The Committee for Care of the Meeting nurtures the corporate and community life of the Meeting.
The committee uses and promotes Quaker process. It works with the Clerk of Meeting on issues that need discernment. The committee seeks to be of help in reconciling differences that may come about in the Meeting. It schedules listening meetings when needed.
The committee is responsible for outreach, through traditional or new media. It welcomes newcomers and attenders, ensures that information concerning Friends is provided to inquirers, and makes clear to prospective members, including young people, the interest of the Meeting in their joining its fellowship. At least annually, Care of the Meeting Committee invites newcomers to a brunch as an opportunity to ask questions and become more familiar with Quakerism and Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting.
The committee considers and recommends action upon requests for membership, associate membership for children of members, and transfer or withdrawal of membership. It appoints a visiting committee (membership clearness committee) to meet with a person requesting membership. It works with Hospitality Committee to coordinate new member welcomings. Along with First Day School committee, Care of the Meeting committee members are concerned for the nurture of the religious life of young people, their participation in the Meeting, and their preparation for membership.
The committee administers the scholarship and education funds. The clerk of the committee serves as a member of the Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting Corporation Board and shall perform all duties required by the Bylaws of the Corporation.
The term of membership on the committee is one year; however, since continuity is important, it is anticipated that most members will serve for two staggered terms.
The committee meets at least once a month, and sometimes more frequently if necessary. Members of the committee also convene and serve as clerks for membership and other special ad hoc committees.
The committee consists of up to seven members of the Religious Society of Friends with experience, empathy, good judgment, discretion, and a solid understanding of Quaker process. Committee members have been active in SCMM for at least two years and have successfully served on at least one SCMM committee.
The committee reports to Meeting for Business.
The clerk or alternate clerk of the Meeting serves as an ex officio member of the Care of the Meeting Committee. The committee clerk works closely with the clerk of Mutual Care.
In caring for the corporate life of the Meeting, the committee keeps in touch with other committees by checking in with their clerks (through the buddy system) and by providing one member to the committee that writes the State of the Meeting report. It schedules one or more annual gatherings of committee clerks, providing time for clerks to bring/discuss matters of concern about how committee work is going and the overall structure of the meeting.
The committee is responsible for assuring good order in the records of Friends. It works with the Recorder to maintain a permanent archive. In coordination with the Database Keeper, the committee keeps an accurate list, with mailing and e-mail addresses and telephone numbers, of all members and regular attenders of the Monthly Meeting. Periodically it reviews the list of members and attenders to continue contact with those distant or no longer attending. It works with the Database Keeper to assure the regular publication of an active list of members and attenders for Monthly and for Quarterly Meeting Directories. The committee works with Nominating Committee to develop a short set of check-in queries to ask each Member and attender during the annual process of contacting everyone.
New and old Committee members normally meet together in either May or June, and the outgoing Clerk passes all committee materials to the new Clerk.
Approved January 2006
Name changed from Care of the Meeting Community to Care of the Meeting on 9/9/07
Revision approved by Meeting for Business on 12/14/2008