Thread Gathering: Eldership

Ministry & Care Thread Gathering

Quaker Eldership: Integral and Controversial

Nurturing ministry and providing pastoral care to the community are essential to the life of a Friends Meeting.  For Quakers these practices are the responsibilities of all Friends.  Yet they are also the charge of those in roles of eldership (Care of Members and Worship & Ministry.)

While these roles are integral to the meeting, they are often misunderstood and their relationship to the authority of the meeting as it seeks to find unity is not clear to many.

Join us as we explore the idea of ministers in our meetings as practical theologians who engage in the tasks of spiritual guidance and pastoral reflection in order to connect the challenges, struggles, and concerns of our current experience to the historic faith tradition and journey of Friends.

We will consider a central query during the workshop: How do you respond to the structured practice of Quaker eldership as spiritual nurturers and guides with a concern for the unity of the meeting?

Workshop leader:  George Schaefer is the former PYM Care & Aging Coordinator.  He currently serves PYM as a volunteer Resource Friend in Ministry & Care.  George carries a long-standing concern for conflict resolution, transformation, and fostering unity among Friends.

Please register in advance for this important and informative program:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIuduivqD8uHdPfTP1Fm0ojkzhz4ikX2Tbr

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.