Supporting and Nurturing the Life of the Meeting: Rediscovering Eldering

Our fall schedule has begun and with it, we can offer epistles, queries and advices or other Quaker musings that come out of the weekend. This past weekend we were blessed to have Elaine Emily facilitate a workshop, “Supporting and Nurturing the Life of the Meeting: Rediscovering Eldering.”

We spent time in 2’s, 4’s and as the group as a whole, experiencing various facets of being an elder. Here are the queries we came up with on Sunday morning – each group presenting to the rest of us. May they provide food for thought:

1st Group

1. How does our meeting call us to higher standards?
2. Who voices the hard truths in this Meeting?
3. Are hard truths voiced with love and compassion?
4. How are the gifts among us named and lifted up?
5. What opportunities do we provide for training and support?
6. Do we pay appropriate attention to history and good order?
7. Do we seek out the spiritually mature Friends among us?
8. Does our meeting nurture us to deepen our spiritual maturity?
9. Is there integrity and accountability in our agreements, activities and relationships? How do we assure that?

2nd Group

1. What do we do to nurture and support gifts and leadings of members and attenders?
2. What are ways we elder our elders?
3. Do we acknowledge the elders among us and the work they do?
4. Is God present in the Meeting, is it Spirit filled; are there tears? Joys? Quakes?
5. Are we holding each other accountable to each other, to God, to the Spirit?

3rd Group

1. Are we attentive to the health and dynamics of our Meeting and members individually?
2. How do we support our meeting’s connection to Spirit?
3. Do we hold our Meeting spiritually and financially accountable?
4. What is our spiritual practice to maintain our spiritual center?

4th Group

1. How do we perceive our elders today?
2. How has the role of Quaker elders evolved (over time, change)?
3. How do we support those that can no longer sit or stay silent?
4. How do we hold sacred all of our Quaker worship (including business and committees)?
5. Are there holes in the fabric of your Meeting that “elders” could fill?
6. What would these “elders” look like (action, role)?
7. How do we name and draw out the spiritual gifts of others?
8. How do we, as elders, support our history, tell our stories and draw out the stories of others?

5th Group
(to be sung to the tune of “Inch by Inch”)

Heart by heart
Soul by soul
Gonna help those gifts to grow
Gonna feed them love and care
And honor the Spirit they share.

First we name them
Then we claim
Playing in the Spirit’s game
In eldering there is no shame
Joy and laughter
And some rain.