How to Clerk a Quaker Committee Meeting

“Here are things that I remind myself whenever I clerk or attend a Quaker committee meeting:

• The purpose of meeting for worship is to listen to each other, to listen to God, and to deepen our relationship with God by deepening our love for each other.
• The purpose of a Quaker committee is to serve the needs of our meeting and to practice worship.
• The purpose of a committee is not necessarily to solve a problem quickly.
• We start committee meetings at a predetermined time and have an ending time in mind, though the meeting may go longer because of a late message. We must be patient with that last message.
• We come prepared to speak but not planning to speak (meaning, without a personal agenda)…
• The messages of some people come quickly, in concise sentences, while others have a story to tell as they make their point. We must be patient as each person gives a message.
• If I am delivering a message, I must listen to God to know when to finish…
• We must reach unity, not consensus nor majority rule, in making our decisions or recommendations.
• The loudest voice might not reveal the Truth…
• The clerk’s job is not to have all the answers and not to carry the load of the committee.”

— Storm Evans, 2011
Member of Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting