Minneapolis Friends Meeting

Minutes of Monthly Meeting for Business

March 12, 2023

[Names and some content were edited for posting on the web]

Attendance: John K. – presiding clerk,  Tom W. – recording clerk,  40 others in attendance

1. Worship
2. Agenda – APPROVED
3. February Minutes were APPROVED
4. Care and Counsel Committee Report – Nettie S    Care and Counsel Committee (C&C) receives many requests for support and sees its mission as encouraging and facilitating those in Meeting to look out for each other, rather than viewing C&C as the “pastor”. We are all ministers. Pastoral needs in Meeting vary from visiting shut-ins and arranging transportation for doctor appointments to setting up clearness and support committees, to providing support around the time of death – both for the one dying and for their loved ones. More people have been asking for assistance, which is a good thing; but C&C sometimes has difficulty finding enough people to provide all the support that is needed. Cards and phone calls to one another are always appreciated and create a sense of belonging. On January 29^th C&C led a mid-morning program on “helping each other up with a tender hand”. It was well attended and they are considering doing this type of program annually.  On April 30^th they are leading another mid-morning program on “How we deal with differences in our meeting community” – exploring our differences while understanding and supporting each other’s individual ministry.  The committee has been the conduit for requesting financial assistance during COVID. So far, $31,000 has been distributed, but C&C is now suggesting that it is time to lay down the COVID Response Fund. At the same time, they suggest Meeting explore creating an on-going fund to assist those facing financial hardships. This has been discussed in the past and other Quaker Meetings have such funds. C&C believes setting up this new fund needs to fall under the care of the larger Meeting community, not just C&C, since their energies are overcommitted, already.  Discussion: Presiding Clerk acknowledged all the good work C&C has done.   Friend asked for clarification on dissolving the COVID fund. Clerk replied that the fund was established specifically in response to financial needs around the COVID epidemic and it is now time to stop receiving financial requests related to COVID.  Should Meeting set up a standing fund? It is not clear how that would work and Clerk believes it is not a topic we can explore adequately, today, but we will in the future.
5. Committee Reports 
   1. Stewardship and Finance Committee 3^rd Quarterly Update – Mike F.    Third quarter ended on 12/31/2022 but the report has been postponed by other Meeting business until today. Expenses for the quarter were $12,680.  Third quarter is when Meeting receives the greatest percentage of yearly donations and that gives us a net income for the quarter of $34,343. However, the 4^th quarter is when we pay out our budgeted contributions, as well as transferring $20K to the Trustees building fund, so the surplus will be spent down by the end of the 4^th quarter. The winter gift this year was $3,000. Overall, donations are down for this year but our expenses are running a lot less because Meeting is not at full operation post COVID.  The price of natural gas has been higher this winter and is the only item that has exceeded what was budgeted. Results for the 4^th quarter, which ends on March 31, 2023, will be reported in May.    Discussion:  Why are insurance costs so high?  This year they have not gone up, but next year they are projected to be $1,500 higher.  This is not specific to any changes made to the meeting house, but is a reflection of industry changes. Friend asked if the number of people donating to Meeting has gone down.  No. It is about the same as it has been for the last 5 or 6 years – pretty steady.  There was a question about donations for three quarters not adding up to 50% of the budget.  This was clarified.  Friends ACCEPTED the 3^rd quarter report.
   2. Stewardship and Finance 2023-3024 Budget for Approval – Mike F.  Thanks to the committee clerks who worked with Stewardship to update the budget.  And thanks to the committee members for all they have done. This coming year’s budget is $10K less than last year because the COVID Relief Fund line item has been removed.  Natural gas charges are going up and building insurance is increasing.  Business meeting asked Peace and Social Concerns to adjust the amounts contributed on line 7, accounting for us not having provided cost of living increases in recent years. This resulted in a $390 increase.  The total budget for 2023-24 is $126,510.   Discussion: Have we provided for a nursery coordinator position?  Yes – $2,600 is included under salaries.  Friend asked if we could add back a hardship fund during the year, if Meeting decides to go in that direction, now that the COVID relief fund has ended.  Yes. That can be done.    Friend remarked on the size of the budget and asked if it could be reduced more.  Presiding clerk – In his experience with Friends General Conference and with Northern Yearly Meeting he has seen how Quakers tend to budget what people ask for but tend to spend less than budgeted.  To normalize this, more closely matching our annual budget to what we actually spend in a year, takes a long discussion, and there is not enough time, now, to take that on.     Friend remarked that what we are approving is an expense budget. How are we doing on the revenue side?  Presiding clerk – we will be covering that, but this is how we normally manage this – by crossing our fingers to see if we can meet the budget. That is how we have always done this. Friends APPROVED the budget for 2023-2024.
