Minneapolis Friend Meeting

Minutes of the Monthly Meeting for Business

January 9, 2022.

[Names and some information have been edited for publication on the web.]. Attendance:   John Kraft –Presiding Clerk,  Stephen Snyder –Recording Clerk, Bill Hendricks—Zoom Host and other participants

1.   Silent Worship

2.  Approval of Agenda:  Approved. 

3.  Approve Minutes:  Minutes of the December 12, 2021 Meeting for Business were approved.

4.  Brief Hybrid Meeting Update – Clerk. A team of dedicated Friends has been working for several months to prepare and install the technology and training needed to begin hybrid meetings for worship.  The video system has been installed and tested, but the main speakers have not yet arrived.  The team will be testing the microphones and sound system using the existing speakers until the new ones arrive.  The goal is to have the system ready to use by January 22nd when the Myim Rabim congregation plans to have a hybrid meeting.  Friends worship at the meetinghouse will hopefully begin sometime in February if testing of the system goes well.  Friends extended many thanks to the team who has been preparing for hybrid meetings for worship.

5.  Ministry and Counsel (M&C) Report – Bill H.  Ministry and Counsel and Care and Counsel share a concern and responsibility for the spiritual life of the meeting community and of individual members of our community.  These concerns often overlap and sometimes have created differences over how to carry out the work of the two committees.  It has been important to remember the passage from II Corinthians 3:6 where Paul reminds us “that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” In this spirit M&C and Care and Counsel occasionally meet and many initiatives have come through their cooperation.  Collective efforts have included the creation of spiritual nurture groups, an Ad Hoc group to consider creating a Religious Education coordinator position to address the need for children and youth, and discernment about how best to provide care for a growing number of elders in the community.  A number of friends have expressed concerns that the method of selecting speakers for 2nd hour worship and the quality of vocal ministry often do not seem spirit led.  Worship is opportunity to listen and respond to the movement of the Spirit, not a time for conversation or discussion.  Friends were reminded that speaking and vocal ministry are shared responsibilities.  Many friends fail to call back when contacted about offering ministry during 2nd hour worship.  Please be open to discerning gifts you might have with members of M&C when they reach out.  Discussion:   Friend noted that the question of speakers and vocal ministry has been an ongoing concern for years.  Some of those who offer vocal ministry regularly are criticized for speaking too often.  Others are criticized for being too conversational. Friends might attend to how they feel after offering vocal ministry.  Does is seem to deepen worship? Stroke one’s ego?  Leave one with a feeling of doubt? Does one feel sense of peace and right order?  Are there ways meeting can provide for care and support, accountability, ways for discernment about gifts and tender feedback for members around vocal ministry. Another friend cautioned about having too many “rules” around vocal ministry.  Friends come from different cultural backgrounds, have different learning and listening styles, and experience and express their spiritual life in different ways.  Guidelines for vocal ministry can be helpful, but they must be inclusive and open to ministry that comes from different experiences.  One should not have to worry about whether one’s ministry will make others uncomfortable.  Friends acknowledged the clerk of Ministry and Counsel for his leadership and committee members for addressing these difficult issues.  Meeting accepted the Ministry and Counsel Report with thanks for the work of the committee.

6.  Committee Reports.

a. Stewardship and Finance Committee Quarterly Update – Mike F.  The report began by thanking members and attenders for their contributions to the meeting during the first three quarters of this fiscal year.  Donations were $68,138 or about 50% of budget.  Expenses were $36,892 or only 27% of budget.   $34,000 was budgeted for ministry, nursery, and religious education staff, but none of it is likely to be spent this year.  Less than half the money budgeted for plant operations and office expenses has been spent.  However, these figures do not reflect the nearly $15,000 that remains to be contributed to organizations at the end of the fiscal year.  The Stewardship and Finance hopes to have the 2021 donation letters available in early February and is beginning work on the budget for the coming fiscal year.  Committees are asked to submit their requests for funds soon.  Clerk thanked the committee for its very important work.  Friends accepted the third quarter report of the Stewardship and Finance Committee.

b.  Friends for a Nonviolent World (FNVW) Holiday Fair Recap – Rae Beth C. The FNVW Holiday Fair was held December 3-4, 2021 at the Friends School in St. Paul. Although Minneapolis Friends Meeting was the usual and preferred site, that was not possible this year due to COVID concerns. Fortunately, the Friends School stepped up and volunteered their gym space for the annual event. They couldn’t have been more accommodating and helpful.  Staff helped set up and take down tables and chairs, children offered songs and parents made purchases.  Hopefully the craft fair will be able to return to the meetinghouse next year and the café can be reopened for food and fellowship.  But FNVW would like to continue to nurture this relationship with Friends School.  The Fair was very successful financially with FNVW realizing $13,025 in profits. Many thanks to Friends and others who donated craft items and artwork that return 100% profit.

7.  Update on the Winter Gift Recipients – Deborah J.  At the December meeting for business Friends approved giving a third of the Winter Envelope gifts to the Division of Indian Works Family Spirit Program.  However, it turns out the Family Spirit program is funded by the Minnesota Department of Health and requires no additional funds.   Therefore, the Peace and Social Concerns Committee now recommends that the Winter Envelope Gift go to the Division of Indian’s Work’s to be used for their many programs that support and nurture Native youth and families.  Friends approved this change to the disbursement of the Winter Envelope Gifts.

8.  Correspondence. Minneapolis Friends Meeting received a letter from the Atlanta Friends Meeting transferring Mary Bosserman’s membership to Minneapolis Friends Meeting.  Friends extended a warm welcome to Mary.  New members are a wonderful gift to the community.

9.  Worship:  Meeting transitioned to 2nd hour worship at 11:05 am.