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The<strong>Canadian</strong> FriendThe <strong>Canadian</strong> Friend (ISSN 0382-7658) is themagazine of <strong>Canadian</strong> <strong>Yearly</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>, and is publishedfive times a year on its behalf by the Publications andCommunications Committee. The <strong>Canadian</strong> Friendis sent to all members of <strong>Canadian</strong> <strong>Yearly</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>and to regular attenders. It is funded from <strong>Meeting</strong>sand members of <strong>Canadian</strong> <strong>Yearly</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>, withassistance from funds administered by the <strong>Yearly</strong><strong>Meeting</strong> to further the work and witness of theReligious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Canada.• Submissions:Send articles, poetry, photos, and art, to the editor:Sherryll-Jeanne HarrisE-mail: cf-editor@quaker.ca1829 Fern St.,Victoria, BC, Canada, V8R-4K4Telephone: (250) 370-0190• Advertising:Send camera-ready and clear, readable copy to theeditor, by e-mail. For rates and details contact theeditor: cf-editor@quaker.ca• Reproduction:Copyright © 2012 is held by <strong>Canadian</strong> <strong>Yearly</strong><strong>Meeting</strong>. Please request permission before reprintingexcerpts longer than 200 words.• Subscriptions and DonationsAnnual subscription rate for Canada is $30, US $44,all other countries $54.To subscribe, or for any other enquiries,please contact: <strong>Canadian</strong> <strong>Yearly</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong>:91A Fourth Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1S 2L1E-mail: cym-office@quaker.caTel: (888) 296-3222 and (613) 235-8553•Change of Address? Please Let Us KnowPRINTED ON 100% RECYCLED PAPERFSC CertifiedWe acknowledge the financial support ofthe Government of Canada through theCanada Periodical Fund of theDepartment of <strong>Canadian</strong> Heritage.Editorial:Quakers are keen on other Faiths,but do we dismiss the Christians in ourmidst? While we enthusiastically workwith multifaith groups, some Friendshave shown reluctance for <strong>Canadian</strong><strong>Yearly</strong> <strong>Meeting</strong> (CYM) to participatewith the World Council of Churches. Yet,welcoming and honouring all Faiths is whatSpirit asks of us, and ‘all Faiths’ also includes Christians.Like Catherine Novak, I began to question fundamentalistChristian thinking when the Hindu Mahatma Gandhi made itonto the “soul is lost” list. Are Quakers guilty of judging in thisway? Could it be there is an odd reversal to the “who’s ‘in’ andwho’s ‘out’ thinking”? Are we applying the same limited narrow,un-in-Light-ened holier-than-thou judgment to Christians?I have heard of Friends giving up <strong>Meeting</strong> because theyfelt their faith journey was not valued; giving up becausethey witnessed exclusion or denial of Christian terms andexperiences. One Friend sadly observed, “…in this way theirLight is blocked and hidden”.More attention needs to be placed on the Light and theHeart active within. Bruce Sanguin writes: “The home of Godis wherever God pitches her tent, and that can be anywhereand in anybody whose heart is ready to be occupied. If youmake of your heart a stable, God will be born. God will occupyyour life.” That’s all that matters. William Mueller pens thequery: “Do I apply the testimonies in the life of my <strong>Meeting</strong>,seeking unity irrespective of the source?” And guest writer, JohnMyhill, claims: “We are united in affirming that the availabilityof the experience of God to everyone remains a central insightof Friends”. If this is true, we are bound to embrace Christianswithin and without our Society.Reading our Organization and Procedure, I find a significantcriteria for membership in the Religious Society of Friends: “...that the applicant is a humble learner in the school of Christ”.Perhaps we should explore where our prejudice lies and sortout the difference between true Christ-based values and thestuff that causes us to get squirmy around Christian talk. Ithink that is the same work George Fox did when he becamedisgruntled with the Church. He dug down deep to findChrist Spirit. Over the years, Quaker Bible Study has helpedme tremendously in this work, and I look forward to Ben PinkDandelion’s Radical Interpretation at CYM 2013.Blessings,Sherryll Harris2May 2013 - The <strong>Canadian</strong> Friend

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