   3. Nominating Committee 2023-2024 Slate for Approval – Carolyn V.   The updated “Structure of Service and Ministry” was distributed to attenders and was displayed on Zoom.  Presiding clerk highlighted some of the changes and additions. The most significant slot still unfilled is that of Presiding Clerk. Nominating is in active discussions with a number of candidates, but it is a challenge matching the individual lives of each candidate with the responsibilities of the clerk position. The committee is aware of the high standards Meeting expects of our clerks and acknowledges the challenge of matching the lives of the candidates with the demands of the position.  We ask a great deal of our presiding clerks and understand that new candidates may take time to grow into the position.  Discussion: Friend added that Religious Education positions remain unfilled, but there is work being done to fill them. Clerk remarked that Meeting has posted for the Religious Education and Family Coordinator and that people have been applying.  Hopefully, it will be filled in the next few months. Judith James reported that the ad hoc committee has completed the job description for the Religious Education and Family Coordinator but is not clear who should receive it, now.  In other matters, it was confirmed that Roger M. will be staying on the Mid-Morning Program Committee.  And John K. has agreed to continue, temporarily, as presiding clerk for the April meeting for business when it is expected a new presiding clerk will be approved. Meeting APPROVED the Structure of Service and Ministry for 2023-2024, knowing that more additions are expected in the near future.
6. Update on Solar Panels for the Meetinghouse – Rick V. –  postponed
7. Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Update – Jim H.   FCNL has put out a request for discernment regarding their taking a position regarding reproductive health. Jim H. and Doug H. are the Meeting’s representatives to FCNL and they are bringing the question before us.  FCNL’s current policy, which was read to us, states that Friends are not in unity on abortion and reproductive rights and, therefore, FCNL takes no position on it. FCNL is asking if they should revise their position. We have been asked to respond with our thoughts by May 1^st, which, unfortunately, does not give much time for discussion. It is felt that the Google group is not the best forum to approach the topic. Presiding clerk asked for ideas to be sent to Doug or Jim, and he will set aside time during April’s meeting for business for them to report back to us. A request was made to consider setting up a group meeting to consider this request from FCNL, such as a Saturday meeting. Presiding clerk agreed that is possible, but, currently, there are two controversial issues that Meeting is already planning to bring before special Saturday sessions.
8. Ministry and Counsel Committee (M&C) Report (including a Meeting Schedule discussion) – John C.    Ministry and Counsel continues to reach out to Meeting, seeking closers and speakers for Sunday worship services. If no one is moved to share a message at semi-programmed worship, the service will remain unprogrammed. Jacque W. coordinates the musicians for semi-programmed service. Today, time will be devoted for the discussion on changing the worship schedule on Sundays – going to something like the summer schedule. The proposal is to meet for worship from 10A-11A every Sunday, alternating weekly between semi-programmed and unprogrammed worship. When there is a 5^th Sunday, it would be managed by M&C. Mid-morning program would follow the worship service and a potluck would be held on the 1^st Sunday of the month, as protocols allow.   In other matters, he wanted to state his deep gratitude to John K. for his years of service as presiding clerk.  For his part, the presiding clerk expressed how appreciative he is for having the chance to grow so much, personally, in the position.  Friends accepted the report.
   1. Discussion on proposed schedule change: A Saturday meeting will be scheduled to further explore the request to change the worship schedule, but we will take 10 minutes, today, to continue consideration of the topic.   Friend stated he understood the basic idea, but wants more specifics before making a decision; and he wanted to know if it could be done as a trial – maybe for a year.  Yes. We can implement the change over a period of time, as a trial.  Another Friend expressed concern that the proposal seems to disadvantage those who prefer just one type of worship service.  He finds the summer schedule to be lacking and attends only when unprogrammed services are scheduled. He is frustrated and feels that we have been dealing with this same issue over and over. Building a stronger community, one of the reasons for promoting the schedule change, can occur outside our coming together for worship, since all activities in Meeting are supposed to happen in the Light of worship.   Friend remarked that this is an opportunity to upgrade and to improve the way we do business and make decisions. They feel our discussions are becoming too positional when we present our many perspectives and this is not good Quaker process.  What are the needs we are expressing? Can we put ourselves in the other’s shoes? Trust in the Spirit to help find the way.  Another Friend added that we need to nourish the spiritual life of Meeting by holding to what is best for the Meeting as a whole. When there is tension between the individual and the needs of the corporate body, we sometimes lose our collective purpose.  Clerk brought the discussion to a close. Over the next month he will schedule at least two sessions to further explore proposed changes to the worship schedule and to modify the mask mandate. And it is possible there will be a third session to consider the request from FCNL on whether they should modify their policy on reproductive rights.
9. Correspondence: 
   1. We received a thank you from Quaker Voluntary Service for our donation to them this year and for the countless hours of service provided to them by our Meeting.
   2. Ranae H., a longtime member of Minneapolis Friends Meeting, has requested a transfer of her membership to University Friends Meeting in Seattle, Washington. She moved to Seattle in 2021 and has become active with University Friends, which is ½ mile from where she lives. She still feels that Minneapolis Friends will always be her home, but she wants to realign her membership with the local Meeting she attends.
10. Closing Worship