Eldering Story by Anonymous

Anonymous said...
Judy, what a lovely post about eldering. RichardM, my husband, has been trying to get more people to discuss eldering as well. I think my first experience with eldering was the day an older, grandmotherly looking woman approached me at a pot luck, and said, 'I hear you're moving, is there a meeting, maybe you'll start one'. My response was total bafflement, I was only a relative newcomer to Friends. That was 23 years ago. We are in North Carolina and similar to you, there was a worship group here, and we were sufficient catalyst to get the meeting to weekly meeting for worship. We have over the years become the elders of the meeting. This past summer, the meeting was clear to appoint us both elders. (there has been a great deal of coming and going in membership over the years within the meeting and previous members were against appointing elders). Today after meeting we spent some time with a new attender at meeting who is very new to Quakerism and hopefully answered his questions. (Another form of eldering). Within our Yearly Meeting, eldering is a regular practice, at least at the Yearly meeting itself. I am still surprised when I am thanked for my work as elder. I hope I am a vehicle for God's work.MaryM
March 30, 2008 8:58 PM Anonymou, Thank you for your story. It helps me understand how we are being lead to eldering. Not something I thought I would be doing.
Blessings, Judy

What are your stories on eldering?

Will T.'s post on "Growing Together in the Light: Ministry, humility and community" helped me to recognize that I have taken on the function of elder in an isolated unaffiliated worship group.

The question that kept coming to me and still does - Don't experienced Friends have a responsibility and obligation to encourage, support, teach people, new to friends in situations of isolation, what Friends practices and discipline are?

The situation is that when my husband and I moved from the midwest to Idaho, we discoverd a Friends Worship Group in our new home. The WG was unafiliated, isolated, met for worship twice a month, and worship was always silent. There were four individuals who made up the group, a member of Friends and three people who wnted to become Friends.

I asked if we could meet weekly? With that question I was beginning to take on the role of elder, although I didn't realize it. During the eighteen months that have followed, I continued to ask questions such as: how do you make decisions as a WG? What can we do to make ourselves more visible in the larger community? Do you want to be affiliated with the Society of Friends? What does it mean to be a Friend?

Personally I struggled with what I was doing. I felt like I was being pushy. I wondered if I was bringing about conflict in the group because the one Friend was resistent to any change, and the others wanted to move on. Many times I wanted to slip into the woodwork, but I couldn't, the question of responsibility would raise its head.

What has happend in the eighteen months? We are now under the care of Logan MM, Utah. People feel prompted to speak in meeting for worship. We are connected to one another. We laugh and enjoy one another. While the one Friend has difficulties with the movement, she is still with us. I am now teaching Quakerism 101.

What is your experience in eldering? What was the opening that resulted in your eldering? With your permission, I would like to publish your stories to my blog.

Blessings, Judy

Growing Together in the Light: Ministry, humility and community

Growing Together in the Light: Ministry, humility and community

Come Lord Jesus, Come

blank pages
waiting
come Lord Jesus,come

Parkinson's is a wise teacher. I've not wanted to learn, at times. Layers are pulled back and lessons are presented about "Letting go." How to stop the basic drive I have to push forward no matter how tired I am? no matter how debilitated?

waiting
listening for deeper places
wondering, stopped

no matter how much I want to keep going? no matter, no matter? Yet, a new teacher comes, chronic progressive bronchitis. My body speaks loudly and I have to pay attention, no more pushing, or keeping on going no matter what.

considering
blessings
in disguise

There are new blessing here to claim - blessed quietness and the Presence of One who loves and fills me with peace.

spring snows
on the pavement
a yellow jacket

Forgiveness and Blessing

This elderly pastor has been housebound for 7 years after having a stroke. Now he has received a wheelchair and will again be able to travel the 2 miles to church. Santa, Cameroon. Noel F. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

During the Lenten season, I've been focusing on "forgiveness." For many Christians today is Good Friday. For me the heart of Christianity is forgiveness and blessing.

Here is a question for you: What is the difference between forgiveness and blessing?

Please share your thinking, feelings, stories relating to this question in Comments.

Blessings,
Judy