Dear Friends,
We write to introduce ourselves to you as the newly formed NEYM Ministry & Eldership Resource Group, seeking to begin a conversation with you about our work. As the Yearly Meeting expressed in creating the working group, “The primary work of this group is to nurture the culture and practice of recognizing and upholding ministry among Friends in New England, and of acknowledging and sustaining Friends’ tradition of supportive elders. According to Faith and Practice, care and accountability of ministers is rooted in the local monthly meeting, with additional responsibility and support held by the Ministry & Counsel of quarterly meetings. The role of the Yearly Meeting, and specifically of the Ministry and Eldership Resource Group, is to support monthly meetings and quarters in these vital responsibilities.” (PB Minute 2024-102)
There is nothing more important for the vitality of our religious society than our welcoming and encouragement of each other’s gifts and leadings. This touches on every aspect of Friends faith and witness in the world, and now more than ever calls for our prayerful attention and active practice. Our Resource Group seeks to support this work in all the local meetings and quarters in New England.
At this beginning stage in our work, we are eager to listen to meetings, to learn from them, and to share what we are learning. So, we need to hear your responses to questions like: How do you notice, welcome, and nurture the spiritual gifts that are active or emerging in the life of your meeting community? What practices, if any, have you developed that help you respond to the movement of the Spirit among you? What experiments are you undertaking? What lessons have you learned, and what questions are you thinking about in this connection?
Over the next few months, we will be in contact with you as part of our own learning in the service of our purpose, but we welcome you to contact us whenever you wish to share ideas or questions.
On behalf of the Ministry & Eldership Resource Group,
Janet Hough, Cobscook/Three Rivers, Yearly Meeting Ministry & Counsel clerk
[email protected]
Brian Drayton, Wellesley
William S. Monroe, Providence
Jennie Isbell Shinn, Mt Toby
Sarah Gant, Beacon Hill, Yearly Meeting Accompaniment Group
Carl Williams, Plainfield
Jim Lyons, Mt Toby
Noah Bishop Merrill, Putney, Yearly Meeting Secretary