Durham Monthly Meeting of Friends met for the conduct of business on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with fourteen people in attendance at the Meetinghouse and one by Zoom.
1. Meeting Opening
Clerk Sarah Sprogell opened the meeting by reading a selection of the Advices and Queries for Friends, included in the revised New England Yearly Meeting Faith and Practice.
- Take heed, dear Friends, to the promptings of love and truth in your hearts. Seek to live in affection as true Friends in your meetings, in your families, in all your dealing with others, and in you relationship with outward society.
- Do not fear periods of doubt and questions; they may lead to openings.
- Ground your spiritual life in your own experience of the Divine. Speak and act from that experience.
- Trust that the inner Light can lead us beyond our individual perceptions and desires into action grounded in God’s truth.
- Attend to the Spirit at work in the ordinary activities and experiences of your daily life. There is inspiration to be found all around us, in the natural world, in the sciences and arts, in our work and friendships, in our sorrows as well as in our joys. Be open to and alert for how the Spirit may be speaking to you in fresh ways, leading you in new directions.
- Be grateful for the gifts you have. Neither be too proud of them nor value them too little. Do not waste time coveting the gifts of others.
2. Approval of Minutes of January 2026
Meeting approved the minutes of the January meeting.
3. Ministry and Counsel — Renee Cote
Please see report. Regarding the NEYM Accompaniment Group, conversations with Liesa Stamm and Janet Hough resulted in the recommendation to hold two listening sessions, inviting those who were directly involved in the two identified issues to participate. People will self-select to attend. Note that this is a process that M&C has been considering for over a year. The sessions will focus on listening. No advice, counsel, or “fixing” intended.
Meeting approved the scheduling of the listening sessions, with gratitude.
Regarding the refreshing of the Meeting Facebook page, updated guidelines for use of the Facebook page were read. The position of Meeting Care Coordinator was also reviewed and additions to the job description were suggested, which will require updating the handbook. The Meeting Care Coordinator noted particularly that the Oversight Committee has been absolutely wonderful to work with.
M&C asked for approval for several items regarding MCC position and the Facebook page.
Meeting approved Leslie, as Meeting Care Coordinator, to serve as an administrator for the Facebook page — with thanks.
Meeting approved the three guidelines for the Facebook page as presented.
Meeting approved that any media requests go through MCC, Clerk, and the Communications Committee.
Meeting approved adding, to the job description, that the MCC will provide assistance and support to the Peace and Social Concerns Committee, as well as removing providint assistance to the youth minister and helping to coordinate prayer groups.
4. Finance Committee — Nancy Marstaller
Please see reports.
Overall, Meeting finances are in good shape. Note particularly the welcome increase in income. Note, too that expenses exceeded budget this year. Though the budget was not balanced, the overage was expected, and due primarily to legal fees incurred in resolving a bequest.
We are a financially healthy Meeting. We have the resources to do what we do long into the future. There has been a change in the way we are financially solvent, however — less reliant on members, and more reliant on return on investments and long-term bequests.
Increasing reliance on investments is a little worrisome. Last year, we were 50% reliant on member contributions and 50% on investments. Expenses are increasing, and we can’t count on increasing investment returns from additional bequests.
It was urged to resume passing the offering plate each Sunday, and remind people of the importance of financial contributions to continuing the work of the Meeting. A message similar to an annual appeal will appear in the next newsletter.
In addition, the investment policy of the NEYM Pooled Funds, which is available on the NEYM website, will be also printed out and made available.
Meeting accepted this report with much gratitude for the work that went into it.
5. Peace and Social Concerns — Ingrid Chalufour
Please see report. Regarding the “Food for Bob” concert on March 14th, please take posters that are available and hang them up around town.
Regarding the request to become a part of the Wabanaki Alliance coalition, P&SC agreed to return next month with a fuller description of the purposes and governance of the Alliance for discussion. Please refer to their website, too, for further information.
The history of the SJBP was reviewed. Meeting responded with expressions of tremendous gratitude.
6. Other Business
Meeting received correspondence from Rachel Carey-Harper. It included another generous contribution to our meeting. Clerk read the start of her letter where she noted the great pleasure that those involved in “For-Giving,” the organization that makes the donations, took from their last donation’s use. The good use of those funds, received last Spring, prompted this second donation.
With joy, the Meeting received a letter for membership application from Susan Gilbert. Clerk read Susan’s letter.
The letter to the Brunswick Town Council, regarding renaming the park, was emailed. It was urged that those who can, write to other churches to see if they will join us in the renaming request. Doug offered to lead the effort to reach out to other faith communities.
Meeting approved Doug taking on this task.
Ellen will connect Martha Hinshaw with Brown Lethem so that they can review assisted living possibilities in the Topsham/Brunswick area.
Respectfully Submitted, Ellen Bennett, Recording Clerk
