Minute of Release for Ministry and Travel for Mike Gray

Greetings to Friends Everywhere,

Mike Gray, a beloved member of Fort Collins Friends Meeting (2222 W. Vine Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521), has received a leading to conduct a ministry of work camps among the indigenous people including the Oglala people on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and other communities, especially in Mexico, where he has on-going relationships.  He has requested Fort Collins Friends Meeting to release him for this ministry.  We believe that Mike Gray has a gift and a calling for leading such work camps, and we embrace his ministry under the care of our Meeting.  He has been in discussion with William Penn House of Washington DC which currently oversees and delivers dozens of work camps annually through Washington Quaker Work Camps.  William Penn House has expressed the intention of taking on the administrative oversight of this ministry (including receipt and management of funds, personnel functions, insurance, etc.), and the details are currently being worked out.  Ministry and Counsel Committee of Fort Collins Friends Meeting will be the liaison with William Penn House and will oversee the clearness and spiritual aspects of this ministry.  Mike Gray will provide M & C reports on the ministry’s resource utilization, activities, and accomplishments at least annually.  These reports will be shared with all Friends Meeting and organizations supporting this ministry.  Fort Collins Friends Meeting requests any Friends Meeting or organization wishing to support this ministry to appoint a Friend through their normal nominating discernment process to an on-going working support committee for the ministry.  These appointments can be made by endorsement of this minute on the reverse, or can be sent to Charlotte Miller, Convener, Ministry and Counsel Committee, via mail to 2222 W. Vine Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80521, via e-mail to cimiller44@hotmail.com or by phone to (970) 207-1933.  Fort Collins will appoint a convener for the committee.  The functions of the support committee will be to work, after the manner of Friends:

·         To ensure that Mike Gray receives help with continuing discernment of his leading, skills and decision-making and to assist Mike Gray in exercising these skills;

·         To work to find, develop and obtain resources for the ministry consistent with Friends’ testimonies and practices;

·         To advise Mike Gray in handling adversity;

·         To identify others who are called to help carry out this ministry;

·         To ensure that reports are made to the Ministry and Counsel Committee at least annually;

·         To ensure that resources engaged in the ministry are well-used and accounted for;

·         To help discern where changes in the ministry may be required;

·         To discern if and when the ministry needs to be laid down.

Friends are encouraged to support the work of this ministry by giving financial donations.  The Treasurer, Fort Collins Friends Meeting, 2222 W. Vine Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80521,will receive donations towards the support of this ministry.  These funds will be made available to Mike Gray as needed for the activities of the ministry.  When an agreement is reached with William Penn House, Fort Collins Friend Meeting may transfer these funds to William Penn House for the on-going work of this ministry.

Meetings and organizations are invited to endorse this minute on the reverse with the appointment of a support committee member, or to convey any greetings to our Meeting, and to report on how the visit of our traveling minister was received.

David Zimmerman, Clerk, Fort Collins Monthly Meeting