Each year, Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) asks individual Meetings to prepare a statement of the spiritual condition of their Meeting over the past 12 months. BYM’s Ministry and Pastoral Care Committee collects these reports and uses them as the basis for the development of the Yearly Meeting’s Spiritual State of the Meeting report, which is presented to, considered by, and approved by the Yearly Meeting during Annual Session. Frederick Friends Meeting’s report for 2016 is available here.

As a first step in preparing the 2017 Frederick Friends Meeting report, Ministry and Counsel Committee is asking individuals and committees to consider a list of queries sent from BYM:

• What are your greatest joys as a Meeting? What leadings does your Meeting feel most strongly? What challenges and troubles are you facing? In what ways is the Meeting less than you might wish it to be?

• How does your Meeting nurture the spiritual life of members and attenders? How deep are your Meetings for Worship? Are Meetings for Business held in a spirit of worship?

• Is your Meeting as diverse as you would like it to be? How well do you attend to the needs of newcomers? Do Friends of all ages feel fully a part of the Meeting community?

• Do you engage with other Meetings through visitation or shared projects? What message would you like to share with others in Baltimore Yearly Meeting, and with Friends around the world?

• How do you put your faith into action for justice in the world? Are you aware of the encouragement of the Working Group on Racism within our Yearly Meeting? How has that awareness shaped your work for justice?

• Has your Meeting made any witness to your community or the wider world as a result of the recent Presidential elections?

Carol Ahlum and Isaac Smith are collecting input in preparation for writing a draft report. As the first reading of the Report will be at the March Meeting for Business, they would like to collect your thoughts on Sunday, January 22 at 9 a.m., and on Sunday, February 5, at noon, both at the Meeting House. You may also send comments to ministry@frederickfriends.org.