As Friends left the Zoom waiting room and joined “The Friends Experiment,” one could sense just a hint of trepidation in the virtual air.
They were being asked to share and explore important, often sensitive topics related to their meetings with other PYM Friends, so it was inevitable that problems would be brought forward for the group to address together.
Is my meeting the only one facing these issues?
Are my challenges even worth bringing up?
What if there’s nothing I can do?
However, thanks to the hard work of our staff and the enthusiastic participation of those in attendance, these concerns melted away.
The first session on Finance & Property began with a moment of silent worship, followed by introductions and the sharing of several queries from PYM staff. After another moment of silent reflection, Friends started speaking up, and a robust conversation ensued.
This was just one of the meetings of the Friends Experiment. This past June, PYM staff facilitated 6 gatherings, bringing together almost 100 Friends to discuss important topics relevant to their meetings.
These topics included Children’s Religious Education, Finance & Property, Pastoral Care, Spiritual Action, Adult Religious Education, and Event Planning & Promotion.
No matter the topic, Friends brought forward insights and questions central to the life of their spiritual communities.
Whether it was asking about how to responsibly care for burial grounds, sharing how one can find whimsy even during hard times, or passing along resources for children’s religious education, those in attendance contributed to in-depth conversations that went beyond their individual meetings.
Following each gathering, PYM staff gathered resources and information to share with the wider body, laying the groundwork for future gatherings and ensuring our staff have the knowledge and connections they need to serve and support the yearly meeting.
One Friend reflected,
“There was a palpable sense of hope and gratitude, and a willingness to stick to the topic, going deeper as we each and all felt led. The time was well used. It’s great to see many aspects of PYM moving forward in substantial ways.”
The hard work of PYM staff and volunteers, when combined with the contributions of everyone who participated in the Friends Experiment, is ensuring that no Friends need feel like they are facing their meeting’s challenges alone.
