The following resources explain some of the forms of communication written on behalf of a traveling Friend, and written communication from the meeting they are visiting.

Letters of Introduction

A letter of introduction is a communication signed by the clerk of a monthly meeting that identifies the person who is traveling as a Friend or regular attender in good standing. Letters of introduction might also be useful to Friends who move away for college, boarding school, or a first job.

Minutes of Travel

A travel minute is a formal document from a monthly meeting on behalf of a Friend, indicating that the bearer has the recommendation of the meeting.

Minutes of travel usually:

  • Send greetings to Friends being visited
  • Ask those Friends to give loving care to the visiting Friend
  • Confirm that the visiting Friend is a member of the meeting and has the approval of the meeting to travel in the ministry
  • Introduce the Friend and the reason for the travel
  • Affirm the gifts of the traveling Friend
  • Close with a prayer blessing the travel

The clerk endorses a minute of travel with the approval of the meeting. If the Friend is traveling extensively outside the yearly meeting, the quarterly meeting should also approve the letter and have it signed by its clerk, followed by approval and signature from the yearly meeting clerk.

Endorsements from Meetings

When a meeting receives a visitor who holds a travel document, it is the job of the clerk or of a designated Friend to endorse the document.

An endorsement includes a few sentences written at the bottom of the letter.

If the document is a letter of introduction, the clerk may use the endorsement to send return greetings to the visiting Friend’s meeting.

If the document is a travel minute recommending a Friend and their ministry, the clerk may use the endorsement to:

  • Send back greetings to the visiting Friend’s own meeting
  • Comment on the visit
  • Explain how Friends received the visit
  • Report on the faithfulness of the traveling Friends to their work, to God, and to their meetings

Endorsement is one way of holding the traveling Friend accountable for the right use of his or her gifts.

Additional Resources

Last updated December 18, 2025.

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