We all have responsibility for the care and workings of our community. This is done largely through committees and a few appointed positions. With the exception of Overseers, committees are open to all; you don’t have to be a committee member to attend or contribute to a committee. If you’d like to join a specific committee, Nominating Committee would be happy to hear from you. Participation is both welcomed and needed. Committee clerks (or conveners) serve as a point of contact and may plan agendas and help keep meetings on course and spiritually centered. All these committees and positions come together and work with the care and support of the Presiding Clerk.
Presiding Clerk
The presiding clerk is the servant of the Meeting for the execution of its business affairs, convening regular or specially called meetings for business, guiding deliberations and carrying out the Meeting’s instructions for actions between business sessions. (BYM Faith & Practice, 1988)
Recording Clerk
The recording clerk writes the minutes of the business as it is conducted. These minutes are read back to the assembled Friends, corrected as needed, and approved by all as the official record of actions taken.
Treasurer
The treasurer is entrusted with the handling of all funds belonging to the Meeting and the reporting of all financial activities to the members.
Newsletter Editor
The newsletter editor produces a monthly newsletter containing information about actions of the Meeting for Business, activities of various committees, work of Quakers is the wider fellowship of Friends, upcoming activities, reflections of a spiritual nature, etc. This newsletter is circulated among members and attenders either by email or in paper copy. Additional copies of the current issue are available in the meetinghouse foyer.
Recorder
The recorder maintains membership records for all recorded members of Charlottesville Friends Meeting as well as miscellaneous documents such as special correspondence and memorial minutes for those who have died.
Building Committee
The building committee has oversight of meetinghouse use by outside groups, maintenance, and general cleaning. Meets monthly.
Finance Committee
The finance committee prepares the meeting budget and reviews scholarship applications. Meets as needed.
Library Committee
The library committee has oversight of book and pamphlet orders and general care and order of the library, which is available for use by all members and attenders and includes books and pamphlets on the history and beliefs of Friends, on the Bible, and on issues and concerns of interest to Friends . Meets monthly.
Ministry and Worship Committee
The ministry and worship committee tends to the quality of worship among us, as well as any preparative meeting under our care. Quakerism 101, meeting retreats, and a yearly report on our spiritual state to Baltimore Yearly Meeting are also under its purview. Meets monthly.
Nominating Committee
The nominating committee nominates Friends for service in most Meeting positions and for all Meeting committees other than itself. The committee considers the leadings, experience, and special gifts and talents of members of the Meeting community when it recommends nominations to monthly Meeting for Business. By varying the assignments of Friends, the committee helps to foster the growth of individuals and the Meeting’s corporate life. Meets monthly as needed.
Peace and Social Concerns Committee
The peace and social concerns committee promotes the social activism of the meeting. Meets monthly.
Program Committee
The program committee provides for the religious education of adults through the Connections hour that is held at 9:45 during the academic year. Meets as needed.
Religious Education Committee
The religious education committee plans the programming for the children which occurs during the academic year from 11 – 11:45. Also seeks individuals willing to teach the children and/or help with childcare for the littlest ones. Meets monthly.
Care and Clearness Committee
The Committee for Care and Clearness provides or arranges for pastoral care, from
counsel to material aid. It also has oversight of weddings, memorial services,
membership, and clearness committees. Meetings are confidential.
Interchange Correspondent
The Interchange correspondent writes a short update on the Meeting’s news and activities and submits it to BYM’s quarterly newsletter. This news can be gleaned from newsletters, Business Meeting minutes and other sources.
Tandem School Liaison
Tandem Friends School is not officially under the care of our Meeting, but we have a strong relationship with the school, and the individual serving in this capacity will make efforts to maintain communication between the school and the Meeting, exchanging information of mutual interest. This individual could also be involved in administering the Tandem Scholarship Fund.
Trustees
The trustees attend to the legal requirements of Charlottesville Friends Meeting.
FCNL Contact:
FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) is the national, nonpartisan organization for Quakers that lobbies Congress for peace, justice and environmental stewardship.
The Monthly Meeting contact receives periodic FCNL news bulletins and news of Charlottesville’s FCNL Advocacy Team, and discerns which information should be shared with the Meeting. The Monthly Meeting contact also organizes a biennial survey of our Meeting for ideas for FCNL priorities.
Child Care Coordinator:
The Childcare Coordinator finds appropriate paid staff to provide childcare during Connections, later Meeting for Worship, and Business Meeting. The Coordinator is not expected to find childcare for other gatherings, but may be called upon for help in finding appropriate resources.
Web Editor:
The Web Editor is in charge of keeping all information and pictures on the website up to date. Committees notify the Web Editor of changes they need made in their corresponding sections.
Web Manager:
The Web manager helps maintain the operability of the CFM website and other online presences. They maintain the site through domain hosting duties, WordPress changes, and difficult edits to website content such as changing the site structure or adding new capabilities. They also work closely with the Web Editor to make sure that website content is accurate and up to date.
BYM Representative:
The Baltimore Yearly Meeting representative attends BYM annual sessions and Interim meetings to support Charlottesville Friends’ participation in the consideration of issues and decision-making of the Yearly Meeting. They also share information from the Yearly Meeting and its gatherings with Charlottesville Friends to facilitate the connection between monthly and yearly meetings.
PACEM Liaison:
The PACEM Liaison supports Charlottesville Friends Meeting’s participation in the community’s efforts to serve people living without homes. This includes: maintaining contact with the PACEM organization; serving as the Meeting’s contact with our partner congregation; coordinating the Meeting’s participation in the shelter operation; engaging Friends to volunteer at the shelter when housed at Charlottesville Friends Meetinghouse or our partner church or to provide meals; maintaining a contact list of Friends willing to volunteer in any capacity to support PACEM’s services.
House Scheduler:
The Meeting Scheduler coordinates with F/friends and groups who wish to use spaces in the Meetinghouse. The Quaker Meeting Scheduler facilitates room rentals to individuals/groups whose philosophy agrees with Quaker values. The Scheduler gives tours of the Meetinghouse to potential renters as needed and informs users of building use guidelines and current lock combination. The Scheduler coordinates with CFM Treasurer on users’ donations for building use. Additionally, the Scheduler coordinates with users about any issues, questions, or concerns.
Rose Hill Neighborhood Representative:
The Rose Hill Neighborhood representative attends the Rose Hill Neighborhood Association meetings with the goal of fostering neighborly relations and effective communication between the meeting and the neighborhood of which our Meeting is a part.
Charlottesville Clergy Collective Representatives:
The Charlottesville Clergy Collective seeks to be an interfaith community of prayer, solidarity, and impact within the Charlottesville-Albemarle Region. It was formed in 2015 with the vision for area faith communities to offer one another support in times of crisis. Its primary, though not exclusive, focus is on racial justice. Charlottesville Friends Meeting joined in 2017, shortly before the Unite the Right Rally. CCC permits three members per faith community, and CFM has two members. The CCC meets on the second Wednesday of each month, currently by ZOOM, and CFM Representatives participate in those meetings, serving as liaisons between CFM and CCC. Other meeting times arise for special activities and events, as needed.
The CCC does not charge dues but does request $100-$200 annually from participating groups to meet expenses. CFM contributes $200
Ad-hoc Committees and Working Groups
Ad-hoc and committees and working groups occasionally form to address specific, temporary concerns.