Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Coming to Meeting for Business

Friends often ponder the difference between gossip and caring concern. Perhaps the difference is one of intent and tone. As a Friend pointed out last week, we cannot really come prepared to Meeting for Business unless we know what is going on in our Meeting community.

Another observation (which clerks could call to the attention of members and attenders) is that simply showing up at Meeting for Business makes people be taken more seriously and thus changes their social and spiritual lives as members of the community.

(By the way, this post and other exchanges about clerking a monthly meeting are available at www.quakerlists.org/quaker-mm.)


415-452-1526

1 comment:

Liz Opp said...

From time to time, I have the opportunity to close Meeting for Worship and make a few general announcements.

I have begun reminding Friends when the next MfWfB is, stating that if one is considering membership, or if one already is a member, these business sessions are part of our responsibility to see to the health of the meeting, corporately.

It seems as if a few additional Friends have begun making the effort to attend, though I think there are other factors that are making MfWfB of interest (e.g. major repairs to the meetinghouse).

Blessings,
Liz Opp(enheimer), The Good Raised Up