Monthly Meeting Minutes

Below are links to the minutes of our Monthly Meeting for Worship with attention to Business, which is usually held on the second first-day of the month.  The most recent years are at the top.  In Minutes 2017.1.3 and 2017.3.6, Friends approved the publishing of the minutes on this website.  To print any webpage, click on the “Printer-friendly version” link at the bottom of a page, which will reformat the page for printing.

The full text of printed minutes as well as the web version will be archived on behalf of New England Yearly Meeting in the Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) at the W.E.B. Du Bois Library of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  For further information about NEYM’s archive policies and procedures, please visit https://neym.org/archives.

Below the calendars are downloadable documents describing the Quaker business process.  There is further information in “Chapter 3:  Corporate Discernment in Meetings for Business” of NEYM’s Interim Faith and Practice as well as https://quaker.org/decision-making/.

Minutes for 2024
Q1 First Month Second Month Third Month
01-14 Minutes 02-11 Minutes 03-10 Minutes
Q2 Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-14 05-19 (3rd 1stday) 06-09
Q3 Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-14 08-11 09-08
Q4 Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-13 11-10 12-08

Minutes for 2023
Q1 First Month Second Month Third Month
01-08 Minutes 02-12 Minutes 03-12 Minutes
Q2 Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-09 Minutes 05-07 Minutes 06-11 Minutes
Q3 Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-09 Minutes 08-13 Minutes 09-10 Minutes
Q4 Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-08 Minutes 11-12 Minutes 12-10 Minutes

Minutes for 2022
Q1 First Month Second Month Third Month
01-09 Minutes 02-13 Minutes 03-13 Minutes
Q2 Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-10 Minutes 05-08 Minutes 06-12 Minutes
Q3 Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-10 Minutes No business 09-11 Minutes
Q4 Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-09 Minutes 11-13 Minutes 12-11 Minutes

Minutes for 2021
Q1 First Month Second Month Third Month
01-10 Minutes 02-14 Minutes 03-14 Minutes
Q2 Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-11 Minutes 05-09 Minutes 06-13 Minutes
Q3 Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-11 Minutes No business 09-12 Minutes
Q4 Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-10 Minutes 11-14 Minutes 12-12 Minutes

Minutes for 2020
Q1 First Month Second Month Third Month
01-12 Minutes 02-09 Minutes 03-08 Minutes

03-22 Minutes
Q2 Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-12 Minutes 05-10 Minutes 06-14 Minutes
Q3 Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-12 Minutes 08-16 Minutes 09-13 Minutes
Q4 Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-11 Minutes 11-08 Minutes 12-13 Minutes

Minutes for 2019
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-13 Minutes

(01-13 Agenda)
02-10 Minutes

(02-10 Agenda)
03-10 Minutes

(03-10 Agenda)
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-14 Minutes

(04-14 Agenda)
05-12 Minutes

(05-12 Agenda)
06-09 Minutes

(06-09 Agenda)
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-14 Minutes No business 09-08 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-13 Minutes 11-10 Minutes 12-08 Minutes

Minutes for 2018
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-14 Minutes

(01-14 Agenda)
02-11 Minutes

(02-11 Agenda)
03-11 Minutes

(03-11 Agenda)
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-15, -22, -29 Minutes

(04-15 Agenda)
05-13 Minutes

(05-13 Agenda)
06-10 Minutes

(06-10 Agenda)
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-08 Minutes

(07-08 Agenda)
08-12 Minutes

(08-12 Agenda)
09-09, -23 Minutes

(09-09 Agenda)
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-14 Minutes

(10-14 Agenda)
11-11 Minutes

(11-11 Agenda)
12-09 Minutes

(12-09 Agenda)

Minutes for 2017
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-08 Minutes 02-19 Minutes

(02-19 Agenda)
03-12 Minutes

(03-12 Agenda)
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-09 Minutes

(04-09 Agenda)
05-14 Minutes

(05-14 Agenda)
06-04 Minutes

(06-04 Agenda)
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-09 Minutes

(07-09 Agenda)
08-13 Minutes

(08-13 Agenda)
09-10 Minutes

(09-10 Agenda)
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-08 Minutes

(10-08 Agenda)
11-12 Minutes

(11-12 Agenda)
12-10 Minutes

(12-10 Agenda)

Minutes for 2016
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-10 Minutes 02-14 Minutes

02-28 Minutes
Missing
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-10 Minutes 05-15 Minutes 06-12 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-24 Minutes No business 09-11 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-09 Minutes 11-13 Minutes 12-11 Minutes

Minutes for 2015
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-11 Minutes 02-08 Minutes 03-22 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-12 Minutes 05-10 Minutes 06-14 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-12 Minutes 08-09 Minutes 09-13 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
Missing Missing 12-13 Minutes

Minutes for 2014
First Month Second Month Third Month
Missing 02-09 Minutes 03-09 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-13 Minutes 05-11 Minutes 06-08 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-13 Minutes 08-10 Minutes Missing
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-12 Minutes Missing 12-14 Minutes

