Every Friend that shares their gifts, skills, and opportunities within our faith community keeps our community connected.
There are many ways to share such as hospitality, helping to organize events, caring for others, or supporting programs. Each effort plays a role in keeping the community whole.
Serve On Governance
Many roles support the interconnection of PYM, focusing on creating space for worship, learning, and fellowship. The Nominating Council helps match people’s strengths with the needs of the community, primarily within the governance structure councils, Elders, Climate Witness Stewards, and representatives to sister organizations. Individuals may express interest on their own, or another Friend may recommend them. While Nominating Council does not appoint people to committees, granting groups, or collaboratives, the nature of its work sometimes leads to connections that support those roles as well.
If you would like to nominate someone to serve or express interest in serving in a governance role within the yearly meeting, please contact Nominating Council clerk, George Schaefer at gschaefer@pym.org.
Attend Finding Friends: Outreach and Faithful Sharing
Gather online on Saturday, September 19, from 10:00 am to 3:15 pm for a day of workshops around outreach.
This event is free and all PYM Friends are welcome, especially for Friends who already feel a spark for outreach in their meeting and are looking for direction and practical tools to act on. This includes Friends who are not part of a formal committee. Friends can learn more and register at pym.org/findingfriends.
Granting Groups is an Opportunity for Stewardship
Granting groups offer a different kind of service. These groups reflect on applications and decide how to share resources. The work is shared and grounded in community needs. People of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate. Taking part in a granting group is one way to help ensure support reaches individuals, meetings, communities, and projects that are aligned with the grants purpose. Friends interested in learning more about Granting Groups can connect with Joey Leroux at jleroux@pym.org.
Share your Meetings Minutes
Minutes record kinds of meeting decisions, including recognition of a Friend’s religious service, a shared concern for peace and justice, or a memorial minute. These records show how discernment moves through body, and how meetings bring forward commitments.
If your meeting has approved a minute this year, you can share the text with Philadelphia Yearly Meeting at communications@pym.org, publish it through the PYM news feed, or submit information about a related event so it appears on the PYM calendar.
Facilitate a Workshop with Friends General Conference (FGC)
Workshop proposals are open for the 2027 Gathering! PYM Friends interested have until September 30 to apply. The theme for 2027 Gathering is Bearing Witness in Word and Deed. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4cqJS5M.
Collaboratives Connect Friends Across the Region
Some Friends connect through shared work on specific concerns. Collaboratives are community-formed groups that focus on an area of interest, such as social justice, climate care, or spiritual development. The different collaboratives connect people together across geography, meetings, and ministries to work on shared goals. Collaboratives are open to new participants and shaped by the people who form them. Friends who want more information on Collaboratives such as what one might be the right fit can connect with Claire Kinnel at ckinnel@pym.org.
Share Hospitality with Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC)
Friends in the Philadelphia metro who can host an FWCC Executive Committee member from the evening of October 8 through worship on October 11 are encouraged to volunteer. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting meetings are invited to share this opportunity with Friends who may be able to provide hospitality. Friends can learn more at bit.ly/4iNSGq6.
Attend the Upcoming One Pamphlet, One Yearly Meeting Discussion
Gather online on Thursday, October 29, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm for an evening discussion on this year’s One Pamphlet, One Yearly Meeting.
This year’s read is Pendle Hill Pamphlet 495: Patterns of Racial Wounding and Racial Justice in Quaker Communities by Lauren Brownlee and Zenaida Peterson. Learn more and register at bit.ly/4xzjxe7.
Share and Outreach Tip
Outreach Tip of the Week is a short note that Friends can use right away or discern that appears in weekly Thursday Newsletter. This tip will share one practical idea for welcoming seekers into meeting life or connecting with the meetings body. Friends can share an outreach tip at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G95LMJD.
Adult Volunteers for Young Friends Activities
Volunteers that work with young people in Philadelphia Yearly Meeting youth programs are called Friendly Presences, and these people are essential to the Young Friends Program.
Friendly Presences with the Young Friends program are:
- Friends who love being in multi-generational community with youth.
- At least 21 years old.
- Known in a Quaker community or a community like PYM for at least six months prior to service.
Friends interested in volunteering with youth should connect with Kristin Simmons at ksimmons@pym.org.
Financial Giving in Connection and Care
Financial contributions are also part of how we sustain this community. PYM ensures that all of a donor’s contribution is used directly for this work by covering transaction fees. Giving to PYM doesn’t have to be large to be meaningful. Any amount, offered freely, supports the ongoing work of connection and care. Friends can learn more at pym.org/donate/donate-to-pym/.
When people give time, skills, or resources, they help shape an interconnected and welcoming yearly meeting. There is no one way to take part. Every contribution is part of our shared life. Together, we support one another and move forward with care, guided by values that help keep us rooted and open.
