December Business Meeting highlights

1. The meeting opened with a period of silent worship. Sixteen Friends were present. The clerk read the Queries for the twelfth month and Friends reflected on our relationship to work and possessions.
2. Treasurer’s report: income for the eleventh month was $1525 and expenses were $1979.
3. Nominating committee report: Names brought last month were approved by the Meeting. Our current assistant clerk (David G.) was approved as interim clerk while Nominating committee continues to work on finding a new clerk. In addition, 2 new nominations to Budget committee, Joel R. and Marie V, were brought and will be held over for final approval next month. Meeting expressed its thanks to Erica for her years of service as clerk.
4. Ministry and Oversight: M&O recommended accepting a member's request for transfer of membership from Creek Monthly Meeting to Oxford Monthly Meeting. This was approved by the Meeting. M&O discussed the issue of having a student member on the committee. Although the committee hears the concern to find ways to get students more involved and provide pastoral care to students, they are not clear that this is the best way to accomplish this. M&O will continue to consider other ways to achieve these goals. M&O also discussed the Christmas morning worship time. Use of the fireplace will depend on the chimney being cleaned by a chimney sweep before then. If this does not happen in time, we will still meet in the Wymondham room but will use candles rather than a fire.
5. Jennie I. reported for Adult religious education: She will schedule an after Meeting worship sharing session in January.
6. Gwen H. reported for Children’s religious education: The new child care person starting in January will be Stephanie S. We collected $112 last week at the simple meal which will be divided between the Food pantry and Unicef.
7. Jane S. reported for Peace and Social Concerns: She brought an update on the “US Campaign to end the Israeli Occupation” and relationships of FCNL and AFSC to this group. An after Meeting discussion will be scheduled in February to discuss the Meeting’s involvement in this and other political and social activities.
8. Jennie I. brought a concern that we consider the question brought from Quarterly Meeting about membership of pastoral Meetings in OVYM. She also suggested that Friends consider becoming more involved with Quarterly Meeting to make sure that our views are properly represented.
9. Jana S. reported from AFSC: They are looking for people to sign on to a “Roadmap to Peace” proposal to be presented to the new Obama administration.
10. Clerk read a letter from Indiana FCL concerning their annual meeting at First Friends Church in Indianapolis on January 10th at 10 am.
11. The minutes were read and approved.
12. Meeting closed with a brief period of waiting worship.