using the Meetinghouse during school days;
      4. the Committee will review a first-draft budget for next fiscal year at the next Finance Committee meeting, hopefully in early March.  This would allow enough time to create a final draft budget to be presented to the Meeting for Business in April, giving the Meeting a month to consider it so that a final budget for FY 2026 could be approved in May.
         
          
5. Mortgage loan paid off but still on Balance Sheet
   
   1. Greg pointed out that the monthly Balance Sheet reports have not shown monthly drops in the balance of the mortgage amount still outstanding since the construction of the Meetinghouse.  Instead that amount has been adjusted at the end of each fiscal year and the interest expense is the only expense shown on the final Income and Expense Report for each year. 
   2. So, even though our mortgage balance is now zero, the Committee agreed to leave the same amount showing as still unpaid, as has been shown in previous months this fiscal year, until the final year-end Report is produced.  We will explain this to members if the issue is raised before the end of this fiscal year.
      
       
6. Projected Capital Expenses vs. Replacement Reserve amount
   

   The Committee agreed to put off discussing this topic until a future meeting of the Committee.

We closed our committee meeting, agreeing to decide later when the Committee will meet again.

David W, Clerk

Sanctury Support at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Manchester

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS 2025 [19]

SANCTUARY AT THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF MANCHESTER

Are you willing to help support a person living in Sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester (669 Union St.)  by staying in the church for four hours on a regular basis, or even possibly staying overnight?  And/or are you willing to provide financial, logistical, or other forms of support?  If you are interested enough to want to learn more about what this would entail, please read on.

What does “living in Sanctuary" mean?  A person living in Sanctuary is a person whom ICE wants to deport.  Yet typically that person would be in grave danger if they were forcibly returned to the country from which they emigrated.  Typically, an attorney has determined that they have a potentially winnable case if they only had more time to develop it.  To gain that time they are living in a church and are supported 24 /7 by volunteers living in that church with them.  Providing Sanctuary is technically illegal.  For a church to provide Sanctuary is a form of civil disobedience.

Why a church?  Can’t ICE simply seize them there?  Legally yes.  But ICE has determined that doing that would make them, ICE, look very bad.  So, they have called churches a “sensitive” location and held off.  In fact, churches have served as places of Sanctuary for hundreds of years. 

Is “Living in Sanctuary” the same as “Living in Asylum”?  No. Asylum is a legal status in which an immigrant is waiting for a hearing to determine if they may remain in the country permanently. 

Why UU Manchester?  Why now?  Because the church’s congregation has voted formally to take the big step of supporting a resident in Sanctuary.  With considerable financial assistance the church has made the physical changes—such as adding a shower—to make the church livable.  Two immigrants seeking Asylum have already lived in the church on a long-time basis.  No one has yet lived there in Sanctuary, but recent political changes make the need for Sanctuary seem very real.  So, the Sanctuary/Asylum Committee is getting ready by putting out this call.

What is the Sanctuary/Asylum Committee?  It is an interfaith committee that is now gearing up for Sanctuary by putting on Orientation and Training sessions for those who will periodically stay in the church during Sanctuary and/or who will support the Sanctuary program in other ways.

Why do people need to be in the church 24/ 7 when someone is in Sanctuary?  Because ICE could come to the door at any time, and the person living in Sanctuary would risk being seized if they went to the door.  Furthermore, it is not a good idea for an immigrant living in Sanctuary to be alone.

Why a training program?  Couldn’t I just walk into the church cold and serve a shift?  That would not be a good idea—there is too much to learn, such as what to do if ICE comes to the door.  The training program will take no more than two hours of your time. 

OK I’m interested.  How can I learn more about what is involved?  You can call Curt Smith at 603-361-6687 or Liz Alcauskas at 703-447-5701 or email them at blueskies3 [at] comcast [dot] net (blueskies3 [at] comcast [dot] net) or lizalcauskas [at] gmail [dot] com (lizalcauskas [at] gmail [dot] com) to let them know you are ready to attend a training program or if you have any questions.  Our Orientation and training sessions are at the UU Church in Manchester, 669 Union St.  We will be scheduling another session in the spring.

Volunteer Opportunities [20]

Premise Volunteers

What are Premise Volunteers?

When we have someone in sanctuary we are required to have a US citizen in the building at all times.

What are the requirements for Premise Volunteers?

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be 18 years of age
• Must pass a criminal background check
• Must have a reference from your pastor or other responsible person who knows you
• Must take a training class on legal aspects of sanctuary and an orientation tour of the UU Church of Manchester’s facilities

What are the duties of Premise Volunteers?

They are responsible for the comfort and well-being of our guest.  They respond to whatever situations arise while you are on duty (for example, heating or plumbing problems, issues with groups that rent our facilities, or issues with our sanctuary guest.  In most cases, “responding” would consist of calling an emergency number you will be given.

It is extremely unlikely that you will have to respond to an ICE raid.  They have a formal policy against raids on churches, and to our knowledge none have occurred.  You will be trained on what to do if ICE does show up.

You will have a place to relax (or sleep if you are on an overnight shift). 

You are not required to interact with our guest, but we hope you will decide to converse, eat a meal together, watch TV, or play a game when the opportunity presents itself.

How are shifts assigned?

Nobody will assign you to shifts.  You will sign yourself up on our on-line calendar, iVolunteer.  Each month there will be a sign-up period when you can select your shifts for the next month.  We hope you will sign up for at least two shifts per month. 

If there are shifts without a volunteer, the Volunteer Coordinators will seek volunteers for the uncovered shifts.  Ideally, we will always have two volunteers on duty.  We encourage you to sign up for your shifts with a companion.

There are three 4-hour shifts and one 12-hour overnight shift:

7 am – 11 am || 11 am – 3 pm || 3 pm to 7 pm || 7 pm – 7am (overnight)

Support Volunteers

There are several ways for support volunteers to help.  Exactly what they are will vary according to the needs and preferences of the guest we take in. 

We will need volunteers to:

• Provide food
• Provide transportation
• Provide laundry service
• Offer entertainment (games or movies)
• Provide emotional support
• Provide medical support
• Raise funds (We have a Go Fund Me account.  If our guest is the only bread winner for a family we may need to provide funds for the family.)
• Provide a gift card
• Provide translation
• Provide ESL tutoring
• Other ideas?

Support volunteers do not need the same training or background checks as premise volunteers, but they will need to be sensitive and tactful in their interactions with our guest.