We will gather reflections and ideas in focus groups and then invite a small group of Friends to distill those reflections and ideas into a proposal for how the Gathering can serve Friends in today’s changed and changing world. This proposal will be shared with Central Committee for approval in October 2022.
The following Queries will guide this work:
- How do we center spirit and our connection to spirit in our new reality?
- How can the Gathering be an anti-racist faith community that centers youth and people of color?
- How do we build environmental sustainability into Gathering?
- How do we financially sustain the Gathering and make it affordable?
We invite you to participate in this special project by attending one of the focus groups. Focus Groups for affinity groups like People of Color and Adult Young Friends will be identified soon. Register for a focus group below.
| Group and Focus | Date and Time | Register Here |
| Group 1: Long Range Conference Planning Committee | Saturday 8/27/22 Time TBD | LRCP Members |
| Group 2: Western Friends/ General Focus | Sunday 8/28/22 4:30-6pm ET/ 3:30-5pm CT/ 2:30-4pm MT/ 1:30pm PT/ 12:30-2pm AK | Western Friends General Focus |
| Group 3: Jr Gathering/ Families Focus | Wednesday 9/7/22 7:30-9pm ET/ 6:30-8pm CT/ 5:30-7pm MT/ 4:30-6pm PT/ 3:30-5pm AK | Jr Gathering/Families Focus |
| Group 4: Workshop and Centers Leaders Focus | Thursday 9/8/22 8-9:30pm ET/ 7-8:30pm CT/ 6-7:30pm MT/ 5-6:30pm PT/ 4-5:30pm AK | Workshops/Centers |
| Group 5: Friends of Color Only | Sunday 9/11/22 4:30-6pm ET/ 3:30-5pm CT/ 2:30-4pm MT/ 1:30pm PT/ 12:30-2pm AK | Friends of Color Only |
| FLGBTQC (Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer Concerns) Focus Group | Tuesday 9/13/22 7:30-9pm ET / 6:30-8pm CT / 5:30-7pm MT / 4:30-6pm PT / 3:30-5pm AK | FLGBTQC Focus Group |
| Group 6: Past Gathering Clerks | Wednesday 9/14/22 7:30-9pm ET/ 6:30-8pm CT/ 5:30-7pm MT/ 4:30-6pm PT/ 3:30-5pm AK | Past Gathering Clerks Focus |
| Group 7: TBD/ General Focus | Friday 9/16/22 10-11:30am ET/ 9-10:30am CT/ 8-9:30am MT/ 7-8:30am PT/ 6-7:30am AK | Group 7 TBD/ General Focus |
| Group 8: TBD/ General Focus | Monday 9/19/22 4-5:30pm ET/ 3-4:30pm CT/ 2-3:30pm MT/ 1-2:30pm PT/ 12-1:30pm AK | Group 8 TBD/ General Focus |
| Group 9: Gathering Volunteers | Wednesday 9/21/22 7:30-9pm ET/ 6:30-8pm CT/ 5:30-7pm MT/ 4:30-6pm PT/ 3:30-5pm AK | Gathering Volunteers |
| Focus Group for Families | Monday 9/26/22 7:30-9pm ET/ 6:30-8pm CT/ 5:30-7pm MT/ 4:30-6pm PT/ 3:30-5pm AK | Focus Group for Families |
| Group 10: TBD/ General Focus | Tuesday 9/27/22 8-9:30pm ET/ 7-8:30pm CT/ 6-7:30pm MT/ 5-6:30pm PT/ 4-5:30pm AK | Group 10 TBD/ General Focus |
Gathering Anew Volunteer Sign-Up
You can volunteer to be Zoom Host or Note-Taker for one of the Gathering Anew Focus Groups. Please use this form to select the date/s you can commit to. We will email you to confirm your participation. Thank you for choosing to support this project and the FGC Gathering.
The Zoom Host manages the tech functions in the meeting and may share hosting responsibilities with the facilitator and/or other co-hosts depending on the size and complexity of the meeting. Zoom Hosts will assist the facilitator with screen-sharing, muting and unmuting participants, monitoring for inappropriate sharing, facilitating use of whiteboard, and managing breakout rooms. Hosts should have experience using Zoom.
Using a Google Doc, the Note-Taker will capture major points of the discussion.