'Rejoice in the presence of children and young people in your meeting and recognise the gifts they bring... Are you ready both to learn from them and to accept your responsibilities towards them?' Pastoral care of children and young people has its own particular difficulties and rewards. Quaker meetings vary so much in size and character: how can Friends offer appropriate overshght and eldership? Within local worshipping groups, who bares the responsibility for safety, for nurturing the Spirit, for developing a friendly, inclusive community? Many - old and young - have contributed to this handbook for all committed to good oversight and eldership, whether appointed elders and overseers or sharing the work in a corporate system. Members of monthly meeting children and young people's committees will find useful guidance in this book, as will those who help with children's meetings and other resource co-ordinators, parents and children and young people Pastoral care of children and young people is the seventh in a series of booklets produced by the Committee on Eldership and oversight, offering information, support and guidance to all those responsible for oversight and eldership. The volumes together form a developing handbook on spiritual and pastoral care, based on the experience and insights of Quakers in Britain Yearly Meeting. The Committee on Eldership and Oversight offers opportunities for reflection, worship and learning more about pastoral care, in co-operation with Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, and organises a gathering at the time of Yearly meeting. The Committee is a means for sharing experience and good practice between Friends and between meetings.

"The right joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests' or magistrates, for it is God's ordinance and not man's; and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together: for we marry none; it is the Lord's work, and we are but witnesses." So wrote George Fox in 1669 in Quaker Faith & Practice 16.01. How can any couple be clear that they are called to steadfast commitment to each other? How can the meeting witness this divine work, and uphold the couple? The Quaker understanding of marriage is rooted in our history, unique, yet evolving. How could a meeting support a couple of the same sex who ask to celebrate their life long commitment before God and in the care of the meeting? This is a practical and inspiring book for those responsible for oversight or eldership. It will help registering officers and everyone concerned for committed partnerships. Couples considering their life together may find this informative and supportive.