My vision for DeLand Friends Meeting includes the following:
1. Increasing the size of the Meeting (average weekly attendance). For me this is not a goal in itself but is a goal because certain functions of the Meeting such as providing First Day School and arranging Meeting social events become much easier with what I have referred to as a "critical mass" number of participants. This would be related to the business concept of "economy of scale."
2. Related to the idea of increased attendance is the goal of attracting new participants - not to provide a critical mass of attenders but for the vibrancy that newcomers bring to the Meeting.
3. Related to #2, I would particularly like to see more interaction with Stetson and it's students. I suspect that each fall some new students arrive at Stetson from Quaker backgrounds and I'd like to see them in Meeting (and would like to think we have something valuable to offer them).
4. Related to having something valuable to offer them, I'd like to have more vocal ministry in the Meeting. As Quakers, we are seekers. We're seeking, seeking, seeking. Are we ever "finding"? We're all on a spiritual search together. In my mind, vocal ministry is about sharing what we find or milestones we cross along the path. I'd like to hear more about what my fellow seekers are finding.
5. Perhaps I've wandered from the question a bit. In a practical sense, I'd like the Meeting to become a full fledged Monthly Meeting with a stable meeting site that meets current needs and allows growth.
This seems to me to be the most important question: its answer determines whether we stay in our present location or return to meeting in homes, or in some smaller (and less expensive) location.
My vision for DeLand Preparative Meeting is of a vibrant and growing fellowship of seekers, who provide not only for their own spiritual nurture, but who also provide a unique and valuable worship alternative for the larger community, while also addressing the practical human needs of that larger community.
That vision requires at least as much space as we have. It also requires the active and consistent participation of our members and attenders, not only in every Meeting For Worship, but in every Business Meeting, as well.
Thirty email addresses received email about this blog. So far there have been posts from three of them. Attendance has varied from five to fifteen at Meeting for Worship; five for Meeting For Business. Those numbers have not changed much in ten years.
What does that mean, if anything? Are we content with those numbers? If so, we do not need the space we are currently renting, and are wasting precious resources. That is not good stewardship.
If we want different numbers, what must we do differently? Put another way, what will engage those on our email list in the growth of our Meeting?
I too would like to see us become a strong Monthly Meeting. I resonate with Jim's and Dan's vision of increasing attendance at Meeting for Worship, increasing participation in our business affairs, and developing a deeper spiritual experience as a group -- and I think these things, chicken-and-egg style, need to happen in conjunction with each other, as each one will nurture the others.
My vision also includes our being more visible in the Deland community. Proseletizing for Quakerism may be distasteful to us and perhaps even antithetical to Quakerism as we see it (which makes growing our numbers problematic), but speaking our truth through our lives should come naturally. And our truth will be heard only if we make ourselves known. This could be done through a variety of ways: for example, outreach to the communities at Stetson and at Casa Montessori, group involvement in community events, and frank and open self-identification as Quakers as we move through our daily lives.
A crucial piece in all of the above is developing our own sense of who Friends are and what we stand for. We have a tremendous opportunity in the diversity of our Meeting, from lifelong Friends to those who are brand new to Quakerism. How wonderfully dynamic discussions among such a group can be - and that dynamism, if we embrace it, could be the basis for growing our numbers, our stability, and our spiritual depth.
I can only reiterate what has already been said; increased attendance/membership of all ages would be energizing. Personally, though I have lived here for 7.5 years, I never can think of anyone to invite to meeting. Is there an appropriate way to reach out to the Stetson students? A newspaper article about us? A number in the phone book under Quakers? Postings in public gathering places, such as the museum or library?
I was pleased with the way the Friendly Conversation went this morning. It was great to see more people attending than I had expected. This is my summary and comments:
There seemed to be agreement that the Meeting would benefit from additional people attending although this was not really debated as such.
A point was made that personal witness is more effective than streetcorner witness in attracting new attenders but several persons spoke about a more visible peace testimony witness being part of attracting newcomers.
A point was made that we need to review our ad in the newspaper – and online since the newcomer today got incorrect information about us online.
The need for a permanent sign at the school was recognized.
The idea of having additional Meetings for Worship on different days at different times was proposed.
The idea of attracting newcomers through social witness such as the upcoming peace march in Washington was proposed.
There was agreement that more efforts should be made to attract Stetson students.
The importance of the spiritual development of the Meeting was recognized and ways to learn more about each persons‘s spiritual journey were discussed. The idea of persons sharing more of their personal journey during Meeting for Worship, Adult Religious Education, the Women’s Group and in other ways was discussed.
Participants were encouraged to continue discussion of these ideas via the blog.
