Midlothian Friends Meeting has no paid staff; we all share in the joys and burdens of operating the meeting on a day-to-day basis. To do this, we use a number of standing committees and positions, all of which are volunteer.

These committees are patterned and named after similar committees in other meetings of the Religious Society of Friends.

The Buildings and Grounds Committee is responsible for the operation and upkeep of the meetinghouse. It is responsible for the day-to-day tasks of running the meetinghouse, as well as any minor repairs that can be undertaken. Recommendations for major repairs and improvements are made by the committee to Meeting for Business.

Care and Counsel Committee

The Care and Counsel committee answers the physical and emotional needs of those persons at meeting requiring friendly support. The committee ensures meeting’s support during life events such as meeting membership, marriages, and life transitions. The committee also administers the Fund for Suffering and the Scholarship Fund.

The Financial Stewardship committee handles the financial affairs of meeting by preparing the annual budget, and administering its investments. Additionally, the committee provides meeting members and attenders with any available information on responsible financial planning and investing.

The Hospitality Committee provides a comfortable and refreshing setting for meeting’s gatherings, including preparing the worship room, setting up refreshments after worship.

The Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee ensures that committees and positions in meeting are filled without placing an undue burden on just a few individuals. The committee considers the various gifts of meeting members and attenders when filling these positions.

The Peace and Action Concerns committee informs meeting about charitable and peace organizations. The committee plans programs and projects which help friends increase their awareness and practice of peaceful and charitable living. It also determines the charities to receive the proceeds from the Thrifty Quaker thrift store, and then administers the distribution of those proceeds.

The Religious Education committee administers First Day school for meeting’s children and teenagers, and organizes special projects or events to enhance the sense of community and spiritual well-being of the children.

The Spiritual Nurture committee is called the Ministry and Worship committee at other Friends meetings. aIt keeps a ‘pulse’ on the spiritual well being of meeting, and plans activities and events which would increase the spirituality of members and attenders. The committee arranges regular and special Meetings for Worship, coordinates adult religious education, and also plans the annual Gathering for Clearness (retreat).

Positions

In addition to committees, Midlothian Meeting has a positions occupied by individuals with designated responsibilities for a specific portion of meeting’s operations. Their functions, current occupants, and email addresses are contained in the “Current Committees” document on the right.

Assistant Clerk of meeting

The Assistant Clerk of meeting assists the Clerk of Meeting in the duties described above, and serves as the Clerk in the Clerk’s absence

Clerk of meeting

The Clerk of meeting ends Meeting for Worship and facilitates Meeting for Business. He or she also serves as the point of contact for other Friends Meetings, churches, Quaker organizations, and the community at large.

Historian

The Historian keeps the historical records of Meeting.

Treasurer

he Treasurer keeps meeting’s financial accounts in good order, and pays the bills for meeting. The Treasurer serves on the Stewardship Committee.