Traveling Ministries Support Fund Guidelines (7/13/08)
Background
There is a long-standing Quaker tradition of traveling ministry, both among Friends and publicly for social causes. In this tradition, meetings who support the ministry and the minister have provided financial as well as other kinds of support. Until this time, Strawberry Creek Monthly Meeting has not had a fund for this purpose. We would like to support the flowering of ministry within our Meeting and share our testimonies through ministry in the world.
Purpose of the Fund
The purpose of the fund is to provide at least some support to Friends engaged in a traveling ministry that meets the criteria set out below. In some instances a ministry is considered so central to the core values of the Meeting that the Meeting will decide not only to provide some support for the ministry, but will consider the ministry as being accomplished on behalf of the Meeting. Receiving approval for funds does not mean the particular ministry is being done "on behalf of" the Meeting (a designation requiring a minute from the Meeting).
Criteria for reviewing requests for funding of traveling ministry
- Recommendation of Friend’s Clearness/Anchoring Committee: The Friend should have a Clearness or Anchoring Committee that, among other tasks, assesses the ministry for its faithfulness and viability. Ordinarily it is expected that Friend’s Clearness/Anchoring committee has recommended that Worship and Ministry be asked for the funds to support Friend’s ministry.
- Relationship w/SCMM: Ministers should be members of SCMM, or another Friends’ Meeting, or in rare cases, long-time SCMM attenders.
- Purpose of Ministry: Priority is given to Quaker-related ministries, and when appropriate to ministries that reach beyond Quakers to further values related to our testimonies. Because the focus of ministry is on service rather than personal development, programs that charge participants a fee (e.g., conferences, travel study, educational course credits, etc.) are rarely eligible for funding as a traveling ministry. Note: resources may be available from the Meeting scholarship fund for such programs.
- Timeliness of Request: Requests for funds should be made to Worship and Ministry Committee sufficiently prior to travel to allow adequate time for reflection, discernment, and recommendation from Friend’s Clearness/Anchoring Committee. A sense of urgency may be a sign of a plan that has not yet been fully developed in prayer; though it may occasionally be a wonderful synchronicity of long-held leading and opportunity.
- Amount of Funding: Worship and Ministry Committee will seek unity on the particular amount from the fund to be used for support of this ministry. Funds offered will not typically exceed half of the anticipated expenses of the ministry, including transportation, housing, and other needs. In most cases the funding will $300 or less.
- Past Requests: Recipients will not typically be eligible to receive funds more often than twice per year, and preference may be given to those not previously funded.
- Ecological Footprint: When planning the ministry (especially travel), recipients are encouraged to wisely balance factors such as impact on the earth’s resources and time/cost efficiencies. We encourage carbon offsets when applicable.
- Ministry While Traveling: this fund is intended as a resource for those whose ministry requires travel, which ordinarily is understood to mean the ministry necessitates one or more nights be spent away from home.
Funding Process
- Friends should apply to Worship and Ministry in writing, stating a background of the ministry, its evolution, overall financial needs and other sources of support, the ministry’s contribution to SCMM, the larger Quaker community and the world, etc.
- Consultation as early as possible with the clerk of W & M is advised, as Worship and Ministry encourages careful seasoning of a request for funding. Applicants should inquire of the clerk when the committee will be able to consider a request, which may be as long as three months. This fund is intended to contribute toward preparation and to supplement resources while traveling (not to retroactively reimburse for travel expenses incurred before the request is made).
- Accountability by a recipient includes the following, as appropriate:
- A brief report to Meeting for Business after the ministry is completed or annually in the case of an ongoing ministry.
- An adult education session or evening meeting to share the ministry.
- Sharing the endorsed travel minute, if there was one, in Meeting for Business upon return
- Written accounting of money spent (copy to W&M, Finance Committee, and Treasurer)