Meeting for Business

All members and attenders are encouraged to attend meeting for worship with attention to business, sometimes referred to as meeting for business, which is usually held on the third Sunday of the month before meeting for worship. We come together in worship but with a pre-determined agenda, as we seek the Spirit’s guidance on matters of business that concern the meeting. 

Quakers do not follow Robert’s Rules of Order, vote, or even strive for consensus. Instead, we listen closely to each person’s piece of the truth to perceive the leadings of the Spirit. Eventually, we discern the sense of the meeting, unity around a common understanding of the way forward. Unity does not mean complete agreement, but only that those present feel the decision reflects Spirit’s leadings.

Meeting for worship with attention to business is led by the clerk of the meeting, a meeting member appointed by the meeting for a certain period of time, usually a couple of years. Committees bring issues to the clerk, who establishes the agenda and listens closely to messages shared by all who feel called to speak on a subject. When the clerk recognizes and articulates the sense of the meeting, the recording clerk drafts a minute. If those in attendance agree that the minute expresses the sense of the meeting, they approve the minute, which is recorded and kept with the meeting's documents.

Sense of the meeting differs from consensus in these ways: