Pacific Yearly Meeting Organization

The Children’s Program Committee is responsible for coordinating and operating at the Pacific Yearly Meeting Annual Session an educational program and activities for infants and children up through age 13. (Children age 13 can choose whether to participate in children’s program or Junior Yearly Meeting teen program.) The Committee meets several times during the year in planning for the Annual Session, and meets frequently during the Annual Session.

This committee has six members, who serve three-year overlapping terms, with two members appointed annually. The current and immediate past coordinators are members ex officio.

July 2005

Note: The Children’s Program Committee does not plan First Day programs for Monthly Meetings.

For information about activities for children, visit Children in the Yearly Meeting.

The ministry of the Communications Committee is to nurture and grow the “beloved community” by facilitating communication both within and outside of Pacific Yearly Meeting, both during and outside of the Annual Session.

The Communications Committee needs individuals with a wide variety of skills. While some individuals may bring substantial technical skills, others will bring knowledge and understanding of the structure and processes of Pacific Yearly Meeting and of its people and history. Still others will bring energy for reaching out to new and long-time Friends.

It is important that members share a commitment to the work for which the Communications Committee is responsible on behalf of the Yearly Meeting. There needs to be a balance between those who are particularly comfortable with technology and those who are not.

October 2020

The Discipline Committee concerns itself solely with the book of discipline of Pacific Yearly Meeting, operating between revisions of the book “Faith and Practice”. (During a revision of the book of discipline, the committee is augmented and the committee is then called the Faith & Practice Revision Committee.)

Qualifications for membership on this committee should mirror the purpose of the book of discipline, which is to be an instrument for spiritual growth as well as reflection of current feeling and though as Friends seek to experience and follow the leaderings of the Spirit. Service on this committee requires membership in the Society of Friends and should be representative of the thought and spirit of Pacific Yearly Meeting.

The committee has six members who serve three-year overlapping terms. Two members are appointed annually. The Presiding Clerk and the Historian are ex officio members of the Discipline Committee.

July 2005

The Eldering Subcommittee of Ministry Committee supports Pacific Yearly Meeting in such a way that Yearly Meeting gatherings are well-grounded.

Aims
To plan and facilitate:

1. Spiritual accompaniment at YM gatherings for Friends with demanding YM positions;
2. Support the ministry brought to the gathering by keynote speaker(s);
3. Holding of space at all sessions of worship that are under the care of the Ministry Committee;
4. Education and growth opportunities for Friends who may have gifts in eldering; and,
5. Opportunities for sharing and learning about the role of Eldering within the Pacific Yearly Meeting community.

Definitions
Eldering, as we are using the term here, involves two primary aspects:

1. Spiritual accompaniment of Friends in ‘public’ and demanding roles (such as the Presiding Clerk, Assistant to the Clerk, Treasurer, Youth Programs Coordinator, Clerks of Pacific Yearly Meeting committees, keynote speaker etc.) before, during and after Yearly Meeting gatherings.
2. ‘Holding of space,’ or praying, for the gathering and helping to ground or center worship in particular. For example, a Friend who was asked to ‘hold space’ for a particular session would arrive early to settle into worship and stay in worship during the session, holding the group and the gathering in the Light. Weeks and even months prior to the start of the gathering Friends taking on this role would pray for and hold the gathering in their hearts.

The role of Eldering Coordinator involves, but is not limited to:

• Convening a meeting each day during the gathering to bring those taking on the role of Eldering (at that gathering) together for debriefing and mutual support;
• Be available to support Eldering throughout the gathering, should those who are Eldering require it; and
• Liaise between those taking on the role of Eldering at the gathering and the Eldering Subcommittee, Ministry Committee and the Presiding Clerk.

Tasks
The work of the Eldering Subcommittee includes planning for, and implementing, Eldering roles and relationships at significant Pacific Yearly Meeting gatherings, particularly Annual Session. Where possible, the Subcommittee may consider how to enable Eldering also at Representative Committee.

Important tasks of the Subcommittee:

• Identify Eldering needs for the gathering, including the Pacific Yearly Meeting Officers and Clerks who may benefit from being offered accompaniment.
• Identify appropriately skilled persons who can take on the roles of Eldering.
• Work to offer accompaniment within the capacity (quantity and skill) and “spiritual match”of those willing to serve to those who want support.
• Nominate at least one Eldering Coordinator for each gathering.
• Provide training and support for Eldering, where required, preferably before each gathering.
• Plan and lead (or find leaders for) educational programs to spread understanding of the Eldering process and encourage Friends to participate in “holding” our Meetings for Worship and providing Eldering accompaniment as well as being the person accompanied.
• Identify Friends who have healing ministries (including mental, physical and spiritual) who would be willing to provide support should the need arise at gatherings.
• Work with the Presiding Clerk to create a safe spiritual container at Annual Session and other gatherings. This may include hosting, or supporting, an experiential exercise at the start of the gathering to support in building respectful relationships and spiritual deepening.
• Consider offering other opportunities for contemplation at Annual Session such as singing, holding a Meeting for Healing and extended worship.

Membership and Implementation
Members of the Subcommittee may also participate in Eldering, or as the Eldering coordinator, at Pacific Yearly Meeting gatherings but it is not a requirement for membership. Ministry Committee will primarily seek Friends to serve on this Subcommittee who are either experienced in the practice of Eldering either through providing Eldering or having been accompanied while undertaking ministry.

April 2018

The Faith & Practice Revision Committee is charged with revising Pacific Yearly Meeting’s book of Faith and Practice. It is a permanent committee of Pacific Yearly Meeting, but it is called the Discipline Committee during periods when it is not actively engaged in revising Faith & Practice.

Work to begin on a new edition of Faith & Practice was authorized at the 2014 Annual Session.

The Revision Process
The Faith and Practice Revision Committee has transitioned to a “rolling revision” process, in keeping with Friends’ belief in continuing revelation and our practice of valuing the testimony of all members because “there is that of God in everyone.”

As Elfrida Vipont explains, Fox, at his famous Firbank Fell gathering “bade the people take heed of the spirit of God in their hearts and obey its guidance in their daily lives; he told them that the spirit that inspired the Scriptures was living and working still in the hearts of men and women, ready to reveal fresh truths”.

