Many Quaker meetings are changing. A lot of our numbers are smaller. What are some of the ways we might adjust? What does it look like to have faith and cherish our communities while also recognizing that our energy levels are getting low? An upcoming series of conversations explores the life cycles of meetings and offers support and resources for questions rising in meetings.
Since summer 2021, Emily Provance (New York Yearly Meeting) has been working with a group of Friends from multiple yearly meetings, countries, and theological branches of Quakerism, exploring transitions and endings. Their work together has led to the development of two resources for Friends:
- Faithful Always: Transitions and Endings for Quaker Meetings and Churches Near the End of the Life Cycle grows out of the work of that group, and is available for Friends’ meetings that are nearing the end of their life cycles.
- A publication focused on the life cycle of meetings features articles originally published in the September 2022 issue of Spark, the New York Yearly Meeting newsletter.
Watch an interview with Emily about this work and the upcoming Consultation Series.
April Discussion Series
In April 2023, as part of this ongoing project, Friends everywhere are invited to participate in a series of Zoom-based consultations. These gatherings have three purposes: for each participant to learn, for each participant to share their own knowledge and insights, and for each participant to meet other Friends who are experiencing similar circumstances to their own.
Each 90-minute consultation will include a brief presentation, the opportunity to ask questions, and an open conversation with participants. Topics include the following:
- the life cycle of meetings
- simplifying committee structures
- combining/merging meetings
- sharing/repurposing/selling buildings
- restructuring local meetings
- and laying down meetings.
There are also consultations specifically for yearly meeting staff members and clerks, quarterly/regional meeting staff members and clerks, record keepers, and trustees.
Friends are welcome to attend as many of these as feel relevant to you. You can find more info and register here.
