DRAFT Guidelines
Embracing the Ministry of Friends
Committee for the Nurture and Recognition of Ministry
And Ministry and Counsel Committee
Baltimore Yearly Meeting
June 19, 2000
Contents
Introduction
These guidelines are intended to offer guidance to Friends and their Monthly Meetings who ask to
have a Friend's ministry embraced by Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM). An outline of the
sequence of steps to be followed by an individual Friend, a glossary of terms, and a brief list of
references are attached.
The term "embrace" is defined as "to hold close,
encircle, accept," and refers to assistance in the
financial release of Friends through Baltimore Yearly Meeting. The term "embrace" was chosen
for its positive meanings by the Committee for the Nurture and Recognition of Ministry (CNRM)
at the March 1999 Representative Meeting and was reaffirmed in a retreat for members of CNRM
and the BYM Ministry and Counsel Committee, who met on May 20, 2000 to revise these
guidelines. The term was chosen for its positive meaning as a description of a Friend's ministry
as supported and carried out with others, a condition of being adopted as program of BYM. A
new term is also less likely to be misinterpreted, as terms (such as 'affirmed', 'recorded'
'recognized', etc.) that have a history of use by Friends in other contexts might be. Beyond the
immediate condition of being embraced for the purpose of carrying out a specific ministry for a
specific period, the term confers no special or lasting status.
Friends may seek to have their ministry embraced by the Yearly Meeting. Such a request
generally is appropriate when a Friend wishes to seek oversight and support for a ministry
beyond the geographic bounds (or financial scope) of the individual Monthly Meeting, or even
beyond the Yearly Meeting. Similarly, embrace of a Friend (granting wider access to resources
among Friends at the Yearly Meeting) may be appropriate for ministries wider in scope than the
Monthly Meeting.
Being embraced by the Yearly Meeting means that the Yearly Meeting:
- Has prayerfully studied and considered the ministry;
- Unites with the ministry and feels it is led by the Spirit;
- Works with the Oversight Committee in overseeing the embraced ministry;
- Works with the Support Committee working with the Friend to carry out the ministry;
- Issues and reviews annually travel minutes, if needed;
- Accepts and disburses funds designated to support the embraced ministry;
- Reviews the work of the Support and Oversight Committees, and consults with the Yearly
Meeting's Stewardship & Finance Committee to see that the ministry is carried out in
good order; and
- Reviews the applicable guidelines and procedures periodically with embraced Friends and
their Committees to see if modifications are needed.
Friend's ministry embraced by the Yearly Meeting will not be financially supported by the
budgeted funds of the Yearly Meeting. However, the ministry will be considered a program of
Baltimore Yearly Meeting, will be overseen by a Yearly Meeting standing committee, and will be
assigned a budget line item initially based at zero. (See glossary, zero-based budget line item.)
As described below, the Working Support Committee is responsible for working with the Friend
to locate the resources and raise the funds needed to support the ministry.
Friends are mindful that ministry calls for an "economics
of abundance" rather than "an economics
of scarcity." A well-ordered, Spirit-led ministry may multiply resources rather than simply
dividing up existing 'scarce' resources. The financial support envisioned in these guidelines
derives primarily from access to the BYM mailing list and to whatever resources may follow as
Friends are called to support the ministry.
Wherever possible, Friends seeking financial support should begin by asking their monthly
meetings for assistance. Some Monthly Meetings have undertaken to release Friends for
particular ministries, by undertaking to provide financial and
other support for the Friend's
ministry. The meaning of "release" is to be released from external concerns to concentrate on the
specifics of the work of the ministry. Examples of such support may include providing funds so
that a Friend can travel in the ministry or providing a stipend to release a Friend from the need to
earn all or part of his/her support during that time.
Finally, it is important to note that ALL of the questions of discernment of gifts and testing of
leadings are open to Friends and applicable in other contexts. However, the process outlines here
is specifically addressed to ministries seeking embrace (financial support ) from BYM. Moreover,
Monthly Meetings which have released Friends for work in the ministry may have guidelines
applicable for Friends seeking release from their Monthly Meeting. As these guidelines become
available, CNRM will collect them--and make them available to Friends or other Monthly
Meetings seeking assistance.