Elfrida Vipont, The Story of Quakerism 1652-1952

The rolling revision process utilizes electronic technologies, presenting text for revision on this webpage with instruction to monthly meetings on how to work with the material. Meetings will discern their “sense of the meeting” with regard to the passage, and return this to the committee, who will then do final revision for presentation at annual sessions. The committee expects to send out materials three times per year. Finalized revisions will be incorporated into the online version of Faith and Practice: A Guide to Quaker Discipline in the Experience of Pacific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. The book will be available as a print-on-demand volume.

The Finance Committee is responsible for developing the budgets for the Yearly Meeting and the Annual Session. It considers all proposed expenditures and makes recommendations for consideration by Representative Committee and the body at Annual Session.

Tasks:

• Recommend appropriate contributions from Monthly Meetings per adult member.
• Hear proposals from various affiliated Friends’ organizations for outreach contributions from Pacific Yearly Meeting to these organizations.
• Hear requests for changes in a committee’s budget and make recommendations regarding requests to the Yearly Meeting.
• Present budget for adoption to the Yearly Meeting at Annual Session.
• Notify all Yearly Meeting officers, committee Clerks and Representatives to affiliated organizations of the amounts budgeted for their use.
• Recommend travel reimbursement rates.
• Arrange for audit of the books when Treasurer changes, or every three years.

The committee has six members who serve overlapping three-year terms, two of whom are appointed annually. The Treasurer and Statistical Clerk are members ex officio.

July 2005

The Friends of Color Subcommittee of Ministry Committee creates spaces for Friends of Color of Pacific Yearly Meeting where we can get to know and support each other, build community, fellowship, promote healing, and grow together in Spirit.

Tasks:

• Organize and facilitate opportunities for worship, worship sharing, andcommunity building events for Friends of Color.
• Meet at least once a month via conference call or Zoom.
• Organize and facilitate the space for Friends of Color at Annual Session.
• Provide support for Friends of Color to attend Pacific Yearly Meeting events.

The members of the subcommittee must identify as persons of color.

November 2020

The Indigenous Concerns Subcommittee was created by the Ministry Committee in February 2021. The present purposes are to:

• Inform and support the Pacific Yearly Meeting community as it seeks to uncover the history and ongoing impacts of colonization in and on both Indigenous and Quaker communities,
• Increase awareness of Indigenous peoples’ struggles and joys both within and outside our Quaker communities, and
• Seek equitable and just partnership among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

Membership: The subcommittee is seeking recommendations of members and of Indigenous Friends who may prefer to serve as an advisor or accountability partner to the subcommittee. 

Service description: The subcommittee assumes firm commitment to the goals. Each member invests an average of 4 hours per month to subcommittee work. Usually the subcommittee meets once per month. There is an expectation of leadership on interest groups and activities at and outside of Annual Session.

The Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) Committee serves as a support group for the Junior Yearly Meeting (teens) and as the liaison between Junior Friends and Pacific Yearly Meeting. The committee is responsible for providing appropriate adult leadership to advise and counsel Junior Friends. It meets throughout the year and helps Junior Friends arrange programs both during and outside of the Annual Sessions.

The committee includes at most eight adult members who serve three-year overlapping terms, of whom two or three are appointed annually by the yearly meeting’s Nominating Committee. Teens in JYM nominate up to four teen clerks and a Ministry Committee who serve on the JYM Committee. The Clerk(s) of Junior Yearly Meeting are also ex-officio members of Representative Committee. JYM Committee members work together collaboratively using Friends’ practice to develop teen programs.

The JYM Committee Clerk and other committee officers, Clerk(s) of the Junior Yearly Meeting and other interested Junior Friends usually meet at the Representative Committee session to plan for Annual Sessions. The Clerk of the JYM Committee and the Clerk(s) of Junior Yearly Meeting jointly report to Representative Committee.

Ex-officio members to JYM Committee include the PacYM Presiding Clerk, the PacYM Youth Programs Coordinator, a liaison from Nominating Committee and a liaison from PacYM’sMinistry Committee.

Tasks for adult members:

• Assist Junior Friends in planning and staging activities during the year.
• Give advice and counsel to Junior Friends as needed and/or sought.
• Provide appropriate support and assists Junior Friends in arranging programs appropriate for teenagers of junior-high and high-school age during Annual Sessions.
• Be available for assistance in writing the JYM epistle.

Important skills for serving on the JYM Committee:

• Show up: As with all committee work, the more present you are, the more you can offer and the more you will gain from the experience. Ideally, committee members will be present at Representative Committee in March, on the JYM zoom/conference calls (usually two in the Fall until January, monthly after January, more often as needed as PacYM Annual Session draws near, and at the PacYM Annual Session.
• Be open to getting to know and learning with all committee members. One of the most rewarding parts of committee work is the relationships we form. This is a great opportunity to get to know teen Friends.
• Support Teens in taking the lead: Some years, the teens are experienced and know what they want to do and know how to do it. Other years they are less experienced and need more guidance. Adults need to be careful to not take over, yet provide enough support to create the programs.
• Bring your wisdom, experience, and understanding of Friends practices to share while respecting the wisdom, experience, and guidance of others.

September 2020

In 1997, the Annual Session established a standing Latin America Concerns Committee to gather and disseminate information to Pacific and other Yearly Meetings regarding Friends groups and service projects in Latin America. The intention is to support rather than replace spirit-led projects already supported by Monthly Meetings, Worship Groups and individual Friends.

Committee meetings will be held three to four times a year: usually before and during Annual Session and Representative Committee. Some meetings will be by conference call. These meetings will include planning and preparation of Interest Groups at Annual Session.

The four main programs, Casa de los Amigos, El Salvador Project, Guatemala Friends Scholarship Program (Progresa) and the Undocumented Student Scholarship Program of Sacramento Meeting, will take turns as presenters for Interest Groups. Subcommittee/Working Groups will be formed as appropriate.

There is a fund to assist the committee in bringing representatives or others to Annual Session. The committee, through the clerk, should communicate with clerk of Finance Committee the recommendations for committee expenses (line 5238) and Latin America Concerns Outreach (line 5212/R2749) for the upcoming fiscal year (October 1 – September 30) at least two months before Annual Session. The clerk should assess whether the approved committee budget is sufficient to complete the committee’s work and request augmentations as appropriate to the clerk of Finance Committee before Representative Committee and/or Annual Session.

The committee is composed of from five to nine members who are determined by the Nominating Committee in consultation with the committee. Additionally, there are three members appointed to the committee, one each from Casa de los Amigos, El Salvador Project and Guatemala Friends Scholarship Program.

