A Worship Group
is a gathering of persons who meet regularly for worship after the
manner of Friends and who desire to be identified
with the principles and practices of the Religious Society of Friends.
Such
a group may organize independently or it may be set up with the encouragement
of a Monthly Meeting and other nearby
interested persons. Meeting for Worship may be their only activity
for an indefinite period of time. Some Worship Groups are large
from the beginning or they grow rapidly, and undertake additional
activities such as shared meals, reading, study or discussion groups,
service projects, religious education, public witness or worshipsharing
groups.
Worship
Groups need to be mindful of the danger of attempting too many things
during their initial enthusiasm or of having a few
individuals carry all the responsibility and thus risk exhaustion
and disillusionment.Members of a Worship Group should be dedicated
to the leadings of the Light and devoted to the growth of the Spirit.
This
goal will help them through discouraging times and setbacks that
are bound to occur. There may be times when only one or two
meet for worship at the appointed hour. It is worthwhile to
persevere at these times, not only for those few in attendance but
for
those unable to attend, so that they may be upheld in the Light and
all may come to know the comfort of an ongoing Meeting.
As
an independent Worship Group develops, it should seek the care
and guidance of a nearby Monthly Meeting. In so doing, it
establishes an official relationship with the Religious Society of
Friends, providing an avenue for individual membership, which
comes only through a Monthly Meeting. Monthly Meetings, in
turn, should seek out, visit, and assist new Worship Groups.When
no Monthly Meeting is able to take the Worship Group under its
care, this relationship may be established through the appropriate
Quarterly Meeting or through Pacific Yearly Meeting (when no
Quarterly Meeting is available). Their Ministry and Oversight
Committees will assume the duties normally performed by a
Monthly Meeting.
Each
Worship Group need organize only to the degree that is right for
it at a particular time. It should, however, organize sufficiently
to
nurture the interests and concerns of its participants, including
children and to provide an avenue for contacts with other Friends
groups and with the wider body of the Religious Society of Friends,
both of which can enrich the life of a Worship Group. Usually a
Correspondent serves as a convener of the group. Communications
from Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and other Friends’ groups
or
organizations should be addressed to the Correspondent who is
responsible for sharing them with the entire group.
Applications
for membership, requests for weddings, or other such formal actions
must be taken to the Monthly Meeting to which
the Worship Group is related. When a Worship Group feels it is
ready to organize and conduct its own business in the manner of an
established Meeting, it should consider requesting Preparative
Meeting status.