AGATE PASSAGE FRIENDS PREPARATIVE MEETING

MEETING FOR BUSINESS - July 21, 2002

Ø PRESENT: Ed and Diana Sheridan, Bob and Millie Royce, Deborah Anderson, Nancy Dodson, Nancy Brantingham, Elizabeth Zwick, Kathryn Keve, Barbara Wolf, Ann Stever, George and Mary Lou Kenny, Leni and Bob Skarin, Della Walker, Alan Mountjoy-Venning

Ø The meeting began with the silent inquiry: Are our meetings for Business held in the spirit of a Meeting for Worship in which we seek divine guidance for our actions in love and mutual forbearance?

Ø MINUTES of the last meeting, 5/19/02, were reviewed
.

Ø MEETING CALENDAR:

· 8/16/02 Potluck & Discussion at Judy Brown’s house – 6 PM, The discussion theme will be the potential war with Iraq, and what our response should be.

· 8/25/02 at Dorothy & Jim Rana-Meadows’ house. Silent worship at 10 AM

· 9/11/02 Ministry and Oversight will have a regular planning meeting in preparation for our Business Meeting on 9/15/02.

· 9/22/02 Elizabeth Zwick, Bainbridge Island

· 9/27-29/02 Pacific North West Quarterly, Lazy F Camp, Ellensburg, Washington

· 9/29/02 Location for home meeting is not yet determined.

First Day Education Sign Ups:

8/4/02 Deborah Anderson

8/11/02 Diana Sheridan

8/18/02 Mille Royce

9/1/02 not yet determined _____________

9/8/02 not yet determined _____________

9/15/02 Elizabeth Zwick

FINANCE: Nancy Dodson gave the financial report. Balance in Meeting’s account is $2626.70. Nancy and Ed are moving to Olympia and Barbara Morrison will replace her as Treasurer.

 

OTHER BUSINESS: Elizabeth Zwick stated that a friend has requested that she act as the designated payee for his State of Washington funds, under the care of our Preparative Meeting. There was consensus that the matter be discussed further at the August potluck to take place at Judy Brown’s house. In the meantime offer our support to Elizabeth.

MINISTRY AND OVERSIGHT REPORT: The Committee met on July 17, 2002, at the home of Bob Major. Present were: Bob Major, Diana and Ed Sheridan, Gayle Henry, Deborah Anderson, and Bob and Millie Royce.

Essentially this was an inquiry about our worship. In particular, are we meeting in the expectant waiting for the Light? What can we do as a meeting to deepen our experience of silent worship? How can we provide friendly guidance and teaching about worship? From this wide ranging discussion came some ideas and specific recommendations:

· Educating ourselves and newcomers about Quakerism and the Quaker meeting should be a continuing process

· Learn from each other by holding a special discussion on worship in the Fall; the format for this will be suggested by the Ministry and Oversight Committee

· Have worship discussions on Queries from Faith and Practice before our regular Worship Meeting

· Provide guidance to new attenders through a Welcoming sign, and distribution of our printed statement on Quaker Worship.

· Minimize our discussions at the Rise of Worship by eliminating the sharing of insights afterwards. Also we would only include Quaker-related announcements, and post Community announcements on our Bulletin Board. This would allow some to leave in silence at the Rise of Worship.

Because there were so few members present, this discussion will be discussed further at the September Meeting for Worship for Business.

Visitation Committee Discussion

Della Walker suggests a Care Committee to handle requests for aid and for support, and which would include concerns about Meeting functioning. She further suggested a possible change of name to Ministry and Counsel, as perhaps a more accurate description of the Committee’s activities.

Anne Stever inquired what do Agate Passage members feel about emphasis on the "silent" meeting for worship in contrast to "worship" aspect of the meeting. She suggested that emphasis on the silence not be overdone.

Alan Mountjoy-Vennig also discussed the importance of members and attenders being able to feel that their questions relating to meeting matters will be heard and, when necessary, be acted upon. We must make sure they know where to take their concerns.

The Meeting expressed appreciation for the presence of the Visitation Committee composed of members from University Friends Meeting, the Tacoma Meeting, the Olympia Meeting, the Port Townsend Meeting and Yakima Worship Group pursuant to the granting of full Meeting status to Agate Passage Friends.

The meeting closed with a few moments of silence.

Bob & Millie Royce

Acting Recorders