Tasks:

• Information gathering and dissemination regarding Latin American meetings and projects.
• Make report to the Representative Committee and Pacific Yearly Meeting Annual Session.
• Communication with contacts in the Monthly Meetings of Pacific Yearly Meeting.
• Support of subcommittees as needed.
• Clerk shall make request to Finance for the coming year’s budget 2 months before Annual Session.

Committee meetings are held usually 3-4 times a year, lasting up to 2 hours each time. One to two are in-person and two are by telephone conference. There may arise occasion for additional telephone conferences. Co-Clerks meet as needed to prepare for meetings.

Committee member work may include writing, attending meetings, information gathering regarding Latin American meetings and projects, communication with contacts in Pacific Yearly Meeting Monthly Meetings, and planning/preparation of Annual Session Interest Groups.

Minutes of meetings are kept. No expenditures are necessary beyond reimbursable expenses.

Revision approved by LACC June 2015

The Ministry Committee consists of nine experienced and sensitive Friends who serve overlapping three-year terms. Its role is to help foster the spiritual life and good order of the Yearly Meeting, by providing assistance and counsel to the Yearly Meeting clerks and endeavoring to make the Annual Session a fulfilling experience for all participants. During that time, it is responsible for all Meetings for Worship, including Meeting for Memorials, and it oversees smaller gatherings such as worship sharing, affinity and interest groups. It prepares the program for one plenary session to aid in centering the spirity of the Yearly Meeting.

The committee may invite officers and clerks of the Quarterly and Monthly Meetings who have particular concerns to meet with them. The committee selects three persons to serve as the Epistle Committee and brings these names to the first plenary session of the Annual Session. Throughout the year, the Ministry Committee is concerned for the spiritual life and good order of those Monthly Meetings, Preparative Meetings and Worship Groups that are not affiliated with a Quarterly Meeting. Upon request, it may assist any committee, Meeting or individual of the Yearly Meeting.

The committee also considers and reports on any other matters brought to it by the Yearly Meeting, Representative Committe, Quarterly or outlying Meeting. It establishes liaisons with other committees and groups so as to be aware of their needs, and names two of its members to be available to the Statistical Clerk for advice and counsel. The committee administers the Fund for Concerns and advises the Treasurer regarding other special funds.

Tasks:

• Prepare the program for one plenary session to aid in centering the spirit of the Yearly Meeting.
• Select three persons to serve as the Epistle Committee.
• Review State of the Meeting reports.
• Arrange reading of, receives, and makes available copies of memorial minutes.
• Handle requests for financial assistance to attend the Annual Session.
• Consider and report on matters brought by the Yearly Meeting, Representative Committee, and/or Quarterly Meetings, and unaffiliated Meetings.
• Administer the Fund for Concerns.
• Advise the Treasurer about special funds.
• Hold in its care the following standing subcommittees: Adult Religious Eucation, Brinton Visitor, Special Funds, Worship Sharing, Committed Relationships, Released Friends, Mental Health and Illness, Electronic Communication and Records.
• Appoint liaisons to Discipline Committee, Junior Yearly Meeting Committee, Young Friends, Children’s Program Committee.
• Name two of its members to be available to the Statistical Clerk.
• Arrange time to listen to those at the Annual Session who have a need.
• Provide assistance to Monthly Meetings and individuals on request.

Time Involved: There are three meetings per year in addition to the Annual Session, staggered between north and south, and lasting from Friday until Sunday. The meetings are usually held in November, February and April. There are daily meetings during the Annual Session lasting for approximately 2 hours. In addition, this committee requires a few hours a month on committee or subcommittee work. Spring and summer are busier, and additional time may be required during that period.

Each member of the committee is a liaison for one of the other subcommittees. Attendance at their meetings is helpful and there are phone calls and emails to keep in touch. Although it is not necessary to have computer skills for this committee, access to email is very useful. Minutes are kept of this committee’s meetings. Expenses beyond those which are reimbursed are negligible. Travel may occasionally be necessary beyong the scheduled meetings of the committee, to areas where committee members are liaison (Mexico, Guatemala, Hawaii).

July 2005

At the 2020 Annual Session unity was found to drop the word “Oversight” from the traditional name which was “Ministry and Oversight” or “M&O”.  There was not unity as to what word, if any, to replace “Oversight” with, so the name will remain “Ministry Committee” until such time as the issue may be revisited.

description pending

The Nominating Committee makes nominations for most of the officer and committee positions of Pacific Yearly Meeting.

1. Discussions about persons considered for committees, during these committee meetings and in consulting with others, shall be kept confidential.
2. The Nominating Committee should work as a whole. Candidates for specific assignments should not be approached until the Nominating Committee has considered the situation and agreed that the appointment would be in the best interest of the Yearly Meeting.
3. The Nominating Committee should learn about the current direction and the needs of the various committees.
4. The Nominating Committee should consider Annual Session attenders as the pool of individuals from which candidates are suggested forappointment. Its own members should be past and current attenders of the annual sessions.
5. The Nominating Committee should strive to involve new Annual Session attenders into the committee work of Pacific Yearly Meeting.
6. The Nominating Committee should use the current editions of the College Park Quarterly Meeting and the Southern California Quarterly Meeting directories, the three most recent Annual Session attenders lists, history of past appointments, and the Faith and Practice Committee descriptions as resources for doing its work.
7. In general, the Nominating Committee should limit the appointment of an individual to a committee or representative position to two consecutive, three year terms. If the Nominating Committee feels it is in the best interest of the Yearly Meeting to recommend anindividual to serve beyond this limitation, the Nominating Committee should report to the Yearly Meeting its reasons for the recommendation. Clerks are normally appointed for one year only, regardless of their term on the committee itself.
8. Nominating Committee will participate in follow-up after Representatives are appointed, making sure that Representative Guidelines are provided, and that names and addresses of new Representatives are communicated to the related Organization.

PYM Nominating Committee, in Prelim-Ed. of Faith and Practice, 2000
“The Nominating Committee submits nominations for an officers and committees. A preliminary report is given in an early plenary session, then posted for study and review in advance of its formal consideration later in. the annual session. Should vacancies occur during the year, nominations should be offered to Representative Committee at its interim meeting. When time is a factor, the Presiding Clerk, in consultation with the Clerk of Nominating Committee may make interim nominations for representatives toaffiliated organizations. The Committee is responsible for notifying appointees and making sure they understand their responsibilities.The Committee is responsible for confirming continuing service. The Nominating Committee may aid the Yearly Meeting by helping to define the structure and method of appointment of Yearly Meeting committees.”

