October 8, 2007

Dear Friends, Clerks of Monthly Meetings and Others Who Receive the PYM Clerk's Mailings:

This morning many of us were disheartened at seeing the front page headline of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "Qaker charity sued over a doctor's legacy." For those who may not have seen today's Inquirer, a copy is attached.

This morning I reached Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee, at home, even as she was reading the article and we had a good conversation. This afternoon, there was an open meeting of all interested Friends Center staff, sixty or so people present, at which time Mary Ellen and the AFSC's Director of Development and its  Marketing Director shared the AFSC's side of the story and their perceptions.

At the present time, the AFSC is still assembling a complete record of its handling of this legacy over the course of almost 30 years. Because it has not yet completed its internal review, the AFSC is reluctant to say as much now as it might hope to say in the future.

From what I have heard, I am persuaded that the AFSC took great care in working with the executors of this estate to use the money in ways that reflected the donor's life work in third world countries. It is also clear to me that there has been no personal misuse of this money.

I said in this afternoon's public meeting that I believe that the AFSC has acted in good faith in this matter and that my confidence in the Service Committee is unabated.

I would also like Friends to know that our Yearly Meeting has a committee that oversees its use of endowment and legacy money. Our Financial Oversight Working Group takes seriously a careful scrutiny of monies that are left to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and our handling of them. Our donors matter to us and we will treat them and their wishes with the utmost respect.

It is hard when Quakers make the news in this way. It nevertheless gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves of our testimonies and to recommit ourselves to our witness in the world.

Blessings, 

Arthur

Arthur M. Larrabee, General Secretary
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
1515 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 241-7210