Announcements and Statements

NPYM Outreach Visitors John Etter and Rosy Betz-Zall, November 5th Potluck

John Etter, a member of the Eugene Friends Meeting, will visit Tacoma Friends with a potluck on Thursday, November 5, noon to 1:45 PM. He is accompanied by Rosy Betz-Zall, elder, from University Friends. As a seeker of Truth, John has been exploring the relationship between science and spirituality. Much research is going on that may shed light on consciousness, what goes on when we pray, what makes for a gathered meeting, how science may be defining the Inner Light, how we communicate feelings and healing energy, and extra sensory perception’s role in our spiritual practice. John will invite attenders to share their remarkable spiritual experiences, as well as their thoughts about how and what is behind these phenomena. What can we learn from each other? As the scientific aspects become understood and tangible, such understanding should help us be more spiritually effective.

Election 2026

Please view the following slide presentation and consider voting “No” on Initiatives 001 and 638. No Hate in Washington State.pptx – Google Slides

Also consider voting “No” on Initiative 645 to protect a funding source for multiple programs in Washington State without raising taxes on working families. Here is the slide presentation for more information: No on Initiative 645.pptx – Google Slides

NOV. 15: THRESHING SESSION ON POSSIBLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION FOR TFM

Tacoma Friends have been actively engaging on land stewardship possibilities for over a year, exploring ways to steward the land and meeting house that we occupy in the best interests of the TFM mission, the larger community, and those who stewarded this land before us.  Several project teams have been formed to explore various possibilities, including a Housing Project Team (formerly: DADU Project Team) and project teams for reparative action with the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, a meditation garden, community cultivation possibilities, and an outdoor family play area.  

In November the Housing Project Team will bring forward to Meeting a test case for an affordable housing construction on city property at the end of 39th St.  During Second Hour on Nov. 15, we’ll have a threshing session (exploration, questions, concerns, but no decision) on some ideas the team has been working on with Associated Ministries and the City of Tacoma.  A background document for this threshing session is here:  Discernment for a Faith Land Housing Project.  A second threshing session, if needed, is tentatively scheduled for Second Hour on Nov. 29 for additional time, responses to questions, and providing requested additional information.  A decision to proceed or not to proceed with a preliminary feasibility study, which still would not be binding, would occur at some later time.

Young Adult Friends Gathering, Sunday, November 22, 5-7 PM

Young Adults, ages 18-35, will meet at Tacoma Friends meeting house on Sunday, November 22nd, 5 to 7 pm.

Discussion on the Doctrine of Discovery, Saturday, November 28 at 1 PM

On Saturday, November 28th all are invited to meet in the yurt at 1pm for an hour or so to discuss the Doctrine of Discovery. Tacoma Friends wrote a statement repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery when we developed our Land Acknowledgement several years ago.

Doctrine of Discovery Discussion FlyerDownload

Below are some definitions:

The “Doctrine of Discovery” is a philosophical and legal framework dating to the 15th century that gave Christian governments moral and legal rights to invade and seize Indigenous lands and dominate Indigenous People. The patterns of oppression that continue to dispossess Indigenous People of their lands today are found in numerous historical documents such as Papal Bulls, Royal Charters, and U.S. Supreme Court rulings as recent as 2005. Collectively, these and other concepts form a paradigm of domination that legitimates extractive industries that displace and destroy many Indigenous People and other vulnerable communities, as well as harm the Earth.

  • THEOLOGIES OF ENTITLEMENT Three main scriptural texts undergird the Doctrine of Discovery. The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” The divine mandate to submit to government rule, Romans 13: 1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.” And the narrative of a covenantal people justified in taking possession of land as described in the Exodus story. Manifest Destiny in the U.S. grew out of the latter.
  • JUSTIFICATION OF VIOLENCE Christendom empowered European governments to use coercion and violence, including genocide and enslavement. The theologies of entitlement legitimized their conquest of both people and land.
  • TERRA NULLIUS (empty land) Terra Nullius is the theological and legal doctrine that “discovered” lands were devoid of humans if the original people who lived there, defined as “heathens, pagans and infidels,” were not ruled by a Christian prince.

This information is from Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Study Guide Handout (https://dofdmenno.org)

Opportunities

Donations for the unhoused. Bring items to help unhoused neighbors to Tacoma Friends. Clean clothing, jackets, water bottles, towels, easy-to-eat food items are all appreciated. Volunteers will take them to a distribution site.
Resources for Immigrant Families

Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families provides resources for immigrant families and those who are helping them navigate these difficult times. Go to DCYF | Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and learn more by clicking on the Family Separation Rapid Response Team button.

Link to divestment strategies offered by the American Friends Service Committee: How to Divest | AFSC Investigate. Go to Home | American Friends Service Committee for additional information about Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) efforts.

Ongoing Peaceful Demonstrations in Tacoma:

  • The corner of 38th and Steel, Saturdays from 2-3pm regarding the conflict in Palestine.
  • 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month from 5 to 6 pm at the corner of Sprague and 6th (at the corner of Hilltop Heritage Middle School). The organizers are an independent Love>Fear Group composed of people from various faith traditions. will be standing on Monday, March 9th from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m, on the corner of 6th and Sprague. People stand in opposition to fascism and war. They use positive messages and strive for non-violence in speech and action.
  • March 28th – various locations – No Kings Day.

Homeless Outreach – Bring a case of bottled water or other food/supplies to the meetinghouse for distribution to people living homeless.

Contact your State legislator through Welcome to the Washington State Legislature or go to Home — Quaker Voice for more information about legislative issues here in Washington State.

Learn about Federal issues and contact Congress by visiting Home | Friends Committee On National Legislation


Community Statements

Tacoma Friends Minute on Peace “Quakers believe there is that of God in everyone. To harm another person is to harm God’s dwelling place. Peace is more than a sense of calm or a rejection of violence. Peace is a way of life . . .”

Tacoma Friends Minute on Inclusion “Tacoma Friends Meeting (Quakers) is a community of people from a variety of races, colors, ethnicities, national origins, (dis)abilities and attributes, sexual orientations, gender identities, and their expressions. . . .:

Audio of Tacoma Friend Minute on continued suffering and death in Gaza Friend Louisa Beal recorded our Minute as a PSA for KTAH Radio Tacoma 101.9 FM. The QR code below takes you to audio of the PSA.


Tacoma Friends Updated Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza, approved by Meeting for Business June, 2025

Tacoma Friends Minute on Conflict in Israel and Gaza, approved by Meeting for Business January 14, 2024

TFM Land Acknowledgement that the meeting house sits on Puyallup Tribe unceded territory, recognition of our responsibility for harm, ongoing commitment to right relationships, and repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery.

2025 State of the Society Report “Mixed joy and grief as we gained new friends and mourned the loss of dear loved ones. . . .”