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Swarthmore
Monthly Meeting Of the Religious Society of Friends |
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Committee Roles and Responsibilities Like other "unprogrammed" Quaker Meetings, our members and attenders, usually working in committees, take responsibility for functions performed by clergy in other churches. Matters of general concern are brought to a "Meeting for Business." Members and attenders gather in a Meeting for Business the second First Day (Sunday) of most months at 11:45 for approximately two and a half hours. See our Calendar for the next scheduled Meeting. When urgent matters arise requiring more immediate attention, the Clerk may call a Meeting for Business at another time, usually immediately following a First Day Meeting for Worship. You are welcome to read Minutes of Meeting for Business. A brief overview of Friends' decision-making can be found on pages 21-28 of Faith & Practice published in 1997 by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and available in Portable Document Format (PDF) at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's web site. We welcome the active participation of attenders as well as members in the activities of most Monthly Meeting committees. If the activities of a committee interest you, please contact the committee's clerk or a member of Nominating Committee. Each committee member serves a three-year term which can be renewed for one second term. "The Monthly Meeting is the fundamental spiritual community in the Religious Society of Friends, ..... and is a caring community, as responsive as it can be to the spiritual, social, educational, and material needs of its members.... All members share the duty and privilege of caring for one another ....[but] Friends have found it useful to identify specific duties and responsibilities and assign them to committees. Members are expected to serve on committees of Monthly Meeting unless distance or disability is a significant hindrance. Acceptance of appointment is a commitment to be diligent, loving, and responsive in carrying out the committee's function." - Philadelphia Yearly Meeting's Faith & Practice Budget and Finance Committee evaluates the Meeting's short and long-term needs, writes appeal letters, helps formulate an annual budget, and sees to an annual audit of the books. The committee works with the Treasurer and Clerk to ensure the good stewardship of Meeting financial resources, reporting regularly to, and engaging the Meeting in, decision-making and financial support. Drawn primarily from the membership, the committee meets several times a year, at the call of the clerk. Care & Counsel Committee, drawn from the membership, have responsibility for helping nurture the Meeting as a caring community and for offering pastoral care and counseling. Duties: clearness committees for membership applications and requests for marriage under the care of the Meeting; tracking matters of membership, such as withdrawals and transfers, with the Recorder and Monthly Meeting; keeping in touch with members of all ages, including those who fail to show interest in Meeting; outreach in the community. There is at least one joint meeting with Overseers to address common concerns such as outreach. Meetings, which are confidential, are on the first Thursday, except in summer. Fellowship Working Group arranges for refreshments after Meeting for Worship, special fellowship hours and receptions, covered dish meals, and other events to nurture the Meeting's sense of community. The committee tries to involve as many others as possible in hospitality offered on behalf of the Meeting, especially meals in times of sickness or bereavement. Committee has representatives from other committees as well as those appointed directly; meets several times a year, at the call of the clerk. First Day School Committee plans curriculum and involves other adults to assist as teachers in developing the religious life of the Meeting's children and teens, seeking to include members and attenders in the life of the Meeting and to help introduce them to the principles and practices of Friends. The committee arranges special programs at Christmas and Easter, the annual bird walk and breakfast, and other events, which include families. Meeting are held several times a year, currently on alternate third Tuesdays. Forum Committee offers periodic programs after Meeting on topics of concern and interest to Friends. The committee invites suggestions of topics from other committees, and works to include outside speakers as well as Meeting members in presentations. Meets occasionally, at call of the clerk. House and Property Committee attends to the Meeting's physical surroundings; and suggests and supervises needed repairs and upkeep. Tending to the details of property stewardship, the committee arranges for work days when members and attenders assist in maintenance projects, and also interfaces with Swarthmore College regarding common concerns for upkeep of the shared facility. The committee meets monthly, usually on the third Tuesday. Jumble Sale Committee plans the annual autumn sale held in the Meetinghouse. Library Committee adds to, culls, and cares for the Meeting's collection of books, periodicals, and other materials. Meets occasionally, at the call of the clerk. Memorial Committee serves to coordinate memorial services for members and for others associated with the Meeting, as requested. Committee members serve in rotation as coordinators of memorials, offering the Meeting's loving support to bereaved family and friends, working with the family on details of the memorial such as whether there will be music, flowers, readings, and a reception, and then finding other Meeting members to sit at head of Meeting, serve as ushers, and host any reception. The committee meets once a year to review its policies and procedures, which are on file in the office. Nominating Committee carries responsibility for discerning the gifts of members, and seeks to involve all members and regular attenders in appropriate service to the Meeting. It recommends to Monthly Meeting the names of members to serve as officers, and members and attenders as committee members. Appointed by Monthly Meeting at recommendation of the Naming Committee; meets several times in the spring and at the call of the clerk, as needed. Nursery School Committee serves to oversee and support the Swarthmore Friends Nursery School, which is under the care of the Meeting. Committee, which includes parent and staff representatives, works with Budget & Finance, House & Property, and Personnel on common concerns. Nominations of new members are brought to Monthly Meeting through the committee's internal nominating committee. Committee has several working groups; meets several times a year, usually on a Tuesday. Peace and Social Concerns Committee supports outreach and activity within the Meeting and on local, national and international levels, and gives leadership to the Meeting community in expressing Friends' testimonies and concerns through service projects and witness. Several working groups: Discretionary Fund, Feeding the Homeless, Friends Chester Working Group, C.A.S.A. (Sanctuary), Quaker Quick Notes, are under the care of this committee, which meets regularly on the third Thursday of the month except in summer. Personnel Committee appoints and supports the Meeting's staff members, including the Meeting secretary, custodians, and child care providers. The committee is available for consultation with staff, and is responsible for periodic review of position descriptions, performance reviews, crafting personnel policy, and recommending compensations to Budget & Finance. Meets at the call of the clerk. Worship and Ministry Committee, drawn primarily from the membership, has special care for the Meeting's spiritual health and growth, the quality of Meeting for Worship, and the spiritual nurture of members. It plans adult religious education sessions and is responsible for generating an annual State of the Meeting report. Committee members reach out to welcome visitors, including students from the College community. In rotation, committee members greet those coming into Meeting for Worship, and sit at the head of Meeting to break Meeting, invite joys and concerns, give announcements, and encourage introductions. There is at least one joint meeting with Overseers to address common concerns such as outreach. Meets monthly, currently the first Tuesday evening, except in summer. Current Working Groups of the Meeting Membership on any Working Group is open to all members or attenders. Contact the Meeting Office at (610) 328-8699 or meeting@swarthmore.edu for additional information. Cooking for the Homeless Discretionary Fund Flowers (for Meetinghouse) Friends Chester Working Group Hymn Singing Making New Friends Quaker Quick Notes Sanctuary (CASA) Visiting |
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