Nature of Ministry to be Embraced
The term "ministry" is defined as being called or led, and moved by the Spirit of God to serve.
(See glossary.) Whether or not a ministry may be embraced by BYM cannot be resolved by
looking to the nature of the gift of the Spirit directing the ministry. BYM and CNRM do not
distinguish between gifts of speaking, teaching, and discerning God's word and gifts of healing,
peace-making, and other forms of
service.(1) All these callings, if rightly led and ordered, have as
their wellspring God's Gift and Spirit. The true tests are whether the ministry is rightly led and
ordered, and whether BYM can unite with it.
The Religious Society of Friends has been described as a "priesthood of all believers" from which
the laity, not the ministers, have been eliminated. Among Friends, each and every Friend is called
to exercise appropriate ministry in the Inward Light. The Religious Society of Friends has a long
history of discerning and supporting individual Friends ministries, including such examples as John
Woolman and Samuel Bownas.
These guidelines speak to a covenant. Covenant is a relationship with God which is initiated by
God, discerned through individual and corporate discernment, and responded to in faith. Being
called forth to perform God's work and responding to God's call with fidelity, love and truth are
at the heart of Friends' understanding of this covenant relationship. Testing whether an individual
is rightly led requires prayerful consideration, including both individual and corporate
discernment. When discernment affirms the leading, the work of the
covenant begins: "careful
attention to the Divine Guide..., regular worship and fellowship..., a close individual and group
examination of one's performance..., and a relationship with
the meeting elders..." (Wilson, Lloyd
Lee, Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order, p. 104)
An Overview of Discerning and Embracing a Ministry
The process of discerning, seasoning and embracing a ministry may be considered as a sequence
of distinct steps. (See the outline of steps to be followed by the individual Friend, attached.) As
described below, the process includes:
- Individual discernment;
- Corporate discernment;
- Working support;
- Oversight;
- Carrying out the program in accord with Friends' testimonies and practices; and
- Laying down the program.
CNRM helps Friends and Monthly Meetings as appropriate to identify resources for individuals
and Monthly Meetings to nurture gifts of ministry and test leadings for ministry. If needed,
CNRM will also identify members for Clearness Committees, Support Committees, and Oversight
Committees. CNRM may identify Friends from other Monthly Meetings, or in rare instances,
from other BYM Committees who have relevant experience in nurturing gifts and/or discerning
leadings.
Individual Discernment
A Friend's Ministry begins with a leading. Friends are urged to study examples of leadings and
how they were tested, both from the writings of Friends such as John Woolman, Samuel Bownas,
and others. (See references.) It is noteworthy that Woolman's
leadings began with a "motion of
love." A Friend must seek the still, quiet center and see what the Spirit teaches, and then assess
how these actions accord with Scripture and the testimonies of Friends.
If the sense of being led to a ministry persists, a Friend may further test the leading through
corporate discernment.
Corporate Discernment--the Clearness Process
A Friend will seek clarification of the leading or ministry in the clearness process through the
Monthly Meeting. The Monthly Meeting may request assistance from CNRM in identifying
members to serve on a clearness committee.
While clearness and support committees focus on the person's gift and ministry, the oversight
committee focuses on the task. In this context, the Clearness and Working Support Committees
concentrate on whether and how to go forward with the ministry, while the Oversight Committee
works to discern what God wishes this ministry to accomplish and when it is complete.
The overriding questions addressed by the Clearness Committee are whether the individual and
the Friends supporting him or her are right in believing that the action or service required by the
ministry has been laid upon them by God, and whether BYM unites with the ministry.
The Clearness Committee will labor with the Friend. Questions may be directed toward:
- The nature of the Friend's gift;
- The Friend's understanding of what he or she is called to do;
- Resources available to the Friend; and
- Resources needed to carry out the Leading.
