Summer Reunions: ESR Sends Representatives to Yearly Meetings

In time-honored Quaker tradition, ESR finds that travel is an indispensable means of keeping our networks vital and flexible. All year ‘round, ESR faculty, staff, students, and alumni take turns representing the school at yearly meetings and other Friends gatherings, as well as selected national denominational gatherings. Through these visits, thousands of people have the opportunity to learn about ESR and explore the possibility of becoming associated with the school as students and supporters. ESR, in turn, benefits not only from the interest of these persons, but also from the reports of our representatives at the events. The summer is an especially busy time for such visits! Here is an account of staff, faculty, student and alumni/ae travels as designated ESR representatives to various yearly meetings in the summer of 2003.

April

Leesburg, Florida: Professor of Quaker Studies Stephen W. Angell presented a workshop on “The Light in the Understanding and Experience of Early Friends” at Southeastern Yearly Meeting, where he had a good visit with Gary Arthur (M.A. 1988).

May

Rosholt, Wisconsin: Angelica Shafer, spouse of alum Jon Shafer, attended Northern Yearly Meeting.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Student April Vanlondon Degner attended Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

June

Swannanoa, North Carolina: Director of Field Education Stephanie Crumley-Effinger represented ESR at the meeting of SAYMA — Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association — at Warren Wilson College in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina, where she met up with current student Peter Buck and alumna Judy Guerry (M.Div. 2000).

Witchita, Kansas: Dorlan Bales, alum and adjunct faculty, attended Great Plains Yearly Meeting.

Bluffton, Ohio: Director of Information Technology Steve Spyker attended Lake Erie Yearly Meeting.

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico: Alum and adjunct faculty Peter Anderson attended Intermountain Yearly Meeting.

Boston, Massachusetts: New graduate Patti Pomerantz and student Leslie Woodward attended the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly and provided ESR information to interested persons.

July

Richmond, Indiana: Dean Jay Marshall clerked Indiana Yearly Meeting, where Director of Admissions and Recruitment Sue Axtell represented ESR.

Maryville, Tennessee: Student Krystin Schmidt attended Wilmington Yearly Meeting.

Canton, Ohio: Assistant Professor of Pastoral Studies Phil Baisley attended Evangelical Friends Church—Mid-America Yearly Meeting.

Newberg, Oregon: Steve Spyker attended Northwest Yearly Meeting. Check out his photos on http://esr.earlham.edu/~spykest/nwym.html

Wichita, Kansas: Phil Baisley attended Evangelical Friends Church—Eastern Region.

Richmond, Indiana: Associate Professor of Peace and Justice Lonnie Valentine attended Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting.

Silver Bay, New York: Carol Sexton, alum, attended New York Yearly Meeting.

Harrisonburg, Virginia: Bill Ratliff, our newly-minted professor emeritus, attended Baltimore Yearly Meeting.

Loughborough, United Kingdom: Alum Mike Zipser attended Britain Yearly Meeting.

August

Easton, Massachusetts: Alum Sheila Garrett and student Margaret Hawthorn attended New England Yearly Meeting.

Oskaloosa, Iowa: Assistant Professor of Theology David Johns attended Iowa Yearly Meeting (FUM).

Plainfield, Indiana: Jay Marshall attended Western Yearly Meeting as ESR’s representative.

San Diego, California: Lonnie Valentine attended Pacific Yearly Meeting.

Black Mountain, North Carolina: Associate Dean of Distributed Learning Tim Seid attended North Carolina Yearly Meeting (FUM).

ESR at FGC

Three faculty members presented week-long workshops at Friends General Conference in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in late June-early July:

“The Bible as Living Spirituality,” Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality Stephanie Ford

“Primitive Christianity & Friends,” Associate Dean of Distributed Learning Tim Seid

“Faith and Practice Among Friends,” Leatherock Professor of Quaker Studies Steve Angell

In addition, Peter Buck — who recently completed his first year as an ESR student -- led a workshop for high school-age Friends on “Gifts and Callings: Discovering Ourselves.”