How do we hold our meetings for business in the spirit of love, understanding and patient search for unity without becoming frustrated by differences of opinion or the pressures of time?
How do we respond when no one else in the meeting seems to hold the views that we do on an issue? How do we respond to a dissenting minority?
How do we share responsibilities among Friends in our meeting? How do we serve our meetings?

The Quaker way of doing business makes a lot of sense to us, even though we sometimes lose sight of it when we are pressed for time. We have all seen, albeit occasionally, the truth of the idea that slowing down, listening and leaving space between comments really can facilitate a better resolution. We have also seen that coming to meeting with an open mind, ready to listen for a possible “third way,” can help us come with a better solution.

We saw this happen recently. Ministry and Counsel was very excited about an idea that they thought everyone would love. Everyone didn’t, at least in the original form. A new way was proposed. At first it was rejected, but a palpable shift in attitude happened as the new idea started to seem appealing. In the end everyone was pleased about this new, viable alternative.

The minority opinion can be wonderful or it can be dicey. Sometimes we really need a new idea, and the really goofy one, even if it’s not a perfect solution, can shake us out of our usual thinking. However, this only works without causing hard feelings if the meeting doesn’t rush to silence the person with the goofy idea, and it also works best if that person is willing to let go of the idea once it has served its purpose.

The clerk can do a great deal to make sure that everyone feels heard – and really is heard. In our yearly meeting we are fortunate having the example of Deborah Fisch, who is remarkable at discerning the sense of the meeting and at listening for the voice of the Spirit and helping us listen for it as well.