Category: Good Practice
Explanations and investigations into good practice in charity admin, and gospel order in Quaker business meetings.
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Quaker A-Z: G is for Gender Neutral Language
Quakers have a testimony to equality. For over sixty years Quakers in Britain have struggled with gender and sexual equality. Gender inclusive or gender neutral?
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Quaker A-Z: E is for Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate!
Evaluation should follow action, then action should follow evaluation, and so on. Don’t let a yearning for perfection, or fear of mistakes, paralyse you. But don’t charge ahead without consideration either. So. Where to start?
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Quaker A-Z: D is for Draft Minutes
Quakers write their minutes contemporaneously, meaning each minute is agreed in the meeting. This usually happens at the end of the topic and must happen before the meeting ends. Once the meeting has closed and the clerk has signed the minutes, they aren’t altered or amended – beyond “dots and commas”, where the meaning isn’t
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Quaker A-Z: C is for Clerk vs Chair
I’m often asked what is the difference between a Quaker Clerk and the Chair of a Committee. My usual rather tongue-in-cheek (and not strictly true) answer is that “A Quaker clerk is a servant of the meeting, and the Chair is the boss of their group”. Quakers in Britain have a good deal of information
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Quakers A-Z: A is for Authority
Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash Authority is something that people often don’t like to accept. Quakers can confuse the idea that everyone is equal before G-D, with the idea that they aren’t leaders or people with authority. Instead, the Quaker business method and Quaker nominations, with time-limited role appointments, are ultimately there to help
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AdventWord 2022: Obedience
I think I have wasted a great deal of my life waiting to be called to some great mission which would change the world. I have looked for important social movements. I have wanted to make a big and important contribution to the causes I believe in. I think I have been too ready to
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AdventWord 2022: Welcome
The word derives from the old English term ‘wilcuma’. This literally translates to a welcome guest. One who’s coming suits another’s will or wish. This is often a term of endearment when greeting others. As we move through #Advent and before we draw a close to 2022, the whole team at #MBS would like to
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AdventWord 2022: Delight
Pxfuel “Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.” William Somerset Maugham For a long time, I struggled with my mental health. A dark cloud followed me wherever I went and sucked
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AdventWords 2022: Mountains
Respect the wide diversity among us in our lives and relationships. Refrain from making prejudiced judgments about the life journeys of others. Do you foster the spirit of mutual understanding and forgiveness which our discipleship asks of us? Remember that each one of us is unique, precious, a child of God. QF&P: 1.02.22 Tim Gouw