Historically, in some cases, this process took years. Haste is not recommended. The Committee
may suggest the individual do further preparatory work, or may consider that the time is not yet
ripe.
The task of the Clearness Committee is to reach clarity, not to give support. However, if the
Committee reaches clarity that the ministry should go forward and requires financial and other
forms of support, that clarity includes their understanding that ongoing support is needed and the
identification of other Friends willing to help carry the ministry forward as a program of BYM.
Corporate discernment thus includes:
- Identifying Friends to serve on the Working Support and Oversight Committees;
- Obtaining a commitment from a standing committee of BYM to oversee the program
carrying out the embrace ministry;
- Finding Friends serving on the Working Support and Oversight committees willing to be
co-opted to BYM's CNRM and Stewardship and Finance Committee.
It may also happen that the individual may be led in this ministry--but in the absence of unity with
BYM, the ministry may need to be laid over. As noted, one test is
whether "Way Opens" and
others come forward to serve on these Committees.
Members of the clearness committee may serve on the Working Support or Oversight
committees, though it is well to consider their potential contributions to these new tasks. In
particular, members of the Working Support Committee need to consider whether they can
embrace supporting this ministry as their own.
Service on Clearness, Working Support, and Oversight committees may be viewed as
opportunities for experiential learning of how to discern, support, and oversee gifts, concerns, and
ministries. Such experience is to be prized.
Working Support Committee
Friends with relevant experience and spiritual depth who wish to help the Friend carry out the
ministry are sought to serve on the Working Support committee. For the duration of their terms,
members of the Working Support Committee together will:
- Ensure that the embraced Friend maintains daily spiritual practices;
- Help the Friend with continuing discernment of his or her leading, skills, and judgement;
- Assist the Friend in exercising those skills;
- Work to develop the resources (including helping with mailings, letter writing) and other
fund raising activities consistent with Friends' testimonies and practices;
- Help the Friend in handling adversity;
- Identify others who are called to carry out the Friend's ministry; and
- Assist the Friend in reporting to the Oversight Committee.
Members of the Working Support committee generally will be sought first among the members
and/or attenders of the Friend's Monthly Meeting, though for some ministries, they may be drawn
from other Monthly Meetings, a BYM Committee doing related work, CNRM, or the BYM
Ministry and Counsel committee.
The Working Support committee will meet monthly (or as needed) and will prepare quarterly
reports on program progress and financial resources to be forwarded to the Oversight Committee
and to CNRM and Stewardship and Finance.
The members of the Working Support committee will have terms set to the same one to three
year duration as those specified by the Oversight Committee for their work.
Oversight
The Oversight Committee will:
- Work with the Friend and oversee the specific ministry;
- Ascertain that the resources engaged in the ministry are well-used and accounted for;
- Consider the ministry in the light of its relationship to Baltimore Yearly Meeting;
- Help discern where changes in the ministry may be required;
- Discern when the ministry has changed it's course sufficiently to require a form other than
continued embrace of the Friend and status as a BYM program; and
- Lay down the embrace and the program.
The Oversight Committee will generally be formed of members and/or attenders of the Friend's
Monthly Meeting, though members may be drawn from other Monthly Meetings, CNRM or even
a BYM Committee doing related work. Members or former members of Monthly Meeting
Finance Committees may serve on such committees and offer financial guidance and oversight.
Such Friends will be chosen for their experience and expertise in such matters as overseeing
program development and accountability and financial accountability (for budgeting, fundraising,
bookkeeping, etc.).
The Oversight Committee works on behalf of BYM to ensure that the ministry is carried out in
good order. The Oversight Committee will meet with the Friend quarterly or as appropriate and
will consider reports provided by the Working Support Committee. At least annually, the
Oversight Committee will report on the status of the ministry to the standing BYM Committee
overseeing the program.
The members of the Oversight Committee are charged with setting specific time limits for the
duration of the committee's work. These terms are designed to run from one to three years,
depending on the nature of the program. The Oversight Committee will lay down the embrace of
the ministry and the BYM program.
