by WebPost | Jun 22, 2014 | Adult Spiritual Education, History - Quaker, Library
The Library Committee plans to feature periodically books that may be of particular interest to Friends. Currently featured are two books about Margaret Fell:
Undaunted Zeal: The Letters of Margaret Fell, editor and introduction by Elsa F. Glines
Margaret Fell and The End of Time: The Theology of Modern Quakerism , Sally Bruyneel
They are located along the board with Quaker magazines and other items of interest.
by WebPost | Jun 4, 2014 | Adult Spiritual Education
Adult Spiritual Education Scholarship Fund
Jean Jones Andersen’s passion for spiritual education led her to leave our community funds to support adults in taking classes, retreats, workshops, etc. to further their spiritual education. If you have an idea, vision, or leading towards some kind of spiritual growth opportunity–a workshop at PendleHill, a retreat, the Baltimore Yearly Meeting, etc.–and you need funds to make it happen, the members of the Adult Spiritual Education Committee–clerk Mary Fran Hughes-McIntyre, Bette Gilchrist, Betsy Brinson, Martha Menk, Monica Shaw, and Leslie Shiel–invite you to submit your request–a letter to our committee–explaining the project and asking for what you need.
Scholarships are also available for families who would like to attend one of the upcoming summer Quaker Conferences: FGC (June 29-July 5, “Let Love Be the First Motion,” held at Cal U in California, PA, 35 miles south of Pittsburgh) or BYM (Aug. 5-Aug. 10, “Transformation and Healing,” Frostburg St. University in western Maryland).
You may leave your letter in the ASE mailbox at meeting house, mail it to Richmond Friends Meeting, 4500 Kensington Avenue, VA 23221-2301 (c/o Adult Spiritual Education Committee), or email one of the committee members.
by WebPost | Jun 3, 2014 | Adult Spiritual Education, Finances
The following are the guidelines established by the Adult Spiritual Education Committee for funding scholarships to Quaker programs.
Adult Spiritual Education Committee Guidelines for Funding Scholarships
- The Scholarship Fund intends to facilitate RFM’s adult spiritual education by sponsoring involvement within the wider Quaker community (BYM, FGC, FUM, Pendle Hill, School of the Spirit and other Quaker-based programs).
- Expenditures that benefit Meeting as a whole are prioritized, such as support for visiting retreat leaders or education of individuals in ways that support larger meeting concerns.
- Written requests (letters) with a proposal can come from either committees or individuals (members or active attenders).
- Funds are awarded on the basis of financial need, determined by a simple committee / personal statement. Use of other available funds is also encouraged.
- Recipients are expected to write a note for ASE archives documenting completion of the proposed experience or project. Sharing what was learned with the larger meeting community will be welcomed (e.g. Newsletter article, ASE program, committee work, etc.).
- Availability of funds will be announced in conjunction with the advertisement of specific programs (such as the BYM Spiritual Formation retreat). Periodically, ASE will inform the Meeting of educational opportunities and resources in the wider Quaker community.
by WebPost | Jun 3, 2011 | Adult Spiritual Education, History - RFM, Minuted Decisions
In her will, Jean Jones Anderson offered a bequest to Meeting, with the stipulation that it be used for adult spiritual education. After much consideration, in November 2011, Meeting approved the following policy governing the use of the bequest.
Recommendations from the Bequest Use Committee to Richmond Friends Meeting Approved by 11th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business (11/21/2010)
After a series of committee meetings, a listening circle, presentation at 10th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business, and with consideration of feedback from the broader RFM community, the Bequest Use Committee brought the following recommendations to 11th Month Meeting:
- The Bequest Use Committee recommends the formation of a new Committee: The Adult Spiritual Education Committee (ASE). This Committee would have responsibility for adult spiritual education as defined by Ministry & Worship, as specified in Jean’s will. Responsibilities of the new committee would include the study of scriptures (such as Bible Workbench), the study of Quaker history, testimonies, and values (such as Quakerism 101), study groups (such as Spiritual Formation), speakers, forums, adult religious education, and other activities. These responsibilities would transfer to ASE from Ministry & Worship (M&W) Committee. Fall Retreat will be a joint responsibility of these two committees.
- ASE would have an annual budget from Jean’s bequest to develop programs that benefit our Meeting as a whole and to purchase materials for Bible Workbench. In addition, ASE could use some funds to award need- based scholarships for individuals (members and attenders) who want to participate in adult spiritual education activities, especially those sponsored by the wider Religious Society of Friends. Because the Mary Hulburt Fund is designated for first-time participation in specific Quaker activities, it seems appropriate that ASE administer this fund.
- The Bequest Use Committee recommends that the members of ASE be members of Richmond Friends Meeting and that they be appointed for three years, with staggered initial terms to ensure continuity of membership over time. Current members of M&W who have one or two years remaining on their terms should be allowed to choose either to continue on M&W or to serve on ASE. Nominating Committee will determine the appropriate size of ASE and M&W and will fill ASE as soon as feasible. Like other committees, ASE will report periodically to Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business on its activities and accomplishments.
- ASE will work with Financial Stewardship to develop guidelines for the investment and expenditure of the bequest funds over time. ASE and Financial Stewardship will present these guidelines to Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business for approval as soon as practicable. In developing these guidelines, the committees will consider the following recommendations made by the Bequest Use Committee and approved, in principle, by Meeting at 11th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business:
- Since the amount of the bequest funds is still unknown, the Bequest Use Committee recommends dividing the funds into two parts for budgeting purposes. The Bequest Use Committee recommends that $20,000 of the funds from the bequest be held in reserve, to be invested and monitored by Financial Stewardship. It is anticipated that these funds would grow over time and would generate income to be used for adult spiritual education after the amount over $20,000 (see paragraph 4.b., below) has been expended.
- The Bequest Use Committee recommends an annual budget for ASE of five to 10 percent of the amount of the bequest funds over $20,000 for a period of ten to twenty years, depending on the amount expended each year. The exact amount of each year’s budget will be determined through the normal budgeting process and approved in a Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business.
- Following the review and support of this proposal by M&W, this proposal was presented at the 11th Month Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business and refinements suggested at that Meeting are reflected here.
These recommendations were approved and the Bequest Use Committee is now laid down. (Committee Members: T.J. Armstrong, Diane Bowden, Howard Garner (clerk), Bette Gilchrist, Steve Humphrey and Rita Willett.)
