tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post116178908090850323..comments2024-03-22T03:10:08.766-05:00Comments on The Good Raised Up: Eldering then and nowUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-12795517065794344492010-05-08T05:18:56.368-05:002010-05-08T05:18:56.368-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Term Papershttp://www.usatermpapers.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-39087867033410553982010-05-04T04:27:11.926-05:002010-05-04T04:27:11.926-05:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Term Papershttp://www.usatermpapers.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-76443088050730770012007-10-21T12:14:00.000-05:002007-10-21T12:14:00.000-05:00Babette -Thanks for taking the time to comment. I...<B>Babette</B> -<BR/><BR/>Thanks for taking the time to comment. I like the distinction you make between "being loving" and "being kind." And I agree that we need elders to hold our feet to the fire, to be willing to tell us the stuff that we don't <B><I>want</I></B> to hear but <B><I>need</I></B> to hear, if we are going to live into gospel order and lay aside our egos in order to better follow God's guidance.<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-49115909722138071882007-10-19T12:44:00.000-05:002007-10-19T12:44:00.000-05:00Thanks for this posting. I moved from Newport, RI ...Thanks for this posting. I moved from Newport, RI (where we were 7) to Asheville, NC specifically for the presence of elders -and by that I mean really the "seasoned" the "weighty" Friends who might be able to guide me more firmly on my path. I am a "remedial" Friend, in that I am not naturally quiet, not normally silent and introspective. I actively sought eldering, clearness committees, and was lovingly cared for and raised up (and filed down) by my Meeting. <BR/><BR/>Often Friends equate the "being loving" testimony with "being kind" and are loathe to confront a troublesome Friend (which I most certainly was). This can lead to a passive-aggressive "sense of the parking lot" in which there is definitely a sense that some are within the Meeting and some are without. It is, I believe, up to each Friend to make it clear that he or she welcomes the eldering process, is willing to come under discipline.<BR/><BR/>Elizabeth Roebling<BR/>Asheville Friends Meeting<BR/>(now in Santo Domingo - and keeping faith with you via the internet)Elizabeth Eames Roeblinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07483790483693405017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1162268638667744532006-10-30T22:23:00.000-06:002006-10-30T22:23:00.000-06:00Whoops, I forgot to acknowledge Anj!Thanks for thi...Whoops, I forgot to acknowledge <B>Anj!</B><BR/><BR/>Thanks for this comment and sharing your experience. You say so much using far fewer words than I have!<BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1162268285051884342006-10-30T22:18:00.000-06:002006-10-30T22:18:00.000-06:00GMC - I appreciate the good-naturedness of your r...<B>GMC</B> - I appreciate the good-naturedness of your remarks, especially <I>"After all, if you aren't learning, are you conscious?"</I> What I meant in this case, about being on a learning curve, is that I am still absorbing, hearing, reading, and thinking about information about elders and eldership--much more so than I am about other parts of Quakerism where I've had more direct contact and experience. At the same time, seeing Richard M's post helped me pull together some of my thoughts. Perhaps it will help others, too.<BR/><BR/><B>Marshall</B> - I recognize that you are able to put your fingers on much more Quaker history than I am, and I've taken a quick look at your essay. Thanks for pointing me and other readers to it. <BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1162265462230461862006-10-30T21:31:00.000-06:002006-10-30T21:31:00.000-06:00Liz -- Richard's essay on elders, and your answeri...Liz -- Richard's essay on elders, and your answering essay here, provoked me to write <A HREF="http://journal.earthwitness.org/the-quaker-magpie-journal/2006/10/30/the-giftedness-of-elders.html" REL="nofollow">this essay</A> on my own site, discussing what the traditional Quaker view of elders <I>really</I> was.<BR/><BR/>I hope I didn't misrepresent you! But if I did, I'll be happy to correct myself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1161999338753143212006-10-27T20:35:00.000-05:002006-10-27T20:35:00.000-05:00There is a woman in our meeting who very firmly an...There is a woman in our meeting who very firmly and very lovingly elders us very well. Her skill in this area is a huge gift to our small meeting. As I have experienced it, it seems to me, named or not, it happens. And I wonder if the freedom to allow others to speak truth to us is more necessary than the naming of others -- sort of that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Perhaps it would be of more benefit to name our discomfort when we are eldered, or called to elder others.anjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907362042684864253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1161982466336211192006-10-27T15:54:00.000-05:002006-10-27T15:54:00.000-05:00Isn't admitting to being on a learning curve kinda...Isn't admitting to being on a learning curve kinda like admitting to be alive? After-all if you arn't learning are you concious? <BR/><BR/>I think that you have rightly pointed out that eldering and admonishment are two different things, but "lovingly firm" is the way both are best administered, or should I say that "lovingly firm" can be nice.<BR/><BR/>PeaceGMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15544735782796025504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1161924293077623962006-10-26T23:44:00.000-05:002006-10-26T23:44:00.000-05:00To llw and GMC - Thanks as always for stopping by....To <B>llw</B> and <B>GMC</B> - Thanks as always for stopping by. I can't say exactly why, but I feel I've been on a "learning curve" this past year or so. It really hasn't been too long since I myself have come across information like what I share here. <BR/><BR/>And I'd say that there's a tendency--or at least a temptation--for Friends to be "nice" rather than lovingly firm with one another. After all, who wants their name to be associated with "eldering" or admonishment if that accusation is always made with a sneer rather than a sense of gratitude or humility? <BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>LizLiz Opphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802348848085930901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1161911611160213702006-10-26T20:13:00.000-05:002006-10-26T20:13:00.000-05:00Thank you for your post, as person who has hung ar...Thank you for your post, as person who has hung around Quakers for about twenty years and been one for several, I have wondered where all the elders are? I must not be making enough waves cause I don't rember ever being admonished or Eldered (must have been, hope I was, can't believe I havn't stepped on a few toes over the years). <BR/><BR/>Sorry about that digression. I think that we need to have elders and I am sure when needed that they will rise.<BR/><BR/>PeaceGMChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15544735782796025504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10737238.post-1161907732210755462006-10-26T19:08:00.000-05:002006-10-26T19:08:00.000-05:00Glad to see thee carrying this banner - thee knows...Glad to see thee carrying this banner - thee knows I feel it to be important...<BR/><BR/>--llwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com