Committees of Medford Monthly Meeting

People work in committees to carry out Meeting activities.  All Meeting members and attenders are asked to meet on the first Sunday of every month for committee reports and discussion of issues important to the Meeting.  This is called a Meeting For Business.  Committee terms are for three years.  Attenders may belong to any committee not designated for Members.  a/o 6/5/06

Ministry & Counsel(Members)

Ministry & Counsel is concerned with the spiritual life of the meeting and the pastoral care of its members and attenders.  Committee members should seek to deepen their own preparation for Meeting for Worship and to be mindful of opportunities to encourage spiritual growth in the Meeting community, both individually and corporately.

Care of members and attenders includes:

- Providing clearness committees with the purpose of making recommendations to the monthly meeting on applications for membership or marriage.

- Visiting in case of illness

- Considering help for those in material need

- Maintaining communication with members and attenders

- Providing guidance and understanding as needed

- Considering recommendations to the monthly meeting for the release of Friends from membership in the meeting

Ministry and Counsel meets monthly and should include members of all ages who are interested in the work of the committee.

Members are also members of Quarterly Meeting Worship and Ministry Committee, which meets twice a year.

Nominating(Members)

Considers, suggests and contacts members to serve on the various committees, with the acceptance of the Monthly Meeting.  Committee meets two or three times in the fall.

Representative To Interim Meeting(Members)

One or two members interested in the workings of Yearly Meeting who will represent Medford in the decision process of Interim Meeting.  This body conducts business of Yearly Meeting when it is not in session.  Meetings are from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm with dinner at 4th and Arch Streets on the fourth Thursday of each month - usually meets eight times a year.

Education & Scholarship(Members)

Concerned with the distribution of scholarship funds for children attending Quaker schools and/or adults attending Quaker conferences.  Administers the J.  Kennedy Sinclair Fund.

Ecumenical Meeting of Medford Ministers(Members)

One of our members who meets with other ministers in the Medford area in planning joint ventures for the community.  Committee meets at a scheduled time determined by the group.

Finance & Budget(Members)

Responsible for developing the Annual Budget to be presented for the Monthly Meeting's approval.  Recommends from this the annual contribution per adult member given the anticipated financial requirements as estimated by the approved budget.  Regularly makes financial reports to the Monthly Meeting.  Provides information to members regarding various opportunities to financially support the Monthly Meeting's bequests and annuities.  Writes and distributes the annual letter requesting contributions.

Library(Members or Friends)

Responsible for the maintenance of Meeting library.  Purchase books and pamphlets for library.  Catalog and organize library shelves.

Care For Our Youth   (formerly First Day School)      (Members or Friends)

The goal of this committee is to provide a warm, accepting environment for children to grow spiritually and emotionally in the areas of community, knowledge of Quaker beliefs, philosophy, and the Bible.  Members of this committee would be expected to help with curriculum, teaching, planning and/or special events.

Peace & Social Concerns(Members or Friends)

Activates concerns generated by the committee itself or by the Monthly, Quarterly, or Yearly meetings, on world events or any areas of Peace & Social Concerns.  Committee meets monthly.

Lunch & Social(Members or Friends)

Organizes covered dish meals, some coffee hours, picnics, Quarterly Meeting lunches held in Medford, and most other functions involving food, or arrangements for it.  Committee meets as needed.

Property & Graveyard(Members or Friends)

Handles all care of the buildings, grounds, and both burial grounds other than the work of the Household Committee.  Meets at the Clerk's discretion.

Inreach/Outreach - Publicity(Members or Friends)

The committee was formed to open up our fellowship to those who would otherwise not know of it.  Their work usually has involved: planning for Open House, finding ways to encourage attendance and newcomers, writing notices to be placed in local newspapers, co-ordination special events, as well as organizing the Christmas Concert.  The Committee should also see to the use of general advertising, such as signage, etc.  Committee meets monthly.  Outreach included Inreach such as our traditional "Friendly Eights", and for two years (2003,2004) includes the work of  "Making New Friends" group.

Household(Members or Friends)

Is concerned with the necessary replacement or purchase of food supplies for the weekly coffee hours, exclusive of desserts; kitchen supplies necessary for cleaning after potlucks, including paper products for potlucks, and also provide flowers for weekly Meeting.  It is recommended that the caretaker be on the committee, whose job it will be to provide bathroom supplies, kitchen towels, and the maintenance of the refrigerator.  The committee meets as necessary.

Funeral(Members or Friends)

Keeps informed as to available plots for burial in our graveyards.  Assist families in whatever way is needed at the time of a death.  This could be arranging for a service, and the participants in it, or possibly helping with food after a memorial service.  Committee meets as needed, probably by telephone.

Greenleaf Tea(Members or Friends)

Chairman of this committee organizes a tea, which usually occurs in April, for the residents of the

Greenleaf in Moorestown.

Quarterly Meeting Nominating(Members Only)

Meets with representatives from other Meetings of the Quarter to suggest and contact people to serve on Quarterly Meeting Committees.  Committee meets about two times, in January and February.

Trustees         (Members Only, and is contingent upon Clerkship of Meeting, Property, Overseers or Treasurer)

Responsible for overall guidance of the Monthly Meeting in the area of condition of its properties and finances.  Committee meets at the discretion of the Clerk of the Meeting, meeting once a year at a minimum.  (Third Sunday in September)

Calendar Committee(Clerk of Committee or Designees)

Meet as needed to co-ordinate annual calendar for all committees.  Clerk of Overseers is Convener.

Adult Religious Education

Purposes and Objectives:  to deepen the spiritual lives of the members and attenders within Medford Monthly Meeting.

Functions:

1)To establish a curriculum of adult education study for all members and attenders

2)To have adult education classes on a regular basis throughout the year

3)To provide leadership for these classes

4) To provide written materials and books for these classes

5)To invite Quaker speakers to the Meeting at least two times a year

6)To set up a fee schedule for those attending the adult classes

Meetinghouse Christmas Decorating(Members and Attenders)

Responsible for the Christmas decoration of the meetinghouse.

Committees

FACING BENCH SCHEDULE 2010-2011

April - Forrest/Rubin, M

May -Holby/Stratton, B

June - Irwin/Andrews

July - Hurley, T/Morrow, M

August - Klieger/Schmidt

September – Wilus/Rubin, M

October -Stratton, B/Wray

November-  Holby/Morrow, M

December- Forrest, H/Andrews

January, 2011 - Hurley, T/Klieger

February, 2011 - Irwin/Schmidt

Friends will be GREETERS during the month that follows their turn on the facing bench (i.e. if you were on the facing bench in February, you are a greeter in March.) 

Greeters will greet for about 10 minutes from

the start of Meeting. 

If you cannot be on the facing bench when it is your turn, it is up to you to find somebody to take your place, or get in touch with the clerk in good time, if possible, so that she/he can help.

If you cannot be at Meeting to greet, you need to find somebody to take your place for this, also.  (They need not be a member of  M&C.)

The two members on the facing bench will decide between them who will read and who will speak (ask for “afterthoughts,” “announcements,” etc. )

The reading should be something of a spiritual nature and not too long.