Committee on Ministry and Counsel

(Adapted from text conveyed by the F&P Committee, November 2003.) 

Purpose:  The Committee on Ministry and Counsel is charged with nurturing the spiritual life of the Yearly Meeting as a whole and its individual members so that they may become closer to God and one another, helping to maintain the good order of the community and the well-being of Friends.  The Committee provides spiritual advice and counsel to the Yearly Meeting, its officers, committees and individual Friends on a year-round basis as needed (IMYM 00-05), providing nurturing, encouragement, and conflict resolution and reconciliation services. 

Membership:  Members are the clerk, appointed by the Yearly Meeting, two representatives from each of the Regional Meetings, one representative each from Senior Young Friends and Junior Young Friends, and Friends with special skills and talents co-opted by the Committee.  The number of co-opted members shall not exceed one third of the total number of committee members.  In current practice, the committee selects its own clerk. (Notes 1 and 2.)  The Clerk of Ministry and Counsel is a member of the Executive Committee and ex officio to the Continuing Committee. 

Terms:  Three years for members and clerk. 

Responsibilities of the Committee include:

1.  Holding regular committee meetings during the annual session, serving as spiritual support for the clerks, executive committee, and others with responsibilities for the care of the gathering, in the good order of Friends.

2.  Prayerfully holding Yearly Meeting sessions in the Light, being sensitive to the realization of ministry in Yearly Meeting matters.

3.  Caring for individuals and their concerns about relationships, practices and events associated with the annual gathering and the Yearly Meeting.

4.  Honoring the need for confidentiality in all actions of the Committee.

5.  Approaching all matters with an open mind.

6.  Publicizing at the annual gathering the membership of the Committee in order to provide accessibility and service to all Friends.

7.  Being available for consultation as needed during the times between annual gatherings.

8.  Undertaking such other tasks as shall be requested by the Yearly Meeting. 

Executive and Continuing Committees:  The Executive Committee meets in late summer to evaluate the various aspects of the most recent annual gathering and begin planning for next year's annual gathering.  The Clerk of the Ministry and Counsel Committee may be asked to submit a written evaluative report in advance of this Executive Committee meeting.  In its winter meeting a few months later, the Continuing Committee completes the planning for the next annual gathering.  The Yearly Meeting pays upon request the travel expenses to these meetings. 

Financial arrangements:  Incidental operating expenditures for clerical supplies, communications, etc., may be submitted (normally by the committee clerk) to the Treasurer for reimbursement.  The Treasurer should be consulted before incurring unusual expenses. 

Notes and Concerns:

1.  Current practice is for the Clerk to be nominated for Yearly Meeting appointment from among the members of the Committee.

2. The provision for co-opted members appears to have originated with the Faith and Practice Committee's 2003 recommendation, and appears not to have been put into practice in any formal manner.  Since any committee may draw upon the help of additional Yearly Meeting Friends as needed, this provision may introduce confusion about membership and the representative nature of the Committee.  It stands ripe for further consideration.