Minutes of Meeting for Business

Minneapolis Friends Meeting

October 10, 2021

[Some names and information have been omitted for publication on the web]

Atttendance:  John Kraft—Presiding Clerk   Stephen Snyder—Recording Clerk     Bill Hendricks—Zoom Host plus 37 others.

1.  Worship

2.  Approve Agenda – Approved with the addition of the Northern Yearly Meeting Report

3.  Approve Minutes—Minutes of September 12, 2021 Meeting for Business were approved.  Minutes of the August 8, 2021Meeting for Business were approved noting that the question of authorization of the purchase of hybrid technology was addressed in the September Minutes.

4.  Friends for a Non-Violent World Holiday Fair update– Clerk. The 2021 holiday Fair will be at Friends School in St. Paul on December 3^rd and 4^th. It will be hybrid fair with opportunities to participate in person or via the web. Vaccination cards will be required to attend in person.   FNVW is inviting Minneapolis friends to contribute craft items for the sale and volunteer to help set up for the fair.

5.  Technology Support Committee –  Roger M. gave a brief progress report on the process of putting technology in place for hybrid meetings for worship.  Much of the needed equipment has been identified and ordered, but some items are not currently in stock.  It will probably be early December before all the equipment is ready to install.  Clerk reminded friends that an anonymous donor has made an offer of $10,000 in matching funds for purchase of the needed technology. Friends are invited to mail contributions to the meetinghouse noting on their check that the donation is for purchase of hybrid technology.  Clerk then outlined the proposed structure and charge of a new Technology Committee to oversee implementation and operation of the technology needed to offer hybrid meetings for worship.   The committee would be accountable for *Arranging for hosting of Sunday morning Zoom meetings for worship, mid-morning programs, monthly meetings for business and social time after the second hour worship. *Developing and implementing a Sunday morning Zoom meeting support process to provide support for folks attempting to participate on Zoom.  *Arranging for operation of the hybrid technology in the meetinghouse for Sunday morning worship and programs. *Developing and implementing a technical support process for those operating the hybrid technology on Sunday mornings. *Developing and implementing an ongoing plan for maintenance, support and related funding for the hybrid meeting technology in cooperation with the Trustees and the Stewardship and Finance Committee. While the committee would be accountable for these tasks, committee members would not be expected to fulfill all these tasks alone.  The expectation is that other friends would volunteer and be trained to assist with implementation of these tasks.  The purpose of this proposed committee is to cover the technical aspects of the hybrid meeting. Other topics, such as how a meeting will work procedurally, ensuring maximum community participation, would fall under existing committees like Ministry and Counsel, Care and Counsel, Social, and Welcoming and Outreach.  Clerk sees this as a new ongoing committee with members recommended by the nominating committee.   Discussion:  Friend asked if there would be any role for friends without technical expertise.   Terry K. indicated it would be good to have some people on the committee who are not familiar with the technology as they would likely have questions that would not occur to members who are more technically proficient.  Tom W. wondered how meeting will manage special events such as memorial services and weddings.  Perhaps technical support for the technology services could be included as an expense of holding special events.  Friends noted that there is much work to be done and encouraged friends to offer their services to the committee. Clerk asked if friends were ready to approve creation of the committee as described.  Friends approved the establishment of a new Technology Committee to carry out the functions described above, noting that its role may evolve as meeting gains experience with hybrid meetings.  Clerk noted that five persons have volunteered to host meetings on Zoom.  Eight volunteers are needed so there will be two different people to help host on each Sunday of the month.  Please contact the clerk if you can offer such service.  Training is available.

