Minneapolis Friend Meeting

Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business

October 14, 2018

[Information has been edited for publication on the web]

John Kraft – presiding clerk, Tom Ward-recording clerk and thirty participants

1. Silent Worship:  Clerk began with an excerpt from the Discipline of Iowa Yearly Meeting
2. Business meeting agenda was Approved
3. September Minutes were APPROVED
4. Ministry and Counsel (M&C) Report – Sandy   There are three items to discuss: 1) To make it easier for attenders and members to reach out to Ministry and Counsel, committee members will be asked to introduce themselves at the close of worship, beginning next week.   2) M&C is asking committees to avoid scheduling committee meetings during Sunday morning programming, thereby reducing conflict with our primary purpose of being gathered together by the Light for worship or learning.  3) Paul Buckley has been invited to be our teacher the first weekend of February 2019.  He is a member of Community Friends Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio and has authored several books, including Primitive Quakerism Revived: Living as Friends in the Twenty-First Century. Sessions will be held Friday evening, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2. He will also be presenting at the Mid-morning program on Feb. 3. Other local meetings will also be invited. Please save the dates.  Discussion:  Will there be a printed schedule of Paul Buckley’s programs?  Yes. But it has not been put together yet. Paul is seeking direction from us on topics to be discussed.  Talk to Carolyn, Keitha or John with ideas. His books are readily available for purchase.
5. Transition Minute – Presiding Clerk    The current Transition Minutes had input from John K, Sara A, Jeannette R, Bill H and Steve S  [see attachments for full version of Transition Minutes]  The Transition Minutes attempt to bring closure to the yearlong process that started with the retirement of the director of ministry; but we can move forward, as we have been doing, without specific closure.  The main concerns that have arisen in recent discussions have been addressed in the expanded version of the minutes that we are discussing today. Discussion:
   1. Are Friends comfortable with the First Minute?    It became clear that many Friends still wrestle with the format and content of the minutes. Some questioned the placement of the background statement.  Is it included as part of the First Minute?  Clerk said it is common practice to incorporate some history when writing a minute, but it can be removed.  Others affirmed the entire document as it is, believing it is a good summary, reflecting the lengthy discussions and deliberations that brought us to today. As a historical document it is ok, but some are not in agreement with how the minutes describe the current state of our process and questioned how it is moving us forward. To clarify a question that was raised, it was confirmed that the interim coordinator position was approved last month by Monthly Meeting for an extension of one year, and Liaison and Review is discussing this with the interim coordinator.  Friend commented that “A,B,C” of the Second Minute are not an action plan, since we discussed time lines last month. He supports the current document. Another reflected that this minute seems very inward and does not relate to the outside world and to other meetings.   Clerk replied that our Meeting has a well-developed vision plan that does reference our contacts with those outside the Meeting. He does not see us pushing for approval today, but believes that by getting past the cloud of distraction from still being in a transition period, we can affirm the new reality of moving forward while still acknowledging that some baggage is left unresolved. Friends responded that it is important to acknowledge what has happened over the past year and that we are moving forward and want closure.  Friend appreciated the clarity of the minutes, the outlining of the progress we have made, and the detailing of how we would address concerns as they arise in the future. It was suggested we consider the two minutes separately – that we could more readily affirm the first minute saying that the transition period has worked, that it has concluded, and we will continue the process, only no longer referring to it as a transition – that this is who we are now.  The second minute looks toward the continuing challenges and how we will address them.  Clerk remarked that the first minute could be simplified, although he still likes the preamble.  In his mind the transition period is over.
   2. Friend asked if we are to address the Quaker theological question directly – are we going to be a traditional minister-free meeting or are we going to be pastoral? The Meeting seems to not want to make a decision. We are just going to continue as we are and to keep working on problems. But that doesn’t define who we really are and this bothers him. The minutes do not say that we will be an unprogrammed meeting.  It just implies it. Others thought the minutes do give us that closure and a way to move forward keeping our vision statement in mind. The form Meeting takes should serve our purposes; but what kind of Meeting are we going to be? This needs to be stated explicitly.
   3. Concern was expressed about the impact caused by the increasing demands being placed on our worship community. We are wearing out and cannot continue at this level of commitment, especially as we undergo the aging process of many active members in Meeting.
   4. Friend has enjoyed coming to MFM from an unprogrammed and observes that we are both a pastoral meeting and an un-programmed meeting, and he finds the semi programmed meeting especially nourishing. He supports a concise narrative of what has happened and where we are now.  Many others support having a concise narrative.  Another agrees with all that has been said and acknowledges that it is a long process to determine what kind of meeting we want to be.  We are in a settling process and will be in this process until something gels.
