Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends

Associated meetings: Ann Arbor, Birmingham, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Holland, Kalamazoo, and Red Cedar. Associated Worship groups: Manitou, Pine River, and Tustin.

GPQM BEGINS LAYING DOWN PROCESS

At the Fall Meeting of Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting on Saturday, September 20, 2025, Friends in attendance came to unity that it is time to begin the process of laying GPQM down. Declining attendance and a lack of people willing to accept service in clerking or on committees were two of the main factors in this decision. The process is expected to take about a year.

Although many Friends greatly enjoy in-person contact with one another, the large number of Quaker programs and events easily accessible online have made geographical proximity less important in making and maintaining spiritual and social connections or participating in presentations and discussions.

A “laying down” Committee is charged with following good order in wrapping up the financial affairs and other obligations of the Quarterly Meeting. Members include Peggy Daub (Ann Arbor, clerk), Geoff Brieger (Birmingham), Ellerie Brownfain (Birmingham), Jeff Cooper (Ann Arbor), Joe Mills (Kalamazoo), and John Williams (Ann Arbor). They welcome prayers, questions, and suggestions from any Friend.

During the coming months, the three organizations who received support from GPQM will be notified that the contributions will end after 2026. They are the Michigan AFSC Office, the Michigan Friends Center, and the Michigan Alternatives to Violence Project.

Friends in Michigan are encouraged to host events with other Friends in the region, whether in person or online. The responsibility falls to all of us to maintain the broader Quaker community that can nurture us. We look forward to seeing how Spirit leads us together in new ways.

Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting Officers and Committees

Clerk: none

Recording Clerk: none

Treasurer (3-year term)
Jeff Cooper (AA) (2027)

Finance Committee (3-year overlapping terms)
John Williams, Clerk (AA) (2025)
Terry Grant (RC) (2026)
Susan Hartman (AA) (2027)

Nominating Committee (3-year overlapping terms)
Ellerie Brownfain (BMM) (2025)

Communications Coordinator (1-year term)
Peggy Daub (AA) (2026)

Resident Agent (serves without term)
Jeff Cooper (AA)

Currently, GPQM conducts business the third Saturday in May and the third Saturday in September.

According to the Articles of Association, GPQM’s purpose is to:

promote and support the activities of its members in worship, witness and social service, according to the beliefs of Friends;
found, foster and support local meetings of Friends;
harmonize, publish and propagate the beliefs and aspirations of Friends with respect to worship, witness, and social service.

It continues to help support the American Friends Service Committee Ann Arbor office.
It owns and is responsible for the administration of the Friends School in Detroit
It acts in conjunction with the Friends Lake Cooperative Community to administer the Michigan Friends Center under its Articles of Incorporation.

Abstract of the History of Green Pastures Quarterly Meeting

Formed in 1957, consisting of Ann Arbor, Detroit and Kalamazoo Meetings, the East Lansing Preparative Meeting and the Toledo Friends Group
Attendance in the late fifties and early sixties about 200.
1959 AFSC first active in Michigan;
1960 affiliated with FGC and accepted the 1955 PYM Faith and Practice.
1961 Friends Lake Cooperative Community established;
1963 Friends School in Detroit incorporated.
1964 incorporated officially. Grand Rapids Preparative Meeting included.
1968 Birmingham Meeting became a constituent meeting.
1970 Pine River Meeting;
1971 Grand Rapids Meeting;
1973 Red Cedar Meeting formed.
Holland Preparative Meeting formed ??? date.
In 2006, worship groups function in Albion, Fremont, Manitou, Grand Traverse and Tustin.