Quaker business method

It is primarily carried out in meetings for worship for business, which are regular gatherings where minutes are drafted, to record collective decisions.

Subsequently, the practice aims to collectively discern the will of God through silent reflection, inspired statements (vocal ministry) and a capturing of the resultant "sense of the meeting".

[2] The strong spiritual basis marks the Quaker business method as a mystical form of decision-making, in contrast to purely rational practices such as parliamentary procedure.

The Quakers were one of the many dissenting groups that separated from the Church of England during the English Civil War (1642–1651).

Their belief that every person has an equal and direct opportunity to experience the will of God put them at odds with the hierarchy of the established church.

The growing resentment of the establishment towards the Quakers peaked when James Nayler re-enacted Christ entering Jerusalem in Bristol, 1656.

Thus he encouraged believers to meet together and collectively interpret the will of God, to corporately (i.e. as a unified body) "test" concerns and leadings.

If someone is the topic of discernment, for example, they have been nominated for a role, they (and any immediate family members) will be asked to leave the room.

The clerk, alongside any elders, is responsible for upholding the discipline of the meeting, sometimes referred to as right, or "Gospel", order.

Silence is also observed after every piece of ministry, to allow the meeting to consider the statements and return to a point of reflection.

[2] The Clerk uses their judgement to decide when an item has been fully examined, typically when they observe a period of extended silence.

Some minutes may have been prepared in advance, especially for routine business, though these will be edited in accordance with any decision or vocal ministry in the meeting.

Instead, Friends suggest edits to the minute to ensure it aligns with the sense of the meeting, considers any ministry it accidentally omitted and its language is clear and correct.

This went on to be developed by Gerard Endenburg (one of Boeke's students) in the late 1960s to become known as Consent within contemporary Sociocracy.