July 2005

The Peace and Social Order Committee is responsible for the ongoing peace and social action work of the Yearly Meeting. It encourages and assists the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings in undertaking peace and social order activities. It seeks to balance its efforts between the peace concerns and social order concerns and to expressive activities around Friends’ testimonies on unity, equality, simplicity, peace and community. It brings to the Annual Sessions the concerns, which may be in the form of Minutes for action.

Committee members are individuals with a particular interest in peace and social order issues and who are willing to participate in committee activities to help carry out the tasks described below. The committee consists of nine members serving three-year overlapping terms, three members to be appointed annually. Ex officio on this committee are one of the PacYM representatives to FCNL, and the clerks (or their designates) from Southern California and College Park Quarterly Meetings Peace and Social Order Committees. Representation from JYM and Young Friends is welcomed. The committee appoints one representative to FCLCA who, if not already a member of P&SO, serves on it ex officio.

Tasks:

• Coordinates activity between Friends testimonies, and coordinates activities between Monthly Meetings in the interim between Annual Sessions. Plan and make visits with various Monthly Meeting P&SO or theirequivalents (Peace & Social Concerns, Peace & Social Action, etc.). One or two members of the Committee visit with a P&SO in their area. This is done throughout the year with a schedule based on availability and convenience.
• Appraises and makes recommendations about concerns brought to Yearly Meeting by constituent Meetings. The committee meets just prior to Representative Committee (the first Saturday in March) at that location. It considers such concerns submitted to them prior to that Representative Committee meeting otherwise after that they, the committee, will as promptly as possible consider such concerns in the most appropriate fashion, discuss it either by email or conference call.
• Appraises and may recommend requests for interest groups or displays at Annual Session. P&SO will inform theMonthly Meeting P&SO committees that the deadlines for submitting a request for consideration for interest groups or displays at Annual Session is February 15. This message will be sent to the Monthly Meetings during November.
• May provide programs during a plenary session at Annual Session. Such decision to provide a program during a plenary session will be made at the committee meeting when it meets immediately prior to Representative Committee.
• May sponsor interest groups at Annual Session around peace and/or social order concerns and issues. This decision too is to be made at the committee meeting immediately prior to Representative Committee.
• May prepare and present for approval at Annual Sessions Minutes on relevant issues, and if such minutes are approved, disseminate them to major newspapers as well as like-minded groups, as Yearly Meeting directs.
• The P&SO committees of all Monthly Meetings are contacted annually prior to Representative Committee regarding issues of concern. At the March committee meeting, the Committee will prioritize these issues and for those selected will prepare draft minutes to be considered.

In addition to the committee meeting on the Friday preceding Representative Committee other committee meetings are scheduled on an ad hoc fashion depending on circumstances and composition of the committee (where members are located). Other work is conducted via email and conference call. Committee members act as liaisons to the Peace and Social Order Committees of the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, spend time by phone, email or visitations in that capacity.

January 2011

The primary purpose of the Ministry Subcommittee on Racial Justice is to facilitate candid, loving dialogue and transformative activities regarding racial justice and racial healing within Pacific Yearly Meeting. As a foundation for this service, members of the subcommittee should seek to “be patterns, be examples” (George Fox) for racial justice – that is, to mode open, honest and caring dialogue on issues of race within Pacific Yearly Meeting.

Members of the subcommittee should be well informed about the current state of racial justice and racial healing within Pacific Yearly Meeting, to initiate timely, and thoughtful responses. The subcommittee works best when the membership includes adequate representation from both Friends of Color and Friends of European descent.

The subcommittee is under the care of the Pacific Yearly Meeting committee on Ministry, which seasons the recommendations of the subcommittee and discerns with the subcommittee appropriate next steps.

The following are examples of activities of the Racial Justice subcommittee as the Spirit leads us:

• Propose and plan activities for the Annual Gathering, for example:
  • Affinity Group for Friends of European Descent Concern About Racism.
  • Drafting worship sharing queries on racial justice and racial healing.
  • Proposing outside speakers and workshop leaders who might enrich the programs at the Annual Session.
  • Sponsoring interest groups and other adult education opportunities related to racial justice and racial healing.
  • Planning intergenerational activities around issues of race.
• Propose and plan activities to take place within Pacific Yearly Meeting during the year between Annual Sessions, such as:
  • Offering and developing resources for Friends education on racial justice and racial healing, including historical contributions of Friends of Color.
  • Sponsoring or developing workshops and retreats on racial healing and racial justice.
  • Facilitating traveling ministry within Pacific Yearly Meeting on racial healing and racial justice.
  • Coordinating and communicating about racial justice and racial healing within and between Monthly and Quarterly Meetings.

December 2020

The Unity with Nature Committee encourages, supports, shares, and brings forward Pacific Yearly Meeting Friends’ concerns, Witness, and Leadings for earth care and sustainability. Central to our concerns for the last many years is to slow and eventually stop global warming and its horrific proliferation of dire consequences for both humans and the whole ecosystem. We lift up and listen to each others’ living Testimonies caring for the earth.

The Unity with Nature Committee acts on behalf of Pacific Yearly Meeting on spiritual concerns related to the environment. It strives to keep alive in the consciences of Friends the spirituality of and the kinship with all creation. It has the function to educate, inform, inspire, and give Witness about earth care and the environment.

The Committee may have several subcommittees such as: (1) Sustainability, (2) Service projects and internships, (3) Nature experiences and outings, (4) Education and interest groups.

The committee has nine members, serving three-year overlapping terms, with three members appointed annually. Two Pacific Yearly Meeting representatives to the national QuakerEarthcare Witness (QEW) (formerly named ‘Friends Committee on Unity with Nature’) are members ex-officio, if not already members of the committee.

Tasks:

• Appoints the Pacific Yearly Meeting representatives to QEW.
• Supports publications such as Earthlight Magazine and QEW newsletter.
• Encourages and supports QEW and other Friends’ environmental initiatives such as Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Friends Committee on Legislation inCalifornia (FCLCA), and Quaker Institute for the Future (QIF).
• Nominates candidates for Earthlight’s Board of Directors.
• Provides means for communications among PYM Friends concerned about the environment and with Friends similarly concerned nationally and internationally.
• Proposes and conducts interest groups and nature-oriented worship at Quarterly Meeting sessions and the Pacific Yearly Meeting Annual Session.
• Encourages change toward sustainable lifestyles by Meetings and their members and attenders.
• Raises funds to further its work.

