Pastoral Care and Other Services
Meetings for Worship
All Meetings for Worship (services) at the Friends Meeting of Washington are held in silence, differing principally in the usual attendance and the time and room in which they are held. Find our schedule and more here.
Baptism and Confirmation
These ceremonies are not a part of Quaker tradition.
Marriage / Commitment
Friends Meeting of Washington offers the same general range of ceremonies, pastoral care and other services to its members and attenders as most churches. The chief difference from other religious communities, however, is that the Meeting (as with many Quaker Meetings) has no paid minister – all activities are handled by the members themselves, individually or through the various committees. For more information, contact our administrative staff (202-483-3310).
Marriages (marriage "under the care of the Meeting") are conducted for members and long-term attenders after application by letter to the Marriage and Family Relations Committee and approval by the overall Meeting. Marriages of same-sex couples under the care of the Meeting are welcome. Couples in the Meeting community who do not wish to be married may ask to have a Meeting for a Union of Commitment instead. More information is available here.
The Meeting House can be used for non-Quaker weddings when space is available through contact with the staff and payment of a building use fee.
Memorial Meetings
Memorial meetings (similar to funerals) are arranged by the Ministry and Worship Committee for members and others in the Meeting community by contacting the staff. Use of the building for other types of memorial services can also be arranged through the staff. It is not customary for Quakers to have a graveside service.
Counselling and Aid
The Meeting has no paid minister; so counselling and assistance of other sorts for members and other persons is not available on a "walk-in" basis as it is in most churches. Friends often speak to others privately at the Meeting or ask the Ministry and Worship or Membership Committees to select a confidential clearness committee to help the Friend discern God's will in a given matter. The Personal Aid Committee endeavors to help Friends who are experiencing personal or other difficulties, always entirely confidentially.