Setting Limits
A Checklist of Questionable Behaviors in Meeting
by the Gospel Order Sub-committee,
Ministry and Counsel of New York Yearly Meeting

Meeting for worship

Speaking too early in the meeting

Leaving too little silence between messages

Dialog, or answering another's message

Speaking too long, "running past the guide"

Speaking too often

Speaking more than once

Harangues, threats and other assaults on the worship

Eldering a speaker without the inward or outward authority to do so

Tardiness

Conversation, reading or writing, moving about, and other disturbances to the silence

Fellowship

Sexual harassment

Assault and/or battery

Deceit and theft

Refusal to work in good faith toward resolution of conflicts

Tale bearing, backbiting and rumor-mongering, "sense of the parking lot"

Civil suit between members

Quaker process and meeting for business in worship

Knowingly and consistently violating Quaker process

Holding the meeting hostage: "if you do 'X', I will do 'Y'," withholding financial contributions in protest

Forming political alliances

Blackballing or stacking nominations

Biased or forceful clerking; ignorant clerking

Secret or improperly publicized meetings

Failing to record minutes or changing the minutes without meeting approval

Presuming to speak or act for the meeting on weighty matters without the approval of the meeting

The Testimonies

Civil suit between members

Joining the armed forces

Gambling

The use of dangerous or addictive drugs, including alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes and television

Improper sexual conduct

Unrepentant prejudice

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