   5. Friend suggests we state something specific about Pat’s position – have we decided to eliminate the director of ministry position or are we just not filling the position, for now?  One suggestion was to augment “D” in the second minute by adding that we continue to discern the need for a hired minister. Friend expanded on this, saying some in Meeting cannot let go of Pat’s leaving – that Pat served a very important role in the life of Meeting – and she wishes we seriously consider retaining the director of ministry position to address many of the concerns we have been talking about. At the same time, while desiring to keep the director of ministry position, she remains open to other possibilities. Another Friend affirmed his belief that we should clearly state that we are laying down the director of ministry position. That it might be easier to move forward if we did that.  The functions performed by the director of ministry could be handled in a different way. We can always consider filling paid positions in the future. Clerk suggested adding to “D and E” that we will continue to discern the need for a director of ministry and that we have our committees focus on their role in fulfilling our vision statement.
   6. There was further discussion on the importance of both semi-programmed and unprogrammed worship to the life of our Meeting and how that relates to having a director of ministry and to our vision statement. Are we a pastoral or non-pastoral meeting? Pastoral meetings traditionally have a preacher.  Semi-programmed is not pastoral, so is there a role for director of ministry? Can we lay down the director of ministry position, end the transition period and move forward? Another suggested that when we are investigating how ministry is delivered, it is not an either-or situation. That limits our thinking.  We have created a successful way to address the worship needs of a wide variety of Friends that is a hybrid, using both unprogrammed and semi-programmed services.  This has served our needs for years. When we talk of transition, what we are transitioning to is not yet clear.  Start with our vision statement and then look at how we meet our ministries. We have identified many needs and we want to do it all.  It takes a beloved community to find the right leadership niche and committee niche to make it happen. We are engaged in that process, right now, and part of that process is to find new ways to be a community that both meet our own needs and reach out to the world.  Not sure how to put that in a minute. Could this include hiring someone to help us achieve that vision? Clerk: the previous minute was explicit about this. Friend expressed concern over the term “hired staff”.  Pat could be considered to have functioned as a “released Friend” – someone released from other commitments to intentionally care for the Meeting. It is not so much that we are considering hireling staff or paid ministry, it is more about paying staff to attend to the needs of Meeting. Clerk: it is clear we need to keep talking about this.
   7. Religious education is in need of focus and needs to be addressed now. Are people comfortable with the direction provided in 2A?  Right now, there is not an active religious education committee, only two coordinators, and more people are needed. Nominating was directed to fill committee positions, but they were only able to find two people. Suggestion was made that if this is so important we should consider hiring a religious education director or release Friends from other assignments so they could focus on education. Also, religious education is about more than just the youth in Meeting; and concerns about curriculum should be addressed by an ad hoc committee and not laid on the backs of our present coordinators.  Friends added that people have always stepped up, and will continue to step up, but there has never been an overarching direction that we could come back to. The idea or releasing a Friend to focus on education was suggested.  One of the present teachers talked about how, now,  life is amazingly complicated for society, our families and children. Families have so many demands and often don’t attend regularly, as they were accustomed to do in the past. It is hard to design or manage a curriculum under these circumstances, and he tries to make each First Day class stand alone, designed around an interesting story.  He related what a former First Day class attender, who grew up in the Meeting, said. She said that what she remembers most about that time was how adults showed up for class and that they cared about her.
   8. Clerk said we need to table the minute for today.  We seem to need more time to grapple with these issues. He repeated that Nominating is trying to shore up the education committee, and he encourages more of us to participate in any way we can to show the children that we care about them.
6. Reports
   1. Finance – 2^nd Quarter Report – Marilyn J:   Second Quarter Report was distributed.
      1. Contributions this quarter were 21% of our budget, which is much better than last quarter’s 10%. If we continue to contribute to the Meeting at the rate of about 25% of our total budget in Q3 and 20% in Q4 (about $28,000 and $23,000 respectively) we will meet 100% of our expenses (even though not 100% of our budget). This is also assuming that we do not add any unbudgeted expenses, and that we do not hire a Director of Ministry before April 1, 2019
      2. In the “Expenses” section of the spreadsheet, any “percentage remaining” that is less than 50% is worrisome, because we’ve got 50% of our fiscal year remaining. It means we’ve already spent more than half of what we’ve budgeted for that item.  Explanations of oddities – Sewer and Water – hose left on to water storm-damaged tree. Workers’ Comp – audit done in February, so correction payment comes in next fiscal year.
      3. Bank balance at end of September was: $72000.
      4. (Maybe this would be part of a Trustees report.) If people are interested, there is also money that passes through our general funds account, but does not count as income or expense in our budget:
         1. $2,250. Memorials made in 2017-2018 were paid to Trustees.
         2. $600. Gift in honor of a retirement made in 2018-2019 will be paid to Trustees.
         3. $400. Rent paid in 2018-2019 will be paid to Trustees.
         4. (So bank balance is 600+400 less.)   There was no discussion.
   2. Loaves and Fishes (Annual) – Sue K:   4 to 5 times a year our Meeting combines with Twin Cities Meeting and other groups, including some Muslim groups and Mayim Rabim, to serve a meal at St Stephens’s church.  Usually 10 to 12 participate from our Meeting.  TCM orders the food and we split the costs with them.  They serve 75-150 guests at each meal.  The next opportunity to help serve is coming soon on October 29.
7. Clerk – wants us to consider designating another extended period of time where we can continue the discussion we had today.
8. Meeting for Business closed at 11:15

