riends General Conference (FGC) Traveling Ministry Program has given me a series of gifts. These gifts have been my understanding that I have a ministry, a committee to support me in my ministry along with the grounding, nurture and support that elders have given me as I travel in this ministry. I was surprised when I received a letter from Deborah Fisch inviting me to participate in FGC’s Traveling Ministry Program (TMP). I spent several weeks discerning if, in fact, I had a ministry. I decided to ask my meeting, Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting (CPMM), to appoint a clearness committee to help me discern: if I had gifts to share with FGC’s Traveling Ministry Program, did I feel led to share those gifts with FGC’s TMP, if I felt led to do that, then in what ways would I share my gifts? Although I was terrified as I participated in the clearness process I received a very important blessing, the awareness and appreciation that I had a ministry. I had been working within the Religious Society of Friends for several years focusing on helping People of Color be more comfortable their meetings, events, organizations and Quaker Programs. I was not aware that my leading had grown into a ministry. My committee also became clear about my ministry, which resulted in CPMM approving a minute releasing me to travel in the ministry and the appointment of a Ministerial Care Committee to guide me in my work.

Over the following years, I have had several opportunities to travel in the ministry. Most of my travel was within the Religious Society of Friends. I have traveled to seven meetings, facilitated 7 workshops and given 20 presentations for 12 organizations. None of these, however, were for FGC’s TMP. My committee and I were clear that I was traveling with the specific concern to make the Religious Society of Friends a more welcoming community for People of Color. FGC’s Traveling Ministries Program did not receive any requests for a Friend to travel with my specific concern. After several conversations, Deborah Fisch suggested that the program could support my work by having an elder travel with me.

Over the past year, FGC’s TMP has sponsored three elders who have traveled with me. Their gifts have been invaluable. They were able to help me remain centered and focused on my work. When I traveled to Richmond, Indiana to give my first keynote address, my elder guided me through the planning process by helping me discern how much of a leap I was ready to make in this trip. I was asked to preach a sermon for the first time in front of a programmed meeting addition to giving the keynote.

In Atlanta, Georgia I was asked to make a presentation to the meeting and the Friends School about my experience as a delegate to the World Conference Against Racism. This time my elder was able to know when I was anxious and needed time and space to center. She gave me feedback on each of my presentations to the classes that we visited at the Friends school. Each of these elders guided me. Traveling with them was so important. Their presence made it much easier for me to let go, trust God and the process.

FGConnections Fall 2002 Home