Membership

"We are not a 'good' community, we are a trying community."

In Britain, around 10,000 people come to Quaker meetings. Around half of these are members of the Religious Society of Friends, and half are known as 'attenders'; some people have attended for many years before applying for membership. Attenders may be intimately involved in the work of their local and area meeting; being on rotas, providing financial support and sometimes joining in with committee work and decision making. Some may never seek membership; others, sooner or later, feel moved to do so.

Membership links the individual to the community and the organisation. It enables us to have a public voice, to relate to other organisations and to support members and meetings. 'Convincement' is the word used to describe how people become Quakers. That 'convincement' could be just a slow realisation that this is the right thing for you to do now. Membership is a way of saying that you accept the fundamental elements of Quakerism, and feel you want to be part of a group of like-minded people, part of this community. It is never about reaching a certain standard of worthiness or being 'good enough.' We are not a 'good' community, we are a trying community.

"I'm a Quaker because...."

"I feel accepted"

"I find the silence helpful, particularly in difficult times."

"We sit together, we listen."

There is a Quakerly procedure for applying to be a member. Usually an applicant will have gone through a period of convincement and discernment that this is the right thing for them to do. Often they will write a letter or email to the area meeting clerk (membershiphiaqm@gmail.com) expressing a wish to become a member. Then two Quakers will be appointed to visit them, or they may prefer to have these discussions with Friends they already know from their local meeting. There's no set questions or answers, more an exploration and sharing of stories and ideas of their spiritual journey and the careful holding of a discernment process. One of the visiting Quakers will then write a report, which will be duly considered and agreed by all three, including the applicant. This report is then read out to the area meeting, and a decision is made on membership. Many applicants later comment on how nurturing and helpful they found the whole experience, and a new membership is always a cause for celebration. 

Whether you choose to become a member or remain as an attender, it is good to remember that we all hold a responsibility for the health and maintenance of the meeting community. We all contribute, benefit and hopefully find joy and spiritual fulfilment in working with others. 

Read more about the process of applying for membership here ....