2021 State of Society Report

The COVID pandemic, in its second year, loomed large over us all and all we did. There was no individual and no meeting community unaffected. Buffeted by the ebb and flow of the virus and its many, increasingly contagious, variants, meetings sought new ways to hold their communities together in the face of enforced social distance and isolation. Many meetings maintained an online presence, allowing shared worship, if only in small images on a device screen. Some were heartened by the depth of spirit possible with these arrangements while others found the technology intrusive on gathered worship. Still others chose not to participate in Zoom worship at all. Where in-person gatherings were possible, some gathered in hybrid sessions, others chose separate in-person and on-line worship. Some explored creative ways of safely gathering together outside.

Throughout, Friends deeply grieved the loss of connection one with another in familiar and beloved worship spaces and in unstructured social time or over shared food at a potluck. A vital knowing felt lost in the inability to be physically with others in our sacred spaces. Not offsetting, but a counterpoint, was the opportunity on-line to welcome distant Friends and those whose physical status prevented in-person participation.

Our children were particularly impacted by the loss of in-person gathering. In meetings that were able to implement new ways of engaging children, either online or with creative, outdoor activities, the results were often joyful. But these were the exceptions. During 2021, First Day School and other children’s programming largely ceased across New England. Where children met separately without the usual contact with the adults, this contributed to a sense of fracture from the whole. The absence of their energy and promise was mourned.

Difficulty attracting and engaging new and younger families and children underscores a common concern among many meetings that their meetings are aging. Some meetings have lost long and faithful members and their loss resonates within these communities as they are challenged to sustain and strengthen. Some have been concerned about their long-term viability in light of the declining numbers.

For some meetings, the second year of COVID brought opportunities to make major changes in how they use their buildings, taking on major infrastructural repairs to improve energy efficiency or structural repairs so that they will be able to continue to use the building once they can meet inside again.

There is a continuing transition away from pastored meetings in rural areas with dwindling populations. In the past year, Durham meeting decided to sell their parsonage. After deep discernment, Winthrop Center decided to sell their meetinghouse.

With the continuing need for online and/or hybrid worship, Friends have experimented with new forms of worship. Friends in both formerly pastored and formerly unprogrammed meetings are finding new ways for members to share in care of worship, including using recorded music instead of singing together, beginning with queries or quotes to center the worship, and multigenerational worship experiences.

There has continued to be a strong commitment to support and advocate for needed societal changes in keeping with our testimonies. The online environment offered focus in small groups and new opportunities for connection spanning geographic distances. Particularly this year there has been an emphasis on indigenous concerns, including supporting the Yearly Meeting’s Apology to Native Americans, anti-racism work and the broad issue of climate change and protecting the environment. Meetings have supported the work of devoted individuals and groups in these areas through formal letters of support and care and accountability committees. Engaging with other faith groups working to address social justice concerns at the community level remains a priority for many meetings.

Consistent as a practice across all meetings is the wish to ground our work in love for one another and through seeking the guidance of the Divine. When conflict has arisen, meetings have been challenged to practice patience and forbearance with each other, trusting that conflict can provide openings for new growth. At times, meetings have sought help from outside their meeting to address particularly stuck points. Always, there has been a commitment to reach deep beyond the differences to something more eternal.