Annapolis Friends Meeting
2008 Spiritual State of the Meeting Report
Our Spiritual State of the Meeting, 2008, concerns the formation of a divinely led, compassionate, effective community. How we process our leadings as individuals and how we come together as members of this Religious Society of Friends, was considered throughout this past year and continues to be the focus of our work as a Meeting, this coming year. There's a difference between respecting personhood and recognizing individuality. Socially, we are encouraged to be independent, empowered individuals. As a religious community, we are reminded to be tender shepherds of divine leadings. To be in harmony with the community, we need soft, not rugged individualism. These concerns are not new to the Religious Society of Friends; George Fox wrote in his Journal: "each individual is precious, unique and loved by God." Personhood is not separate from, but grows within, the community.
The work of our community is accomplished by individuals, through committees; the problem remains that so few are on committees and that many stay with the same committee work for years. Participation and accomplishments are impressive, however. Our Peace and Justice Center, formed in 2007, facilitated a water rights conference for Israeli and Palestinian negotiators through the Geneva Initiative. Our center began an ‘Alternatives to Violence’ program, working in a local prison, and is enabling the Boys and Girls Club to maintain a computer lab for the residents of a Section 8 housing community. Also, through the Boys and Girls Club, we have brought the ‘Help Increase the Peace Program’ to Annapolis. The homeless shelter is regularly supported by our small Meeting. In this, and many other ways, we are attempting to live the Testimonies, bringing new members and attenders into our spiritual community. As our Meeting grows, the concern about becoming too large was expressed; we seek ways both to know what others in Meeting are accomplishing and to remain a close-knit community.
As a Meeting, our energy flows through us; in embracing all people, from diverse backgrounds, with varied interests, we grow and expand. Challenges remain in effectively resolving conflict; Friends are reminded that clearness committees are offered for anyone facing difficulties, conflicts or concerns. This process of clearness is individualized to address the needs of the one with the awareness of the many in Meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Children’s Religious Education Committee (CREC) focuses on the spiritual needs and growth of our children from nursery age to young adulthood. We have had the largest group of young Friends and this expansion has been a joy to our Meeting. The Religious Education focus has been on the Bible and Quaker history. The many activities offered have advanced and expanded our community. From Child Welcoming, Holiday events, Intergenerational events, fundraisers, story sharing, and camping activities, to reaching out to our sister school in Philadelphia, CREC has magnified our vision of Quakers in the World. The gift of our youth cannot be overstated. We see and feel inner lights growing.
The Library Committee is seeking new members and considering ways to reorganize our collection and to make it more accessible and useful to Friends. Consideration is ongoing for digitalizing and expanding our written material.
The Ministry and Worship Committee attempted to provide leadership to Annapolis Friends Meeting on issues related to spiritual activities and actions in the Meeting. Specifically, our committee was involved in the oversight for clearness committees of new members and released Friends, re-writing the Manual of Procedures and Faith and Practice, providing reading material, facilitating discussions and worship sharings, and assisting the Clerk of the meeting to improve the spirituality of Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business. In joining with the Historical sub-Committee, we are documenting our Quaker History and supporting the Quaker Burial Ground in Galesville, MD. With direct attention to inreach and outreach, we are in the process of creating a Quaker Quest and have conducted several meetings-for-learning to prepare for this series, now scheduled for this spring.
The Outreach Committee has been greeting and conversing with our new attenders. Brochures are available, contact information is sought, meals are shared and newcomers are introduced to members, all in attempt to build connections with those interested in doing so. Worship Sharings are scheduled so that we may hear the divine through those new and seasoned voices among us. Distribution of our Quaker Friends tee shirts, involvement with the Greater Annapolis Interfaith Network and improvements to our website all increase our exposure, drawing more new attenders to our small Meeting. Our committee is deeply involved with Quaker Quest and is also overseeing the budget for this series of events. We are excited by the ever increasing numbers of new attenders, including the many new children, who seem to be searching for a spiritual home and have found our Meeting.
The Stewardship and Finance Committee shares the guidance of Meeting’s finances with the Trustees and Treasurer through the invitation of Divine leadings. The budgetary needs of the Meeting have been responsibly met and huge leadings have been accomplished due largely to the abundance we have enjoyed, but also because of the careful, transparent oversight administered. The Water-Rights Conference was fully funded, the Peace & Justice Center was formulated and many local and international peace issues, addressed. Internal communication and conflict resolutions were very successful; every effort was made to involve the entire Meeting community in determining priorities, limits and directions.
The Pastoral Care Committee continues to hold each and every one of us within our Meeting, in God’s healing light. The Fund for Suffering is appropriated for those in special need; meals, flowers, conversation and practical help are lovingly offered, a well. Dinner groups and Spiritual Formation groups are organized; our committee is involved with Ministry & Worship to assist with the membership and eldering processes.
The Meeting House and Land Committee strives to carry out its responsibilities for the material assets of Annapolis Friends Meeting in an environmentally mindful manner. We are weaving the testimonies with love and Quaker process, so that the tapestry of our physical space exudes Divine light and welcome for all.
