Organization of Durham Monthly Meeting

Introduction:

Members and attenders alike participate in the life of the Meeting by contributing their time and talents to the work of standing committees and, when called to do so, by filling positions and by serving on representative boards. While some committee openings or positions require membership in Durham Meeting or long acquaintance with Friends' traditions and values, others offer an excellent way for attenders to meet others in the Meeting and to learn about and gain experience in the distinctive Friends' approach to decisionmaking and to recognizing and meeting needs.

Most positions, committee assignments, and positions on representative boards are appointed by the Nominating Committee and require a commitment ranging from one to several years, starting at the rise of business meeting in 9^th month (exceptions include the Nominating Committee, whose members are appointed by a special ad hoc committee and whose work begins in 3^rd month, and the Child Education Committee, whose work begins in 7^th month). Some committees (including the Building and Grounds, Child Education, Oversight, Peace & Social Concerns and Publications) are open to all interested members and attenders, without a long term commitment.

Each committee has a Convener responsible for preparing meeting agendas, notifying members of meeting times, reporting committee actions to the monthly meeting for business, and preparing an annual report of the committee's activities in 5^th month. Current committee conveners' names are listed in the Directory and are posted in the meetinghouse entryway.

A meeting for worship with attention to business (“business meeting”), held once each month, is the occasion when decisions are made on behalf of the entire Durham Meeting. The clerk (or one of the co-clerks) presides. All members and attenders are encouraged to be present and actively participate. At least one representative from each committee is expected to attend, both to report on committee activities and to bring business meeting concerns back to the committees. Participation by committee members in monthly meeting deliberations helps ensure that the work of each committee does not proceed in isolation. “The spiritual nature, fellowship, and sense of community which membership confers on its members must be maintained by common efforts through the business meeting, and the loving concern expressed through whatever action may be taken.” [NCYM(cons) Faith & Practice, p. 22.]

Resources on Quaker business meeting practice:

Barry Morley,. Beyond Consensus: Salvaging Sense of the Meeting, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #307. Wallingford, Pa: Pendle Hill, 1993, 32 pp.

Michael J. Sheeran. Beyond Majority Rule: Voteless Decision Making in the Religious Society of Friends. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, 1983, 153 pp.