We do not have a minister, so how do we get organized?

Quakers believe that we are all ministers and responsible for the care of our worship and community. Rather than employing a minister, Quaker meetings function by appointing members to committees, which oversee the quality of worship, pastoral care needs, religious education for adults and children, the planning of special events, having the meeting house roof repaired—all the many things that any congregation needs. 

A member of the meeting is appointed as “clerk of the Meeting,” a volunteer office. The clerk chairs business meetings and handles communications. When the clerk’s term expires, a new clerk is appointed.

Meeting for Business

The full name of our meeting is Hartford Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. Therefore, once a month, the meeting (congregation) holds a “meeting for worship for business.” All members and attenders may attend. The clerk of the Meeting prepares an agenda, which is distributed ahead of time. Decisions are made without voting. Instead, the participants discuss the matter and listen deeply for a sense of spiritual unity. When the clerk recognizes that unity has been reached, it is called the “sense of the meeting.” If those present agree with the clerk’s expression of that sense, then the decision is recorded in the minutes. 

Meeting for business is a policy-making body, dealing with spiritual and outreach matters, and trusting the details of business to appointed committees who shall bring clear recommendations to the Meeting. Minutes are written by the recording clerk, reflecting the sense of the meeting, and noting actions or commitments decided upon, and who shall be carrying them out. 

Committee Structure

Since we have no paid staff, all the work of the meeting is carried out by a variety of committees. The Ministry and Counsel Committee does the work usually performed by a minister. Other committees include Religious Education, Buildings and Grounds, Finance, Peace and Social Concerns, and Memorial. Brief descriptions of several committees are below.

Ministry and Counsel Committee

This committee aims to foster the spiritual life and growth of the Meeting, and to enhance the religious life and fellowship of members and attenders.  It has under its care: meeting for worship; meeting for business; formation of clearness committees for membership, marriage, personal support; and memorial meetings.

M&C also guides outreach, including concern and care for those in special need. This might include illness, bereavement, loss, change, separation and divorce, and other life challenges. The committee strives to fulfill its responsibilities and care from a loving center.

Peace and Social Concerns Committee

This committee has taken under its care the responsibility for supporting and encouraging the entire Meeting as well as individual members and attenders who bear witness to the peace testimony and social concerns that arise from that call to witness. This Committee views this care as a manifestation of our deep and faithful commitment to nonviolence and a path to true peace in our own lives. Click here for more specific information about our areas of involvement.

Stewardship Of The Meeting

Stewardship nurtures the Meeting’s faith community, maintains the meetinghouse for the Monthly Meeting’s use and as a community resource, and assures that future generations will share the legacy of the Meeting’s heritage. Members and attenders support the Meeting in ways that suit their individual circumstances, with all contributions gratefully recognized as gifts of God. Contributions of time and financial resources are essential for the vibrancy of the Meeting. The Meeting is dependent on voluntary contributions to fund maintenance of the meetinghouse, pay its share to New England Yearly Meeting, pay its own bills, and provide support to other activities that express the Meeting’s concerns. Opportunities to contribute to the Meeting include regular monthly contributions, occasional, periodic or annual contributions, and bequests or gifts in memory of members. The Meeting can accept securities as well as cash payments. Members and regular attenders should be cognizant of the financial needs of the Meeting as expressed in its annual budget and participate as able in meeting those needs. Please click here if you wish to donate to the Meeting.

 Membership—Becoming A Member

It is not necessary to wait to be invited to join a Friends meeting; people decide for themselves when they are ready to commit themselves to membership. A person who has been coming to meeting regularly, who has been learning more and more about Friends through reading Faith and Practice and other Quaker literature, who is becoming active in the life of the meeting and attending meeting for worship for business, and who has come to feel at home among its members, may feel ready to apply for membership and at this point would write a letter to the clerk of the Meeting.