While reading the minutes from the March 2016 Meeting for Business at 15th Street Meeting, I came upon the following advices.  I think members of our school community may find them helpful.

Quaker Decision-Making Practices from The Quaker Way by Rex Ambler

This comes from a document that was presented to the 15^th Street Meeting for Business in March 2016 by their Ministry and Worship Committee. The initial italicized text is probably from Britain Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice with commentary by Rex Ambler.

1. We pause between contributions, not jumping in as soon as we get a chance, and not interrupting.
2. We speak to the meeting as a whole, not to an individual in particular, especially not to the Friend who has just spoken.
3. We defer to the clerk, like the players in an orchestra, we wait till we have a cue from the “conductor” that we are free to speak. In a large meeting this normally involves standing up or raising a hand and waiting to be called. In small meetings a look or a nod may be enough.

These three could be summed up by the advice of George Fox, “Be still and cool in thy own mind and spirit from thy own thoughts.”

4. We listen attentively to everyone even to the least articulate or knowledgeable.
5. We speak briefly and to the point, avoiding the desire to make a speech.
6. We avoid rhetoric and manipulation, which may persuade people temporarily, but not convince them deeply.
7. We may prepare out minds beforehand, but not our opinions! The clerk has to bear that in mind too, since anxiety about an item on the agenda may persuade her or him to settle her or his own mind about it first.

These four can be summed up by Fox’s words again, “Let truth be the head and practice it.”

8. We keep silent while the clerk writes a minute. The temptation is to chatter while the clerk scribbles quietly at the table, but she or he is trying to get the “sense of the meeting,” so she or he needs our quiet support.
9. We unite on a minute, not on a vote. We’re looking to agree, not on the proposal that carries the day, but the form of words that expresses the sense of the whole meeting.
10. We delay till another meeting if unity is not achievable. Even if only one member cannot accept the Minute, it will be better for the meeting, and the decision, if we wait until we can all accept it—whenever that is.
11. We submit to the Minute once it is accepted, which is a test of how serious we take the process of being led by the Spirit.

These last four may be summed up briefly by Fox’s, ”Mind the oneness.”