During Fall Continuing Sessions, Christie Duncan-Tessner, General Secretary, and Claire Kinnel, Community Engagement Coordinator, Had the opportunity to present on PYM Connect. This online community platform, set to launch in January 2025. PYM Connect is designed to support a more interconnected yearly meeting. Built as a secure, supportive space, PYM Connect will offer Friends a way to engage and share resources with one another across shared ministries and leadings.
Claire took Friends through a preview of PYM Connect’s key features, highlighting the platform’s directory, which allows Friends to find one another by meeting, committee, or quarterly meeting. The Communities of Practice section, organized around areas like peace and social justice and Ministry & Care, offers space where Friends can ask questions, share experiences, and connect. Claire noted that these forums function like a Quaker-centered version of Facebook or LinkedIn, and designed specifically for the needs of our community.
Friends attending shared their thoughts on how PYM Connect might support their work. One Friend asked about using the platform to exchange ideas on energy-efficient practices for meeting houses, while another inquired about climate projects and possible collaborations. Christie and Claire that PYM Connect will be perfect for these types of interactions, allowing Friends to ask questions, share resources, or even coordinate logistics, like arranging carpools for events.
A former clerk mentioned how useful PYM Connect could have been during the early days of COVID, when many Friends were exploring hybrid worship. Claire explained that the platform’s peer group discussions would be ideal for similar conversations, creating a space where Friends can share solutions and draw on one another’s experiences.
To further enrich these connections, friends were directed to PYM Connect’s direct messaging and group chat features provide ways for ongoing dialogue, whether for individuals or committees collaborating on projects.
Friends interested in helping shape PYM Connect are invited to sign up as an early tester. Your involvement will be invaluable in guiding the platform’s development and ensuring it aligns with the needs of our community. If you’d like to participate, fill out this interest form or reach out to pymconnect@pym.org.
