Yearly Meeting Programme Committee

Programme Committee has two major functions: to serve as a planning and oversight Committee for the annual sessions of Canadian Yearly Meeting; and to act as a coordinating body for the different groups who have responsibility for the various aspects of the Yearly Meeting sessions. The committee responds to direction from Yearly Meeting and Representative Meeting.

The planning and oversight responsibilities include site selection, liaison with the site's administrators, local arrangements, publicity, scheduling of daily events, arrangements for the Sunderland P. Gardner lecture, and Bible and Quaker study, taking into account evaluations of previous Yearly Meeting programmes. Advanced planning is required for tasks such as selection of the site (with consideration of the needs of campers and the food coop) and arrangements for the Sunderland P. Gardner lecture. A reference manual containing essential details relating to Programme Committee's tasks is kept up to date in the Yearly Meeting office.

Programme Committee collaborates with the Religious Education Committee (responsible for the children's and youth programme), Continuing Meeting of Ministry and Counsel (responsible for worship and the spiritual nurture of the Yearly Meeting), Agenda Committee (responsible for planning business sessions) and the Yearly Meeting office.

Members of Programme Committee are appointed with regard for appropriate geographical representation in order to facilitate liaison with the local arrangements committees in the sites chosen for the Yearly Meeting gatherings. Programme Committee includes the Clerk(s) of Yearly Meeting and the General Secretary. The following groups each appoint a representative to ensure effective collaboration: Religious Education Committee, Continuing Meeting of Ministry and Counsel and Canadian Young Friends Yearly Meeting.