Toward a Gathered Friends Community
by Leanna Goerlich, New York Yearly Meeting,
Seven Queries Asking, "Is Your Friends Community Following Gospel Order?"
for the Gospel Order Packet"Toward a Gathered Friends Community" is an assessment tool. It is intended to enable meetings to evaluate the degree to which good Quaker order is being practiced, to assess meeting strengths and weaknesses and to implement helpful change. There are seven sets of queries which help a community probe deeply into community life and find out what aspects are operating in good gospel order, and also find out where there may be conflicts and blocks to unity and harmony.
It is formatted so that the facilitator or designated recorder can write directly on the resource itself the key points shared in the group, and suggestions for future action.
These queries can be presented in a variety of ways. They will work best when conducted with thoughtful guidance by persons respected by the meeting for their gifts in facilitating worship-filled groups. Here are a few scheduling suggestions:
• Present the queries in seven separate one and a half hour sessions held monthly, weekly or twice monthly.
• Arrange the sessions in workshop segments of either one day with lunch, or Friday evening and Saturday segments, or a weekend retreat.
• Use the queries separately if there is a special concern in one of the areas.
• Select persons from outside the meeting to facilitate the sessions.
• Ask your Yearly Meeting Ministry & Counsel for guidance and/or leadership.
• Create a safe and prayerful environment in which truth can be spoken.
Definition of Quaker good order:
The guiding principles and procedures which enable a Friends community to be centered in God.
Hypothesis:
That recognized and unrecognized conflicts and unmet or unexpressed needs within a Friends community can be a major cause of apathy and unrest in community life and result in a lack of vitality and new growth.
Procedure:
1. Thoughtfully and worshipfully consider and answer the following seven sets of queries as fully as possible.
2. Give thanks for your strengths and recognize them as building blocks for the future.
3. Consider any weaknesses with a view to seeking solutions. Suggestions are given under Possible Solutions. Consider other creative solutions which the group suggests.
4. Take into account community motivation, energy and gifts in making plans which will facilitate needed change.
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