Position description for NWYM Representatives (written collaboratively by representatives at their mid-year meeting 2010)
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“Representatives are chosen to capably represent their local meetings, but dedicated to joining a single yearly meeting body seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance as to God’s ministry for that total body.” (A.J. Ellis)
The job of a Representative in Northwest Yearly Meeting is vitally important for communication, discernment, and connectedness. This is work to be done with both joy and seriousness, as it involves nothing less than a close attention to Christ’s leading of His people.
NWYM Representatives will:
Promote effective two-way communication between the local church and the Yearly Meeting by…
- actively informing congregational members about Yearly Meeting events, programs, and priorities
- making effective use of available communication opportunities, such as bulletins, newsletters, monthly meetings, bulletin board, and committee meetings
- reminding church members of Yearly Meeting media, such as “Connection”, “GO”, and the YM website
- understanding the ministries, priorities, and concerns of the local church
- communicating these matters to other churches and to the Yearly Meeting as appropriate
- understanding the upcoming items of Yearly Meeting business in order to seek the discernment of the local church
- working with the clerk of the local church to provide adequate opportunities to consider upcoming Yearly Meeting business
- understanding the organization of the Yearly Meeting in order to direct questions and concerns
- supporting the local church in its discernment about Yearly Meeting issues
Participate in discerning God’s voice in our Yearly Meeting by…
- attending meetings for worship and business (aka “business meetings”)
- praying for our Yearly Meeting business before, during and after business meetings
- studying advance information on matters of Yearly Meeting business
- joining in the work of corporately discerning God’s will in our decision-making
- carrying faithfully the views and concerns of their local churches…
- …but holding these views lightly, with hearts and minds open to God’s leading in the decision
- taking advantage of opportunities for training in personal and group discernment
Assist actively in the Yearly Meeting nominating process by…
- learning about Yearly Meeting boards and offices, and sharing that information with the local church (see http://nwfriends.org/governance/organization-of-the-yearly-meeting/boards/)
- becoming aware of vacancies in boards and offices
- understanding the gifts and passions of local church members, consulting as appropriate with the church nominating committee, elders, and pastors
- understanding the Yearly Meeting nominating process
- nominating members, encouraging self-nomination, or referring suggestions to the Area member of the YM Nominating Committee
- maintaining communication with the Area member of the Nominating Committee.
Support the cohesiveness and vitality of Areas by…
- maintaining frequent contact with the other Area representatives and the Area clerk
- staying aware of future Area events
- attending and encouraging other church members to attend Area events
- sharing concerns that will be discussed at Area gatherings with the local church in advance of the meeting
Support the spiritual robustness of Friends in NWYM by…
- Praying for the Yearly Meeting, its ministries and its leaders
- Waiting upon God for His leading for our Yearly Meeting
- Supporting the aims of the Yearly Meeting vision statement
- Working to build loving and supportive relationships among individuals, churches, regions and generations
