Chapter 16: every tradition · Christianity

Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)

An unprogrammed meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, as in Friends General Conference: Friends gather in silence in a plain meetinghouse, on benches facing one another, with no pastor, no pulpit, no music, and no outward sacraments; anyone may rise to speak as led. Business is decided in the meeting for business by the sense of the meeting, without a vote, and a clerk presides. Most meetings are small. Programmed (pastoral) Friends, as in Friends United Meeting, worship differently.

All 80 traditions · its profile in Faiths and traditions, with how to play it; How people feel, what every factor is.

At a glance

Faith	Christianity
Its words	meeting, meetinghouse, meeting room; the clerk leads the meeting for worship; the vocal ministry; First Day; the Bible
Worship	silence focus, reserved, minimal formality (0.00 of 1); seated on facing
Music	organ discouraged; gospel organ discouraged; piano discouraged; choir discouraged; band discouraged; brass discouraged; handbells discouraged; chant discouraged; song leader discouraged; recorded discouraged
The room's sound	no strong preference
Its year	none; none observance; fasts none
Leans	liberal on moral questions, liberal on economic ones
Polity	meeting; leaders come by none; property local
Leaders	none leader, unpaid, trained by none; marriage any
Belonging	moderate commitment, pastoral discipline, admitted by vote
Giving	tithing not emphasised; collected by mailed, boxes, online; also rentals
Way of life	alcohol moderation, dress casual, sabbath relaxed

The week's services

Day	Time	Service	Led by	People look for it
Sunday	10:00 am	Meeting for worship	the laity	expected
Wednesday	7:00 pm	Meeting for worship	the laity	optional

Leader: none needed: the laity lead every service, so no clerk is missed.
Communion: not kept.

Rites

Clearness Committee (on request, +0.02 to those there, asked for 0.05 times a year by a household, 90 minutes): A few trusted Friends meet with someone facing a decision or a leading, asking gentle questions and waiting in silence to help them find clarity, without giving advice.
Marriage Under the Care of the Meeting (on request, +0.025 to those there): After a clearness committee, the couple marries in a special meeting for worship: they rise and make their promises to each other with no officiant, and everyone present signs the marriage certificate.
Memorial Meeting (on request, +0.02 to those there): A meeting for worship in thanksgiving for the life of someone who has died, in which those gathered rise out of the silence to share memories of them.
Meeting for Business (monthly, +0.01 to those there): Each month Friends hold a meeting for worship with attention to business: the clerk brings matters before the meeting, and Friends wait together for a sense of the meeting rather than voting.

Joining

No baptism: a content regular is received after about 26 weeks.
Joining age: 16.
Kinds of belonging: members (votes, may hold office); attenders (may hold office); received by a vote of the members.
What it means: being baptized, confirmed, or received is worth +0.1 to the person, +0.05 to family there, and +0.03 to everyone else at the service. It roots them: a rooted household drifts away only 0.6 times as often, and if it does fall away, it has a 25% chance of coming home at each of its great days (at most once a month) for ten years.

Giving, and what goes up

How its people give and what else comes in, as Money explains it for every faith.

How it's given: the contribution, by gifts by post, boxes, and giving online. With no plate passed, members give a tenth less at the boxes than they would into one, and visitors give nothing at the service. Gifts by post or in envelopes come in at the month's start. Those who give online give whether or not they come (8% more a month).
Tithing isn't emphasised: people give 10% less.
Renting space: its congregations are known for it, so tenants pay 15% more.
Fundraisers: only the modest ones (below).
Owed above: Covenant contribution, $60 a year for each member, to the Yearly Meeting (voluntary).

The staff and who decides

Clergy: there's none to come: it has no clergy, and the laity lead its worship.
Staff it can hire or name (see Staff and volunteers):
- Choir director / organist / pianist ($15,000–$35,000; leads the music (up to +0.06))
- Caretaker ($18,000–$30,000; slows the building's wear)
- Meeting secretary ($20,000–$35,000; runs the office (+50 to the leader's reach, once))
- Youth director ($20,000–$40,000; up to +0.08 for households with young people)
Its boards: the ministry and counsel (deciding, over calls and the spiritual life); the trustees (deciding, over the building).
Renovations: The members decide by consensus.
New construction: The members decide by consensus.
Who votes: members, 16 and over.

