What is membership?
For almost 350 years, the Religious Society of Friends has had a system of formal membership.
Originally, membership was open to those who were "convinced of the truth". Today membership is open to those who are sympathetic to the Society's beliefs and practices, especially those who find spiritual support and satisfaction in the Meeting for Worship.
Meeting for Worship is central to the life of Friends and all are welcome, so the question is, "why become a member?" For those brought up as Quakers it seems a strange question.
For the newcomer, who may still have links with and whose family is involved in another church, this question may have real significance.
Why become a member?
What can a member do that a non-member can't? In one sense, very little. Meetings for Worship are open to all and non-members (attenders) may participate in many Quaker activities: discussion groups, work parties, and special interest occasions welcome those who regularly attend Meeting. Attenders are also welcome to subscribe to the Society's funds.
Business meetings - Monthly Meeting, Quarterly Meeting and Yearly Meeting - are open to all members but non-members need the permission of the Clerk which, in most cases, is readily given.
Some committees may have attenders appointed to them whilst the more executive committees are confined to members.
The responsibility of membership
As a member one can become involved in the organisational life of the Society in both administration and, perhaps more attractive to many, in furthering spiritual values and in concerns for peace, service and social issues.
Members may be appointed as Clerks or Assistant Clerks to meetings or committees and eventually as Overseers or Elders, thus becoming much more part of the caring Religious Society of Friends.
The role of members, therefore, is to keep our Society intact and working, to further the concerns of the group, and to provide the foundation for much of what our Society stands for. By becoming a member you take on part of that responsibility. You offer to share in the work of Friends.
When to apply for membership
There are no set criteria for membership; but you should know about the Society, its way of worship, its testimonies, and its aspirations.
This will mean attending Meeting for Worship at several different meeting houses over a period of perhaps a year and taking part in some business meetings.
You are ready to consider membership when you are convinced that the form of worship, the spiritual ethos, and the business methods are helpful to you and you feel "at home" as a member of the Society. You will also have read about and discussed the history, religious tenets and convictions of the Society and about the experiences of earlier Friends.
How to apply
The Society is divided into Monthly Meetings; letters of application should be addressed to the clerk of the appropriate Monthly Meeting. It can be quite brief, perhaps outlining experiences with the Society and your experiences of membership.
The Monthly Meeting will then appoint two Friends to visit you, one of whom you may already know. They will discuss membership with you thoroughly and informally; their report will be considered at a future Monthly Meeting which will then let you know its decision.
A Monthly Meeting may be composed of several Meetings for Worship. Members generally attend one of these regularly but are free to attend without any formality. If you move to another part of the country, membership may be transferred to that Monthly Meeting.
Ask a Friend
Before applying for membership talk with members of the Meeting which you usually attend, perhaps an Elder or Overseer. They will guide and advise you about timing, and discuss your hopes or doubts in an informal and confidential way, suggesting pamphlets and books for you to read. They will also be present at Monthly Meeting to speak to your application when it is read.
You should feel quite free to raise the matter - Friends may be reluctant to speak first in case they appear to be pressing you to join. We are happy to have attenders at our Meetings - whether for short periods or more regularly and are encouraged when applications for membership are made.
If you would like more information please contact:
Dublin Monthly Meeting
Religious Society of Friends
Swanbrook House
Bloomfield Avenue
Morehampton Road
Dublin 4
Phone / Fax: 01-668 3684