The following is a letter I am addressing to the Pittsburgh Friends Meeting regarding this ministry and an opportunity for the Pittsburgh Friends participating in a ministry fellowship.
Good morning Friends,
In the past few weeks I have shared with you that I have been called to a life of public ministry. In an effort to best heed this call I sought out a variety of resources among friends to help support me on this journey. One of those resources which I applied for is the Friends Incubator Fellowship for Public Ministry, which is led by friends of the Sandy Springs Meeting and Friends Journal. I was accepted for an initial discernment interview, whereupon I met with one of the organizers, Windy Cooler. We had an amazing conversation, but I was dismayed when she informed me that there were over 50 applications, and just 5 spaces available. I thought there was no way we would be accepted onto a second round of interviews, with me being so green. To my surprise, we’ve been invited to return for a second round.
I am seeking focused participation from at least one elder, and as many friends of our meetinghouse who would like to walk this journey with me.
What is the Friends Incubator Fellowship for Public Ministry? #
The Friends Incubator Fellowship for Public Ministry is a two-year, cohort-based experiment that supports five Quaker teams—each made up of a public minister, an elder, and their meeting community. Through retreats, residencies, spiritual formation, storytelling, and mutual support, fellows will deepen their ministries and walk with their meetings in partnership, growing stronger in spiritual care, discernment, and shared leadership.
Here is what you will be asked to do:
- Participate in in-meeting retreats, building spiritual depth, trust, and clarity
- Attend in-person and virtual residencies tailored to their contexts
- The first residency will be held at Pendle Hill, April 6–12, 2026
- This residency is for two weeks and will be in person.
- Engage in cohort-based learning, with space for peer wisdom, shared discernment, and storytelling
- Contribute to case studies, helping us learn and teach with integrity
- Receive stipends to cover travel, hospitality, childcare, and accessibility needs
Topics of exploration include:
- Discernment of leadings
- Faithful eldering and spiritual accountability
- Conflict, trauma, and relational integrity
- Economic justice and material support in ministry
- The changing shape of public ministry today
What does Raymond need? #
- One elder of this meetinghouse who can commit to travelling to Pendle Hill for 2 weeks for residency, and can commit to the needs of the program over it’s two year duration.
- More elders willing to guide me and mentor me on this process.
- Any and all friends who are excited about the potential for a new style of public ministry, which grows well beyond our humble meetinghouse.
How to get involved? #
Find me in the meetinghouse after Meeting for Worship. I am usually upstairs by the window in the reading cove, or I am outside on the porch. I’m autistic so I like to find quieter places after worship, but come and find me and chat.
When is the deadline? #
I really need to find people as soon as possible. I need to give the fellowship a response by the next Second day. They want to begin the second round of interviews, with your participation as an elder or friend alongside with me, by November 1st.
In Reverence, Raymond Chandler III