Membership

After attending meeting for worship for a period of time and participating in the activities of your local monthly meeting or worship group, you may wonder: How can I become a member?

Membership is held in the Monthly Meeting. It is not based on any agreement with statements of belief, but rather on the mutual understanding between you and the meeting you attend that the Religious Society of Friends is truly your spiritual home.

One question you do NOT need to ask yourself is, ‘Am I good enough to be a Quaker?’ The Religious Society of Friends is not a body of ultra-virtuous people: We all have our weaknesses as well as special gifts.
~SEYM Faith & Practice

Membership in a monthly meeting is a two-way relationship. We are asked to contribute our talents, care, and energies to the community; and the meeting is asked to welcome us in loving fellowship, provide pastoral care, support us in our spiritual growth, and recognize and encourage development of our spiritual gifts.

The process for becoming a member basically involves:

Writing a letter to the Clerk of the Meeting requesting membership.
Meeting with a Clearness Committee to discern whether the Quaker way is right for you and the community.
Based on the Clearness Committee’s recommendation, membership is approved at a monthly meeting for business.

For an in-depth understanding of the meaning of membership, and details of the process for becoming a member, see SEYM Faith & Practice, Chapter 7, Membership in the Religious Society of Friends