Since 1672, Baltimore Yearly Meeting Friends have
come together every year to worship, to seek clarity, to
support each other, and to act positively on the world
around us. These opportunities are available to you at
every turn at our Annual Session, from morning
til night.
Although Friends’ silent way of worship can seem
rather solitary, we have always desired to take on the
joys and responsibilities of being together for our own
growth and enjoyment, but also to strengthen our
witness. For adults, our day begins with a refreshing
worship sharing or Bible study time in small groups after
breakfast. Next comes Meeting for Worship with
Concern for Business, where we gather to tend to the
administration of Friends’ affairs, while renewing and
deepening our individual and corporate spiritual lives.
Afternoon activities include a range of workshops and
interest groups that offer many choices for learning and
sharing Quaker approaches to important issues. You
might also visit the Quaker book and crafts store, or
attend a Quaker organizational presentation. Engaging
evening speakers and recreational activities full of music
and fun fill out an active schedule.
Childcare is available for infants and toddlers. For
our young children there are morning classes full of
exploration. Afternoon activities, from swimming to arts
and crafts, ensure that children will be supervised and
entertained. Other programs range from an all-age
celebration to movies to outdoor games. Parents are
responsible for taking children to class, picking them up
before lunch, and ensuring that their children are enrolled
in a program or are with the parent. Children may not
be on campus unsupervised.
Children in rising sixth through rising eighth grades
are part of the Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) and have
classes and activities of their own.
High school-aged teenagers (Young Friends) gather
from Tuesday to Sunday in their own dorm. Young
Friends (YF), Friendly Adult Presences, and the BYM
Youth Secretary cooperate in a community based on
caring, trust, and love. Young Friends hold their own
Meetings for Business and workshops, and invite
everyone to their nighttime Produce Department
sessions and to the Saturday evening Coffee House.
Young Friends should sign and submit the “Letter of
Understanding” in the registration portion of this
Interchange, if they will be on campus anytime during
the week.
Are you thinking of trying us out for the first time?
Each Monthly Meeting can offer three certificates for
attendance at Annual Session for two free nights. If
you have never attended Annual Session and would like
to take advantage of this, please contact your Monthly
Meeting Clerk or Ministry and Counsel Committee. Do
not contact the BYM office, please.
After our week together, Friends will find they have
a deeper relationship with Quaker values, a stronger
skill set of Friends’ practices, and new ways of being a
meaningful part of their Monthly Meeting community.
Welcome to BYM Annual Session!
Yearly Meeting Gathering Expectations
All Annual Session Attenders should read the
Gathering Expectations carefully. Please indicate
that you have read these expectations by signing
the bottom of the front of the Registration Form.
Please note that Young Friends need to read the
Gathering Expectations as well and sign the
Letter of Understanding.
At Baltimore Yearly Meeting, we are a community
of Friends living in the discipline of the
Spirit. Attenders of all ages are asked to observe
a level of conduct appropriate to Friends’ principles;
to take care that all of their personal behavior
is bound by a respect for the sensitivities
of all, including those of the host community; and
to remember that our individual actions reflect on
the Religious Society of Friends.
As a Religious Society, we profess a belief that
God endows each human being with a measure
of the Divine Spirit. [BYM Faith and Practice,
1988, page ii.] We cannot permit violent physical,
verbal or other behavior that we find, through corporate
discernment, violates that Divine Spirit.
Those in our midst whose behavior disrupts program
activities and/or threatens the physical and
emotional safety and integrity of another will be
asked to leave. (The full policy statement regarding
registered sex offenders is available from the
Yearly Meeting office.)
Parents and sponsors are expected to be actively
responsible for their children at all times.
Attenders are asked to help make a safe and supportive
community for all children. If unable to
function within the guidelines of the community,
any attender may be asked to leave. Alcohol and
illegal drugs are not permitted at Annual Session.
Recognizing the addictive nature of tobacco, we
strongly discourage its use.
"Into our lives come times when, all unexpectedly, He shadows over us, steals into the inner recesses of our souls, and lifts us up in a wonderful joy and peace." Reality Of The Spiritual World, Thomas R. Kelly
An Introduction to Quakers
Friends at Watford Quaker Meeting (Britain)
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