Attenders can now serve on central committees
In their December meeting, Meeting for Sufferings discerned that attenders can now be appointed to serve on central committees. This enables attenders to be nominated to committee and service roles that are appointed by Meeting for Sufferings.
Opening these roles to all Friends, whether they are members or attenders, is a part of growing and opening up our community. There are fantastic opportunities to get involved in committees and groups within our Quaker community. Rather than filling jobs that need doing, Nominations is the quiet heart of our Quaker action and community: looking at the potential of the divine spark in everyone.
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"Our discipline and structures do not exist by themselves. The life of our Society is made up of the lives of its members. The faithfulness of our Society consists in the faithfulness of each and all of us. And none of us can expect 'the Society' to be more faithful, more committed, more loving, than we ourselves are prepared to be." Quaker faith & practice, chapter 18 opening text
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There are still ongoing discussions about attenders serving in roles at Local and Area Meetings, or as Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees. Friends are welcome to read the minutes from Meeting for Sufferings for their full decision.
How can I get involved?
From peace action to international service at European Yearly Meetings, there is a huge range of service. Completing a Quaker Service Information Form (QSIF) is the best way to let the nomination committees know you are interested in potential service. This is an opportunity to share about yourself, your interests, experience and gifts. Friends are encouraged to share your interest and willingness to serve – even if you don't know exactly what you might like to do.
To explore the range of Quaker service roles, visit the Give Time page.
What information is needed to nominate someone?
Nominations are undertaken by discernment. A nominations committee seeks to discern spiritual gifts, matching them with roles for the benefit of the individual and the community. The nominating committees consider those Friends who have offered their time in service. To help with their discernment, a number of steps and checks form the nominations process. The nomination committees focus on what will serve our community – might the Friend be a good fit for the role, what is their potential, how might they challenge or be challenged? When a nomination has been discerned, the staff team undertake safeguarding and information checks.