In some cases, the Oversight Committee may in consultation with the Friend, the Working
Support committee, and the standing BYM Committee overseeing the program extend the
program for an additional limited period, after ascertaining that the resources are available. Most
notably, these resources include Friends willing to take on service on the Working Support and
Oversight Committees, and the funds needed to carry out the program. A new Clearness
Committee may also be needed, if the program has significantly changed.
Carrying Out the Ministry in Accord with Friends' Testimonies and Practices
If a Monthly Meeting wants help to support a ministry or if the work of the ministry reaches
beyond the membership of the Monthly Meeting, the Friend and/or the Monthly Meeting may
seek embrace of the Friend's ministry within BYM.
Individual committees of the Yearly Meeting have budgets and also may undertake projects within
the scope of their budgets. These guidelines do not preclude individuals from going to BYM
committees in support of funds for projects under the care of those committees. At the same
time, the time and resources of these committees are finite.
These guidelines provide access to the resources of Friends beyond the individual Monthly
Meeting or the individual BYM Committee. BYM Stewardship and Finance Committee (S&F)
will participate with CNRM and the Ministry and Counsel Committee in carrying out these
guidelines. S&F will:
- Review programs and projects for both the financial implications upon the Yearly Meeting
and for the composition of the advisory group and decision making process of the project.
- Review the budget of the project at least once a year and be comfortable with it.
- Review quarterly financial reports and fund balance. These statements should be checked
against the budget.
- Review and approve, for forwarding to Yearly Meeting, all requests to use the Yearly
Meeting mailing list, based on the current Yearly Meeting policy approved in 1985. (It is
the policy of BYM that the Yearly Meeting mailing list is not to be used or released for
use to solicit individual friends for financial support of any groups or organizations inside
or outside the Yearly Meeting. A standing exception to this policy shall apply to three
wider Friends' organizations of which BYM is a member (FWCC, FGC, FUM). Other
exceptions may be authorized by Yearly Meeting in session or the Representatives'
Meeting acting on behalf of the Yearly Meeting. Individuals or groups wishing to solicit
individual contributions are directed to the Monthly Meetings in the Yearly Meeting,
which may release their mailing lists at their discretion.)
- Review the fund raising and grant application plan of the project. It will review all
relevant information including the number of appeals, copy of the appeal materials, the
mailing list to be used, and, after the appeal, the results of the appeal.
- Ascertain that the project, or the Yearly Meeting, has liability insurance appropriate to the
project.
- Determine the amount each project will reimburse BYM for administrative expenses
incurred by BYM on behalf of the project. These expenses might include salary for staff
time, copying, insurance, office supplies, postage, and any other expenses incurred on
behalf of the project.
(From Guidelines for a Project under the Care of
Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Approved by Stewardship and Finance
Committee, June 17, 2000)
As a program of BYM, BYM will provide administrative support to the program. The program
will reimburse BYM for such support.
Currently, a ministry "embraced" through BYM is supported by:
- Giving Friends the ability to make appeals to Friends in the wider BYM, through use of
the BYM mailing list(2) ;
- Using discernment to test whether Friends within Baltimore Yearly Meeting feel called to
support the ministry by directly providing resources, such as time, money, and energy; and
- Providing a support committee, if BYM Friends are so led, committed under these
guidelines to help the Friend either access additional resources as needed--OR
- Discerning in conjunction with an Oversight Committee appointed to work with the Friend
that the ministry may need to be restructured or laid down.
Such mailings may not generate enough revenue to support a ministry as planned. This issue
needs to be carefully and prayerfully considered in the clearness process--and in the choice of
members of the Support and Oversight committees. The Support Committee is expected to
undertake fundraising tasks, and to work with the Friend in
pursuing other options if "Way does
not Open" for the ministry.
Whenever travel is required outside the Yearly Meeting, CNRM with the approval of BYM or a
Representative Meeting may grant the Friend a travel minute to be endorsed and returned by the
Meetings and organizations visited. There are well-established procedures for such instances.