Goals and Projects may include:

• Sponsoring an internship program for Young Friends.
• Responding to queries such as recommendations for books and other educationalmaterials related to care of the earth.
• Proactive educational programs such as the mini-grant program.
• Proactive educational and fundraising programs such as the dime a gallon carbon credit program.
• Seasoning concerns arising out of Witness, we nurture the process of taking those concerns towards a minute at annual session.

To fulfill its goals and Charter, Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Unity with Nature Committee (UwN) has a 1-2 day retreat usually in the Fall, preferably in Nature, to plan its year. Pacific Yearly Meeting pays for travel expenses to the 1-2 day retreat. Hosts arrange hospitality. Meals are shared. UwN has 4 to 9 conference calls a year of 1-2 hours in length, usually 1.5 hours, usually on a weekday evening, paid for by Pacific Yearly Meeting to further its goals and plans. Members are expected to attend these meetings and calls in order to help discern and come to unity on a variety of issues related to the goals and Charter of the Unity with Nature Committee. Members are expected to come to at least part of the Pacific Yearly Meeting Annual Session in the summer.

Besides whatever special educational projects may be on offer, the committee has ongoing smaller tasks such as fundraising for the mini grant program, the mini grant program itself, doing the minutes, and updating the ‘Liaison with Unity with Nature’ program’s mailing list. At a minimum, members are expected to take on one of the small tasks for the year as well as help communicate with Monthly Meetings.

Members are very welcome to bring their leadings for new special projects which they are willing to work on and that further the goals and Charter of the Unity with Nature Committee.

June 2017

(pending)

The Presiding Clerk of Pacific Yearly Meeting should be a seasoned Friend, spiritually grounded, able to preside over a large group, and be able to work easily with others. Good institutional memory of Pacific Yearly Meeting is desirable, including attendance at some recent annual sessions. They must be a member of a constituent Monthly Meeting. Familiarity with Faith and Practice and other Quaker literature is needed.

The Clerk should be able to comprehend readily, evaluate rightly, and state clearly concerns brought for consideration and items of business brought for action. They must have the ability to gather the sense of the Meeting, including to discern when unity has gathered the meeting together and when it has not.

The Clerk should be able and willing to make decisions on behalf of Yearly Meeting when immediate action is required and when an appropriate committee is not available to consider carefully and make a recommendation. In such cases the Clerk will consult with seasoned Friends in the yearly meeting, including officers and clerks of committees as the Clerk sees appropriate.

The Clerk bears primary responsibility for the work of the Yearly Meeting, including the plenary sessions. They prepare the agenda and set the time and place for items, sensing the importance or urgency and possible time requirements of the items. The Clerk coordinates the business between annual sessions, involving the Assistant to the Clerk and others as appropriate.

The Clerk is responsible for minutes of all meetings for business; minutes are prepared by the Recording Clerks. The Clerk is an ex-officio member of all committees of the Yearly Meeting and should attend at least some of the meetings of Ministry Committee. The Clerk keeps close enough to the work of the committees to be aware of business which may come before the Yearly Meeting, discerning whether it is appropriate for Yearly Meeting action. The Clerk, in conjunction with Nominating Committee, keeps attuned to any committees which are not functioning well so that action may be taken to strengthen them. There is much preparation work, especially between Representative Committee meeting and the annual summer session.

The term of office is one year; however, clerks are usually asked to serve for three consecutive terms. It is assumed that, in accepting appointment as Presiding Clerk, that person would envisage being able to serve more than one term.

Tasks:

• Compose the Call to Annual Session prior to annual session, and, with the Assistant to the Clerk, sees to its timely distribution.
• Prepare the agenda for plenary sessions and for Representative Committee, setting the time and place for items on the agenda, and sensing the importance and/or urgency of the items.
• Preside at plenary sessions at the annual sessions and at Representative Committee meeting.
• In consultation with Ministry Committee, decide on the theme, if any, for the Yearly Meeting annual session, the overall schedule for the annual session and the selection of keynote speaker(s), if any, for the annual session.
• Oversee the minutes of the plenary sessions at Annual Session (drafted by the Recording Clerks) and takes final responsibility for their accuracy and completeness.
• Responsible for final sign-off on the completed minutes of both Annual Session and Representative Committee. May require a special effort to see that the minutes are finalized for distribution in a timely manner.
• Follow through on notification of tasks assigned by the Yearly Meeting, ensuring that the instructions of the Yearly Meeting are carried out. (Is ultimately responsible that instructions/actions are carried out.)
• At the request of, and in consultation with, the clerk of Nominating Committee, may appoint Friends to fill critical officer, committee or other vacancies between Annual Session and Representative Committee meetings.
• Sign all official papers and minutes.
• Available to meet with the Ministry Committee as needed during the year and with other committees and individuals on an as-needed basis.
• Available throughout the year to respond to concerns that require a Yearly Meeting response, whether raised by individuals, Monthly Meetings, Quarterly Meetings, or from outside the yearly meeting. May require contact with or referral to other officers of the yearly meeting or with clerks of committees.

The Clerk is also responsible for the following tasks, which may be delegated:

• Forwarding the Pacific Yearly Meeting Epistles to Yearly Meetings throughout the world.
• Selecting the location of any Representative Committee meeting which is not concurrent with Annual Session.
• Receiving correspondence to Pacific Yearly Meeting and distributing as appropriate.
• Verifying that Representatives to Pacific Yearly Meeting from each Monthly Meeting are appointed.

TIME EXPECTATIONS AND TIME LINES
Can expect 8-12 hours of activity per week in the quiet months of the year in addition to preparation time for the Annual Session, Representative Committee, and time attending committee meetings, e.g., with Ministry Committee, as well as full time at the Annual Session and Representative Committee meeting.

The Clerk will find activity increases as Winter begins. Preparations must be made for Representative Committee. There should be communication with officers, committees, and meetings so all know their roles as well as when, where, and what is to be considered at Representative Committee.

Before Summer begins, the Clerk will again be communicating about preparations for Annual Session, distributing draft schedules and agenda, and making sure committees and officers are handling their responsibilities for the Annual Session. It is helpful to give guidance to Recording Clerks, Reading Clerk, and Assistant to the Clerk so that the “clerks at the table” can work smoothly together at Annual Session and support each other in their roles.

