Minutes of Meeting for Business

Minneapolis Friends Meeting

August 14, 2022

[Names and some content have been edited for publication on the web]

In Attendance: Jeannette Raymond—Presiding Clerk, Stephen Snyder—Recording Clerk, Bill Hendricks—Zoom host and 28 other persons at the meetinghouse and on Zoom.

1. Silent Worship

2. Approve Agenda: Agenda was approved.

3. Approve Minutes: Minutes of the July 10, 2022 Meeting for Business were approved.

4. Ministry and Counsel M&C) Annual Report – Jane F.  Ministry and Counsel’s mission is to provide care and oversight for our Meeting, our Meetings for worship, and the spiritual well-being of our community. A major accomplishment during the past year was helping implement the transition from worship on Zoom to a hybrid model allowing Friends to participate in worship both remotely and in person at the meeting house. It feels like an enormous achievement facilitated by so many Friends in the meeting community. M&C continues its ongoing work of connecting with the other committees in meeting to better understand how meeting can best respond to the needs and spiritual hunger of Friends in this changing world. It continues to sponsor mid-morning programs including a recent one on Friend’s mystical experiences and is planning a series of three new programs to look deeply into how we define and understand our faith and worship as a community. Another ministry of M&C is arranging for speakers for semi-programmed worship. Rather than recruiting speakers for each Sunday, committee members dialogue with Friends encouraging discernment around gifts for vocal ministry. While this may sometimes result in no speaker being available on a given Sunday, many Friends have come forth to share their experience and ministry with the meeting community. The committee is also seeking Friends with musical talent to offer music before second hour worship both at the meetinghouse and possibly on Zoom. But singing together is not likely to resume anytime soon because of ongoing Covid risk. An ongoing concern of Ministry and Counsel is maintaining a sense of community and spiritual connection as Friends gather on both Zoom and in person. Ultimately, Quakers, are a people who come together, sit with each other, and in deep silence listen for that “still small voice” to guide us and bring us all into the Light. M&C remains committed to finding ways to make sure this happens in the most dynamic and nourishing way possible for all Friends in meeting. Meeting accepted the report with gratitude for the spirit led work of Ministry and Counsel.

5. Committee Reports.

a. Ministry and Counsel Report – Jane F.  Katherine W. submitted a request for membership to Ministry and Counsel. She has been attending for several years, has felt welcomed, and has found a spiritual home among Friends. A membership clearness committee met with Katherine and has recommended her for membership. Ministry and Counsel wholeheartedly recommends she be accepted into membership. Meeting for business approved this request and is delighted to welcome Katherine W. into membership in Minneapolis Friends Meeting.

b. Death and Memorial (D&M) Annual Report –Barbara Z.  As a subcommittee of Ministry and Counsel, Death and Memorial is charged with providing support and guidance to the family of someone dying from the time of death, through the memorial service, and beyond. Covid changed this mission to include organizing memorial services on Zoom and now with the hybrid system. There have been three deaths of dear Friends in this past year. Sue Murray died on 10/27/2021, with a memorial service on 11/27/2021 and Barbara Coffin died on 11/2/2021, with her memorial service on 12/11/2021. Alice Bell died recently on 8/6/2022 and service arrangements are pending. Death and Memorial also organized a guided tour of the Minneapolis Friends section in Lakewood Cemetery led by Linda C. in August 2021 and presented two mid-morning programs on End-of-Life Instructions and Health Care Directives. Discussion: Friend wondered if Death and Memorial would resume offering services of remembrance. These are opportunities for Friends experiencing loss in the past year to remember loved ones in a special service together and feel the love of the meeting community. Meeting accepted the report of the Death and Memorial Committee.

c. Stewardship and Finance First Quarter Report – Mike F. The first quarter financial report for the 2022-23 fiscal year which extends from April through March of next year. Contributions during the first quarter were $18,038 or 14.5% of the budgeted amount. Expenses totaled $14,976 or 12% of the budgeted amount. While contributions have fallen behind budget, they remain in the normal range for this time of year. In addition to salaries, large expenditures in the first quarter included $1591 for insurance and $3,000 which was paid out from the Covid relief emergency fund. Some other expenses have come in under budget including committees which have not yet reported any expenses. Discussion: Friend wondered if the number of contributors has changed very much. Mike indicated that information would be available at the end of the year when the committee prepares contribution letters for tax purposes. Another Friend noted that meeting has recently hired a Technology Coordinator and may soon hire a Religious Education coordinator so expenditures for these new positions will appear in future reports. Meeting accepted the First Quarter Report of the Stewardship and Finance Committee with thanks for its service.

d. Shepherd Scholarship – Allen G. The Shepherd Scholarship Fund was formed as a legal Trust in 1977 to make scholarship grants to qualified individuals to pursue degrees at post-secondary educational institutions. Scholarships are available to members and children of members of Quaker meetings of five years standing, with a preference for individuals directly associated with Minneapolis Friends Meeting. The fund is a legal entity independent of Friends Meeting and is administered by its Trustees. The fund’s investment account totaled $232,218.16 as of June 30, 2022. Scholarships are only awarded from the earnings of this fund. COVID-19 interrupted the regular pattern for distributing grants annually. No grants were distributed in calendar year 2020, but grants totaling $5,000.00 were awarded in early 2021 and credited to 2020, and another distribution of $8,000 was made later in 2021 and credited to calendar year 2021. Awards totaling $10,000.00 will be distributed in August 2022 and credited to calendar year 2022. Once the August distribution occurs, the cumulative total of all grants distributed since the inception of the fund will be $235,414.25. Meeting accepted the report.

6. Request Volunteers to write a Memorial Minute for Alice Bell – Clerk asked if anyone was drawn to write a memorial minute for Alice Bell. Friend noted that Diane B. spent a lot of time with Alice and might be approached when she returns from Ireland.

7. Announcements and Correspondence
Minnesota Friends School sent a letter of thanks for the Meeting’s gift of $400.

8. Meeting for Business closed following a time of worship.