Quaker lore is rich in the journals of early Friends who traveled in the ministry under the leading of the Spirit, but it offers little from the viewpoints of the faithful companions who accompanied these ministers, praying with and for them, advising them, and helping them to remain faithful to their callings. Today, as this practice of spiritual accompaniment—or eldering—undergoes a resurgence among Friends, two such companions give us an account of eldering from the viewpoint of the companion and the minister she traveled with.

In 2008, Elaine Emily visited Australia Yearly Meeting to offer workshops and ministry about eldering. Cathy Walling traveled with her as her elder accompaniment. This jointly written account, expanding on Cathy’s journal, explores the lessons, challenges, and gifts of that experience. It is offered in the hope of increasing our understanding of how eldering can be effectively and lovingly achieved, and in the hope that it will inspire other elders to offer their own firsthand accounts. (Pendle Hill webpage)

Quaker lore is rich in the journals of early Friends who traveled in the ministry under the leading of the Spirit, but it offers little from the viewpoints of the faithful companions who accompanied these ministers, praying with and for them, advising them, and helping them to remain faithful to their callings. Today, as this practice of spiritual accompaniment—or eldering—undergoes a resurgence among Friends, two such companions give us an account of eldering from the viewpoint of the companion and the minister she traveled with.

In 2008, Elaine Emily visited Australia Yearly Meeting to offer workshops and ministry about eldering. Cathy Walling traveled with her as her elder accompaniment. This jointly written account, expanding on Cathy’s journal, explores the lessons, challenges, and gifts of that experience. It is offered in the hope of increasing our understanding of how eldering can be effectively and lovingly achieved, and in the hope that it will inspire other elders to offer their own firsthand accounts.

Questions for reflection and discussion are included.

Two companions give an account of eldering from the viewpoint of the companion and the minister she traveled with. This jointly written account explores the lessons, challenges, and gifts of that experience. It is offered in the hope of increasing our understanding of how eldering can be effectively and lovingly achieved.

This pamphlet, in telling the story of these two friends traveling in the ministry in 2008, reflects extensively on the experience of spiritual accompaniment, or the kind of eldering support that Cathy delivered to Elaine. It is both fascinating and a valuable exploration of how and why to provide for such spiritual accompaniment and support. The clear implication is that spiritual support for each other is not only for traveling ministry, but is needed, indeed essential, for our ministry of all kinds in our meetings, families, and work in the world. The pamphlet offers practical help on learning how to attend to the Inner Teacher, in order to discern how to provide or ask for eldering support in all kinds of situations. It is a valuable addition to the modern Quaker literature reviewing the vital practice of Quaker eldering. ( )