Sometimes the meeting is moved to witness to an issue in our society by writing a public minute. These minutes typically explain our perspective on the issue, the spiritual foundations of this perspective, and actions that we recommend or commit ourselves to taking.
These excerpts from the past five decades offer a picture of our witness. The full texts are available here.
Minute on Equitable Political Representation in Tennessee • 2026
We hold that all people are equal in dignity and value, and that all people deserve strong and direct representation of and by themselves. Policies that dilute, exclude, or inhibit minority representation in the American democratic process cause harm to everyone by denying our communities both diverse input and their own representation.
These actions stand in opposition to our testimonies of equality and community.
These actions deny the majority Black population of Memphis political representation in the United States House of Representatives.
These actions disenfranchise all Tennesseans by denying us the fundamental right to participate in and be represented as ourselves, by ourselves in our democracy.
We deplore white power and supremacy and its continued use in gerrymandering across our state.
– Minute approved as amended, 24 Fifth Month 2026.
In addition to public minutes, we write minutes that are only intended to keep track of our ongoing work. These are written during meetings for worship with attention to business, such as when we accept a committee's report or make a decision, and are distributed to Friends in the Nashville Friends Meeting community via our email list after the meeting. Contact the clerk - nfmclerk@gmail.com - if you need access to these other minutes.
Much work of the meeting begins in small committees. These currently include:
Adult Education Committee, which arranges programs for ‘2nd hours’ after meeting for worship,
Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) Committee, which coordinates trainings and workshops on the topic of Alternatives to Violence,
Children's Religious Education Committee, which looks after our First Day School program,
Finance Committee, which helps create and monitor our budget,
House & Grounds Committee, which ensures the integrity and safety of the building and grounds,
Ministry & Counsel Committee, which is responsible for the worshipful life of the meeting and the pastoral care of its individuals,
Nominating Committee, which matches Friends’ gifts and leadings to opportunities for service,
Peace and Justice Committee, which organizes the group efforts of the community to meet unaddressed social needs,
Prayer Committee, which spiritually upholds the meeting and particular Friends in need.
Other individual positions of responsibility are also crucial to the work of the meeting, including:
The clerk, who shepherds the agenda during meetings for worship with attention to business and discerns when the meeting is in unity about a decision
The assistant clerk, who takes the place of the clerk when the clerk is absent or needs to step aside of clerk duties
The recording clerk, who records the minutes of the meeting for worship with attention to business
The treasurer, who manages payments and contributions
The archivist, who keeps track of minutes, membership, marriages, and so on
<!-- • The representative to Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA), who communicates needs and activities between our local meeting and this regional body -->
For more information about these committees and positions, feel free to email the clerk > clerk@nashvillefriendsmeeting.org.