tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post8590512461960357661..comments2023-10-02T11:36:45.006-04:00Comments on A Passionate and Determined Quest for Adequacy: ElderingAshley Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-78365949253820393902011-02-22T11:47:20.422-05:002011-02-22T11:47:20.422-05:00Thanks for the really practical take on this. I ...Thanks for the really practical take on this. I encourage you to consider the suggestion about writing an article and whether you might be led to share this in some ministry of your own.<br /><br />As for the female-male thing, Bonnie Tinker asked me, on occasion, to serve as an elder to her in ministry. It was a transformative experience for me. We did encounter one or two Friends who questioned a man eldering a female minister. They were Friends, of course, who did not know Bonnie well.<br /><br />Thanks, again.Tmothy Travishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02788311873771605510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-48067162306110396182011-02-20T09:52:59.734-05:002011-02-20T09:52:59.734-05:00Thank you for this reminder, Kristina. I am certa...Thank you for this reminder, Kristina. I am certainly standing on the shoulders of these Quaker giants, some of whom have been personally encouraging to me. <br /><br />For those who are interested in reading more about the relationship between a minister and an elder, I recommend the chapter by Jan Hoffman and Kenneth Sutton in "Walk Worthy of Your Calling," edited by Marge Abbott and Peggy Parsons (pp. 152-69).Ashley Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-80962151737838628932011-02-19T08:03:24.932-05:002011-02-19T08:03:24.932-05:00@Ashley, @Sharon, et al: Thank you, Ashley, for ad...@Ashley, @Sharon, et al: Thank you, Ashley, for adding to the voices sharing their experience of our tradition's practice of eldering, in Travel in the Ministry. I am grateful to Friends who d found themselves carrying, researching, naming, and teaching about this when it was all but lost: Elaine Emily, Bob Schmitt, Kenneth Sutton, Jan Hoffman, Bill and Fran Tabor, Lloyd Lee Wilson (as a Minister) - and others. If an article were to be written [for FJ] I would like to see these Friends, and their journey of rediscover of this practice, also lifted up. This is a "contemporary" history I worry we are in danger of losing. This is especially so in the truth that you lift up, Ashley - those with these gifts are not as vocal, nor prone to writing about their experiences. Thanks again.<br />-Kristina Keefe-Perry, Rochester MM / NYYMkristina keefe-perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03792116676032569111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-29215587310694043202011-02-18T20:51:47.163-05:002011-02-18T20:51:47.163-05:00@Nancy--same with me. I serve in a large, evangel...@Nancy--same with me. I serve in a large, evangelical meeting and while I may consult with the pastors on their messages and offer encouragement, our elder positions are largely administrative in nature. I'm sure the size and makeup of the meeting have a lot to do with the nature of the podition, but I definitely like the aspect that you have in your role, Ashley. We have the leeway to make the role into what we envision it, so there would be nothing to stop me or another elder from doing what you and others do. It actually would be nice to add in another component to flesh out the role a little more fully.Pat Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00816630368283863195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-55829464748332418632011-02-18T20:39:40.996-05:002011-02-18T20:39:40.996-05:00Thank you for the comments, everyone! I am glad t...Thank you for the comments, everyone! I am glad to hear that my experiences resonated with you. <br /><br />I nominate Sadie to write about eldering for Friends Journal--she really helped me when I was preparing to elder for the first time.Ashley Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-38705292527977265982011-02-18T17:25:34.085-05:002011-02-18T17:25:34.085-05:00Thanks for the postings. I wonder if one or more o...Thanks for the postings. I wonder if one or more of you could write a clear, direct Viewpoint for Friends Journal about what you consider eldering to be and about your "training" for it and your experience of it. I wouldn't apologize for the word "eldering" but just present it. Very few people have any awareness of it, especially as you experience it. Sharon Hoover Alfred MM, NYYM, now at Lewes, DE.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03765771755875121778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-72897801510218549312011-02-18T15:39:49.072-05:002011-02-18T15:39:49.072-05:00Ashley,
Thank you for these wise words. As I'v...Ashley,<br />Thank you for these wise words. As I've ministered among Friends I've experienced the nurture of several elders. Your experience echoes most of what "works" for me—helps keep me faithful to God's movement through the efforts of organizing, presenting, responding, debriefing. <br /><br />I miss talking with you!<br /><br />Christine Hall<br />Whidbey Island QuakerWhidbey Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16920951599850377906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-50387899306603306302011-02-18T13:15:30.772-05:002011-02-18T13:15:30.772-05:00This was a very insightful post for me. I am servi...This was a very insightful post for me. I am serving as an elder in my local meeting, but the description of your eldering ministry opens up a broader and deeper perspective. I'm going to copy this post to share with the other elders. Thank you.Nancy Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10499875245081028619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-77271328014469171562011-02-18T12:21:58.187-05:002011-02-18T12:21:58.187-05:00Resonates also with my own experience.
EstherGrace...Resonates also with my own experience.<br />EstherGrace Gilbert<br />PYMEstherGrace Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14075408393916501846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-53471978652168033812011-02-18T06:41:05.198-05:002011-02-18T06:41:05.198-05:00I have already shared this with Ashley, but my hus...I have already shared this with Ashley, but my husband Kenn & I wrote a paper on the experience of being yoked as elder to minister for one of our SotS residencies. We are happy to share it with others who are doing this work.<br /><br />Lu Harper<br />Rochester Meeting NYYMLu Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01119128101200969170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-34618152483922877912011-02-18T00:26:57.120-05:002011-02-18T00:26:57.120-05:00Thanks for this post. It resonated with my experi...Thanks for this post. It resonated with my experience as a someone who is frequently called to serve as an elder. I look forward to talking with you next week.Sadiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278612021215984263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-50941906017925173552011-02-17T22:12:54.658-05:002011-02-17T22:12:54.658-05:00Interesting. I suppose it comes down to one's...Interesting. I suppose it comes down to one's view of scripture and their interpretation therein.Pat Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00816630368283863195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-53113750905584923342011-02-17T22:09:44.818-05:002011-02-17T22:09:44.818-05:00I like the way you describe your own experience of...I like the way you describe your own experience of eldering. It rings true for me, too. And thank you again for serving in this role for me during the recent SotS residency. Your gifts were well used.charley bashamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15294296113011084817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-49500395968150060642011-02-17T20:27:46.313-05:002011-02-17T20:27:46.313-05:00Good question, Pat. I actually haven't encoun...Good question, Pat. I actually haven't encountered much resistance to women eldering, though I have run up against those not in favor of women ministers. I think people may accept women elders more because it is a nurturing role. <br /><br />When people have expressed surprise about me serving as an elder, it usually has more to do with my age than my gender (and sometimes the fact that the person I am eldering for is much older than me).Ashley Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04767912859236943934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790396293521449566.post-82510505538798800022011-02-17T14:03:48.404-05:002011-02-17T14:03:48.404-05:00I wonder in your experience if you have run up aga...I wonder in your experience if you have run up against those not in favor of women elders and how you have dealt with it.Pat Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00816630368283863195noreply@blogger.com