October Business Meeting highlights
1. The meeting opened with a reading of the Queries for the 10th Month. Eleven Friends were present. Friends reflected on our use of resources and its effects on the environment.
2. Treasurer’s report: Income for the ninth month was $1370 and expenses were $190. This is the end of our fiscal year. For the whole year we had a surplus of $696 when special contributions were included. The budget for next year was presented for second reading. Changes from first reading were the addition of $1000 for Quaker Quest and $700 for partial reimbursement of costs and labor for the cabinet that Dan S built. This revised budget was approved by the Meeting.
3. Nominating Committee report: They are working on filling a list of positions that will be open in January. One name was brought for first reading: Larry H for the Simple Burial Committee through 2011.
4. Ministry and Oversight: The committee has received a request from Anna Margaret B and Emmanuel G to be married under the care of Clear Creek Monthly Meeting. M&O is forming a clearness committee for them. The committee also received a letter from Keith S requesting a transfer of membership from Clear Creek Monthly Meeting to Spokane Monthly Meeting. M&O recommended approving this transfer and it was approved by the Meeting. The clerk will send a letter of transfer to Spokane Meeting. The committee received a request from Doug G, pastor of First Friends Meeting, that Clear Creek Meeting host the Christmas eve service for the 3 Richmond Meetings at Stout Meetinghouse this year. M&O recommended accepting this. This would mean that Clear Creek would plan the service and invite the other Meetings. In addition, since this is during Earlham break, we would have to make sure that heat was on in the Meetinghouse and snow (if present) was shoveled on the paths to the Meetinghouse. The Meeting approved moving forward with this.
5. Children’s Religious Education: It is different this year since the children, on average, are younger. There is not a set curriculum, but the teachers are ably developing things as they go.
6. Peace and Social Concerns: They have purchased a set of DVDs with the help of West Richmond Friends that will be available for our use and will be stored at West Richmond. She also reported that Open Arms Ministries is now opening on a permanent basis to help coordinate ministries by local religious organizations. P&SC has invited the director, Judy Jackson, as well as Sue Axtell, to the after meeting discussion on Oct. 25th.
7. Jerry K reported on a covenant that is being developed by Earlham College in relationship to Indiana and Western Yearly Meetings. Jerry will develop a threshing session to explore whether Ohio Valley Yearly Meeting might also want to be involved. If there is a feeling that we should move forward on this, it would be brought to monthly and quarterly meetings. Contact Jerry if you are interested in pursuing this issue.
8. The minutes were read and approved.
9. Meeting closed with a brief period of waiting worship.
