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January 4, 2006

Quaker Overseers Deemed Politically Incorrect

Posted by Dave Blount at January 4, 2006 12:35 PM

A little moonbattery from the H-Slavery listserver, thoughtfully passed along by Leigh:

Within the past couple of years, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (AKA, the Quakers), in revising its internal structure, abolished the word "overseer" in deference to some members who thought its use within Quakerism smacked of the plantation.

Traditionally, Quaker "overseers" were members — men and women, selected by the entire congregation — who were in charge of decision-making between regularly scheduled meetings of the whole. In earlier centuries, they'd have been the people to investigate reports of disciplinary infractions or to "elder" those who needed reminders of what was considered proper. More recently, they've been the nice "church ladies" that are probably common in every religion.

In any case, the "overseers" are now called the "Committee of Care and Counsel."

Even Quakers are capable of sinning against political correctness. At least they've repented. Shockingly, the word "overseer" can still be found in many dictionaries.

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