A Community of Practice is a group of Friends who focus on the same part of meeting life and are seeking to learn through shared experience. This may include care for worship, peace work, religious education, outreach, or the responsibilities that steward the life of the meeting. Each of these is its own practice. Many Friends are already engaged in this work, whether they have been doing it for years or are just beginning. Naming it as a Community of Practice helps our community recognize the learning, the questions, and the care that move through it.
Within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, we also use the word Thread. It reminds us that this kind of work runs through all our meetings and ties us together. Whether someone says Thread or Community of Practice, they may be naming the same thing. It is a way to describe how Friends connect through shared attention and shared responsibility.
The Communities of Practice Include:
The Ministry & Care Community continues the work of spiritual and pastoral care. This might include worship, clearness, care for individuals and families, eldership, or supporting ministry.
The Peace & Social Justice Community supports Friends led toward peace work. These Friend may be interested on community partnerships, direct action, advocacy, or how Friends participate alongside movements for justice.
The Religious Education Community is focused in spiritual learning. Friends may be interested in First Day School resources, adult education, study groups, retreats, or intergenerational exploration of Friends.
The Communications & Outreach Community connects those who help meetings stay visible, supportive, and welcoming. This includes greeting newcomers in different way, sending newsletters, maintaining an online presence, meeting signage, and sharing the life of the meeting.
The Governance & Stewardship Community is to support Friends who are contributing to how meetings function. That may include clerking, finances, committees, property, graveyards, or discernment processes.
Friends are also encouraged to connect around the threads on PYM Connect. If you are not yet registered: Join.
