Our Committees and Named Roles

Merion Meeting, as a part of the Religious Society of Friends, believes that we are all ministers and responsible for the care of our worship and community. Rather than employing a pastor, we operate by appointing members to offices and committees, which take care of the many needs of the congregation.


The work of our Meeting’s committees creates the foundation on which our Spiritual Community is built. It is essential to our spiritual, pastoral, and operational health and vitality of our Meeting. Consequently, Friends are called to fully and faithfully attend to the work of the committees to which they belong.

The Clerk of the Meeting is both a servant and leader. Chosen for a term by the entire Meeting, the clerk ensures that meetings for business are also meetings for worship in which spiritual unity is paramount. In contrast to acting as the spiritual leader or authority of the congregation, the clerk encourages those who are reluctant to speak, and in like manner gently discourages those who tend to speak at undue length or too often. When direction seems clear, the clerk tests it with the meeting. 
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  • Trustees

    The Incorporated Trustees of Merion Monthly Meeting are charged with the care of Meeting properties and the deeds are held in the name of the Trustees. 

     Trustees also have responsibility for donor restricted bequests and the administration of these funds. Funds are invested with the Friends Fiduciary Corporation and the income from the investments is redeposited to the Meeting’s Main Account with Friends Fiduciary or deposited in a separate money market fund with Bryn Mawr Trust. The income is to be used for major repairs and maintenance of the Meetings and its property.

     In the event that the Operating Account of the Meeting does not have sufficient funds, a transfer from Trustees must be made to enable to the Meeting to continue to function. When desirable, a sum from the accrued bank interest can be released to the Winnowing Committee to be used for large, one-time only, charitable contributions.


  • Property

    The Property Committee oversees the Caretaker and directs the Caretaker’s duties in maintainin the Meeting’s property.

    The Property Committee is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Meeting’s property including the Meetinghouse, the 

    Activities Building, and the Caretaker’s House. 

    The Property Committee works within the Meeting’s Operating Budget. For major repairs and maintenance, the Property Committee communicates with Trustees to request funds from Trustees


    Our professional campus caretakers have their own page.


  • Care and Counsel

    Care and Counsel are responsible for the pastroral care of the Meeting and for outreach to the larger community.

    Care and Counsel respond to situations that may arise with members in regard to material needs, comfort, or counseling.

     Care and Counsel are responsible for providing Clearness Committees for those wishing to join the Meeting and for those wishing to be married under the care of the Meeting. Clearness Committees may be provided for other purposes, as well.

     Care and Counsel facilitate arrangements for weddings and memorial services.

     Care and Counsel organize and are generally responsible for outreach efforts.

     Care and Counsel are responsible for providing refreshments before Meeting for Business.


  • Worship and Ministry and Religious Education

    The Worship and Ministry and Religious Education Committee fosters the Spiritual Life and Practice of the Meeting and its members by maintaining the quality of the Meeting’s Worship Practice and Educational Environment.


    Work to maintain the quality of the Meeting’s Worship and Ministry in order to achieve a greater spirituality and foster individual spiritual growth.

     Organize and manage the First Day School, including interviewing and hiring teachers, developing the curriculum and schedule, soliciting members and attenders as volunteers to assist the teachers and organizing their schedule, reviewing our Policy on Child Care Protection with teachers and volunteers, and coordinating payments to teachers with the Treasurer of Operations.

     Organize and facilitate the Adult Education, Reading and Discussion Group.

     Organize the monthly Query reading schedule.

     Report on all FDS activities to Meeting for Business as needed.


      

  • Beliefs into Action (BIA)

    BIA fosters opportunities for the Meetings and its members to participate in Actions that put Quaker beliefs and testimonies into practice.


    Nurture leadings of members and attenders and foster their extension to the Meeting as a whole, helping to drive Meeting and BIA goals.

     Keep Meeting informed on specific Quaker based actions. These may include actions sponsored by Quaker organizations such as FCNL and AFSC, or organizations with similar moral or religious goals such as Amnesty International or Philabundance.

     Advise Meeting of opportunities for actions sponsored by the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee of PYM.

     Advise Meeting of specific Quarterly Meeting actions.



  • Nominating

    The committee must select officers and members of committees with discernment, and with concern for the needs and well being of Merion Meeting, its members and attenders, so as to assure that the makeup of committees conforms to these guidelines.  

  • Naming

    The sole function of this committee is to select the new member of Nominating to replace the member whose term is about to expire. When needed, Naming may be called on to select alternate members of Nominating.  

  • Winnowing

    The Winnowing Committee is charged with the disbursement of the funds budgeted by the Meeting for charitable contributions. These funds are to go to local charities and groups and to Quaker organizations. In making its recommendations, the committee is expected to consider the previous year’s donations as well as any new suggestions that have arisen from the Meeting. 

    [see also information in Trustees description]


  • Candlelight

    The Candlelight Committee is responsible for preparing and holding the annual Candlelight Caroling event.

  • Other Committees

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    Social Activities