This leaflet is intended as both a guide for clerk and presented to the meeting; it is prepare a draft minute to lay before the newcomers and a helpful reminder to more for all those present to agree the record of gathering. Although it is the meeting experienced Friends. their deliberations. that is really in charge, clerks carry a lot of responsibility. We need to support What’s special about a Quaker Can I come to a business meeting them and do all we can to avoid making business meeting? if I am not a member of the their job more difficult by holding private Religious Society of Friends? conversations while a minute is being A Quaker business meeting is essentially drafted, for instance, or by quibbling over a meeting for worship, except that it has Yes – attenders are usually welcome to a good enough minute. a pre-arranged agenda. Whether it be attend open business meetings. You will a working party, a committee, a local, need to let the clerk know in advance that Who can speak, and how often? regional or national meeting, the process you would like to come. You may be asked is the same: Friends coming together in to withdraw for certain agenda items. Once an item on the agenda has been silence in order to draw closer to God and introduced to the meeting anyone may each other, and to seek the guidance of the What is my role in the meeting? speak, but remember, this is a meeting for Inward Light. worship. If you feel led to minister, test As in any meeting for worship, your your prompting first. Equally, don’t let primary role is to listen respectfully to What’s going on in the meeting? shyness or a sense of unworthiness hold others and to ‘the promptings of love and you back – you have a responsibility to A meeting starts with a period of quiet truth in your heart’. Even if you disagree help the meeting by sharing any relevant worship. The clerk then opens the strongly with another contribution, listen insight or information you may have. business part of the meeting. As in a patiently to each to learn what you can, In formal meetings it is the practice to secular meeting, someone presents trusting that you will be heard in the stand and wait to be called by the clerk; an item, and answers questions of same spirit. It is helpful if you prepare if another Friend is called or the clerk clarification. But rather than debating the beforehand, read the papers and reflect stands, you should sit down again. There matter, the gathering then tries to discern, prayerfully on the business, but remember is no need to repeat a point which has in an atmosphere of worship, what love that responsibility for the outcome belongs already been made, or to speak twice requires of us. to the meeting as a whole, not to any to the same matter unless asked to do individual. Come to the meeting with Spoken contributions are offered as so. Try to resist the temptation to be heart and mind prepared – not heart and ministry and are wrapped in silence. If argumentative. The point is not to win an mind made up. things seem to be getting heated, the clerk argument but to uphold our community as or another Friend may ask for a period What is the clerk doing? we work together for a better world. of silence. A touch of humour often helps the process. No vote is taken, as we are The clerk is rather like a cross between a Are minor matters dealt with not trying to reach consensus or establish chair and a secretary. Clerks prepare the differently from main items? agenda, do the necessary administration the will of the majority, but to work in Some matters may be complex or and guide the meeting through the items harmony with the Spirit. This approach controversial, and a wide range of views of business. The clerk has to try and can be very liberating, because it ensures will need to be expressed. It may take discern the outcome of each item (often that minority views are not dismissed or more than one meeting to find unity; called ‘the sense of the meeting’), and to suppressed. A minute is drafted by the a rushed decision driven by the clock may well turn out to be unsatisfactory. confident Friend may drown out a Other matters will be routine or minor quieter voice that the meeting needed or relatively straightforward, so that to hear. Strong feelings on an issue may they can be swiftly dealt with. Though make some Friends intolerant or even the process remains the same, it is not aggressive. But it is worth struggling with necessary to consider every item at great the challenge, for when the process works length or in deep solemnity. That said, the reward is a powerful sense of rightness a matter that looks routine beforehand and unity. sometimes turns out to raise unforeseen controversy! Further reading: What if I don’t agree with the Chapter 3 of Quaker Faith & Practice, 3rd How Quaker minute? ed. Britain Yearly Meeting, 2005. ISBN 0852453752 meetings take If you feel the minute doesn’t reflect the Barry Morley, Beyond Consensus: sense of the meeting, or is badly worded, Salvaging sense of the meeting. decisions there will be an opportunity to comment Wallington, PA: Pendle Hill Pamphlets after the draft minute is presented. If you (307), 1993. ISBN 0875743072 don’t agree with the decision reached, try to set aside your disappointment and Patricia Loring, Listening Spirituality, accept that the decision has nevertheless Vol.2: Corporate spiritual practice among been reached collectively through the Friends. Washington, DC: Openings Press, discipline of waiting together in the Light, 1999. ISBN 0965759911 in a sincere search for love and truth. The right decision is important, but no more Michael Sheeran, Beyond Majority Rule: so than reaching it by the right process Voteless decisions in the Religious Society – a process in which you played your full of Friends. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, part. Remember that unity is not the same 1983. ISBN 0941308049 as unanimity. You may need to continue reflecting on the matter and talking it Further copies of this leaflet and information over with other Friends. Sometimes, at about the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) may be obtained from: a subsequent meeting, it becomes clear to the meeting that a new direction is Quaker Life, Friends House, needed. 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Isn’t all this asking too much of Email: [email protected] people? Phone: 020 7663 1021 The discipline we have laid upon ourselves www.quaker.org.uk is a demanding one. Quakers are human, not saints. A more experienced or self- Produced by Quaker Communications, October 2006