Committees & Working Groups
There are about 25 committees and working groups in Germantown Meeting.
Adult Class Committee
Oversees topics and speakers for adult classes, which generally meets on the 3rd, and 4th Sundays before Meeting, except July and August. Committee members are expected to attend and be receptive to leading classes. We present a variety of topics related to our spiritual well-being, including book discussions and presentations by local and national leaders in social justice, and discussions about how to move forward in our witness for peace.
Assistance Committee
Seeks avenues of help for members in serious need of financial assistance.
Burial Grounds
Under the care of the Property Committee is the Burial Grounds Subcommittee, which is responsible for the assignment of graves, the upkeep of the burial grounds, and rules regarding burials. See the Burial grounds page for more information.
Care and Visiting
Pastoral care of the membership, visiting resident members and writing to those at a distance. They provide information to inquirers interested in learning more about Quakers and interview applicants for membership. This group pays special attention to new members. They receive and pass on to Monthly Meeting the requests for transfers of membership. They attempt to restore the interest of those who neglect the obligations of membership.
Child Care *
Ensures the care of children (age 3 and younger) during regular meetings for worship and when it is specifically requested. They are responsible for hiring two paid caretakers and for coordinating volunteers from the Meeting.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is responsible for oversight and coordination of all public communications from the Meeting to its members, attenders, and the public. The Communications Committee plans, arranges, edits, and generates the Meeting’s communications, especially via electronic media. This includes the quarterly Newsletter, the Friday email bulletin, the Meeting website, and social media. The email address of the Communications Committee is: ccom@germantownmeeting.org.
Environmental Concerns *
Mission Statement: The GMM Environmental Concerns Committee hopes to raise awareness of environmental issues that affect the lives of everyone and about which we can make a difference, and the importance of a sustainable lifestyle. See the Environmental Concerns page.
Fellowship Committee *
Helps the members and attenders of GMM get to know each other better and bring them more closely into the Meeting community. Provides set-up and clean-up assistance for potlucks or events for the Meeting community. Coordinates and schedules fellowship activities, such as Friendly 8’s dinners, chili lunches, the Meeting Picnic and helps with the Christmas Potluck. Plans additional social activities such as Game Night, square dancing, hikes, etc.
First Day School *
Is charged with providing religious education for children ages 4 – 13 who attend GMM on First Day. Committee members are expected to lead weekly class discussions or activities. Curricula are provided. See the First Day School page.
Fiscal Committee
Has general oversight of the Meeting’s operating finances. They present a preliminary and final budget to Monthly Meeting, allocate the income from the Morris Leeds Fund for capital improvements, and other unrestricted bequests and suggest the yearly covenant (Meeting’s donation) with PYM.
Fund Raising Committee *
Is responsible for writing and mailing the annual appeal letter(s) to encourage members and attenders to donate money, which supports the Meeting’s budget.
Funeral Arrangements Committee
Visits the family when a member has died and whose funeral or memorial meeting will take place under the care of Germantown Monthly Meeting. The committee organizes the service and provides any additional assistance requested by the family concerned.
Garden Working Group *
Established under Peace and Social Concerns. Organized to start neighborhood gardens in Germantown. over the past 4 years has worked on several projects: the Mastery-Pickett Charter School Neighborhood Garden, the Wesley at Stapeley Garden, and the Old Tennis Court Farm Neighborhood Garden. Reports to Monthly Meeting for approval of specific plans and projects. See the Garden Working Group page.
Marriage Committee
Is in charge of the marriages of those couples that request to be married under the care of the Meeting. It arranges interviews with the couple and decides whether or not they are clear to proceed with the proposed marriage. If favorable with both committee and Meeting the couple suggests four members to see that the marriage is conducted in accordance with the custom of Friends.
Office and Records
Maintains the Meeting office and records of the Meeting and employs and oversees the secretary. It consists also of the Newsletter Committee, the Recorder of Marriages, Recorder of Members, Custodian of Records, the Mailing Committee, and the Educational Statistics Committee, each of which makes separate reports to the Meeting as needed. See the Office and Records page.
Outreach Committee *
Brings the people of Germantown Meeting, members and attenders, more closely into the Meeting community and reaches out to the wider community to spread the news of Friends. The committee oversees the Resource Center that aids communication among members and attenders, and produces events and programs as needs arise.
Peace Committee *
Informs and educates the Meeting on current peace issues. Its charges include: The distribution of funds set aside in the Meeting budget for community and social concerns; support and encouragement of individuals and groups within the Meeting who are involved in peace and justice; representation in several neighborhood organizations including Northwest Interfaith Movement, Penn-Knox Neighbors, and the St. Vincent’s Soup Kitchen. Also receives information and concerns of national and international issues pertinent to Quaker values from FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) and shares it with Monthly Meeting through monthly legislative writing efforts.
Property Committee
Is in charge of maintaining the Meeting’s grounds, buildings and their contents, including all repairs and improvements. Considers minority and local contractors whenever possible. Arranges for care taking responsibilities, such as cleaning, openings and closings, mowing of both burial grounds. Under its care is the Burial Grounds Subcommittee, which is responsible for the assignment of graves, the upkeep of the burial grounds, and rules regarding burials. Also responsible for use of the rooms, deciding when it is suitable to allow outside groups to use of the Meeting House and social rooms. See the Property Committee page.
Racial and Social Justice Committee *
A working group of concerned Friends that focuses on the issues of racism in the Quaker and wider community by providing support for activities that encourage the Meeting to become involved in outreach programs in the local community and to increase awareness in our own personal and daily lives. Works to make our community more just and equal for those minorities who have been degraded by our society. In collaboration with Adult Class brings outside speakers to discuss issues and books on racial justice. See the Racial and Social Justice page.
Scholarship Committee
Considers requests for scholarship help & allocates funds to member children going to Friends schools.
School Committee
Oversees the operation of Germantown Friends School and reports to Monthly Meeting annually regarding both educational and financial operations. It formulates policy and supervises the school administration regarding tuition rates, salary levels, admissions, scholarships, property maintenance, and curriculum. Members serve on one or more subcommittees, most of which meet several times a year.
Supper Committee *
Helps to set up, serve, and clean up at Meeting suppers. The work includes setting up and taking down folding tables, setting out dishes and flatware, washing dishes either by hand or in the dishwasher, drying the dishes, and putting away the clean dishes.
Worship & Ministry
Is concerned with the spiritual life of the Meeting, caring for the quality of silent worship and of spoken ministry, aiding the religious objectives of other committees of the Meeting, and fostering the spiritual growth of its own members and those who are devoted to religious seeking within the Meeting. Generally meets once a month except during July and August. To encourage our spirit-led speaking in Meeting for Worship, the Committee has prepared a pamphlet on Considerations about Speaking
Trustees
The Trustees comprise a non-profit corporation founded in 1900. It was set up to hold title to the Meeting’s property and assets including the buildings, school, physical property, and endowment. The committee receives instructions from Germantown Monthly Meeting, oversees the management of endowment, and makes an annual report to the Meeting each October.
Welcoming and Refreshments Committee *
Sees to it that members and attenders serve as greeters at the doors of Meeting each Sunday. Insures that there are refreshments after Meeting for Worship. They take turns serving and organize others in the Meeting to share in the responsibility.
Young Friends *
Plans activities, classes and events for members and attenders ranging between 14-19. Typical activities include potluck dinners or volunteering at a community event.
* People who attend Germantown Friends Meeting but are not members are welcome to participate in these committees.