(See Manual of Procedure of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, p. 3 and p. 31.)
To the extent possible, a member of the Working Support or Oversight Committees will be asked
to travel with the Friend. If this is not possible, a seasoned Friend may be designated, and asked
to both support and guide the Friend in such travels, and to report back to these Committees.
Conclusion
Embrace of Friends requires discernment of God's will. All of these guidelines are subject
to Friends' discernment. These guidelines themselves may be adopted, practiced, and
amended, as the Spirit and experience require.
Appendix
Outline of Steps to be Followed by the Individual Friend
Pray for greater clarity regarding the leading or concern
Read and prayerfully consider the resources available to you
Share your leading or concern with those around you (including members of your Monthly
Meeting)
Learn about seeking discernment through the clearness process--both by reading and consulting
Friends as above
Ask for assistance from BYM CNRM and/or Ministry and Counsel, as needed
Seek to identify (with assistance from the Monthly Meeting or CRMN or Ministry and Counsel)
experienced persons who can serve on clearness committees
Meet with the clearness committee and address the questions regarding the nature of the leading
or concern, the resources required, and the resources available
Depending on the outcome of the clearness process,
Go back, and seek greater clarity
Work with the Monthly Meeting, members of the Clearness Committee, and
CRNM as appropriate to identify members of the Working Support and
Oversight committees either within the Monthly Meeting--or within BYM
With the help of the Working Support Committee, develop as detailed a plan as possible to carry
out the concern--identifying what it is that will be done, how it will be done, who
will do what, what resources are required, and the time frame (and interim steps
within that timeframe and their expected dates of achievement).
With the help of the Working Support committee, assess realistically the resources needed to
carry out the concern, the resources available, and plan how to identify and access
additional resources as needed.
If clarity is not found, or Way does not open, lay over the concern and prayerfully consider
whether, when, and how to proceed.
If additional resources are necessary, apply with your Working Support and Oversight
committees to the CRNM (who will consult with Ministry and Counsel and
Stewardship and Finance committees) to be recognized as a program of BYM and
to be embraced by BYM.
ONLY IF APPROVED--at this point "give up or cut back
on your day job."
If necessary, apply to CRMN for a travel minute (well in advance of your intended travel)
Delegate members of your Oversight Committees to serve as co-opted members of CRNM and
S&F.
With the assistance of your Working Support Committee, gather other Friends and participants as
appropriate to join you in your service. Be particularly mindful of those you are
led to serve.
With the support of your Working Support and Oversight committees, carry out your ministry.
Meet frequently with your entire Working Support committee, as needed with your Oversight
Committee, and at least annually prepare a report for review by CRNM and S&F.
Continue your spiritual practices and prayerful discernment throughout your ministry.
As God directs, plan for the laying down and/or transformation of embrace into a new phase of
development.
Share the fruits of your experience and your ministry with other Friends (including suggestions, if
any, for changes in these guidelines, service to other Friends seeking embrace, or
whatever other avenues may appear as Way Opens.)
Glossary: Definitions and Illustrations
| Clarity/Clear |
|
In accord with God's will
|
| Clearness |
|
(as in clearness process, clearness committee)
Seeking to discern the will of God in a given situation
through a process of discernment
|
| Covenant |
|
The acknowledgement, claim, and carrying out of the gifts of the Spirit by a gathered
community, including ongoing discernment of what God would have them do.
"The faith community's act of acknowledging a spiritual gift,
and then decisively claiming the spiritual gift as theirs to
steward and exercise are only the first steps in a much longer
process of right stewardship. They are the beginning of a
COVENANT: a relationship initiated by God, to which the people
respond in faith. This covenant relationship will continue as long
as the individual being acknowledged shows evidence of the gift
being acknowledged and the faith community desires to receive the
ministry the gift makes possible. . .. The real work of that
covenant [includes] . . . careful attention to the Divine Guide
and its messages for oneself and the faith community, regular
worship and fellowship with others who have accepted responsibility
for the stewardship of similar gifts, a close individual and group
examination of one's performance, and the establishment of a
relationship with the meeting elders. . . ." Lloyd Lee Wilson,
Essays on Quaker Vision of Gospel Order, p. 104.
