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.)
by WebPost | Jun 3, 2011 | Finances, Minuted Decisions
Richmond Friends Meeting Travel Policy
Proposed by Financial Stewardship Committee
Approved Eleventh Month, 2010
This paper lays out the manner in which Richmond Friends Meeting members and attenders may request financial support for travel related to voluntary service to Quaker organizations beyond the RFM community, or other Quaker pursuits. The opportunity to travel and learn more about the work of the Religious Society of Friends and to support RFM by representing our community is generally considered an act of service that enriches both the individual and the Meeting. Thus it is hoped that individuals will bear their own travel costs whenever feasible. However, no one should feel that opportunities to serve are hampered by lack of funds. In cases where personal funds are limited, Richmond Friends Meeting may supplement personal funds in the following ways.
There typically are five situations that may require occasional travel:
1) Those individuals recruited by Nominating Committee and approved by Meeting to represent RFM on Quaker organizations (examples: FCNL, AFSC, Quaker House, Friends General Conference, Baltimore Yearly Meeting)
2) Those individuals accepting leadership assignments directly from Baltimore Yearly Meeting or Quaker organizations outside of RFM
3) Those individuals chosen by RFM committees to represent our Meeting in Yearly Meeting activities
4) Those individuals requesting scholarships for Yearly Meeting participation or other Quaker opportunities
5) Those individuals who are called to travel in spiritual service and whose ministry is under the care of Richmond Friends Meeting
The guidance for financial assistance in each situation is provided as follows:
1) Those individuals recruited by Nominating Committee and approved by Meeting to represent RFM on Quaker organizations (examples: FCNL, AFSC, Quaker House, Friends General Conference, Baltimore Yearly Meeting). Each of these individual positions is under the care of an associated committee: Thus
Under the care of Ministry and Worship: Baltimore Yearly Meeting rep, Friends General Counsel rep
Under the care of Peace and Social Concerns: American Friends Service Committee rep, Friends Council on National Legislation rep, Quaker House rep
Thus, our guidance is that committees with associated individual positions under their care should anticipate any related travel expenses beyond the financial capacity of the individual accepting the position and itemize this expense in their annual budget request.
2) Those individuals accepting leadership assignments directly from Baltimore Yearly Meeting or Quaker organizations outside of RFM
When an individual is invited to serve a Quaker organization and chooses to do so out of genuine interest independent of Richmond Friends Meeting, our guidance is that participation at that level and all relevant expense should be the responsibility of the individual. (If assistance is essential in order to serve, see 4c below)
3) Those individuals chosen by RFM committees to represent our Meeting in Yearly Meeting activities
If an RFM committee decides it is useful and productive to endorse a committee member to serve in a related role at the Yearly Meeting level, the committee should anticipate any related travel expenses beyond the financial capacity of the individual accepting the position and itemize this expense in their annual budget request.
4) Those individuals requesting scholarships for Yearly Meeting participation or other Quaker opportunities
When there is a serious need for supplemental travel funds, Friends are encouraged to take their request for support to a relevant committee. The committee may a) consider reallocating the use of its budgeted funds; or b) include the travel request it its annual budget request; or c) propose to Financial Stewardship for recommendation and approval by Meeting for Business an event to raise funds to support the travel-related activity.
Technically, there are no funds in the RFM general fund budget specifically designated for travel support. Modest support is available through the Mary Hulburt Scholarship Fund for first-time attendance at Friends General Conference; this fund is administered by the Care and Counsel committee.
5) Those who are called to travel in spiritual service and whose ministry is under the care of Richmond Friends Meeting
BYM Faith and Practice clearly states on this subject:
A Friend who feels called to travel in Truth’s service to visit with families, make public speeches, speak at called meetings, or the like should lay the concern before the Monthly Meeting, preferably first bringing it to the Committee on Ministry and Counsel.
If the Meeting unites with the concern, it should record a minute describing its member’s leading and proposed service, expressing the Meeting’s approval and support, and asking for the assistance of Friends to be visited. The Meeting should provide the Friend under concern with a copy of the minute.
The Friend who sets out on such a journey should be accompanied, when practical, by a Friend in sympathy with the concern and able to give counsel and companionship. The Monthly Meeting issuing the minute is responsible for seeing that the service is not hampered by lack of funds.
Thus, our guidance is that anyone called to travel in spiritual service and whose ministry is under the care of Richmond Friends Meeting may be supported in those endeavors, if needed, by and through a relevant committee, and it is the committee’s responsibility to anticipate reasonable and relevant expenses to present in a budget to monthly meeting via Financial Stewardship Committee.
