What can a Quaker meeting do to become stronger, more visible and more welcoming? This question has as much to do with inreach—
deepening the spiritual life of the meeting community—as it does with outreach—our message and witness to the world.

Often the simple act of thinking about welcoming newcomers, of getting ready to receive them, and of preparing to integrate them into the life of the meeting, will give new life to a meeting.

Ideas & Queries

The questions in this review were generated to help your meeting explore both inreach and outreach. There are many ways that the questions can be used, including to:

  • Hold a workshop or meeting retreat and use this as a starting point.
  • Divide into small groups and assign each group a topic to discuss.
  • In either case:
    • Choose the questions that speak most directly to the condition of your meeting.
    • Try to identify small steps that your meeting is committed to following through on.
    • Consider using this review yearly to celebrate achievements and plan for new steps.

Community

  • Do you have a program for children during meeting for worship?
    • Is it provided by someone other than parents and new attenders?
    • Do you provide childcare for infants and toddlers?
  • Do you provide opportunities for Friends to mingle after worship?
  • Do you have regular meeting potlucks, sings or other get-togethers?
  • Do you make a special effort to invite new or sporadic attenders to such events?
  • Do you find ways to include newcomers in the life and work of the meeting?
  • Do you have a system of pastoral care for members and attenders?
  • Do you get in touch with those who have been absent from meeting?
  • Do you extend invitations to former attenders?

Communication

  • Do you have a greeter every First Day?
  • Do you welcome all visitors equally whatever their age, status or ethnicity?
  • Do you make introductions in a way that does not put newcomers on the spot?
  • Do you clearly identify people whom visitors can approach with questions after
    meeting?
  • Does your announcement period enrich the meeting?
  • Do you welcome visitors to meeting as you would welcome guests in your home?
  • Do you use Quaker jargon that may confuse newcomers?
  • Do you use nametags, or display meeting photos, to help match names and faces?
  • Do you have a meeting brochure or statement of welcome that you can hand to
    visitors?
  • Do you have a guest book? And a way of follow-up on those who sign it?
  • Do you offer visitors a chance to receive the meeting newsletter?
  • Does every member and attender receive a copy promptly?
  • Do you have a supply of simple literature on Quakerism to offer to visitors?
  • Do you use bulletin boards to communicate the vitality and diversity of Quakerism?

Vitality

  • Do you offer programs which nurture the spiritual growth of the meeting?
  • Does your meeting practice spiritual hospitality?
  • Do you have regular worship sharing?
  • Is the atmosphere of the meeting open and accepting to members and attenders?
  • Is the meeting open to diversity and different-ness?
  • Do you give new attenders a chance to share their spiritual search?
  • Do you have programs to help new attenders explore Quaker beliefs and practices?
  • Are you aware how small group activities can enrich the life of a meeting
  • Do you make a special effort to include new or sporadic attenders in these activities?
  • Do you take time to name and affirm each other’s gifts and ministry?
  • Do you attend to your own spiritual growth?
  • Are you knowledgeable about Quaker beliefs, practices and testimonies?
  • Do you take part in the gatherings and offerings of the wider Quaker community?

Outreach

  • Does your meeting have special events to which you invite the community?
  • Does your meeting join activities organized by diverse groups of people in your area?
  • Does your meeting carry out service or social justice projects? Are meeting members and attenders active in such projects?
  • Do you make an effort to publicize Quaker activities and meeting events?
  • Do you publicize in media geared to diverse audiences?
  • Do you tell other people that you are a Quaker?
  • Do you personally invite others to meeting for worship or meeting activities?
  • Do you make your meetinghouse available for the use of other groups?

Visibility

  • Does your meetinghouse have a sign?
    • Is it easily visible from the road?
    • Does it give the time of meeting for worship and a phone number?
    • Does it say that visitors are welcome or “You are welcome here”?
  • Is your meeting listed in the telephone book?
    • Is it listed in the white pages under “Quaker Meeting” followed by the name?
    • Is it listed in the yellow pages under “Churches—Quaker”?
  • Does the answering machine message give the time of meeting for worship?
    • Does it give a phone number to call to talk to a live person?
    • Does someone regularly check for messages and respond promptly?
  • Do you have a website and is it updated regularly?
  • Is your meeting listed in the “Churches” section of the local newspaper?
  • Is your meeting listed in the campus ministry directories of local colleges and universities?

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