Meeting for Sufferings: Funding Britain Yearly Meeting
Re-introducing a quote to Meetings was rejected at Meeting for Sufferings
The re-introduction of a quota to Meetings was rejected by Friends at Meetings for Sufferings (MfS). Britain Yearly Meeting trustees had concluded that a re-introduction of the quota would not be the right way forward. MfS was asked to consider this.
Several questions were considered: What are the practices in Area Meetings and Local Meetings around giving and how diverse are they? Is a per capita guide figure useful for Friends?
Friends heard that, contrary to some opinion, contributions from members have been ‘reasonably steady’ though there has been a drop in the percentage of the central costs covered by those contributions.
Sussex East Area Meeting, in a minute, suggested that the funding of operational expenses and service activities be separated and that MfS be asked to consider instituting a levy on Area Meetings, for instance based on their income, to cover operational expenses.
Friends spoke of their experience of raising funds for centrally managed work. A Friend said that people gave more when ‘specific’ work was identified and when there was a ‘personal connection’ involved.
There was general agreement that the re-introduction of a quota as a tool for raising funds for centrally managed work was not a good idea – nor of separating activities. Friends felt the idea of a ‘subscription’ was not appropriate. Quakers, a Friends said, should see central work as ‘a shared responsibility’.
A Friend believed that the words ‘to give with equal generosity’ were an excellent guide.
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