Martha Paxson Grundy

In this extremely important pamphlet, Grundy addresses how meetings need to and can support ministry and eldering. She clearly describes the traditional Quaker understanding of God's gifts of spiritual power and authority in teaching, prophesying, speaking to the spiritual condition of others, and encouraging, nurturing, and discerning gifts of ministry. These and other gifts being for the service of the spiritual community, right order in a meting includes ways to provide support and accountability for these gifts. Since the gifts of ministry and eldering work together, as elders encourage, support, and hold accountable the ministers, wise eldering is part of right ordering of a meeting. Thus recognizing and developing gifts of ministry and eldering can be important to breaking through the spiritual sleepiness of a comfortable ungathered meeting.… (meer)