Endorsements from Meetings
So, how did the visit go? Can the visitors answer "yes" to the traditional question, "was thee faithful?"
The question is not, "were you successful?" because we humans aren't very good at judging success in terms of the Spirit's work.
Each Friend who visits under the auspices of the FGC Traveling Ministries Program carries a letter of travel which serves as an introduction, describes some of the gifts they bring, and conveys greetings from FGC. The clerk or a designated Friend from the group being visited is asked to "endorse" the letters of travel and return them either to the visitors or directly to the TMP coordinator.
Many clerks use the endorsement as a way to send back greetings to either the Traveling Ministries Program or the visiting Friend's own meeting. Perhaps even more important, they can report whether -- in their experience -- the visiting Friends have been faithful in their service to God and the meeting. This is one way that those traveling in the ministry can be held accountable for the right use of their gifts.
It is clear that in a variety of circumstances and in meetings of widely differing conditions Friends traveling for the TMP have been faithful. Reports of their service have been enthusiastic. Here are some typical endorsements that the TMP has received in the past few years on returned letters of travel. The names have been deleted because it is not the individual who is important, but the work being done under Divine guidance. The endorsements give a glimpse of the value of this program and its work to the meetings and worship groups being visited.
This Friend's open and disciplined process and queries help our meeting come together and share our spiritual longings and hopes for community together.
Their spiritual depth and wisdom and eagerness to share and be with us made them a perfect match for where we are now and where we want to be. We consider this retreat one of our most fulfilling and inspiring ever. This Friend’s plan for our weekend on the topic of “Living Faithfully” was beautifully paced with time for focused discussion and sharing, time for walking meditation, and a sense of relaxed, but profound seeking together.
Our meeting expresses deep appreciation for the visit of this Friend and her elder/spiritual companion. Her encouragement for us to be more intentional and seeking the Divine and listening to the Spirit was most helpful. But it was not just what she said and did, but the presence she brought which was most beneficial to us.
We found her to be a good listener with sensitive ways of eliciting mutual sharing of our Quaker experience. She continues in the tradition of Elias Hicks and other itinerant ministers who bring a connection to the wider world of Quakers and a rejuvenation of spirit for small, scattered meetings.
We are grateful for their affirming presence, as some of us often feel isolated as Friends. They were great help developing and initiating a worship-sharing program at the state penitentiary. This was a major step in realizing the fulfillment of a two-year leading.
Beyond her words and personal qualities, both valuable to us in themselves, we have received the example of her support of the minister she travels with.
