Friends Supporting Friends - A Working Group of BYM Ministry & Pastoral Care Committee
Who we are
We are a group of Friends who have specialized skill and training in navigating differences and resolving conflict in the manner of Friends. We call on our Quaker beliefs and practices to help those in BYM Meetings, committees or working groups to deal with conflict constructively. We were formed as a working group in early 2020 under the care of the BYM Ministry and Pastoral Care Committee and have adopted the name Friends Supporting Friends.
What we do
We provide support, education, facilitation, mediation and deep listening for BYM Friends experiencing unresolved conflict, differences and tension interfering with the spiritual health of the community. We seek to transform relationships in a positive direction as those in conflict explore avenues to resolve their conflicts productively.
Our guiding principles
· All those involved are held in the light throughout the process.
· Quaker beliefs and practices are foundational to all other processes.
· Participation is voluntary.
· We uphold confidentiality and neutrality.
We want our work to be easily understood and available to everyone in our community, with special care for those who may feel on the margins of Meetings. We share BYM’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
We offer
· Deep listening, a first step to discern what assistance may be helpful.
· Consultation & resources for committees, monthly meetings, or individuals.
o Click here for “Transforming Conflict Within Quaker Communities, a resource guide”
· Training and workshops are periodically offered for Friends in BYM around resolving conflict, group facilitation, and consultation.
When to reach out When to reach out
There are many ways we can support you. Here are some examples of the types of situations we have helped with:
· Committee members have deeply held conflicting viewpoints and need assistance in finding common ground and repairing hurt feelings.
· An individual in the Meeting is offended by comments made by another Friend. After confronting the other they felt dismissed.
· Several Friends feel railroaded into a decision made at meeting for worship with concern for business. The committee involved feels underappreciated and maligned.
· A Meeting not facing any immediate conflicts would like to build skills to more effectively and constructively deal with conflict. They welcome a perspective from outside their meeting.
Feel free to consult with us to see if our services and expertise aligns with your needs. We will collaborate with those involved to tailor an approach that meets your specific needs.
Contact us
If you would like assistance from Friends Supporting Friends, contact the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Office or one of the co-clerks of the Friends Supporting Friends Working Group:
Ramona Buck, e-mail: ramonabuck@gmail.com, Phone: (443) 418- 0392
Richard Thayer, e-mail: ricardevanthayer@gmail.com, Phone: (443) 845-5717
