July Business Meeting Highlights

The meeting opened with a period of silent worship. Seventeen Friends were present. The clerk read the Queries for the seventh month and Friends reflected on our responsibility as members to nurture the life of the Meeting.

The treasurer reported that contributions were slightly above expenses, and that the OVYM assessment contributions are now complete for this year.

The Ministry and Oversight committee reported that they have developed a set of guidelines for what should be put out on the Wymondham room table. After some discussion, the guidelines were approved as written. They also presented a recommendation that the Meeting make an intentional commitment to extend our outreach to new members. The discussion of this included the following thoughts; the need to outreach to students, that we not focus just on numbers but rather on strengthening the spiritual life of the Meeting, that we don’t lose or ignore the strengths we already have, that small groups are a good way to make new people feel at home, that students also bring many gifts to the Meeting, and the question whether this would be a good topic for a fall retreat? This will be held over for further consideration next month.

The Children’s religious education committee reported that they have ordered a bunch of materials but has not settled on a curriculum for next year. Input is welcome. Volunteers will also be needed to work with the children this year. One Friend will be going to the FCG Religious Educators institute at Bradford Woods in August.

Two Friends who attended the FGC gathering reported on it. Susan Stark did a mini-concert. They enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and learning about a wide range of issues through presentations (including water rights and the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s talk to FGC) as well as dancing and other social activities.

Our meeting’s representative to the FCNL reported that this is a year of major changes in government. Please keep in mind important issues when you vote.

The minutes were read and approved.
Meeting closed with a brief period of waiting worship.