FALL 20088 Sixth Month 2008
Salem Quarterly Meeting met 8 Sixth Month 2008, at the meetinghouse in Lower Alloways Creek Township. Out of worship, Clerk Sondra Ball (Mickleton) convened the meeting. There was a Friendly presence of nineteen for business with all but one Monthly Meeting represented.
Minutes of the previous quarterly meeting on 9 Twelfth Month 2007 were approved as they appeared in Salem Quarter News with a commendation to the recording clerk. Meeting also approved adding two items to the printed agenda.
Governance Committee Report
Friends discussed the Governance Report from Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The following observations were made:
- It is the intention to not create two classes, but to integrate Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Interim Meeting.
- The tone of the report seemed to imply that the objective was to make Interim Meeting more spiritually responsive in bringing the meeting to the core of business.
- There is a blurring of the distinction between Yearly Meeting in session and Interim Meeting with regards to who is to carry on with what can’t wait; in the past Interim Meeting was restricted.
- Continuing sessions should not have the same weight as Annual Sessions.
Friends shared concerns regarding the quantity of work of one presiding clerk instead of two; the effect of term limits on smaller meetings; and the reduction of the number of times that Interim Meeting would meet during the year with a consideration of financial implications on attendance.
Based on the discussion Friends approved the following minute:
Salem Quarterly Meeting discussed the governance report and approved the decision that the clerk should forward a record of our comments and concerns to the clerks of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and Interim Meeting, the General Secretary, as well as the clerks of the other quarters and monthly meetings.
Quota or Covenant
Friends considered the manner in which Salem Quarterly Meeting is currently funded, a quota system where each monthly meeting’s contribution is calculated by the number of members that they have reported to PYM, versus a covenant system where each monthly meeting determines the amount they pledge to the quarter. Thoughts ranged from the acknowledgement that some meetings were confused and thought there was a covenant system already, to assessments that the current system seems to work and perhaps some fine tuning adjustments are all that is needed. It was noted that a system appropriate for PYM does not always transfer directly to a quarterly meeting that does not have the same alternative sources of revenue, size of staff, or as many sources of input on which to base decisions. Some concern regarding the timeliness of the membership statistics remains, as does the number of members who provide all the financial support for the smaller meetings.
Based on the discussion Friends approved the following minute.
Upon determining that there is no clear sense of the meeting regarding a change from a quota to a covenant system in financing Salem Quarterly Meeting, Salem Quarterly Meeting approved charging the Finance Committee with considering possible adjustments to the system to make it fit the needs of the meetings. They are empowered to draft members’ assistance as needed.
Child Safety Committee
The Child Safety committee has been non-functional and the policy is noted as unwieldy. Compliance with the policy was a difficult issue in making plans for Quarterly Meeting.
Based on the discussion Friends approved the following minute.
Salem Quarterly Meeting determined that our Child Safety Policy is unwieldy. The Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee is charged with drafting a more simplified policy that will still meet the insurance requirements and bringing such a proposal to Salem Quarterly Meeting on 9/14/2008 when at such time a decision regarding the status of the Child Safety Committee will be made.
Godly Play
Diane Metz (Seaville) reported on the plans for the Godly Play workshop scheduled for 9/27/2008. There is a maximum enrollment of 15. It is for adults only. Flyers are to be sent to the monthly meetings in Salem Quarter and to Atlantic City Area MM. The overall cost of conducting the workshop is $350; Seaville Monthly Meeting requested financial assistance from the quarter.
Salem Quarterly Meeting approved $350 financial support to Seaville Monthly Meeting for the Godly Play workshop. Dianne Sloane, Salem Quarterly Meeting treasurer, will determine the appropriate source from which to draw the funds.
Trustees
The Salem Quarter Trustees met and discussed the care of the Lower Alloways Creek property and the issues with the two graveyards under the care of the quarter. They noted that they need maps for those graveyards and they will be considering the formation of a burial policy. The Trustees report was accepted with a note of appreciation for such a clear and concise report.
Written reports were presented and accepted from the Worship & Ministry Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Committee on Caring.
Salem Quarterly Meeting accepted the report from the Steering Committee and approved the Salem Quarterly Meeting Steering Committee recommendation to “give no weight” to the statements presented as decisions of Woodbury Monthly Meeting until unity is restored in that meeting.
The clerk made announcements regarding a variety of yearly, quarterly and monthly meeting events. Sondra thanked the Salem Quarterly Meeting Trustees and the Salem Monthly Meeting Worship & Ministry Committee for their work in preparing the Lower Alloways Creek property for our visit. She also thanked Michael Gibson for his inspired musical program and reminded Friends to complete the evaluation forms. Meeting was closed with worship.
Rebecca Shapiro, assistant clerkRETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Monday, August 11, 2008 at 10:29 PM
