On Saturday, October 10, the three councils that support Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM)—Quaker Life Council, Administrative Council, and Nominating Council—held their meeting in the joint format. In this structure, all three councils meet together as one Joint Council to worship, discern, and conduct business collaboratively. Their practice is to share the minutes in a news story with the PYM community in the weeks following the meeting.
Each month, the council selects one item from its agenda or conversation to lift up. This month, the council is sharing conversations about the Governance Advisory Committee proposal and the role of PYM Collaboratives.
Joint Council received a revised proposal to combine the two councils into one PYM Council. The proposal includes changes to how the Nominating Committee reports to the yearly meeting and clarifies how the three clerks might share responsibilities. Friends considered what these changes could mean for the governance of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Council also considered the role of PYM Collaboratives, which bring Friends together around shared interests, concerns, and ministries. Friends discussed how Collaboratives can become better known throughout the yearly meeting, including opportunities to participate in Sessions, attend council meetings, and share information about their activities.
As Friends consider a combined council, questions remain about how PYM can better support Collaboratives and their witness across the yearly meeting.
