FUM has its roots in the General Conference of Orthodox Friends held in Richmond, Indiana, in 1887, which produced the Richmond Declaration of Faith. A second conference followed in 1892, concerned primarily with pastoral ministry, to which it gave its approval. A third conference, in 1897, approved the idea of a uniform discipline around which to gather Friends. This document was approved by eleven yearly meetings, including Western.
These yearly meetings gathered in Indianapolis in 1902 as the Five Years Meeting of Friends and met every five years, usually in Richmond, Indiana. In 1965, the name was changed to Friends United Meeting and they began meeting every three years. FUM has had yearly meetings leave and others join, creating an increasingly world-wide body.
Overseas mission work was an early motivation for Friends' united work. This work continues today under the department of Global Ministries. The mission outreach of FUM continues with field staff in Kenya, Belize, Jamaica, and Palestine. Although there is currently no field staff in Cuba, there are strong ties with Friends there as a result of earlier field staff work. FUM also sponsors the ministries of our monthly magazine Quaker Life, Quaker Hill Bookstore (an excellent resource for curriculum and Friends materials), and Friends United Press, our publishing arm.
FUM is composed of members of its constituent yearly meetings and other member groups. Western Yearly Meeting has been an active member since its inception. FUM has jurisdiction over matters delegated to it by constituent yearly meetings and is otherwise free to provide advice and counsel.
FUM meets in full session every three years at a place designated by the General Board. Each yearly meeting may appoint five representatives to the Triennial Sessions, plus one additional representative for every one thousand members. Each yearly meeting designates a representative to serve on the Triennial Nominating Committee and another to serve on the New Business Committee for the sessions. The Triennial Session also appoints officers who preside through the next triennium.
Expenses for travel of the designated Representatives for Triennial Sessions shall be paid by the yearly meeting. To equalize these expenses for our overseas members, a pool is arranged by FUM to which each Yearly Meeting contributes.
IN the interim between Triennial Sessions, the General Board is the leadership body for FUM. It currently meets three times per year. Western Yearly Meeting appoints three representatives to the General Board during the year preceding Triennial Sessions, to take office following the Triennial Session. Western Yearly Meeting may have additional members through officers or affiliate bodies. The General Board also appoints two young adult Friends (ages 18-35) to membership on the Board. Meetings of the General Board are open, except when the Clerk convenes executive sessions, when attendance is limited to those so designated.
FRIENDS United Meeting's central offices are located in Richmond, Indiana, with executive and support staff. FUM is establishing an Africa office in Kenya. Field staff are deployed for ministry in sites around the world.
THE income to support the administration and programs of FUM is provided through voluntary giving by yearly meetings, monthly meetings, and individual donations. In Western, we support the whole FUM budget through our FUM Goal for each monthly meeting, based on membership. Contributions are also given for special projects and specific works. Individuals are asked to consider endowment or estate gifts.
THE Friends Extension Corporation serves to offer financial assistance through loans and small grants to new fellowship groups preparing to establish a Friends meeting and to existing Friends meetings planning to extend their facilities. Consideration is given for financial loans to facilities of other Friends' ministries. The FEC solicits funds from individuals and meetings who wish to invest in this program of extending the witness and work of Friends.
Affiliated organizations: United Society of Friends Women-International (USFW-I), Quaker Men International, and the Western Association of the Religious Society of Friends each appoint one member to the General Board and three to the Triennial Sessions.
Cooperative organizations: The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), and the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) demonstrate interests and concerns parallel to the work of Friends United Meeting. They may send observers to General Board sessions.
Ecumenical Organizations: The National Council of Churches of Christ and the World Council of Churches may have representatives appointed by the General Board as they promote Christian service and fellowship. Designated contributions to these organizations will be forwarded to them by Friends United Meeting.