Our Community
We Take Care of Each Other
From the beginning Friends have recognized the importance of being in community, providing spiritual support for discernment of God’s will and material support for Friends’ families.
How Our Meeting Works
Quaker meetings follow the guidance of the spirit in business as well as in worship. The bulk of the work is done by committees according to the meeting's needs and concerns. Everyone is welcome to participate in the work of the meeting. See our Manual of Procedures for more information on our committees and the work of the meeting.
Oversight & Pastoral Care
Caring for one another and the meeting is facilitated by those who serve on the Oversight and Pastoral Care Committee. Committee members take a personal interest in the spiritual and physical well being of each member. The committee also has oversight responsibility for the entire faith community, seeing that committees are functioning well and in providing support and attention where needed. The committee makes recommendations for charitable giving and also has responsibility for a fund that assists members in need.
Top: O&PC celebrates anniversaries of members. Bottom: Members give encouragement to seniors during the pandemic
Fellowship
Birmingham Friends sponsors numerous activities to nurture the fellowship of the Meeting community. These include monthly luncheons and refreshments at the rise of Meeting. Friends also work together to represent Birmingham in the local community. During the holiday season Birmingham hosts a “Carol Sing” for Meeting Friends and those in the local community.
Top: Fellowship luncheons are held throughout the year. Bottom: Fellowship game nights are always a fun time.
Worship & Ministry
Friends on this committee nurture the spiritual life of the meeting and provide for the religious development of members and attenders.
Left: W&M and RE sponsor worship and a picnic in the woods each year. Right: W&M has responsibility for organizing meeting for worship each week
Peace & Social Concerns
Birmingham Friends work to improve the civic, economic, social and moral conditions of the community, country and the world; it works for peace among all groups and promotes education for peace and social service. Visit our Faith in Action page for more info.
Stewardship of Property
Friends maintain the meetinghouse and grounds, searching for ways to increase the sustainability of our meetinghouse and grounds.
Religious Education
The Religious Education Committee is responsible for the Meeting's Children and Youth Programs and the Nursery. ​
Visit our Children & Youth Program page to learn more.
Finances
Friends prepare an annual budget, which comes to a meeting for business for adoption. Our fiscal year is the calendar year. If you want to support our faith community click here:
"Edward Hicks, The Peaceable Kingdom (ca. 1834)" by smallcurio is licensed under CC BY 2.0, oil on canvas
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young goat,
The calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little child shall lead them.
Isaiah 11:6 NKJV
Friendly Bible Study
We gather once a month via Zoom to discuss a passage from the Bible that is selected and facilitated on a rotating basis by a group member. Using the “Friendly Bible Study” method we respond to the queries:
1) What is the author’s main point?
2) What new Light do I find in the text?
3) Is the passage true to my experience?
4) What are the implications for my life?
5) What problems do I have with the passage?
Answers are given in rotation without judgment or rebuttal. After a period of worship, discussion follows as participants are led. Everyone is welcome. Please contact the office if you would like to join.