Quaker Process: Spiritual Roots & Current Practice

We will begin with the spiritual roots and history of Quaker processes and discuss how we do things today. We’ll cover Quaker process in many of its aspects, including business meeting, how things get done, clearness, community, and working through conflict. You will learn about the spiritual and historical roots of current practices and may…

Workshop Description

We will begin with the spiritual roots and history of Quaker processes and discuss how we do things today. We’ll cover Quaker process in many of its aspects, including business meeting, how things get done, clearness, community, and working through conflict.

You will learn about the spiritual and historical roots of current practices and may learn about traditional processes you were unaware of. We will discuss how we can improve how we do specific processes. You will be asked before the workshop what topics you are most interested in so we can focus on topics that are most relevant to the group. You will go home with a better understanding of Quaker process, ideas for how to improve your own participation, and ideas for how to help improve your meeting’s practices.

We will cover:

• The spiritual roots of Quaker process
• The historical background of particular practices

Before the Gathering, you will be asked to indicate how interested you are in the following topics: participating in business meeting, clerking, taking minutes, clerking committees, clearness, incorporating anti-racist and inclusive practices, community, nominating & ideas for restructuring how meeting work gets done, working through conflict, membership, and eldership/mentoring. You will also be asked to suggest additional topics. Depending on interest, not all of these topics may be covered.

Each day will begin with at least 15 minutes of worship or worship sharing. There will also be worship sharing during the sessions. The rest of the time will be spent with the leader presenting material, discussions, sharing, and times for reflection.

In preparation for the workshop, it will be helpful to participate in meetings for business and pay special attention to their dynamics. Are things running smoothly? Is the pace unhurried without dragging? Do certain people consistently dominate the discussion? Is business presented clearly? How much of the meeting attends business meetings and are there certain groups not present, such as parents, young adults, or Friends of Color?

You do not need to read anything to prepare for the workshop, but here are some recommended readings for those who are interested:

• George A Selleck, Principles of the Quaker Business Meeting. Friends United Press, 14 pages.
• Mathilda Navias (the leader of the workshop), Quaker Process for Friends on the Benches, 323 pages.
• Bill Taber, The Mind of Christ: Bill Taber on Meeting for Business, ed. Michael Birkel, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #406, 36 pages.
• Traditional Quaker Christianity, Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative), 232 pages.
• Your Yearly Meeting’s book of Faith & Practice – sections on business and other topics we’ll be covering

Please bring a notebook or paper and pen.

Leader Experience

Over the last 15 years or so, I have given workshops on Quaker process and White Dominant & Quaker Culture at monthly, regional, and yearly meeting sessions.