HOW
WE FUNCTION
The Storrs Friends Meeting has no professional
minister, or staff. Everything we do is done by members
of our community, volunteering and nominated from within
the community. The daily affairs and functions of our community are under the
care of designated committees, some following longtime Quaker tradition and practice,
others evolving with the times. As a friend in our Meeting once said, "We
work like a co-op!"
(For a list and description of our officers
and committees, please see below on this page.)
This means that in the work of the Meeting each one brings
their measure of the Inward Light. Any one might be tapped
by the Divine to serve the group.
As one of the founding 17th century Quakers once said, "There is that
of God in every one".
This also means that our method of doing the Meeting's
business goes beyond consensus. We hold monthly worship
meetings to conduct our business, and try
to know where the Divine is leading us in our actions. We find that we're led
in clear, powerful and sometimes unexpected ways when there's a sense of unity
among those present. An appointed Clerk serves to listen for the sense of the
group and, as a seasoned Clerk from Philadelphia once said, "Call it out".
Our
Officers and Committees
Clerk of the Meeting is
responsible for leading the monthly meeting for worship
to conduct business,
and communicating with committees in the process of bringing
forth business before the whole meeting.The Clerk also serves
as main liaison to our outside communities.
Assistant Clerk assists the Clerk in her
or his work.
Recording Clerk is responsible for writing
up the minutes (actions) of the meeting for worship to conduct
business. Works with the Clerk in discerning and articulating
the sense and unity of the meeting.
Treasurer deposits the income and pays
the expenditures approved by the meeting in its annual budget.
Ministry and Counsel Committee is
responsible for oversight of the spiritual, emotional and
physical health
of the meeting and its members. It is composed of the members
of the Ministry and Worship and Pastoral Care Committees.
Ministry and Worship Committee is especially attentive to
the quality of worship and the community’s spiritual
seeking. It provides guidance on vocal ministry and the spiritual
health of the meeting and its members.
Pastoral Care Committee comes to know all
of the members of the meeting, to share their joys and sorrows,
and to find ways to encourage and help them.
Nominating Committee discerns with Divine
guidance on the selection of the officers of the meeting,
the membership of the Ministry and Counsel committee and
the clerks of many of the committees. Reports the result
of this discernment to the monthly meeting for worship to
conduct business for its approval or modification.
Witness Support Committee supports individuals
in their call to witness the spiritual testimonies in some
specific way.
First Day School Committee cares for the
spiritual, social and emotional growth of the children of
the meeting. Organizes Sunday and general programs.
Finance Committee is responsible for developing
the meetings annual budget for presentation to the meeting
for business, Oversees the financial health of the meeting
Building Maintenance Committee is responsible
for maintenance of the meetinghouse.
Building Care Committee is responsible
for the cleanliness of the meetinghouse.
Landscape/Grounds Committee is responsible
for maintenance of external grounds and landscaping of the
meetinghouse.
Library Committee selects and orders books
for the library, and keeps the library and lending process
in order.
Communication Committee is
responsible for oversight of the website, the meeting’s
monthly newsletter, our directory of members and attenders,
and public
notices of the meeting.
Archives Committee maintains the historical
documents of the meeting.
Music Committee oversees
the musical ministry and instruments of the meeting.
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