5 comments:
My vision for DeLand Friends Meeting includes the following:
1. Increasing the size of the Meeting (average weekly attendance). For me this is not a goal in itself but is a goal because certain functions of the Meeting such as providing First Day School and arranging Meeting social events become much easier with what I have referred to as a "critical mass" number of participants. This would be related to the business concept of "economy of scale."
2. Related to the idea of increased attendance is the goal of attracting new participants - not to provide a critical mass of attenders but for the vibrancy that newcomers bring to the Meeting.
3. Related to #2, I would particularly like to see more interaction with Stetson and it's students. I suspect that each fall some new students arrive at Stetson from Quaker backgrounds and I'd like to see them in Meeting (and would like to think we have something valuable to offer them).
4. Related to having something valuable to offer them, I'd like to have more vocal ministry in the Meeting. As Quakers, we are seekers. We're seeking, seeking, seeking. Are we ever "finding"? We're all on a spiritual search together. In my mind, vocal ministry is about sharing what we find or milestones we cross along the path. I'd like to hear more about what my fellow seekers are finding.
5. Perhaps I've wandered from the question a bit. In a practical sense, I'd like the Meeting to become a full fledged Monthly Meeting with a stable meeting site that meets current needs and allows growth.
This seems to me to be the most important question: its answer determines whether we stay in our present location or return to meeting in homes, or in some smaller (and less expensive) location.
My vision for DeLand Preparative Meeting is of a vibrant and growing fellowship of seekers, who provide not only for their own spiritual nurture, but who also provide a unique and valuable worship alternative for the larger community, while also addressing the practical human needs of that larger community.
That vision requires at least as much space as we have. It also requires the active and consistent participation of our members and attenders, not only in every Meeting For Worship, but in every Business Meeting, as well.
Thirty email addresses received email about this blog. So far there have been posts from three of them. Attendance has varied from five to fifteen at Meeting for Worship; five for Meeting For Business. Those numbers have not changed much in ten years.
What does that mean, if anything? Are we content with those numbers? If so, we do not need the space we are currently renting, and are wasting precious resources. That is not good stewardship.
If we want different numbers, what must we do differently? Put another way, what will engage those on our email list in the growth of our Meeting?
I hope you will let us know.
Dan
I too would like to see us become a strong Monthly Meeting. I resonate with Jim's and Dan's vision of increasing attendance at Meeting for Worship, increasing participation in our business affairs, and developing a deeper spiritual experience as a group -- and I think these things, chicken-and-egg style, need to happen in conjunction with each other, as each one will nurture the others.
My vision also includes our being more visible in the Deland community. Proseletizing for Quakerism may be distasteful to us and perhaps even antithetical to Quakerism as we see it (which makes growing our numbers problematic), but speaking our truth through our lives should come naturally. And our truth will be heard only if we make ourselves known. This could be done through a variety of ways: for example, outreach to the communities at Stetson and at Casa Montessori, group involvement in community events, and frank and open self-identification as Quakers as we move through our daily lives.
A crucial piece in all of the above is developing our own sense of who Friends are and what we stand for. We have a tremendous opportunity in the diversity of our Meeting, from lifelong Friends to those who are brand new to Quakerism. How wonderfully dynamic discussions among such a group can be - and that dynamism, if we embrace it, could be the basis for growing our numbers, our stability, and our spiritual depth.
Ann
I can only reiterate what has already been said; increased attendance/membership of all ages would be energizing. Personally, though I have lived here for 7.5 years, I never can think of anyone to invite to meeting. Is there an appropriate way to reach out to the Stetson students? A newspaper article about us? A number in the phone book under Quakers? Postings in public gathering places, such as the museum or library?
I was pleased with the way the Friendly Conversation went this morning. It was great to see more people attending than I had expected. This is my summary and comments:
There seemed to be agreement that the Meeting would benefit from additional people attending although this was not really debated as such.
A point was made that personal witness is more effective than streetcorner witness in attracting new attenders but several persons spoke about a more visible peace testimony witness being part of attracting newcomers.
A point was made that we need to review our ad in the newspaper – and online since the newcomer today got incorrect information about us online.
The need for a permanent sign at the school was recognized.
The idea of having additional Meetings for Worship on different days at different times was proposed.
The idea of attracting newcomers through social witness such as the upcoming peace march in Washington was proposed.
There was agreement that more efforts should be made to attract Stetson students.
The importance of the spiritual development of the Meeting was recognized and ways to learn more about each persons‘s spiritual journey were discussed. The idea of persons sharing more of their personal journey during Meeting for Worship, Adult Religious Education, the Women’s Group and in other ways was discussed.
Participants were encouraged to continue discussion of these ideas via the blog.
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