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Swarthmore
Monthly Meeting Of the Religious Society of Friends |
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How To Join Swarthmore Monthly Meeting Becoming a member of Swarthmore Monthly Meeting is in many ways a very simple process, yet one that embodies several important Quaker attitudes and beliefs. Since we have no formal “requirements” for membership, the first step is for you, the prospective member, to feel comfortable with the culture of our Meeting specifically, and with Quakerism generally. The best way to get to know our Meeting, of course, is to come to Meeting for Worship, our social and educational events, Meeting for Business, and perhaps to join a committee. Learning about Quakerism can be as simple as reading some literature or as ambitious as attending courses at Pendle Hill or Friends General Conference. Only you can know when the time feels right to take the next step, namely sending a letter of intent to the Meeting. This letter of intent, again, has no formal structure or requirements, but usually expresses the experiences and feelings that have contributed to your sense of readiness to join the Meeting. The letter can be quite short, or it can be longer, depending on what feels right to you. When you have completed your letter, send it to Swarthmore Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, Whittier Place, Swarthmore, PA 19081. The Meeting secretary then gives your letter to the Care and Counsel Committee. They will form a Clearness Committee, usually made up of three members of the Meeting. With them, you will discern your readiness for membership. This step is very important because it embodies the value Friends place on community in decision making. In no way do the members of the Clearness Committee function as authority figures who decide whether or not someone can join the Meeting. Occasionally a prospective new member is encouraged to take more time to discern whether membership is right for them. After the Clearness Committee has met with you, it will take its recommendation to the Care and Council Committee. When Care and Council is clear to take a positive recommendation, the committee will report to Monthly Meeting for Business. Because membership is a step that involves the entire Meeting, it is customary for Meeting to hold the report for a month before taking action. During this interval, members of the Meeting are encouraged to become better acquainted with the applicant. During the session of Monthly Meeting in which your application for membership is approved, Monthly Meeting appoints a Welcoming Committee; these Friends will subsequently meet with you, most probably in your home. This visit is to formally welcome you to the Meeting and let you know of the many opportunities for your participation in the life of the Meeting. Swarthmore Monthly Meeting is delighted that you are considering membership, and hopes that this guide will make the process clearer for you. If you would like to talk more about the process and what to expect, please speak with the member of Care and Counsel who serves as “Friendly Presence” at rise of Meeting for Worship. |
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Meeting@Swarthmore.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
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