BFM Positions of Responsibility 2022

It's that time again. In January we will begin with new leaders-attached are the positions of responsibility for Birmingham Friends Meeting. Please let Connie Hill or Lori Cormier, myself or another member of M&N  know how you would like to serve during 2022. The Clerk will be a member of the Meeting, someone who has gone through Clearness for Membership. Clerk of Ministry and Nurture is the outgoing Clerk, in this case, Lori Cormier. Other positions are open and you are encouraged to participate as fully as you are led.

For those of you new to the Meeting (and you others, listen up): Search your spirit for ways you might serve Birmingham Friends Meeting. Each of the "Clerk" positions listed below also demands "Committee Member" positions, so if you don't feel free to lead, feel very free to serve as part of a committee.

Officers, with some exceptions, generally serve for one year at BFM. As are Quakers in general, we're devoted to developing the ministry and gifts of each individual in the Meeting. If you’ve been in a clerk’s position for a while, you might want to find something new. In November-December Ministry and Nurture will develop a list of those who wish to serve in various offices and in December we will affirm changes as we are led in Meeting for Business (which, correctly denoted, is "Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business," though we usually, and maybe unfortunately, shorten the title).

Clerk: this is the only office that is traditionally filled by a card-carrying Friend. Regular attenders staff other offices and committees. The Clerk is an administrator whose task is to see that Meetings and other activities progress efficiently and in the Light. Membership in the Meeting is a gift to the individual, but it is also a gift to the Meeting. I hope attenders will consider deeply whether it may be time to become a Friend and if it is, will write a simple letter to the Clerk of Ministry and Nurture requesting membership.

Clerk of Ministry and Nurture: Traditionally this is the office held by the outgoing Clerk. With a committee (of those led to volunteer) s/he is responsible for oversight of the worship and care of members of the meeting. The committee helps set the agenda for business meeting and the schedule for the month and attends to other matters of the meeting. This committee also has served as the Education committee for adults in the absence of an ongoing committee for Second Hour.

Treasurer: This position is usually held for several years by a single individual (thanks, Jane Wilkerson!) who is capable with numbers and is willing to do this. The treasurer meets with a volunteer finance committee once a year to develop a budget, so a history with our finances is helpful.  We would also like an Assistant Treasurer to work with the treasurer.  

Clerk of House and Grounds: The clerk of this committee oversees repairs and overhauls to the building and grounds and to the furnishings of the building. S/he with the treasurer also takes on the duty of renting the building and oversees the usage of the building by groups.  

Clerk of Peace and Justice Committee: This committee has traditionally been active. It keeps the Meeting informed on local and global concerns of Friends and engages Friends in activities which alleviate suffering and promote justice. This committee monitors our work with GBM, AFC, ACCR, Alabama Arise, Birmingham Peace Film project; anti-death penalty work and other peace and justice concerns as they arise.   The clerk(s) also plan for a second hour activity or presenter on the third Sunday of the month.

First Day School Clerk: This clerk oversees the development and purchase of curricula for the children's program.  This committee needs strong leadership and membership. Consider whether you are led in this direction. The Committee provides oversight to ensure that volunteers have material and thus feel comfortable in working with the children.

Recording Clerk: The person keeps the minutes and sends them out for the e-mail list. This position is important in that the Clerk is responsible for recording the sense of the Meeting so that the Meeting has a record of its concerns and actions.

Education Clerk: This committee's function has reverted to Ministry and Nurture, but ideally it should be a separate committee devoted to searching out the best books and programs for adult discussion during second hour.

Outreach Clerk: This person tries to make the work and members of BFM known to the wider community, so that those who would be enriched by Friends Worship know that we exist.

Long Range Planning Clerk:  This person gathers with a committee to look to the future of the Meeting.  What needs are anticipated for our continued growth, outreach, activities, building needs and so on.  How do we maintain ourselves as a viable Meeting in Birmingham and in SAYMA? We haven’t had anyone taking responsibility (or mentioning this) in a couple of years.

House and Grounds Clerk:  For significant changes (bathrooms, kitchens, windows, painting walls—everything to do with the House interiors.  We need someone to convene and record ideas and plans to be taken to Meeting for Busines..

SAYMA representative: This person attends SAYMA representative meetings and the SAYMA gathering in June in order to further the work of the Yearly Meeting and to act as a liaison between the YM and MM. S/he reports our concerns to SAYMA and SAYMA's concerns to us.

SAYMA Ministry and Nurture Representative: This person serves on SAYMA's ministry and nurture committee, which sees to the wellbeing of monthly meetings throughout SAYMA and holds representative meetings and yearly meetings in the Light as they progress.

SAYMA Peace and Justice Representative: This person serves on the SAYMA committee seeking to find and foster activities which further peace and social justice on behalf of the Yearly Meeting.

FCNL Representative: This person keeps abreast of concerns of FCNL, particularly as a new U.S. Congress is formed, when FCNL asks each Meeting to rank priorities for that Congress.

SAYMA Earthcare Witness Representative:  This also may have a local committee.  In light of all of the assaults on our planet, how can we care for it and witness for best practices in use of natural resources?

FCNL Advocacy Group Clerk:  This group would bring the goals and practices of FCNL into the Meeting and into Birmingham. 

SAYMA Outreach Committee:  A newly restructured committee that would share ideas regarding outreach and would work for outreach of SAYMA as a Yearly Meeting in the Southeast.