Omaha Friends Meeting

Meeting for Business

16 March 2008

Present: Debbie, Frank, Denise, Denny, Carol, Nancy, Pam, and Lynda

Minutes  from February 17 were approved.

Query:  Query 3 response from the adults and the youth were shared.

Meeting for Business

Meeting for Business is going well overall; it no longer feels rushed and yet it ís often getting done earlier.  Committees are doing more work and being trusted in their work, which may be contributing to this change.

          We recognize, however, that we still have growth to do.  For example, we sometimes make small issues into bigger ones.  And we need to work on being more patient and work at finding loving ways to express our frustrations.  Because people process information differently, such as some who see the small pieces of a situation and others who see the larger picture, this sometimes contributes to conflict.  Or sometimes people are appreciating the social interaction Meeting for Business can provide while others want to follow an agenda, whether an official or personal one, which can cause tension.

While our infrastructure is much like a larger Meeting, we wonder if we could simplify the process we practice.  Can we do some things as a body rather than a committee, or maybe appoint an ad hoc committee rather than trying to maintain a standing committee?  Our pool for committee membership is small, yet most people are on at least one committee.  We wonder if those appointed are appropriate for the positions they fill, and we know we need to work on that level of truthfulness individually and in our nominating process, as well.  Do we pay attention to the Spirit when called to the tasks we do?  Sometimes we may get confused, wondering if the Divine is inspiring us to fill a task we are asked to do or rather providing us a moment to practice knowing ourselves better and saying no. When someone has a minority opinion on the subject, the person often steps aside, and perhaps the issue reappears another month.  Time also provides a time to change our minds, to become convinced.  We hope we are listening and processing each personís input, recognizing that sometimes it takes a while for this to completely occur.

          There is a general lack of commitment to the Meeting beyond attending Sundays, though this is not often different than other church bodies.   Committee work relies on a commitment by each member, however.  Are we asking more of ourselves in our committee obligations and structure than what we can reasonably attend to?  Our care for each other and for the Meeting needs to be from the Spirit and not through social engineering of a committee.  Is our work and worship Spirit led? 

          Business Meeting is to help us test our leadings with each other.

Coming to Meeting in the spirit of Love will decrease the impact of strains on working with each other.   Having the intention to be in this spirit with understanding and patience will guide us through difficult times.  Good social relationships amongst us can provide richer ground by which to complete our Meeting agenda.

Calendar:

                   First Day:

March 23     -       Easter – intergenerational; potluck

                             breakfast – Religious Ed comm.

March 30     -       Quakerism 101

April 6          -       Query 4

April 13        -      FCNL Legislative priorities

                             discussion – Bob (?)

April 20        -      Business Meeting

April 27        -      ESR workshop (?) - Curtis

                   Other:

                             March 29        -    YF retreat at Bear Creek - Debbie

                             April 12 – 13   -    Midyear Meeting

                             April 26           -    ’08 Peace and Justice Expo, 10-5

                             April 27           -   ESR workshop – 10-4 (?)

                             June 5-8         -    Great Plains YM (formerly NE YM)

                                                           In Central City.  Speakers:  Paul

                                                           Lacey (FCNL), Sylvia Graves

                                                           (FUM), Mary Ellen McNish

                                                           (AFSC), and Margaret Fraser

                                                           (FWCC)

                             July 29 – August 3 – Yearly Meeting

Treasurer:

The treasurer's report was approved with a slight change.

          Peace and Social Concerns:

          Following the committee's recommendation, meeting will be listed as a participant in The Clergy Letter Project.

          Finance Committee:

          The co-signer signature will be changed to include the clerk.  Lynda will get the papers to complete this task.

The suggested budget was approved.  This will be in effect through the end of September.

          Religious Education:

       Pam and Jules are merging talents to record stories of faith and practice from Yearly Meeting elders.  It is intended to be a project that Yearly Meeting Young Friends can take ownership in.