The following is a copy of comments Kendal resident Art Goodkind sent to Kendal-Crosslands administration, regarding the draft pamphlet about “Kendal Values” that was presented to residents last week. Art has given permission for his comments to be posted here.

With full recognition of the work and discussions that have gone into the draft values pamphlet, I strongly believe that retaining an edited version of the existing “Values and Practices” pamphlet (stripped of its soon to be obsolete references to the Kendal federal system) would be far better.

      My problems with the proposed draft fall into three categories.

     1.  While appropriately describing Kendal’s Quaker roots, the draft fails to recognize explicitly, as it should, that KCC’s values are not exclusive to Quakers but are basically humanistic values shared both by Quakers and by the majority of residents and staff here who are not Quakers.

     2.  All of us here are deeply appreciative of Kendal’s Quaker roots and presenting the history and beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends is certainly appropriate in describing the way Kendal came into being.  It is not appropriate, however, to conflate KCC values with Quaker religious beliefs.  The draft’s statement that “KCC commits to the belief that the Inner Light exists in all of us” does not describe a KCC value but is instead a tenet of the Religious Society of Friends that is not necessarily shared by those of different faiths or by those who have no religious beliefs.  In contrast, “a sense of community,” “the necessity of stewardship” and similar actual values are generally shared by those who have chosen to live and work at Kendal. 

     3.  The draft is long on abstract statements of “values” but short on descriptions of KCC “practices” that implement those values.   An abstract discussion of values is easy; describing practices necessarily attendant to those values is more difficult but necessary.  To cite just one example:  contrast the draft’s sole elucidation of “equality” as “choosing to recognize the inherent worth of all individuals” with the statement in the present Values and Practices pamphlet that Kendal seeks “to encourage and welcome all people without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law, to live in our communities and to serve on our staffs and boards” and with the further discussion in the existing pamphlet under the capitalized heading, “WELCOMING DIVERSITY.”  Other examples abound.

     The existing “Values and Practices” pamphlet does an excellent job and should in substance be retained.  It’s a fine introduction to Kendal for anyone considering coming here as a resident or to work.  And, not incidentally, the existing pamphlet incudes at least one disclosure that should be made clear to prospective residents – that Kendal’s “fee structures often incorporate modest premiums for larger units that enable modest discounts for the smaller units most often chosen by those with more limited resources.” 

     I trust that these brief comments will be taken in the spirit given and will be given consideration before any final action is taken with respect to the draft values pamphlet.

 —  Art Goodkind, Kendal, 292