Queries
For meetings and churches:
- What gifts do you recognize in the young people in your faith community? How do you name those gifts? How can the community as a whole receive these gifts?
- Are Friends in the meeting or church aware of Friends’ history in traveling in the ministry?
- How do you define terms such as minister, elder, and spiritual gifts?
- How should a young Friend who is experiencing a call to ministry ask for support?
- Are Friends prepared to form support and accountability committees for young Friends feeling a call to ministry?
- What is the process for creating a traveling minute or a minute of service?
- How can your meeting or church provide financial support for those called into ministry?
- How do you make space available for Friends returning from traveling in the ministry to share their experiences?
- How have you experienced this call to ministry?
- What are your daily spiritual practices?
- Who would you like to have on a support and accountability committee? Who could serve as a traveling companion?
- What kind of support do you think you will you need for your travel?
Suggested Reading
Abbott, Margery Post & Peggy Senger Parsons. Walk Worthy of Your Calling: Quakers and the Traveling Ministry. Friends United Press, Richmond, IN (2004).
Drayton, Brian. On Living with a Concern for Gospel Ministry. Quaker Press of Friends General Conference, Philadelphia, PA (2006).
Grundy, Martha Paxson. Tall Poppies: Supporting Gifts of Ministry and Eldering in the Monthly Meeting. Pendle Hill Pamphlet #347 (1999).
Wilson, Lloyd Lee. Essays on the Quaker Vision of Gospel Order. Celo Valley Books, Burnsville, NC (1993).
Hi Ashley
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed reading this whole series. I have also found myself wanting to insert queries such as:
--Who in our communities might have had similar experiences to draw on, both in terms of travel in specific ways and general points such as re-entry culture shock or the tasks of presenting stories and walking with issues between travels.
--Is it more important for people on a support and accountability committee to have experiences related to the proposed travel in the ministry or to be generally trusted and well-respected by the person requesting support?