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By Kathleen, Karhnak, Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
As I was about to begin clerking my Monthly Meeting, I looked for some good resources about the spiritual gifts and demands and the practical considerations of clerking. I was surprised at first by how many of these titles dig down into the small administrative details of clerking. I have experienced, though, that it is these little details that clerks are sometimes expected to just know somehow, and by taking good care of such details, I serve the meeting well, helping provide the space and confidence for us to be in worship together when our attention turns to business. Most of these titles really convey the love the authors feel for doing the work of clerking.
Mind the Oneness (Robert Halliday, Quaker Home Service, 1991) – out of print
Comments: This short book gives thoughtful consideration to the worship aspect of our "meetings for worship with attention to business." It really helped me synthesize all the many things that are expected of clerks, and to begin developing an understanding of some of the ways in which a clerk can be of service. While it mainly addresses monthly meetings, it is good reading for anyone who wants a better understanding of Quaker process.
Listening Spirituality, Volume 2: Corporate Spiritual Practice Among Friends (Patricia Loring, 1999)
Comments: This book has been one of the most helpful to me in knitting together the spiritual practice of our corporate body with the spiritual practice of conducting our business. I highly recommend this book as a reflection on how all of us can foster the spiritual life of our meetings.
Beyond Consensus (Barry Morley, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #307)
Comments: This Pendle Hill Pamphlet describes three essential components in discovering sense of the meeting: release, long focus, and transition to Light, all of which are nurtured by worship. It's wonderfully written and is worth a read (or re-read) for anyone wanting to reflect on Quaker business practices.
Before the Meeting: A Handbook for Clerks (Keith Redfern, Quaker Home Service, 1994) – out of print
Comments: This handbook is geared primarily toward monthly meeting clerks. However, much of the information is useful for anyone who wants a better understanding of Quaker process. It gives a lot of helpful detail about the mechanics of clerking and doesn't lose track of the spiritual basis of the job.
Before Business Begins (Will Watson, New England Yearly Meeting, 1996)
Comments: I resisted this book at first because it seemed rather formulaic, especially in its sample wordings for minutes. I soon realized, however, that by having templates for routine matters, the clerk can help the meeting have more time and energy to put toward the less routine parts of business.
Handbook on Records (Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Committee on Records, 1996)
Comments: This handbook is geared toward recording clerks, recorders, and those who care for the administrative life of the meeting. It's a handy compilation of answers to questions that often end up in the clerk's bailiwick and offers good advice on practicalities ranging from keeping a policy manual to indexing minutes to how to write a memorial minute and what to do with it once it's written.
Instructions for the Assembly and Operation of Quaker Committees (Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, 1981) – out of print
Comments: At six pages long, this is a brief introduction to the mechanics of how Quaker committees function within monthly meetings. Two pages are dedicated to the responsibilities of committee clerks. While this may have no new information for an experienced friend, it spells out some logistics in an organized fashion and may be helpful to those clerking a committee for the first time. It may also remind more experienced friends of some of the basics that sometimes fall to the wayside in everyday practice. I have used it when committee clerks have asked me for help with some aspect of their committee. It is very much a nuts-and-bolts pamphlet -- those wanting a philosophical exploration of clerking should look elsewhere.
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