"Know the NEW covenant made manifest in your hearts, the Law of
God there written and the anointing within you to teach you. . . "
George Fox, The Power of the Lord is Over All, The
Pastoral Letters, (edited by T.
Canby Jones), p. 185:
"Friends, you that are believers in the Light, which is the Life
in Christ, and are grafted into him . . . all children in the NEW
COVENANT do gather together in the Name of Christ Jesus. . .All these children in the
Kingdom...who have their Bread from heaven. . ....in the New Covenant do keep their
feast with unleavened Bread . . . the Children of God in the New Covenant . . . washed,
cleansed and sanctified and . . . [having] the Righteousness of Christ . . God writes his
Law in the hearts and minds of his people.
So in the New Testament they have the Law written in the heart and mind . . . In the
New they have the testament and testimony, the Spirit of Christ in their hearts. . . So,
the New covenant and Testament is not according to the Old. . . ." (Same, pp. 374-6)
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,"
declares the Lord, "I will put my Law within them, and on their heart I will write it, and
I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach again, each
man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying 'Know the Lord' for they shall all
know me from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord,
"for I will
forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more." Jeremiah 31: 31-34.
"I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and
watch over you, and I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the
nations, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those who
dwell in darkness from the prison. Isaiah 42:6
"This is the covenant with them which I myself have made, says the Lord: My Spirit
which is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from
your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your
offspring's offspring," says the Lord, "from
now and forever." Isaiah 59:21.
"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves,
but our adequacy is from God, who also made us servants of a new covenant, not of the
letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
II Corinthians 3: 4-6, NASV.
|
| Discernment |
|
Discerning or discriminating between the true and the base, between God's will and
human agency
|
| Embrace |
|
To hold close, encircle, accept.
"Embrace" is the term chosen by CNRM at the March 1999 representative meeting to
refer to the financial release of Friends through the assistance of Baltimore Yearly
Meeting. The term was deliberately chosen for its positive meanings (above) and
because it has no history of use by Friends in other contexts (as do terms such as
'affirmed', 'recorded' 'recognized', etc.).
As noted in these guidelines, the term confers no lasting status, and does not add
anything to or subtract anything from other offices or conditions (e.g., having a travel
minute) to which Friends may be subject.
|
| Gathered |
|
Unified, under a new Life and Power
"gathered into the life and raised to a good measure",
"inwardly gathered to the word
and gift of grace, from which he [or she] who ministers may receive strength to bring
forth what he [or she] ministers." (Barclay's Apology, p.253, p.258).
"In the gathered meeting the sense is present that a new Life and Power has entered our
midst.. We are in communication with one another because we are being communicated
to, and through, the Divine Presence... When one rises to speak in such a meeting one
has a sense of being used, or being played upon, of being spoken
through." (Thomas
Kelly, The Eternal Promise, pp. 75-77.)
|
| Gospel Order |
|
God's orderly [right, good] relationships of all part of creation to one another and to the
Creator.
"You may see how the Apostle, after he had convinced people, brought them into the
Order of the Gospel... So, as I was moved of the Lord God, to go up and down the
nation, to preach the Gospel, then after the Lord moved me to go up and down to exhort
and unite, that all people might come into the possession of the Gospel, and the order of
it, which is the Power of God... by which all things are upheld and ordered to the Glory
of God... It is said in Psalm 37:23, 'The steps of a good man are ordered by
the Lord, that is, by his Power and Spirit'". George Fox, quoted
in Lloyd Lee Wilson, Essays, p. 5.
"Establish my footsteps in Thy word, And do not let any
iniquity have dominion over me." Psalm 119: 133.
|
| Hireling |
|
Traditional concerns about "hireling ministry" referred to ministers following a
profession, rather than being called to minister. As noted, here Friends' support is not
intended to provide a livelihood for individuals, but to provide the wherewithal to enable
them to carry out specific ministries of limited duration.
