Wardenship
Many Quaker meetings appoint wardens, resident Friends, caretakers, managers, other employees or volunteers to manage, or work in meeting house premises and grounds. The nature of these roles varies according to the circumstances of individual meetings, but essentially arises from Friends' desire to open the doors of their meeting houses and to provide a living contact between the meeting, its members and the local community.
Wardenship should be seen as an intergrated part of Quaker life and worship which can foster a friendly atmosphere in a meeting house and give caring attention to all those details which make for conditions conducive to worship and welcome. It is also a responsibility to be shared by the whole meeting.
Some see wardenship as a form of service, others regard it as a very worthwhile form of employment. The benefit of good wardenship to a meeting can be beyond measure. However, both meetings and their employeees should be aware of the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees and of importance of good, clearly structured employment practices.
Quaker Life
Quaker Life aims to support Quaker meetings (as employers) and their employees; to disseminate good practice and provide a resource giving access to the relevant sources of information. Quaker Life has advisory and support roles in connection with wardens and their work, fostering good employment practises and setting appropriate policies for the use of meeting houses.
The General Secretary of Quaker Life acts as a link for employers and employees and is able to offer guidance and advice on resources. Training and workshops for employees, volunteers and employers on specific wardenship and employment issues are also arranged.
Wardenship resources
Information is available from Wardenship Resources.
Workshops and training
Managing our Meeting House
Friday 27 January 2012 - Sunday 29 January 2012
Course Details
This training and support event takes place at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Bimringham. It includes: Our witness to Quaker values; separate workshops for staff and employers/committee members on employment law and good practice and on health & safety legislation; as well as sessions on meeting house administration, and on building working relationships and support networks. The aim is to be responsive to the particular needs of those taking part. We hope everyone will gain increased enthusiasm, skills, confidence and knowledge to benefit the life of their meeting house. You can find more details here.
For details of other wardenship events, please go to Wardenship Events.
Wardenship Handbook
The Wardenship Handbook has now been withdrawn and is replaced by Wardenship Resources.
For advice or further information
For furrther information concerning wardenship and employment issues, please email wardenship@quaker.org.uk or call 020 7663 1096. Your questions will be passed on to the most relevant person to deal with your enquiry. An answer might not be immediately available so we appreciate your patience.
Are you on the wardenship mailing list?
In October 2006 Quaker Life contacted every Warden, Resident Friend, Caretaker, Administrator, Manager, Executive Officer, Volunteer Warden known to them to check that the contact information was up to date. At the same time Wardenship Employees were given the opportunity to say how they wished to be contacted in future.
If you are engaged as an employee or volunteer working in a Meeting and have not been contacted to confirm your details, please contact email wardenship@quaker.org.uk or call 020 7663 1096 or write to Quaker Life (Wardenship), Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ. We will then be able to contact you directly with information of relevance to those working in wardenship.