Follow-up to Annual Session requires particular attention to finalizing the minutes for distribution, assuring that assignments to individuals and committees are clear and being carried out, and distribution of the Epistle to all other Yearly Meetings is completed.

April 2015

The Reading Clerk reads Epistles sent to the Yearly Meeting. The Reading Clerk makes a selection among them to read at the plenary sessions at Annual Session, some in their entirety, but often just excerpted sections.

The Reading Clerk should have a clear and pleasant voice and good enunciation. In recent years, Reading Clerks have been chosen from among Young Friends and alternately from among older Friends who have given long service to the Yearly Meeting.

The term of office is one year.

July 2005

It is the job of the Recording Clerk to transcribe faithfully the proceedings of the plenary sessions of the Yearly Meeting at Annual Session and the meetings of the Representative Committee. The Recording Clerk must be able to formulate and put immediately into written form the sense and conclusions of the plenary sessions.

A good command of English is desirable, as is knowledge of Quaker process. They write faithful, concise, and accurate records of the minutes of action as discerned and stated by the Presiding Clerk. Where there are necessary minutes of exercise, records the sense of the discussion and important points. It is indeed helpful for the Recording Clerk to be able to take draft minutes directly onto a computer, or transcribe them on to a computer. (Possession of a laptop computer is a plus.)

Minutes should be a distillation of essentials, not “shorthand reporting;” least of all a full account of every discussion. Accuracy of minutes is ultimately the responsibility of the Presiding Clerk, who, when the matter is in doubt will formulate and state the “sense of the meeting” before moving on to other business.

The term of office is two years overlapping.

July 2005

The Statistical Clerk maintains the official list of members of Pacific Yearly Meeting. They assemble annual statistics of deaths, new memberships, transfers or withdrawals of membership and changes of address from constituent Monthly Meetings.

The term of office is three years. The Statistical Clerk is an ex officio member of the Finance Committee.

2012

The Treasurer is responsible for the financial records of the Yearly Meeting. Facility with numbers and accounting procedures is desirable. Ability to use a computer is necessary. The term of office is three years, October 1 – September 30, consistent with the fiscal year of the Yearly Meeting. The Treasurer is a member of the Finance Committee and the Holding Corporation ex officio.

Tasks:

• Keep complete records of all income and expenditures.
• Receive and hold funds of the Yearly Meeting.
• Maintain bank accounts and other accounts such as Certificates of Deposit, money market funds, etc., as appropriate.
• Make authorized disbursements.
• Present interim financial statements to the Yearly Meeting at Annual Session.
• Present final financial statements for preceding year at Representative Committee meeting in March.
• Reimburse committee expenses authorized by committee clerks.
• Add new line items to the budget when they are approved.

July 2005

AFSC is a non-profit corporation. It undertakes programs of reconciliation and relief in the wake of war and natural disasters. It works for social change in this country and worldwide. It maintains a national headquarters in Philadelphia as well as regional offices throughout the United States. A national Board of Directors, members of which are mostly members of the Religious Society of Friends, sets the policy. A Regional Executive Committee oversees the work of the Regional Office. The Clerk of each regional Committee is a member of the National Board.

Each Yearly Meeting appoints persons to serve as representatives to AFSC. The primary responsibility of the representatives is to develop and maintain a close relationship between the AFSC and the Yearly Meeting.

Pacific Yearly Meeting appoints five persons to serve as representatives, each for a three-year term. Two are named each year. At least one appointee should be able to attend the annual meeting of the Corporation which is held in Philadelphia. One of the five representatives serves as a convener to give guidance about the appointment and to determine the division of travel funds among those who attend the meeting in Philadelphia.

To be qualified for appointment as a representative, a candidate (1) must have serious interest in AFSC; (2) be able financially and time-wise to travel to Philadelphia in November for the annual meeting; (3) be able to attend meetings of the Regional Executive Committee and/or meet with staffs of regional offices.

Tasks:

• Attend annual meeting of AFSC Corporation in Philadelphia in November.
• Prepare a report, in concert with other representatives to AFSC, for the Annual Session of Pacific Yearly Meeting.
• May serve as convener for representatives.
• Attend meetings of the Regional Executive Committee.

July 2005

Friends Bulletin (now Western Friend) is, and has been for the past 70 years, the official journal of the Friends on the West Coast, the Pacific Coast Association of Friends, and the successor organization to these, Pacific Yearly Meeting. In addition, it is now and has been since their formation the official journal for North Pacific Yearly Meeting and Intermountain Yearly Meeting. Previously it was published under the direction of a committee composed mostly of Pacific Yearly Meeting members. To equalize the association among the three Yearly Meetings, in l994 Friends Bulletin incorporated as a non-profit religious corporation. The Board of the corporation now directs publication. It is composed of representatives from each of the three Yearly Meetings which the Bulletin serves.

The magazine is published ten times a year. It is the voice for the unprogrammed Friends in the Western United States. It is subsidized by the three Yearly Meetings, but it endeavors to be self-supporting through selling subscriptions and through solicitations for funds.

Pacific Yearly Meeting appoints three members to the Board. The term of office is three years, one member being appointed annually. One member should act as convener to guide the work and to divide travel funds among the Representatives. The Board’s Clerk may come from any one of the three Yearly Meetings.

To be qualified for a position on the Board, a candidate must be a member of Pacific Yearly Meeting. Desirable traits for Board members include knowledge of business and accounting applicable to a publishing enterprise, being well-read in literature and in Quaker writings, ability to work cooperatively with the editor of the magazine. The Representatives must be able to travel three weekends a year to attend the Board meetings. Members may be appointed to serve as Clerk or other corporate officer.

Tasks:

• Attend meetings of the Board, the location of which cycles among the three Yearly Meetings. The Board of Directors isresponsible for all activities of the corporation. These include:
  • Hiring and evaluating an editor to handle the day-to-day publishing and other operations of the corporation.
  • Establishing and revising the policies for corporate operations, including websites maintained by Friends Bulletin (now Western Friend).
  • Providing oversight over the finances of the corporation by setting a budget and reviewing income and expenses.
  • Serving as liaison to their yearly meeting, providing reports, hearing concerns, soliciting the support of the yearly meeting and in general advocating for the work of the corporation.
  • Reading Friends Bulletin (now Western Friend) publications and providing feedback to the editor and the board.
  • Assisting the editor in raising funds through the solicitation of donors and writing thank you notes to donors.
  • Serving as an officer of the corporation as needed.

