Description of Minneapolis Friends Meeting (MFM) Committees and Leadership Positions
The health of the meeting depends on members and attenders’ service on meeting committees. Terms of service on committees are generally three years, starting in April. The MFM Nominating Committee brings all committee and position nominations to monthly meeting for approval. The Peace and Social Concerns Committee has approved members and an approved clerk, but is open to all others interested in serving.
To volunteer for a committee or to find more information about committees (duties, meeting times, etc.), you can talk to any member of the committee or any member of the Nominating Committee.
Children and Families Committee
Oversees and supports the Children and Families Coordinator and MFM first day religious education program for children and youth. Assists with overall planning, including teacher selection, training and recognition; consideration of structure and program; and occasional social and service activities.
Fall Together Committee
Plans and develops structure to run the annual MFM Fall Together, usually held in October. Currently work is concentrated in the summer and early fall.
Liaison and Review Committee
Serves as liaison between MFM and staff, conducts annual performance review of staff, reports annually to monthly meeting, and makes salary recommendations to Stewardship and Finance Committee.
Mid-Morning Program Committee
Plans programs for 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. Sundays, taking into consideration the needs of the meeting for Quaker-related education and community well-being and growth. Meets approximately quarterly.
Ministry and Counsel Committee
Oversees and cares for the worship, spiritual and community life and care of the membership of the meeting. Supports and guides ministry and pastoral care. Attends to requests for membership. Membership in MFM is requisite.
Death and Memorial (a subcommittee of Ministry and Counsel Committee)
Assists at the time of a death in the meeting by offering care and help, and by co-planning, with those closest, the service and reception. Encourages meeting members to think and plan ahead, making decisions in advance as they are ready. Offers educational programs related to death, bereavement and ministry.
Care and Counsel Committee
Provides oversight of the pastoral care needs of individuals and families in the meeting community. Facilitates pastoral care for those facing challenging life situations, within the limits of its resources, recognizing some situations may require intervention by professionals and extended family members. Membership in MFM is requisite.
Nominating Committee
Prepares a slate of nominations for leadership roles and committee membership to be presented to monthly meeting in February and March. Exercises discernment in considering the meeting’s needs and leadings and the gifts, knowledge, experience and leadings of individuals. Can recommend adjustments to committee structures. Heaviest work is December through March. (This committee is named by the Presiding Clerk in consultation with others.)
Nursery Committee
Oversees need for and/or operation of the nursery. Supervises nursery staff, which includes conducting an annual performance review and making salary recommendations to the Stewardship and Finance Committee. Recruits and oversees volunteer staff according to child protection guidelines, when the nursery population calls for such staffing. Attends to the physical environment of the nursery and other nursery matters.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee
Reviews opportunities for Quaker service and peace witness and recommends priority focuses for the coming year to monthly meeting. Sees that two programs or actions related to each of the priorities happen each year. Reviews and makes recommendations for contributions section of meeting budget and for winter envelope gift and voluntary carbon tax recipients.
Property Committee
Oversees and cares for the physical meetinghouse and grounds. Oversees paid and volunteer work, including annual review of and salary recommendation for custodian. Makes recommendations to Stewardship and Finance Committee and recommendations to trustees for contracted work.
Shepherd Scholarship Committee (Committee members not appointed by monthly meeting)
Administers scholarship fund with grants to members and children of members, of five years standing, for post-secondary education. The scholarship fund, a gift of Roland and Zephyra Shepherd, is a trust (separate legal entity) established by the meeting. The Nominating Committee does not nominate people for membership on this committee.
Social Committee
Plans and runs the monthly first Sunday potluck lunches. Committee members may assist with other meeting social events, as available.
Stewardship and Finance Committee
Oversees financial health and record-keeping of the meeting. Gathers facts and information, and requests to prepare annual budget. Prepares annual budget for presentation at the February and March business meetings. Monitors contributions and spending, manages receiving and disbursing funds, and makes financial recommendations as needed to business meeting. Offers education on stewardship.
Technology Committee
Oversees implementation and operation of the technology needed to offer hybrid meetings for worship, including: coordinating Zoom hosts for Sunday morning programming; developing and implementing support for those participating in Sunday morning programming via Zoom; oversight of the on-site AV technician; developing and implementing support for on-site AV technicians; 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.
Welcoming and Outreach Committee
Attends to developing and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere at Sunday meetings. Responds to visitors and new attenders with acknowledgment and invitations to activities, some planned especially for them. Considers outreach efforts and may lead some.
Other Positions
Auditor
Performs occasional audits of MFM’s financial books, and makes recommendations for improving financial processes and record keeping.
Child Welfare Coordinators
Suggest child protection policy to MFM and, together with Religious Education Committee, administer policy. Conduct interviews throughout the year of people who wish to work with children, monitor policy through occasional observations, educate MFM regarding issues concerning child abuse and protection. Meet on an “as needed” basis.
Librarians
Maintain MFM library collection, select and catalog new materials, reshelve returned materials, promote the library with displays and other methods.
Loaves and Fishes Coordinators
MFM and other local meetings buy, prepare, serve and clean-up a free dinner on fifth Mondays. Coordinators serve as liaison with the L&F program and other meetings, educate the Meeting and recruit meeting volunteers, manage the program and report for the program to monthly meeting.
Meeting Gardeners
Care for the garden plantings on the Meetinghouse grounds.
Northern Yearly Meeting Representative
Liaison with Northern Yearly Meeting executive committee; responsible for communication between NYM and MFM.
Quaker Voluntary Service
Local Support Committee shares in the work of hospitality, care of the QVS house, event planning, and fulfills the role of Spiritual Nurturer Anchor, helping recruit and orient Spiritual Nurturers.
Spiritual Nurturers Each Fellow is assigned a Spiritual Nurturer to support their discernment and reflection throughout the QVS Year.
Tech Support Crew
Zoom hosts and in-house AV tech people. Coordinated by the Technology Committee, this crew helps keep worship and other gatherings accessible.
Web Servant
Manages updates and maintenance of MFM’s web site.
Presiding Clerk
(Leadership position)
Facilitates monthly (and any special called) Meetings for Business, sets agenda; presides, including articulating discernment of the sense of the meeting. Receives and responds to correspondence directed to Minneapolis Monthly Meeting. Has an eye to the big picture and general welfare of the meeting. Serves ex-officio on Ministry and Counsel, Liaison and Review and Shepherd Scholarship Committees. Membership in MFM is requisite.
Assistant Presiding Clerk
(Leadership position)
When one is appointed, presides at meetings for business when the Clerk is unavailable, and could serve generally a period of time if the Clerk was unable. Membership in MFM is requisite.
Recording Clerk
(Leadership position)
Takes minutes at meetings for business.
Assistant Recording Clerk
(Leadership position)
When one is appointed, takes minutes at meetings for business when the Recording Clerk is unavailable.
Trustees
(Leadership position)
Recognized by law as having legal authority to act on behalf of the Meeting. Assess long-term financial needs of the meeting, mostly to do with the building. Manages the Trustee Fund which includes set-aside funds for long-term needs and member travel. Manages bequests; reviews issues with legal consequences for the meeting; and serves as official liaison with Mayim Rabim Congregation. Membership in MFM is requisite.