"God has shown us the corruptness and unchristian character of this ministry and called
us from it. He has gathered us into his own power and life to be a people apart. We
dare not join with or hear these anti-Christian hirelings... Oh, what malice, envy, and
fury this has raised in their hearts against us. Although we get none of their wares, in
fact, refuse to buy them, knowing they are worthless, they force us to give them money.
Because we cannot do it for the sake of conscience, our sufferings have been
unutterable." Barclay's Apology, p. 229.
|
| Leading |
|
Prompting from God to act, which requires discernment to identify and discriminate
from one's own desires, miscellaneous mischief, etc.
"Christ has promised that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, shall abide
with his children forever; shall dwell with them, shall be with them; shall lead them
into all truth, shall teach them all things, and bring them all
remembrance." Barclay's
Apology, p. 36
"You will cease being forward and acting and speaking from your own natural will and
understanding, and will wait to feel this inward seed of life. As it moves, you will move
with it, and be actuated by its power..." Barclay's Apology,
p. 240.
|
| Ministers |
|
"Those who act, move, and labor in the work of ministry as they are moved, supported,
assisted, and influenced by the Spirit of God. Their ministry does not spring from their
own strength and ability but according to the gift that they have received."
Barclay's Apology, p. 233.
"They give preference to others and to serving one another in
love. They have received
freely and give freely." Barclay's Apology, p. 235.
|
| Ministry |
|
Being called and moved by the Spirit of God to minister to others; being qualified to
dispense God's covenant. "Such qualification as we have
comes from God... who has
qualified us to dispense his new covenant--a covenant expressed not in a written
document, but in a spiritual bond." Barclay's Apology, p. 176, citing 2 Corinthians 3:6.
"We are for a holy, spiritual, pure, and living ministry actuated and influenced by the
Spirit of God in every step." Barclay's Apology, p. 238.
"Types of ministry" refers to different types of gifts, including speaking but also giving
service (feeding, healing, sheltering, etc.)
|
| Oversight |
|
Overseeing the work of others
"We affirm that their work is to instruct, exhort, admonish, oversee, and watch over
their brethren more frequently and more particularly
than the others... 'Obey your leaders and defer to them; for they are tireless in their
concern as [those] who must render an account. Let it be a happy task for them, and not
pain and grief, for that would bring you no advantage'."
Barclay's Apology, p. 215
|
| Release |
|
Release from the need to earn a living, or from obligations of service to the monthly or
yearly meeting, to enable a Friend to carry out a ministry
"It is by the light or gift of God that all true knowledge of things spiritual is received
and revealed. It is also by the strength and power of these, as they are made manifest
and received in the heart, that every true minister of the gospel is ordained, prepared,
and equipped for the work of the ministry... Those who have received this holy and
unspotted gift have received it without cost and should give it without charge (Matthew
10:8). They should certainly not use it as a trade to earn money. But if God has called
any of them from their regular employment, or the trade by which they earn their living,
they should receive such worldly necessities as food and clothing. It is lawful for them
to accept these as far as they feel allowed by the Lord, and as far as they are freely and
cordially given by those with whom they have shared spiritual
matters... As in a
physical body there are many members, all contributing to the preservation and
composition of the whole, there are also many members in this spiritual and mystical
body possessing different gifts of grace and of the spirit." Robert Barclay,
Barclay's Apology in Modern English, edited by Dean
Freiday, The Barclay Press, 1991, p. 171.
|
| Support |
|
To assist or help a Friend carrying a concern
"Friends sometimes undertake, or are asked to undertake, tasks which they find
challenging... Under these circumstances, they
may value the support of a small group
of Friends. This could be offered by the body requesting the service or it may be
requested by the Friend concerned... The group may need to remind itself that its job is
not so much to judge the task as to support the Friend carrying it out."
Quaker Faith and Practice, Britain Yearly Meeting,
12.27.
|
| Travel Minute |
|
A letter from BYM introducing a Friend travelling in the Ministry under a concern.
