On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, approximately 30 leaders from our quarterly meetings met for the second of three annual gatherings. At this gathering, our Co-Presiding Clerks, Jean-Marie Prestwidge Barch and Frank Barch, shared some thoughts on the relevance and importance of quarterly meetings. They noted that quarterly meetings have, “more intimate connection with their members and simultaneously can have greater perspective on the gifts and talents of members as those attributes fit into the large whole of the yearly meeting and beyond.” [Read more…] about Report on Quarterly Meeting Leaders Gathering
Communications & Outreach
Western Quarterly Meeting – Minute Supporting the Prevention of Nuclear War
Western Quarterly Meeting united in support of the following minute in its Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business held via Zoom on 18 April 2021. Western Quarterly sends this minute on to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting clerks for discernment and sharing with Friends and Meetings. London Grove Monthly Meeting has shared this minute with Friends Committee on National Legislation. [Read more…] about Western Quarterly Meeting – Minute Supporting the Prevention of Nuclear War
Haverford Quarter Minute of Concern on the Violence of January 6, 2021
The violence of January 6, 2021 had a profound and disturbing effect on us. In the times before and after, we have witnessed an increasing resort to violence in our country when conflicts arise, including those involving our government and the police. The Peace and Social Concerns committee of Radnor Friends Meeting, prompted by a member, drafted a minute of concern emphasizing the need for peace, equality, and love when conflicts arise, and rejecting violence. After two months of seasoning within the monthly meeting, the minute below was refined and presented to the Haverford Quarterly Meeting on April 24, where it was reviewed and adopted. [Read more…] about Haverford Quarter Minute of Concern on the Violence of January 6, 2021
Runway to Annual Sessions 2021: Gathering on Reopening Our Meetings
The Runway to Annual Sessions 2021 begins on 4th May with the Gathering on Reopening Our Meetings. All Friends are warmly welcomed to be present.
We invite you to share concerns, learnings, and hopes regarding how our religious society may begin a process of re-opening to in-person gatherings by the end of 2021. During the gathering, we will revisit the notes of our January 26th meeting about hybrid gatherings and explore the possibility of developing guidance to meetings and other local Quaker communities on re-opening.
[Read more…] about Runway to Annual Sessions 2021: Gathering on Reopening Our Meetings
Reminder – Spiritual Life of the Meeting Reports
Warm greetings from the Ministry and Care Committee of Quaker Life Council!
We trust this communication finds you well, grounded in Spirit and in your community of faith. This a reminder that if you haven’t already sent yours, we would like to receive the Spiritual Life of the Meeting report from your meeting by May 1, 2021. This will give the Ministry and Care Committee ample time to receive and read what you share, and to craft a document describing the Spiritual State of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and send it to the Quaker Life Council in advance of PYM’s summer sessions, July 27-August 1. [Read more…] about Reminder – Spiritual Life of the Meeting Reports
Minutes from March 23 Eco Justice Collaborative Q/A
With thanks to Kri Burkander, recording clerk, minutes of the evening’s Eco Justice Q&A follow:
Jean-Marie Prestwidge Barch opened the session, reminding Friends that this is the beginning of our Continuing Sessions. Our Zoom interface allows us to connect across time and space in a different way. Our gathering tonight will allow us to season this work, which will also be on Saturday’s agenda. We settled into worship, with some 50 Friends in attendance. [Read more…] about Minutes from March 23 Eco Justice Collaborative Q/A
PYM Leadership Gathering: Building Connections
On the evening of Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 98 leaders from monthly meetings met virtually for community and mutual support. The gathering was centered in searching for joy as we transition from a pandemic year. [Read more…] about PYM Leadership Gathering: Building Connections
About Hybrid Meetings: How They Work
Background
Back in the fall of 2020, two gatherings took place – one for monthly meeting leaders and another for quarterly meeting leaders. Worship during the pandemic was a big topic of discussion, so we had a follow up meeting on January 26, 2121 wherein we asked monthly and quarterly meetings to let us know who in their communities had experience with virtual and hybrid meetings. These are the notes from that meeting. [Read more…] about About Hybrid Meetings: How They Work
Share Your Meeting’s Spiritual Self-Assessment
Dearest Friends in PYM Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and other PYM Quaker Groups,
We trust this finds you seeking to be grounded in Spirit and in your community of faith. 2020 has certainly been a year filled with both opportunities and challenges! The Ministry and Care Committee of Quaker Life Council is once again asking for your help as we look to better understand the spiritual state of our yearly meeting through this past year.
To accomplish this, we are asking meetings to consider responding to the following queries: [Read more…] about Share Your Meeting’s Spiritual Self-Assessment
Statement Concerning Recent National Events from Swarthmore Monthly Meeting
To Philadelphia Yearly Meeting:
We write on behalf of our Quaker Meeting (Swarthmore Friends Meeting) to voice our deep concern for the future of our democracy, in the light of the violent insurrection that the President of our nation inflamed with the support of other elected government officials. It was aimed at denying the valid certification of the votes from the states to confirm the election of Joe Biden as our 46th president and Kamala Harris as the vice president. [Read more…] about Statement Concerning Recent National Events from Swarthmore Monthly Meeting
