Barclay Press Proposal for Oct 2022 Quarterly

REPORT TO THE BUSINESS MTG OF SCYMF, OCTOBER 2022
SCYMF Working Group for Barclay Press Support

Background

Barclay Press needs support, not just financial but also with a larger board and
advertising. An ad hoc group (Londa Rochholz, Jo Boswell, Julie Peyton) was approved
to bring recommendations to the Quarterly Gathering.

Brief History of Barclay Press

Friends have always valued publications. Early Friends were called “publishers of truth.”
This concern for effective communication continues as Barclay Press seeks to share
stories that change lives.


The ministry of Barclay Press is not exclusively for Friends. Robert Barclay addressed
his Apology “to the Clergy, of every kind into whose hands these theses may come, . . .
whether Episcopal, Presbyterian, or otherwise.” The mission of Barclay Press is
spiritual, socially responsible, Quaker and Christian.

In July 2022, the publisher of Inner Light Books retired, and he moved his book list to
the care of Barclay Press. It leaves Barclay Press as the last regular publisher of
Quaker and Quaker-adjacent books in the western hemisphere. [Friends General
Conference continues to publish, but only 1 or 2 books per year and no new books
since 2020. Friends United Press’ newest book on their website is from 2020]

The Urgent Need

After the split of NWYM, Barclay Press lost much of its financial support from
Evangelicals. This year, they have a $90K shortfall, given that they want to publish 30 or
so books this year. [N.B., they will soon release Mark V: The Opera - their first graphic
novel. It was written by Sierra-Cascades’ very own Derek Lamson (in cahoots with John
Williams and Brandon Buerkle).]

The Proposal from the Working Group

We talked with quite a few people, including Eric Muhr, just so you know.
Here’s what we recommend for the consideration/discernment of Friends:

  1. Increase our (SCYMF’s) monthly donation to Barclay Press to $1,000

  2. Affirm the appointment of Jazmin Miller-Price to the board of Barclay Press.
    There is no legal tie between Barclay Press and our YM, but having a member
    on the board gives us closer ties. [Jazmin is excited by this possibility, as is Eric;
    at the time of the writing of this Doc in Advance, the Barclay Press board had just
    approved Jazmin as its newest member.]

  3. Discuss the possibility of having a designated advocate for Barclay Press in each
    of our member meetings. This person would take on the job of giving
    announcements about new publications and generally keeping our local
    meetings up-to-date.

  4. We encourage SCYMF Friends to join in activities sponsored by Barclay Press,
    including “book launch events.” The next one is for a well-received book titled
    Invitation to Quaker Eldering: On Being Faithful to the Ministry of Spiritual
    Nurture Among Friends         by Elaine Emily and Mary Kay Glazer. This event will be
    on zoom Sunday 6 November, 4pm Pacific Time. Click here to register.

  5. We encourage individuals to become monthly donors to Barclay Press. Click here to donate.