Presented to the Meeting for Business on 6 June 2010

The Adult Religious Education (ARE) Committee sees as its charge to encourage spiritual growth of individuals in the Meeting, which we know helps to create a deeper, more vibrant community able to respond to nudgings of Spirit.

Survey Results and ARE Response
In our Meeting's Fall 2009 appeal for contributions, ARE included a survey of our members and attenders. We would like to thank former ARE member Andrew Winter for writing and distributing the survey and analyzing the results of the 30 respondents.

The survey asked about people's experience with ARE events and what they would like to do in the future. People who responded were supportive of ARE programs and provided excellent input for improving ARE programming. The 2009 survey results show that, in comparison with a survey that ARE did 2 years ago, there is an increase in interest in ARE's offerings. The programs that ARE has offered in the last year (June 2009 through May 2010) have clearly sparked a greater enthusiasm for adult religious education. Friends are interested in having programs two times per month, compared with a preference for only once a month in the previous survey. We have developed a pattern of a summer reading group, an intensive course in the Fall, and a variety of offerings in the winter and spring.

Spiritual Formation Program: A majority of those who answered the survey have expressed an interest in a Quakerism 201 course. We hope to meet that yearning to go deeper with a new program, a year-long Spiritual Formation Program. Being developed by Bill Dietrich, Susan Kaul, and Gail Thomas, the program is modeled on a similar course offered by Baltimore Yearly Meeting. (An introduction session is planned for June 13, 2010.)

Sessions at Additional Times: Another request in the survey was to offer programs at other times than 9:30. As an experiment, Gail Thomas led a discussion of Walter Wink's book Jesus and Nonviolence during a potluck. As it turns out, however, there are many offerings at 12:30 making scheduling difficult, so we still are discerning how to respond.

Summer 2009: Right Relationship Book Group
In Summer 2009, Philip Bogdonoff, with support from his wife Jillaine Smith and ARE member Gail Thomas, helped us to consider our relationship to the earth. We used an excellent new book written with a strong Quaker influence, Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy by Peter Brown, Geoffrey Garver, and others. As it turns out, that book was also chosen by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for its 'One Book' program, meaning all PYM Monthly Meetings were encouraged to study it. The fine weather this past summer meant that the dozen or so participants who met each week could gather outside on the patio. Several in the group have continued to hold this concern for the environment. One ARE Winter session focused on the topic 'Living Lightly on the Land.' Highlights were Philip demonstrating his solar oven and dehydrating frame (and handing out samples of his tasty dried tomatoes and other vegetables) and Barbara Fichman, with her husband Greg Filas, sharing photos from Polyface Farm (featured in Omnivore's Dilemma).

Fall 2009: Relating to Early Friends
Our intensive Fall 2009 course was Relating to Early Friends: Their Experience and Ours. The curriculum is being tested by its author, Helene Pollock of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Intended to help us go deeper, the course included dramatic readings and a visit by an 'early Friend' (thank you, Susan Rich). Each week focused on a different key concept, such as 'The Seed,' being 'exercised' and 'experiencing God's power.' In Fall 2010, we will again offer Marsha Holliday's Exploring Quakerism (our current version of Quakerism 101), which, as usual, will be open to people new to Quakerism, as well as to more seasoned Friends.

Individual ARE Sessions
The Fall 2009 survey results suggest that people are interested in a broad range of topics, and winter and spring programs this year have been quite varied. Topics included the following:

• Experiment with Light, led by Jane Meleney Coe
• The Peace Testimony, led by Shelley Kirilenko
• Pathways to Membership, in cooperation with BFM's Advancement and Outreach Committee
• Eldering, with BFM's Ministry and Worship Committee
• Quakers' Relationship to African Americans, led by Jane Meleney Coe and Gail Thomas (based on the new Quakerbooks Fit For Freedom Not for Friendship)
• Hospice Care, led by Rose Mary Doughtery
• Jane Meleney Coe's report on her trip to Burundi, co-sponsored with BFM's Peace and Social Justice Committee.

Gospels: In early September, Gail Thomas led an all-day Saturday workshop on the five Gospels. The workshop was intended primarily for members and attenders of Langley Hill Monthly Meeting, but it was held at Bethesda Friends Meeting (BFM) and was open to BFM as well. About 25 people attended. The BFM Hospitality Committee provided delicious snacks.

Celebrating the Quaker Way: We'd like to particularly highlight a session in March when Peirce Hammond read aloud Ben Pink Dandelion's small booklet Celebrating the Quaker Way. Those present were so taken with the booklet and saw so many ways to use it that we ordered 100 copies for the Meeting.

ARE Committee Business
Like many committees, we had an almost complete turnover of members in January. In response to this new energy, one new member, Gail Kohanek, has developed an interest in improving ARE materials on the BFM website and creating links to other resources.

One responsibility is Teacher Appreciation Day. One of our new members, Anne Parlin, had ideas for conducting a successful Teacher's Appreciation Day, which this year was held at the rise of Meeting, rather than at potluck, and included thank-you notes from the First Day School children, rather than certificates for books from the BFM book table. The notes from the students were gathered by use of self-addressed envelopes in an mailing request. Student lists were incomplete, and it took some digging, but the work was worth the inclusion of children. Somehow the day seemed to have more meaning when the students were involved in the thanking of their teachers. The children stood when their teachers' names were called and overall, we believe the day was a success. Perhaps next year it will go more smoothly since people will be familiar with the process, though we do question whether ARE is the best committee to be doing Teacher Appreciation Day.

Another responsibility is Hospitality. Our Hospitality month this year was in April, rather than October. Howard Davis led the charge, and we think we did a creditable job. The Hospitality Committee's good organization of supplies and clear instructions were a big help.

All in all, we had a good year and a lot of fun. The challenges were certainly outweighed by the rewards.

Submitted by the Adult Education Committee: Howard Davis, Barbara Fichman, Gail Kohanek, Peg McMahon, Anne Parlin, and Gail Thomas.