This page is for short updates from across our Yearly Meeting membership—individuals, committees, or Friends’ organizations.
Helpful links:
- The Quaker Quill (more news)
- Events page (OVYM events and deadlines)
- Social Action Announcements
- OVYM Facebook
- Sign up or change your e-mail preferences here. (OVYM events, publications, or proposals)
- OVYM calendar
- Want to add something to the calendar? Contact the OVYM office.
Welcome Announcement
Hello Friends!
As noted in the introduction above, this space on the website is meant for sharing updates that may be of interest to OVYM Friends. If you have something you’d like to share, you can email our Administrative Assistant, Susan Lee Barton, or use the form on this page.
For less time-sensitive news, consider sending a submission to Cecilia Shore for inclusion in the next edition of the Quaker Quill.
– Daniel Day,
OVYM Website Administrator
OVYM Social Action Coordinator Webpages
We have a new webpage with connecting topical pages in development. You can find it any time through the “Our Work” tab on our website’s homepage.
Bloomington Friends Meeting Hosts
Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting Fellowship Gathering
Featuring:
- Experiencing the art of limestone carving
- Cooperative indoor games
- Outdoor games
- Live folk music
Deadline to register 21 April: https://forms.gle/E44Fu3JNzQSTWKAX7
Online Sample of The White Privilege Conference
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7-8:30pm EDT online.
For years Friends General Conference has participated in the annual White Privilege Conference produced by The Privilege Institute. The Center for the Study of White American Culture (headed by Robin Alpern of New York Yearly Meeting) is partnering with Dr. Eddie Moore Jr and The Privilege Institute to offer an online event to follow up on #WPC26. You do not have to have attended a White Privilege Conference to attend this free event.
Here are the details and registration link. Feel free to share widely!
Yearning & Yielding: Living Together in the Life and Power of God
Perkins Family Lecture (Earlham School of Religions)
April 23, 7 PM (EDT) on Zoom
Colin Saxton, Lecturer & Scott Wagoner, Respondent
For many, these are fearful and anxious times. Our world is marked by injustice and violence, isolation and division, and hope often feels like it is slipping from our fingers. Quakers, of course, are not immune to these realities. We fret over the future, worry about declining numbers, and often find ourselves caught in a cycle of not knowing what to do and just wanting to do something to make a difference.
In our better moments, we know a deeper truth. Not only is there One who can speak to our condition but also One who can animate and empower our lives and life together—if we are willing. Over the last several years, I have been struck by George Fox’s oft repeated admonition and invitation to others to “live in the Life and Power.“ In the face of their current crises and challenges, he would often ask how or whether this was their reality.
Quaker Earthcare Witness Weekly Fellowship Hour
25 April 2025, 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific
Most Monthly Meetings have a fellowship hour for dialogue and discussions—the QEW Fellowship hour is designed to mimic this informal environment! Come as you are to discuss earthcare, spirituality, Quakerism, and catch up with other dear people in our community.
Whitewater Quarterly Meeting Date Change
The April meeting of WWQ has been changed to April 27, 2025 (same day as Miami Quarterly Meeting). Fall Creek Friends will host.
Quaker Earthcare Witness April Action Hour
April 30th 1:00-2:00 p.m. EDT, online (rescheduled from the 16th)
The Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate bill in history, is on the brink. With a razor-thin Congressional margin, flipping just a few key votes could save millions of lives, prevent nearly 1000 Katrina-scale disasters, and keep gigatons of carbon out of the atmosphere. Join QEW for an urgent, action-driven hour where we’ll break down what is happening, identify key swing districts, and take action together.
Earlham School of Religions Information Session
May 1, 6 PM (EDT), online
Learn more about ESR’s four Masters Degree programs in Peace & Social Transformation, Theopoetics & Writing, Divinity, and a Certificate in Quaker Studies.
Quaker Leadership Conference: Publishers of the Truth
May 2-5 at Pendle Hill Conference Center
Focus Group on Quaker Public Ministry
May 3rd, 3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, online
Join a Focus Group on Quaker Public Ministry, hosted by Lynette Davis of the Friends Incubator for Public Ministry, and cosponsored by Friends General Conference.
The purpose is for the Incubator and FGC to better understand how Quaker institutions can support all forms of ministry among Friends and for participants to better understand ourselves.
Quaker Leadership Center Follow-up Conversation
on Perkins Family Lecture
May 13, 7 PM (EDT)
Friends Meeting Leaders are invited to join Colin Saxton, Scott Wagoner & QLC Co-Directors in a conversation about what Yearning and Yielding can mean for Friends Meetings. To register send an e-mail to the Quaker Leadership Center.
“Sumud” Quaker Study in Palestinian
Self-Determination: Registration Open!
Every Tuesday 4/1-5/27/205, 7:00 pm EDT in April & May, online, sponsored by Montclair Meeting in New Jersey
Friends, in these times of war, let us sow seeds of peace and justice. In this “Sumud” Quaker study, we will learn together about the history of the struggle for Palestinian self-determination. We will also gather strategies on how to work toward a brighter future. You are welcome to attend even if you can not make it to every session.
Beware of fraudulent e-mail
Always check the “from” address on your e-mail. E-mail from the clerk or administrative assistant should come from ovym.org. If you receive any requests for gift cards for OVYM, please report as fraud and delete. If you find any other e-mail claiming to be from OVYM suspicious, please feel free to call our clerk or administrative assistant to check it out.
To report fraudulent e-mail sent from a Gmail address, you can use this form.
Woodbrooke Quaker Learning Centre: Did you know that Woodbrooke (in England) offers an ongoing wide selection of courses on Quaker topics? In-person and online. Varying fees.
French Quaker Centre seeking Resident Friends
The Centre Quaker de Congenies in the South of France is seeking Resident Friends for a flexible start date in late 2025. Applicants need to demonstrate both French and English language skills. Enjoy the region, the gardens, and international guests. For details please go to https://maison-quaker-congenies.org/en/resident-friends.
Start planning for World Quaker Day!
Theme: Love Your Neighbour
Sunday, 5 October 2025
In these times of global division, our Quaker commitment to nurturing community feels more vital than ever. In the spirit of connection, the FWCC World Office has published our 2025 Letter of Greeting, recognising the “many forces today encouraging us to hate our neighbour,” and calling Friends to see what Love can do.
Accordingly, the theme for World Quaker Day, Sunday 5 October 2025, is “Love your neighbour”, with the guiding Bible passage, Galatians 5:14: “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'”
Please save the date, inform your local meeting, and consider which action(s) you might take from the list of ideas on our website, where we’ll share further resources when they are ready.
Want to see when committees are meeting? Check out our OVYM calendar. Want to add something to the calendar? Contact the OVYM office.