The letter is endorsed [commented upon by the Friends visiting] and copies are made
available to the Working Support, Oversight, and CNRM.
Travel minutes are renewed annually.
See Faith and Practice Baltimore Yearly Meeting
And the Manual of Procedure of Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
|
Zero-based
Budget Item |
|
A line item reserved as a placeholder in a budget,
allowing for tracking of funds to be
raised but not actually allocated any budgeted funds to the
line item.
|
References
Bacon, Margaret Hope (ed.) 1994. Wilt Thou Go On My Errand: Three 18th Century Journals of Quaker Women
Ministers. Wallingford, PA: Pendle Hill Press.
Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice
Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Manual of Procedure
Bownas, Samuel. A Description of the Qualifications Necessary to A Gospel Minister,
1989 edition with Introduction by William Taber.
George Fox. (1989). The Power of the Lord is Over All: The Pastoral Letters., ed. T. Canby Jones. Richmond,
IN: Friends United Meeting.
Fox, George. 1952. The Journal of George Fox, ed. by John L. Nickalls. Cambridge: At the University Press.
Freiday, Dean (ed.) 1991 Barclay's Apology in Modern English. Newberg, Oregon: The Barclay Press.
Gwyn, Douglas. 1986. Apocalypse of the Word: The Life and Message of George Fox.
Richmond, Indiana: Friends United Press.
Grundy, Martha Paxton. 1999. Tall Poppies: Supporting Gifts of Ministry and Eldering in the Monthly Meeting.
Pendle Hill Pamphlet 347. Wallingford, PA: Pendle Hill Press.
Hoffman, Jan. 1996. "Clearness Committees and their Use
in Personal Discernment."
Kelly, Thomas. 1966. The Eternal Promise. New York: Harper and Row.
Loring, Patricia. 1997. Listening Spirituality. Vol. I: Personal Spiritual Practices Among Friends. Openings
Press.
Loring, Patricia. 1999. Listening Spirituality. Vol. II: Corporate Spiritual Practice Among Friends. Openings
Press.
Loring, Patricia. 1992. Spiritual Discernment: The Context and Goal of Clearness Committees. Pendle Hill
Pamphlet #305. Wallingford, PA: Pendle Hill Press.
Olmstead, Sterling. 1993. Motions of Love: Woolman as Mystic and Activist. Pendle Hill Pamphlet # 312.
Wallingford, PA: Pendle Hill Press.
Stout, Sharon. 2000. "The Relationship of Individual Ministry and Community as
Covenant." Interchange, March, 2000. Sandy Spring: Baltimore Yearly Meeting.
Walvin, James. 1997. The Quakers: Money and Morals. London: John Murray.
Wilson, Lloyd Lee. 1993. Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order. Burnsville, North Carolina: Celo
Valley Books.
Woolman, John. 1961. The Journal of John Woolman and a Plea for the Poor. Secaucus, New Jersey: The
Citadel Press.
Footnotes
1 Traditional concerns
about "hireling ministry"
(see glossary) are not in opposition to this usage, as
Friends' support is not intended to provide a livelihood for
individuals, but to provide the wherewithal to
enable them to carry out specific ministries of limited duration.
In the agrarian past, such support often
took the form of tending Friends' farms while they were traveling in
the ministry. This process seeks to
update that practice to the present. In this context, it is
noteworthy that Britain Yearly Meeting Quaker Faith and
Practice encourages Friends to apply to the Monthly Meeting
funds for Sufferings for support in service (13.16).
(Return to text)
2 S&F has drafted guidelines
regarding the use of the mailing list for programs to carry out the
ministry of embraced Friends. Such a program would have access to
the mailing list each year at specified times. The timing of
appeals for funds would be coordinated by S&F so that
individual Friends would not be inundated with appeals from BYM.
However, such programs would be free to create mailing lists
identifying supporters who had donated money or other resources
in the past, and could continue to send these supporters multiple
mailings within the year. S&F would not coordinate these
mailings. (Return to text)
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