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Retreat on Quaker Process and Decision Making
by Sheila Shinn
Activities centered on "Quaker Process and Decision Making" and was led by Bill Deutsch of Decorah Monthly Meeting.
Bill mentioned that he came to Quakerism because of the Quaker Meeting for Business and has served as clerk several times,
including being the clerk of Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) for 10 years. Because of this experience, he was quite helpful in
leading the participants to understand more fully what the Quaker Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business is all about.
He pointed out that there are three entities at each meeting for business: the clerk(s), participants, and Spirit. What it takes
to have a successful meeting is the right mix and the attitude of "we shall move through this with divine assistance." We need to
remember that it is worship. . . "A Quaker business meeting makes no sense unless it's a spiritual experience." As a participant,
I appreciated the "Quaker" game, the discussions, the tasty lunch and the chance to be with Friends. Thank you, Retreat
Committee, for this opportunity.
IDEAS FROM THE RETREAT
If the Spirit is the source of our life, let the spirit also conduct its course. Galatians5:25
As a part of trying to discern the form we wanted to achieve for our business which best nurtures the
Quaker Spirit and strikes that balance between structure and spontaneity, Bill asked those of us who had
attended Iowa Yearly Meeting what we liked about the decision making process practiced there. We listed these
factors...
- Worshipful use of silence
- Slower process with discernment
- Presence of Spirit
- Ability to express strongly held opinions and the ability to work through it.
- Willingness to labor with each other
- Sense of trust in the process
- Realization that it is not a dialogue—speaking into the process and a willingness to hear.
- One person speaking at a time and space between speakers.
Bill also led us in a discussion (and listing) of the ideals and practices of clerk in the business process...so...the Clerk of the
Meeting...
- Has experience in Quaker Process.
- Gathers committee reports, items of concern and prepares an agenda prior to the Meeting For Business.
- Gathers a sense of the meeting.
- Has an awareness of the points-of-view on a given issue (and is not invested in the outcome even though ones own convictions exist).
- Keeps the meeting focussed and flowing.
- Willingness to be the servant-leader of the Process.
- Trusts that Friends will assist as needed.
- Has the ability to record minutes quickly and deftly.
- Has patience and a secure and healthy ego to outwear dissension. (The last two came directly from Bill's "List of Six"
which he has developed from his years of fulfilling the role of clerk.)
Perhaps, now, we can develop a better picture of what our Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business and
what we require of our Clerk entail. Hopefully, we can continue to discuss issues of interest concerning
Quaker process in future programs.
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