Life together

What its Community screen offers it, with the dilemmas only its own faith or family meets; see The congregation in its community.

Ministries of its own: Choir.
Ministries every tradition can run that it's offered: Blood drive, Food pantry, Health clinic, Preschool, Youth group.
Fundraisers of its own: Soup supper.
Shared fundraisers it may hold (only the modest ones): Bake sale, Car wash, Raffle, Rummage sale.
Tenants it can take: A Masonic lodge, A scout troop, A twelve-step group, Another congregation, Dance classes, Parties and receptions, Polling place and forums, Wedding receptions.
Outreach: invitation First Day (Community → Evangelism).
Dilemmas of its own faith (besides those every congregation meets): A petition for cushions, The bells, again.
Dilemmas its code of life brings: A candidates' forum, A matter of oaths, A raffle for the roof, Champagne at the reception.

What the building needs

expected Meeting benchThe meeting gathers in silence on benches facing one another, with no focal point.
discouraged Brass band standsBrass doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged Choir stallsThis tradition's worship has no choir.
discouraged CrucifixThis tradition doesn't set a crucifix, or any cross, before its people.
discouraged Flag of the churchThis tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
discouraged Drum kitA band and drum kit do not belong in this tradition's worship.
discouraged CrossCrosses and other symbols are not part of this tradition's worship space.
discouraged Flaming chaliceThe flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
discouraged Hammond organA gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged IconIcons are not part of this tradition's worship.
discouraged National flagThis tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
discouraged Painting of ChristPictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space.
discouraged Upright pianoA piano doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged Pipe organAn organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
discouraged PulpitUnprogrammed worship has no pulpit; anyone may be moved to speak from where they sit.
discouraged StatueStatues are not part of this tradition's worship space.

What people here feel

Architectural style: Colonial brick +0.012; Modern synagogue -0.006; Gurdwara -0.012; Japanese temple -0.024; Islamic -0.03; Shinto shrine -0.03; Chinese temple -0.036; Dravidian temple -0.042; Nagara temple -0.042; Thai temple -0.042; Jain marble -0.048; Gothic -0.054.
Building fit: up to ±0.15 for everyone, the average fit of the characterful items in its worship rooms (the table below).
Acoustics: it wants a room between ringing and dry, about 2.2 seconds of reverberation: neither bare stone nor a carpeted low room. Up to ±0.05.
Solar panels: leaning liberal, it's glad of them (+0.02 at every service).
The vocal ministry lands by its topic and the tradition's leaning (below); the clerk's preaching adds or costs up to 0.08 more.

How each vocal ministry lands

The topics its leader can choose from (some are only for one faith or family), and what each is worth.

Racial Justice & Reconciliation+0.06
Radical Inclusion+0.06
Social Justice Call+0.06
Care for Creation+0.04
Healing for All+0.04
Interfaith Understanding+0.04
Reading Scripture in Context+0.04
Swords into Ploughshares+0.04
The Prophets' Call+0.04
Wealth & Poverty+0.04
Welcome the Stranger+0.04
Women Who Led+0.04
Biblical Stories+0.015
Blessed Are the Peacemakers+0.015
Called by Name+0.015
Doubt & Faith+0.015
Eternal Life & Resurrection+0.015
Grace & Forgiveness+0.015
Gratitude+0.015
Hope & Comfort+0.015
Joy in All Things+0.015
Love One Another+0.015
Sabbath Rest+0.015
Saints & Witnesses+0.015
Servant Leadership+0.015
Songs of the Psalms+0.015
Stewardship & Generosity+0.015
The Church Year+0.015
The Life of Prayer+0.015
The Parables of Jesus+0.015
Faith & Family-0.05
Faith of Our Fathers-0.05
Obedience & Discipline-0.05
Personal Holiness-0.05
Resisting Temptation-0.05
Spiritual Warfare-0.05
The Authority of Scripture-0.05
The Great Commission-0.05
Marriage as God Designed-0.075
Sanctity of Life-0.075
The Last Days-0.075
Fire & Brimstone-0.1

Every item, for this tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); the building fit is the average over the characterful items in the worship rooms. An item with no character (a table, a toilet) has no fit. A rule applies wherever the item is.

Item	Fit	Rule
Seating
Box pew	-1
Choir stalls	-1	discouraged This tradition's worship has no choir.
Meeting bench	no fit	expected The meeting gathers in silence on benches facing one another, with no focal point.
Oak pew	no fit
Row of chairs	+1
Liturgical furniture
Altar	-1
Baptismal font	-1
Baptistry	no fit
Bishop's chair	-1
Brass eagle lectern	-1
Columbarium niches	-1
Communion rail	-1
Communion station	no fit
Communion table	no fit
Communion trays	no fit
Confessional screen	no fit
Coptic cross	-1
Epitaphios	-1
Flaming chalice	-1	discouraged The flaming chalice is another tradition's symbol.
Foot-washing basins	no fit
Haikal screen	-1
Iconostasis	-1
Immersion font	-1
Lectern	no fit
Litany desk	-1
Mercy seat	no fit
Octagonal stone font	-1
Paraments	no fit
Pulpit	no fit	discouraged Unprogrammed worship has no pulpit; anyone may be moved to speak from where they sit.
Readers' desks	no fit
Rood screen	-1
Sanctuary lamp	-1
Tabernacle	-1
Three-bar cross	-1
Thurible and stand	no fit
Music
Brass band stands	-1	discouraged Brass doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Chanter's stand	-1
Drum kit	0	discouraged A band and drum kit do not belong in this tradition's worship.
Electronic organ	-1
Grand piano	-1
Hammond organ	-1	discouraged A gospel organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Handbell table	-1
Pipe organ	-1	discouraged An organ doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Sound system	0
Upright piano	-1	discouraged A piano doesn't suit this tradition's worship.
Decor
Advent wreath	no fit
Banner	0
Christmas Eve candles	no fit
Cross	-1	discouraged Crosses and other symbols are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Crucifix	-1	discouraged This tradition doesn't set a crucifix, or any cross, before its people.
Easter lilies	no fit
Eternal flame	no fit
Flag of the church	-1	discouraged This tradition doesn't fly a flag in worship.
Great dome	-1
Icon	-1	discouraged Icons are not part of this tradition's worship.
Memorial plaque	no fit
National flag	-1	discouraged This tradition keeps the nation's symbols out of worship.
Painting of Christ	-1	discouraged Pictures of Christ are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Paschal candle	no fit
Plain spire	no fit
Small dome	no fit
Stained glass window	-1
Statue	-1	discouraged Statues are not part of this tradition's worship space.
Steeple and bells	-1
Votive candle stand	no fit
Furnishings
Alms box	no fit
Coffee pot	no fit
Commercial coffee pot	no fit
Computer	no fit
Crib	no fit
Desk	no fit
Desk chair	no fit
Folding table	no fit
Full-length mirror	no fit
Pillar	-1
Prie-dieu	-1
Projection screen	+1
Vestment cabinet	-1
Wooden table	no fit
Utility
A/V rack	no fit
Camera	no fit
Cast-iron boiler	no fit
Central air conditioner	no fit
Commercial HVAC plant	no fit
Commercial stove	no fit
Congregation van	no fit
Ductless heat pump	no fit
Electric wall heater	no fit
Gas furnace	no fit
Hearing loop	no fit
Lift	no fit
Packaged heat pump	no fit
Plumbing stack	no fit
Ramp	no fit
Shuttle bus	no fit
Sink	no fit
Solar panels	no fit
Stairs	no fit
Toilet	no fit
Used school bus	no fit
Wall camera	no fit
Window air conditioner	no fit
Grounds
Evergreen tree	no fit
Flower bed	no fit
Fountain	no fit
Garden bench	no fit
Hedge	no fit
Lychgate	-1
Playground	no fit
Shade tree	no fit
Standing cross	no fit

Sources

Friends General Conference, About (link)
Friends Meeting of Houston, Meeting for Worship (link)
Faith and Practice of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting: Guidelines for a Clearness Committee (link)
New York Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice: The Monthly Meeting (link)
Quaker Testimonies (FGC-hosted meeting pages) (link)
Robert Barclay, An Apology for the True Christian Divinity (1676), propositions XII and XIII
Margaret Fell, Women's Speaking Justified (1666)
Salem Quarter, Seaville Monthly Meeting minute on same-gender unions (2004) (link)