FALL 2006[The following epistle was presented to Salem Quarterly Meeting by Priscilla Adams, peace field secretary for Haddonfield Quarter, following Mary Waddington's presentation-ED.]
Many Friends in Salem Quarterly Meeting are aware of Mary Waddington's leading to minister to prisoners. On June 11, 2006, those gathered for the Quarterly program heard her share personal essays on one aspect of this ministry, essays that revealed the humanity and divinity of an individual inmate. It is hoped her listeners were left with a clearer understanding of the inhumane conditions within our prisons and also that the readings stirred a desire for improvements in the criminal justice system.
Mary's leading expressed itself beyond her Quarter and touched enough others within PYM that last summer a group formed as a Steering Committee and created the Friends Prisoner Support Fund. This unique project, sponsored by Westfield Monthly Meeting, provides support for highly capable inmate paralegals who give legal assistance to deserving prisoners. The Friends' belief that there is God in every person is made tangible in this work. The project lovingly and beneficially touches prisoners, their families and the wider community. It strengthens the Society of Friends by creating for its members yet another form of love made visible.
We, the Steering Committee of Friends Prisoner Support Fund, ask Salem Quarterly Meeting to hold us in the Light. We encourage Friends to discern if there are ways they, as individuals or as Meetings, might support this Fund and other criminal justice work.
In peace, the Steering Committee of FPSF,
Mary Waddington, Salem Meeting
Karen Nulton, Westfield Meeting
Charley Silcox, Westfield Meeting
Jean Stratton, Westfield Meeting
Bud Stratton, Moorestown Meeting
Harold Katz, attender, Haddonfield Meeting
Priscilla Adams, Haddonfield MeetingRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 12:18 AM
