Where is the minister?
Perhaps one of the most distinctive things about a Quaker Meeting is the absence of any official clergy. Instead, we hold that we are all ministers of one sort or another: some by the spoken word, but others by deeds of service, or by silent prayer and listening. It is often said that Friends have not abolished the ministry, but the laity; we are the logical extension of Martin Luther’s “priesthood of all believers.” Without a pastor, typical pastoral functions are performed by individuals and various committees. We also designate someone to serve as clerk (a volunteer position, typically rotating every 3 or 4 years) who tends to various practical aspects of our life together.