Attachments:

Proposed Minute for Meeting’s next steps.

Background

1. It would be good to keep our vision statement in mind as we move forward.
2. The Meeting has reinforced over the past few months several areas of concern, most of which were also identified by the Transition Committee.
   • Religious Education
   • Providing consistent and confidential pastoral care
   • Supporting growth of Meeting clerks, committees, members and attenders and transferring knowledge of Quaker faith and practice.
   • Coordinating the work of the committees in Meeting.
   • Connecting new attenders to the life of the Meeting including young families
   • Attending and responding to the building maintenance and operations in a timely manner.
3. Since Pat’s Retirement:
   1. Ministry and Counsel, its sub-committees and Mid-Morning Program Committee have gradually assumed responsibility for pastoral care, conducted a memorial service, offered mid-morning programs on spiritual deepening and community building and arranged for closers, music and speakers for meetings for worship.
   2. Peace and Social Concerns and Quaker Voluntary Service work has provided educational programs around peace and social justice issues and afforded opportunities to witness Friends testimonies in the wider community.
   3. Welcoming and Outreach organized welcomers, friendly meals and a 4 week Introduction to Quakers series for the growing number of new attenders and young families in cooperation with Ministry and Counsel.
   4. The Social Committee facilitated opportunities for fellowship and community building through its monthly potlucks.
   5. Nominating Committee invited newer members and attenders to be more connected to the meeting community through service on committees.
   6. The Religious Education Coordinators and volunteers have provided a program for the growing number of children.
   7. An assistant clerk position was created to facilitate communication and coordination among the committees in Meeting.
   8. The Property Committee has taken steps to identify building maintenance needs and priorities.

Much has been going very well during this interim period and Meeting gratefully acknowledges the work of everyone who has made this possible.

 PROPOSED MINUTES

1. As our long time Director of Ministry retired, the Meeting rejoices in the firm foundation that has been laid, and is joyful for the opportunity to renew its growth and commitment as a spiritual community.  This minute recognizes this change and marks this transition to allow for closure of a prior period, and a movement forward to the future, as we continue to grow in the Light.
   • This transition period has opened the way to examination of our community.  It has allowed for several concerns to be brought forward into the Meeting, and our beloved community is laboring to discern the best course of action for each concern in accordance with long-standing Quaker process.
   • Every meeting must labor with concerns, and in doing so, is able to merge individual wills into the underlying Spirit.  In typical Quaker process of concern, discernment and action, meetings find themselves united, more deeply engaged in fellowship and this foundation allows us to contribute to the way of peace in the world.  This process will continue within our Meeting.
   • Minneapolis Friends Meeting recognizes the retirement of the Director of Ministry, and the changes it has brought to our community with joy, humility and openness to guidance of the Spirit within and among us as we seek our way forward.
   • Glossary of Quaker terms: Concern – a sense of obligation to do something, or to demonstrate sympathetic interest in some individual or group, as a result of what is felt to be a direct intimation of God’s will.  1972 Philadelphia Yearly Meeting F&P.
2. Although there are several areas of concern noted during the transition process and through ongoing discussions (see the list above), Meeting understands we cannot perfectly address every one of these. With this in mind we will take the following actions:
   1. We will strengthen the Religious Education Committee and direct the committee to identify resources needed to support a strong and sustainable Religious Education program. Friends are invited to prayerfully consider what gives we each may offer to support the religious education of our children and youth.
   2. We direct Ministry and Counsel to consider Pastoral Care and bring the meeting recommendations regarding any changes in process or structure needed to support the Meeting as vibrant Pastoral Care community.
   3. We direct the presiding Clerk and Ministry and Counsel to consider and bring the meeting recommendations regarding supporting growth of Meeting clerks, committees, members and attenders and transferring knowledge of Quaker faith and practice.