Leadership and governance

Community governance

Quaker business is conducted in the context of worship. Rather than voting, decisions are based on the leading of the Holy Spirit through the sense of the meeting by those in attendance. A presiding clerk guides the discussion, and is responsible for interpreting the sense of the meeting.

Earlham School of Religion is not a Quaker meeting, but is an institution of higher learning committed to theological education. While not all matters are decided in a meeting for business, our approach to business and decision-making draws deeply upon our Quaker heritage. Faculty, staff, and students participate jointly in shaping learning and community at ESR.

The Faculty Meeting for Business and Student Meeting for Business are responsible for community governance. Committees support the work of these two Meetings for Business. All meetings are held according to Quaker principles. These afford ample opportunities for involvement in the decision-making process of the school for faculty and students.

• Student Committees: Student Meeting for Business oversees student committees that each selects its own clerk, who is then designated to report important committee concerns to the Student Meeting for Business. Student committees include: Nominating Committee; Community Life Committee; Student Pastoral Care Committee; and Spring Banquet Committee.
• ESR Faculty Committees: The Committees of the Faculty are: Admissions Committee; Faculty Review Committee; Field Education Committee; Harassment Committee; and Personnel Committee. Each committee is composed of at least two faculty members and is convened by a clerk, who is selected by the committee. The Harassment and Personnel committees include a student representative selected by the Student Meeting for Business.
• Joint Student-Faculty Committees: Currently there are two joint student-faculty committees, each of which is vital to the formation of community in the school: Common Meal Committee and Worship Committee. Each of these committees has at least one faculty member and two or more student members. Members of the committee determine leadership.
• Partnership Committees: To facilitate smoother integration with its partner seminary, Bethany Theological Seminary, certain joint committees have been formed and function regularly. These are: Joint Academic Planning Committee; Joint Library Committee; Joint Faculty Retreat Committee; and Information Technology Roundtable.