The Board currently meets twice a year, with the meeting location cycling between each of the three Yearly Meetings. Additional special meetings may be called if needed, but these are very rare. Board Meetings are generally held in September and February. The Board usually gathers on a Thursday afternoon, works Friday through Saturday, attends local Meeting for Worship on Sunday, and returns home Sunday afternoon or evening. Very occasionally there is a conference phone call.

Email messages between meetings (not counting emails to acknowledge receipt of other emails)? 50 to 75

The committee keeps minutes of their meetings and makes reports to other bodies. Little travel needed (besides to regular meetings) though it’s nice to attend NPYM and IMYM annual sessions.

Fundraising is part of the Board Members’ responsibilities. This may involve organizing fundraising events, writing letters, visiting potential donors, etc.

At the Annual Session of Pacific Yearly Meeting, the reps and the editor get together, perhaps for lunch. They may also hold an interest group.

July 2005

FCNL is the national voice for the testimonies and beliefs of the Religious Society of Friends, bringing spiritual values to bear on the political process. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. With its team of professional lobbyists, it works to eliminate militarismand social injustice, and to promote civil rights, environmental sustainability, better housing, education and health care. Policies are set by a General Committee of more than 200 Friends appointed by twenty-four Yearly Meetings and other Friends organizations. These represent all persuasions of Quakers from the evangelical to the unprogrammed. They develop policy, establish priorities forlegislative lobbying, and approve programs. Statements of Policy are revised on an on-going basis. These are approved by the General Committee and guide all expressions of FCNL views.

FCNL publishes newsletters and background papers, and issues timely and informative calls for action to its grassroots constituency. It works cooperatively with other like-minded lobbying groups in Washington.

Pacific Yearly Meeting appoints six Friends for overlapping three-year terms. Two are appointed each year. These Representativesserve on the General Committee as liaisons between the Yearly Meeting and FCNL, facilitating mutual sharing of needs, concerns and information. One Representative serves as a convener to allocate travel reimbursement or travel support.

One Representative serves as a Convener. The Convener’s responsibilities are:

• Prior to the annual meeting of FCNL, in consultation with the other representatives, to decide on a formula to allocate travelreimbursement or travel support among the representatives,
• At the FCNL annual meeting to call for a meeting of the California delegation,
• After the annual meeting to process the requests for financial reimbursement from the Representatives according to the guidelines provided by the Pacific Yearly Meeting treasurer,
• If possible, prior to the annual session of the Yearly Meeting, organize a meeting of the PacYM representatives to help prepare a report to the Yearly Meeting and attend to other concerns, and finally,
• Have a meeting of the representatives at the PacYM Annual Session and submit the report to Yearly Meeting.

Representatives need to have:

• Serious interest in Congressional legislation, and
• Financial and time-schedule ability to travel to Washington, D.C. in November to attend the annual meeting.

Tasks:

• Attend the annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in November.
• Following the annual meeting of FCNL, promptly contact the “lapsed” donors in the California region on the list provided in (at least) one of the packets prepared by FCNL for that purpose.
• Prepare, in cooperation with the Convener, a report for the annual session of Yearly Meeting.
• Advocate for FCNL work and financial support in Monthly Meetings.
• Keep up with the publications, specifically the monthly Washington Newsletter, and with weekly updates of information about Congressional legislation.

July 2005

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is a worldwide body of diverse Yearly Meetings which acts in a consultative capacity to promote better understanding among the different groups of Friends. These are: the Asia-West Pacific; European-Middle East; Africa; and the Section of the Americas, which meets annually on the weekend closest to March 17. The global organization meets triennially. Through these gatherings and through conferences, intervisitations and publications, Friends seek ways to understand and cherish the diversity of language, culture and custom among the Sections and the varying worship traditions worldwide.

FWCC publishes a directory and a calendar of Yearly Meetings throughout the world. It sponsors the Quaker Youth Pilgrimage and is affiliated with the Quaker United Nations offices in New York and Geneva.

Pacific Yearly Meeting appoints five Friends as Representatives to the Section of the Americas for overlapping three-year terms and appoints three Representatives to the triennial gathering for worship and business. The Representatives name one of their members to serve as convener and one to be an ex-officio member of the Wider Fellowship Among Friends Committee.

Since FWCC is a volunteer organization, the Section of the Americas encourages the Representatives to serve on the committees of the Section. As much as possible, the term of office as Representative should coincide with the term of service on a Section committee. Service to the Section ends at the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Section of the Americas following the Representative’s end of term for the Pacific Yearly Meeting. This means that a Pacific Yearly Meeting Representative’s term ends in August but the Representative continues serving on an FWCC committee through the March annual meeting of the following year.

Representatives need to be sensitive and alert to the possibilities of organizing activities, such as regional gatherings, where Friends can meet face to face.

Tasks:

• Attend the annual meeting of the Section of the Americas.
• Serve on an FWCC committee or be part of its working group. (Do specific tasks for the core committee which meets and plans the committee’s work).
• Assist the convener in making a written and/or plenary report of FWCC activities at the Annual Session of Pacific Yearly Meeting.
• Sponsor interest or working groups at Annual Session.
• Organize a display table at Annual Session (and at Quarterly Meetings when possible).
• Assist with fundraising in a local geographic area (see Section III of the FWCC Representative Handbook).
• May act as Convener of Pacific Yearly Meeting Representatives.
• May act as FWCC Representative on the Pacific Yearly Meeting Wider Fellowship Among Friends Committee.
• May host and introduce FWCC visitors at the Pacific Yearly Meeting Annual Session and at other times during the year.

July 2005

The East West Relations Committee focused on nurturing the work of Friends House Moscow, and promoting intercultural interchange in the Eastern bloc area. Friends House Moscow is an initiative of Friends world wide, which seeks to encourage spiritual growth and the development of a civil society while expressing the unique faith and practice of the Religious Society of Friends.

Tasks:

• Advises and assists Pacific Yearly Meeting representatives to Friends House Moscow.
• Manages funds related to support of Friends House Moscow.
• Assists Quaker activities in Russia and related areas as way opens.
• Makes a report at Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Annual Session.

July 2005

The East West Relations Committee was laid down in 2009.

