www.herndonfriends.org

People vary widely in how long it takes them to become official members of the Meeting. Some may know that this is their spiritual home within a year or two; others might attend for decades before making the leap. Attenders participate fully in the life of the Meeting; membership is required only of the Meeting Clerk, the Trustees, and members of the Ministry and Oversight committee.

One does not become a member of the Religious Society of Friends as a whole but rather of an individual Monthly Meeting. At Herndon Friends Meeting, the procedure is to write a letter to the clerk of Ministry and Oversight. A clearness committee will be appointed to meet with you. If the committee finds no obstruction, it brings the application first to Ministry and Oversight and then to the Monthly Meeting with a recommendation for acceptance. At times, the clearness process may show that delay in membership is the better course.

Some things to consider before applying: What is your religious background and convictions? How did they lead you to considering joining the Religious Society of Friends at this time? Are you familiar with the history of Friends? Are you aware of the larger structure of the Religious Society of Friends? Do you know about Yearly Meetings? Do you know that there are also Quaker Churches? Have you attended other Meetings for Worship? There is considerable religious diversity within the Religious Society of Friends, and even within the Herndon Friends Meeting. For example, many Friends do not believe that Jesus is God. Are you comfortable with this diversity? How familiar are you with the Herndon Friends Meeting? How long have you attended? Have you attended Meetings for Business? Are you comfortable about speaking during Meeting for Worship? Have you served on any committees? Have you discussed our proposed membership with others? Do your family and friends support you in this decision? Are you comfortable with the Friends testimonies on Peace, Simplicity, Equality, and Community? What are the pulls which make you want to join HFM? Do you have any reservations about joining the Herndon Meeting or about thinking of yourself as a Quaker? What do you feel are the obligations of membership? Are you ready to assume these responsibilities? Are you currently a member of some other Quaker Meeting or spiritual community? If so, should there be some official paperwork exchanged with this other group?