6.  Return to in Person Meetings – Clerk. Clerk wondered if those present could unite around the goal of moving back into the meetinghouse for meetings for worship and other activities.  Several friends expressed concerns about reopening given uncertainty around vaccines, the evolution of the virus and doubts about the adequacy of the ventilation system.  They felt it would be safer to wait until there was more clarity around these questions.  Friend wondered if ventilation could be improved, and clerk noted that this matter is being considered by the Property Committee.  Others noted that even though meeting has put protocols in place to address safety there will always be uncertainty and risk to health when meeting in the same physical space.  If people insist on eliminating risk, meeting will never resume in person meetings.  With the use of hybrid technology, friends can choose between in person and virtual worship according to their tolerance for risk.  Friend expressed sadness that the concerns and fears of one or two persons seem to be preventing a decision about whether to return to the meetinghouse.  Another wondered what God is asking us to decide about reopening for those who want to be there and are comfortable with this choice.  With others expressing support for reopening, clerk put the question before the meeting again.  Friends approved reopening the meetinghouse for worship and other activities, once the hybrid technology is implemented to allow everyone to participate in person or online as they choose.  Friends attending agree to abide by the protocols for those present in the meetinghouse.  Meeting will continue addressing issues around the physical environment and protocols to make in person meeting as safe as possible and will remain vigilant should changing circumstances require meeting to revisit this decision.  One friend indicated that they could not unite on this minute because of their deeply held concerns for the safety of others who might attend in person, but agreed to stand aside so the minute could be approved. 

7.  Ministry and Counsel Committee (M&C) Report– Bill H. One of Ministry and Council’s concerns is to maintain communication within the meeting community.  M&C members continue to check for phone messages on days when the Meeting Coordinator is not in the office.  The committee has decided to discontinue updating the meeting handbook feeling that the time and energy to redo the handbook would be better spent on other tasks.  Much of that information in the handbook is already available in other formats and on the meeting website.  Each member of the committee has also been designated to maintain communication with one or more meeting committees and offer care and support when needed.  Ministry and Counsel will offer a mid-morning program on October 31 to begin organizing spiritual nurture groups for those who wish to commit to a regular spiritual discipline and share their experiences with others in a small group.  Christopher S. and Carolyn V. will lead the program and share some of the practices used by these groups.   M&C hopes the experience will be a door into deepening the spiritual life and worship of individuals and the meeting community.  Friends accepted the Ministry and Counsel report with thanks for the work of the committee.

8.  Committee Reports 

a.  Peace and Social Concerns Committee (P&SC) Annual Report – Deborah J. P&SC is an open committee.  All Friends are invited to participate in its meetings and its social justice work going on in the meeting community.  Each year the committee selects one or two issues for special attention.  During 2020-2021 the committee focused on the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for peace and social justice in the community with special attention to the needs of minority communities, racism and police reform.  It directed money from the Winter Envelope and carbon tax to support these goals, organized a food drive for the Northpoint food shelf, and supported the creation and operation of groups exploring racial justice, police reform, racial trauma and right relationships with indigenous peoples.  During 2021-2022 the focus will be on healing racial and economic injustice among immigrants, Blacks, Indigenous peoples, and People of Color generally.  While committee members have felt challenged by the inability to meet in person during the pandemic its work has felt spirit led.  Friends accepted the report with gratitude for the great work the committee is doing. 

b.  Loaves and Fishes Annual Report – Sue K. and Ann L. The Minnesota Loaves and Fishes program provides warm hospitality and a healthy meal for anyone in need at community sites across Minnesota.  Minneapolis Friends prepares and serves meals at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church on the fifth Monday of each month working in collaboration with Twin Cities Friends Meeting, the Ismaili Community of Minnesota and the Mayim Rabim Synagogue.  The last event in 2021 will be on Monday, November 29^th.  This year those working with the program decided to not serve beef in the chili, but only ground turkey and the beans that are added for protein. The chili still is delicious and is well received.  Volunteers prepare a full meal and prep a second meal to be served at a future date.  This service costs about $800 per event.   The cost is shared equally with Twin Cities Friends Meeting meaning that Minneapolis Friends Meeting needs to budget $1,600 annually to support this program.   In addition, these events rely heavily on multiple fruit and in-kind donations from volunteers which are estimated to be another $250 per event.  It has been difficult to find enough volunteers to prepare and serve meals during the pandemic.  Friends are encouraged to join in this vital community service.   Meeting accepted the report with gratitude for the work of volunteers supporting the program. 

c.  Stewardship and Finance Committee 2^nd Quarter Update – postponed

d.  Report on the Northern Yearly Meeting Annual Session:  Keep on Moving Forward—Connie A. Clerk noted that while time did not allow reading of the report, engagement with NYM has enriched the lives of many friends who have attended over the years.

9.  Closing Worship [Attachments have not been published to the web.  Persons needing to see the reports of the various committees can contact the Friends Meeting office.]