The Ministry subcommittee on Ministry & Leadings will be responsible for:

• Developing a means, and assisting Monthly Meetings to develop means, for helping Friends to discern when they are experiencing a leading, and supporting them in fulfilling the leading.
• Recommending procedures to Monthly Meetings for ways of supporting individual leadings and ministry through the use of clearness committees, anchor committees, and/or oversight committees.
• Developing mechanisms for helping to fund Friends traveling in the ministry, including overseeing Yearly Meeting funds for these purposes.
• Sponsoring interest groups and other adult education opportunities related to ministry and leadings.
• Sponsoring opportunities to members of anchor committees, elders and others to gather and discuss their work.

July 2005

The Ministry & Leadings Subcommittee is not currently active in 2026.

The Representative Support Subcommittee of Ministry Committee was created to give guidance and support to Monthly Meeting representatives to help them be more effective in their role of representing their Monthly Meeting and serving as a liaison to the Yearly Meeting at Annual Session and Representative Committee.

Members of the Representative Support Subcommittee should be active participants in theYearly Meeting and their Monthly Meetings, with familiarity with and the ability to participate in the Annual Session of the Yearly Meeting. They should have experience with the Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business in the Monthly Meeting and the Yearly Meeting. They should be familiar with the duties, expectations, and timelines for the Meeting Representative to Pacific Yearly Meeting. They should have access to email and familiarity with electronic communication. It would be desirable for members of this subcommittee to have served as Meeting Representatives.

Members of the Representative Support Subcommittee will be invited to serve for a two-year renewable term.

The Representative Support Committee is expected to review the Representative to Yearly Meeting service description with Monthly Meeting Representatives and identify areas in which the Representatives may need support for their role in supporting communication between their Monthly Meetings and the Yearly Meeting, as well as participation in the Yearly Meeting. These may include:

1. Assisting Representatives to best represent their Monthly Meetings.
   • Assist the Monthly Meeting Representatives in understanding the processes and procedures for bringing actions and concerns from the Monthly Meetings to the Representative Committee or Annual Session of the Yearly Meeting.
   • Assist the Representatives in ways of educating the Monthly Meeting on the workings and purposes of the Yearly Meeting.
   • Encourage Representatives to make every effort to attend Representative Committee and Annual Session so that Monthly Meetings are represented in the seasoning and decision making processes.
   • Assist the Representatives in presenting the concerns of their Monthly Meetings at the Representative Committee Meeting and at the Annual Session of the Yearly Meeting.
   • Gather the input from Monthly Meetings from Representatives who are not able to attend Representative Committee or the Annual Session.
2. Assisting Representatives to bring information and items for discernment and seasoning from the Yearly Meeting to the Monthly Meeting.
   • Work with the Representatives to find ways of involving their Monthly Meetings in Yearly Meeting business that requires Monthly Meeting consideration, involvement, and action.
   • Assist Monthly Meeting Representatives in prioritizing and presenting reports of actions and concerns of the Yearly Meeting to their Monthly Meetings.
   • Assist the Representatives in the use of Pacific Yearly Meeting’s website, and ways in which they might encourage their Monthly Meetings to use that website.
3. Encourage participation in the Yearly Meeting.
   • Ensure that the Representatives know the time lines and criteria for applying for scholarships, a resource for transportation options, and how to register for the Annual Session.
   • Reach out and encourage participation from Meetings who do not regularly participate in the Yearly Meeting or Annual Session.

The Representative Support Subcommittee will assist the Yearly Meeting Clerk in providing at least one orientation session for Representatives during each Annual Session. Following the Annual Session, the Subcommittee members will work with the Assistant to the Clerk to identify the Representatives from each Monthly Meeting and Worship group and establish or refine an email network. The Subcommittee may choose to arrange a training for Representatives at some time during the year. Subcommittee members will contact Representatives at least twice per year, the first time between the Annual Session and Representative Committee, and the second time between Representative Committee and the following Annual Session.

October 2011

The Representative Support Subcommittee is not currently active in 2026.

As a subcommittee of the Ministry Committee, the Visiting Friend Committee provides support for Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Visiting Friend.

The subcommittee has three to five members. One member is also a member of the Ministry Committee and serves as liaison to that committee. Members serve for two years in, when possible, overlapping terms.

Tasks:

• The committee provides support for the Visiting Friend by:
  • providing spiritual support to the Visiting Friend
  • overseeing visits, budget, and funds
  • assisting with travel and hospitality arrangements
  • facilitating communication between Meetings wishing to be visited and the Visiting Friend
  • collecting feedback from Meetings and discussing it with the Visiting Friend as appropriate; summarizing feedback for inclusion in the committee’s report to Ministry Committee
  • reviewing annual reports of Visiting Friend
• The committee will report at least annually to the Pacific Yearly Meeting Ministry Committee.
• The committee assists in the selection of the Visiting Friend by:
  • staying aware of Friends who might be good candidates to serve as the Visiting Friend
  • when the current Visiting Friend’s term is nearing its end, the Committee will begin a nominating process to create a list of possible candidates to serve. Candidates on this list will be both suitable and available to serve. The list will be presented to Ministry with recommendations. Naming of the Visiting Friend is the responsibility of the Ministry Committee.

January 2012

The Visiting Friend Subcommittee is not currently active in 2026.

The Pacific Yearly Meeting Visiting Friend, appointed by the Ministry Committee, will travel in the ministry among Monthly Meetings and Worship Groups in Pacific Yearly Meeting in order to help us live more fully in the Spirit and strengthen the bonds of community in the Yearly Meeting. Visitors will be members of a Monthly Meeting, known to the Yearly Meeting and generally recognized as “weighty” Friends. Visitors may be individuals or couples. The term “Visitor” is used below to refer to the Visiting Friend (or Friends) in whatever configuration the Visitor takes at a given time (individual, married or unmarried couple, etc.).

The Visitor will travel over one year and try to visit each Monthly Meeting and Worship Group. In the past the Visitor has had 2-5 topics to present, based on his or her concerns, experience, and answering to the Spirit. The Visitor may be released from duties at their Meeting.

Monthly Meetings may choose a topic for the Visitor to address, either from among topics suggested by the Visitor or a topic that is of particular interest to the Monthly Meeting. The Visitor may provide assistance in discerning a response to an issue in the Meeting.

The Visitor is in regular contact with the support committee throughout the year, and at the end of the visiting year provides a written report to the committee, to be shared with Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Ministry Committee.

There may not be a Visiting Friend each year if the funds do not support it or no suitable Friend is available, allowing the reserve to build up to a level that will support a Visitor.

June 2012

The Visiting Friend program is not currently active in 2026.