Friends General Conference

Together we nurture the spiritual vitality of Friends
A Quaker Community in Medford, New Jersey

Annual Sessions 2018

This Year’s Theme

The theme for the 2018 Annual Sessions is, “How Our Lives Speak.” We trace this idea–that one’s life can be an expression of one’s values–back to the journal of George Fox, a co-founder of Quakerism. In multi-generational worship, through programs for children, families, and youth, and by learning, listening and conducting the business of our busy yearly meeting, we will share stories and witness our Faith to each other from July 25-29.

http://www.pym.org/annual-sessions/

Business Agenda


Thursday, July 26, 2018

Morning Session

  • 8:30 – 9:00  Worship
  • 9:00 – 9:30  All-Together Time
  • 9:30 – 12:00 pm  Business Session
    • Welcome and Introductions
    • Honoring Penny Colgan-Davis
    • Nominating Council Appointments and Recommendations
    • Treasurer’s Report
    • The Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Presentation
    • Arch Street Meeting House Preservation Trust Report – Presented by Dr. Lynne Calamia, Executive Director, Arch Street Meeting House
    • Appointment of Epistle Committee
    • How We Keep Our Minutes facilitated by the Yearly Meeting Minutes Sprint
    • Approve Minutes for this Session
    • Announcements

Evening Session

  • 6:45 pm – 8:30 pm
  • Welcome and Introductions
  • “How do we prepare ourselves to let our lives speak? What kinds of spiritual practices do we engage in so that we stay grounded and maintain our own integrity as we do the hard work of loving the world?” Facilitated by Dr. Amanda Kemp
  • Approve the Minutes for the Session
  • Announcements

Friday, July 27, 2018

Morning Session

  • 8:30 – 9:00  Worship
  • 9:00 – 12:00 pm  Business Session
    • Welcome and Introductions
    • “Letting Our Lives Speak: Ujima Friends Peace Center” Facilitated by members of Ujima Friends
    • Minutes from Quarters: Which ones have arisen recently? What do we do with them in the new PYM structure? Facilitated by Quaker Life Council
    • Approve the minutes for the Session
    • Announcements

Evening Session

6:45-8:15  Open Space Technology – The Sessions Coordinating Committee has chosen this program format as the evening’s Keynote Speaker(s) in order to facilitate a ‘choir of voices’ to sing rather than a ‘soloist’. It is our hope that Friends will rise up, bring their passions and areas of concern, and share their ideas, stories, and work with others. The evening’s agenda and focused discussion will be guided by Spirit-led participation from the PYM community. Once the topics have been discerned, Friends will gather in groups for the evening’s program. We will make space on Saturday afternoon in conversation tents for those who would like to continue their discussions. To close the evening, we will gather all together in blessed community and in worship.


Saturday, July 28, 2018

Morning Session

  • 8:00 – 9:00  Memorial Meeting for Worship for Penny Colgan-Davis
  • 9:00 – 9:30  All-Together Time
  • 9:30 – 12:00 pm  Business Session
    • Welcome and Introductions
    • General Secretary’s Report – Presented by Christie Duncan-Tessmer
    • Discussion: “What is PYM called to witness at this time in history? What it does it mean for us to be faithfully in relationship to each other as we look outward at this time?” – Facilitated by Walter Hjelt Sullivan
    • Multicultural Institutional Audit Committee–presented by dr. tonya thames taylor
    • Approve the minutes for the Session
    • Announcements

Evening Session

  • 6:45 pm – 8:30 pm
  • Welcome and Introductions
  • “Sharing and considering our vision and mission for our youth programs” – Facilitated by Kri Burkander
  • First reading of the Epistle
  • Approve minutes for the Session
  • Announcements

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Morning Session

  • 8:30 – 9:00  Worship
  • 9:00 – 12:00 pm  Business Session
    • Welcome and Introductions
    • Quaker Life Council
    • Recognition of Collaboratives and their work on our behalf.
    • How will these Sessions guide the work of the Council going forward?
    • Administrative Council
    • Millington Burial Grounds next steps
    • How will these Sessions guide the work of the Council going forward?
    • Approval of Outgoing Epistle from 2018 Annual Sessions
    • Consideration of final Minutes for 2018 Annual Sessions
    • youth enter
    • Reading all the Epistles from all ages
    • Final announcements
    • Multigenerational Closing Worship
Wednesday, July 25, 2018 - 11:45am to Sunday, July 29, 2018 - 11:45am
The College of New Jersey
2000 Pennington Rd
Ewing Township, NJ 08628
United States
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