Barnegat Quakers Calling For 'More Humane U.S. Budget'

Barnegat Friends Meeting House on Bay Avenue will host a national speaker to talk to the local community about the need for a "more just and humane" federal budget. 

Emily Temple, a campaign staffer with Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), a Quaker lobbyist organization working to "facilitate peaceful action," will lead the discussion at 1 p.m. May 20 at the Barnegat Friends Meetinghouse, 614  East Bay Ave., where light refreshments will be served.

"A reduced Pentagon budget would allow us to keep funding for human needs programs that defense contractors and many in Congress would eliminate," Temple said. "I hope to spend some time discussing in real terms what Ocean County taxpayers put into the federal budget ($1.6 billion to the Department of Defense in fiscal year 2012) and how that money could be allocated differently."

Temple says she also will emphasize the importance of reaching out to New Jersey senators Frank Lautenberg, (D) and Robert Menendez (D) for those who wish to see a different U.S. budget.

"For many folks, this is a difficult time to believe in democracy and the power of citizen advocacy," Temple says. "Many feel that without huge campaign contributions, they will not be listened to. We have found again and again that this is simply not the case. The most effective citizen lobbyists are concerned voters who bring their concerns to the offices of their elected officials."

"New Jersey Sentators Lautenberg and Menendez are critically important voices on the federal budget in Washington, as members of the Appropriations and Finance Committees respectively," Temple adds.

Quakers are part of a mainly Christian international movement that is known for its simple worship style and faith in direct communication with the divine, without the need for priests as facilitators. Quakers advocate for peaceful resolution of all conflict. The origins of the religion go back to 17th century England and America.

"One of our main things is that we work hard at seeing that of God in every person, no matter what their beliefs or concerns," said Carolyn Shafer, 68, of Toms River, who is a member of Barnegat Friends Meetinghouse. "So it's all about trying to see the very best of people, and to connect with that part of them."

The Barnegat Friends Meetinghouse was built in 1767, was the first house of worship in Barnegat, the third one in all of Ocean County and is possibly the oldest structure standing in town today, according to Barnegat Historical Society.

The organization has 15 members from all over Ocean County, who get together every Sunday morning to worship in silence, then share "messages" with each other. Sometimes the meetinghouse offers events the members believe could be of interest to the local community, but they haven't organized one in a long time, Shafer says.

"This talk is something that we felt is of interest to everyone because of the financial troubles that are going on today," Shafer says. "And we felt it would be a good time to invite people to see the meetinghouse and to get to know us. A lot of people seem to think that it’s just a historic site and not realize that Quakers are there now, that’s it an actual organization.”