Throwing a Fit 1: FLGBTQC

The short version:

Start with Second Draft for FLGBTQC Restructure

The document opens:

The Heart, Soul, and Details of FLGBTQC

Mutual Care and Anti-oppressive Community

RantWoman hates it already. 

For one thing, RantWoman wants to see Quaker tradition named right up front somehow. 

For another RantWoman finds the at best aspirational phrase "Anti-oppressive community" so oppressive that she can barely read further. 

RantWoman would feel so much more able to embrace the document with the love and concern she feels if it opened something like this:

The Heart, Soul, and Details of FLGBTQC

"We are a spiritual community of LGBTQIA+ individuals, families and allies committed to worship,  discernment, and other practices in the Quaker tradition" 

Mutual Care for people of all genders 

The longer Version

RantWoman NEEDS to throw a fit. 

In better Quakerese (?) RantWoman has a leading to throw a fit.

It would be nice if RantWoman could throw a fit about one topic at a time but this is a package deal throwing a fit about both process and content in one big joyous led by some kind of holy spirit Quaker fit. This fit exists ahead of two FLGBTQC  Meetings for Business RantWoman is unsure she is going to be able to attend.

 Part of the process fit is about a request to comment through Google docs. RantWoman does not particularly apologize: RantWoman has trouble doing comments in Google docs with a screen reader. It's partly a skill issue on RantWoman's part but here we are for today, seasoning in blogdom or on a listserve, not other Friends' preference because RantWoman is unsure she will be able to attend business meetings.

RantWoman hopes a public post will make space for the Light that can come from thinking over something, tilling soil in preparation for discussion.

RantWoman, humbly needs to release this post and see where it goes. All reactions and frankly ANY interaction welcome.

The rest of this post is a slightly edited version of RantWoman's comments to the FLGBTQC listserve. RantWoman posts them here partly because the single standard of RantWoman is carefully holding recurrences of the same issues in multiple Quaker venues. RantWoman also notes the existence of a survey. Sometimes when RantWoman reads others' survey responses she is able to receive others' Light much more deeply than in the hurry of some Meetings for Business.

2. Comments in general:

--I still think one decision that needs to happen is whether to attempt one in-person midwinter or to experiment with other formats. I have ZERO leading about a single in-person event but would be happy to work on virtual or hybrid.

--I would like Friends to think about how FLGBTQC needs to interact with the work FGC is doing around  re-envisioning the Gathering (my interpretation)

3. Comments about the restructure document:

--HEART TEAM: This proposal lays A LOT on the Heart Team. I think some of the burdens can be adjusted if people figure out how to work together and I have no light about what all pieces might make me fellmore at ease.

--HEART TEAM: I would have WAY more confidence that this is doable if there were a pathway to further clearness about issues that have come up... in worship. One issue I consider VERY serious involves an old conflict partly rooted in abusive behavior by another Friend. So far mention of a clearness committee has gone NOWHERE.

--TECH TEAM:

I generally like the wording but would add some kind of comment about be aware of evolving technologies and technological issues and seek discernment as needed. I think this is sort of there but not quite.

--TREASURER TEAM:

     --Need to add filing annual documents such as IRS I-990 and any state registration documents. This needs to happen on the timelines required and be reported at subsequent meeting for business.

    --People with bookkeeping / spreadsheet skills greatly appreciated even though FLGBTQC finances seem pretty simple

    --Fundraising? Could be done as led or as requested by larger body

    --Insurance for in-person events?

   --discernment with other teams as needed.