Minutes for 2013
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-13 Minutes 02-10 Minutes 03-10 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-14 Minutes 05-12 Minutes 06-09 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-14 Minutes No business 09-08 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-13 Minutes 11-10 Minutes 12-08 Minutes

Minutes for 2012
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-08 Minutes 02-12 Minutes 03-11 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-08 Minutes 05-06 Minutes 06-10 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-08 Minutes No business 09-09 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-28 Minutes 11-11 Minutes 12-09 Minutes

12-16 Minutes

Minutes for 2011
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-09 Minutes 02-13 Minutes 03-13 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-10 Minutes Missing 06-26 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-10 Minutes No business 09-11 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-23 Minutes No business 12-11 Minutes

Minutes for 2010
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-10 Minutes 02-14 Minutes 03-14 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-11 Minutes 05-16 Minutes 06-13 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-11 Minutes No business 09-12 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-10 Minutes 11-13 Minutes 12-12 Minutes

Minutes for 2009
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-11 Minutes

01-18 Minutes
02-08 Minutes 03-08 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-05 Minutes 05-10 Minutes 06-14 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-12 Minutes No Business 09-13 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-11 Minutes 11-08 Minutes 12-13 Minutes

Minutes for 2008
First Month Second Month Third Month
No Business 02-10 Minutes 03-02 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-13 Minutes No Business 06-08 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
Lost 08-23 Minutes 09-14 Minutes

09-28 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-12 Minutes

10-26 Minutes
11-09 Minutes 12-07 Minutes

Minutes for 2007
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-14 Minutes 02-11 Minutes 03-11 & 25 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-15 Minutes 05-13 Minutes 06-10 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-08 Minutes No Business 09-09 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-14 Minutes 11-11 Minutes 12-09 Minutes

Minutes for 2006
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-08 Minutes Cancelled (Snow) 03-12 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-09 Minutes 05-14 Minutes 06-11 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-09 Minutes No Business 09-10 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-08 Minutes 11-12 Minutes 12-10 Minutes

Minutes for 2005
First Month Second Month Third Month
01--09 02-13 03-13
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-10 05-08 06-12 Minutes
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-10 Minutes 08-14 09-11
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-09 Minutes 11-13 12-11 Minutes

Minutes for 2004
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-08 02-08 Minutes 03-14 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-11 Minutes 05-09 06-13
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-11 08-15 09-12
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-10 Minutes 11-13 Minutes 12-12

Minutes for 2003
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-12 Minutes 02-09 03-30 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-13 Minutes 05-11 06-15
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-13 08-10 09-14
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-12 11-09 12-14

Minutes for 2002
First Month Second Month Third Month
01-13 02-10 03-10 Minutes
Fourth Month Fifth Month Sixth Month
04-14 Minutes 05-12 06-09
Seventh Month Eighth Month Ninth Month
07-14 08-11 09-08 Minutes
Tenth Month Eleventh Month Twelfth Month
10-13 Minutes 11-10 Minutes 12-08 Minutes

Document

(in .doc, .xls, and/or PDF format)
Description
FGC's “Quaker Business Basics”

Quaker Business Basics

“Quaker Business Basics” is a short introduction to meeting for worship with attention to business from Friends General Conference (FGC).

image of 'NEYM Youth Worker Screening Form'

Quaker Business Meetings

This document was originally written and produced by some Friends and Attenders from Glasgow Meeting, Scotland, who came together in an informal group in 1995 to explore their experience of business methods in the Society of Friends. It has been tailored to Concord (NH) Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) with Amercanized spellings and terms.

Last update: 9th month 2021. Comments and corrections should be sent to Clerk [at] ConcordFriendsMeeting [dot] org

image of 'NEYM Youth Worker Screening Form'

A Practical Mysticism

A Practical Mysticism: How Quaker Process Opens Us to the Promptings of the Divine by Elizabeth Meyer, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #453 (October 2018) Price: $7.50

Quaker business process is a group practical mysticism that opens the worshiping body to the promptings of the Divine.  At its best, all in the worshiping community—not only the clerk—understand and trust the process.  This essay identifies twelve Friendly practices, aspects of Quaker process that, when faithfully adhered to, deepen our worship with attention to business and invite the work of the Divine Presence in our midst.  Discussion questions included.

Click here to read a review of this pamphlet by Marty Grundy in Friends Journal.

image of 'Atheist’s Guide'

Atheist’s Guide to Quaker Process

The Atheist’s Guide to Quaker Process: Spirit-Led Decisions for the Secular by Selden W. Smith, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #472 (December 2021) Price: $7.50

Can the nontheist participate fully in the religiously rooted Quaker “sense of the meeting” process? This essay offers a practical guide for those engaged with Quaker-led institutions who are not Quaker themselves, and who may not hold any religious beliefs at all. Whether you are an atheist, agnostic, skeptic, or simply never gave it much thought, this essay describes how, by relying on a handful of noble yet entirely human qualities, the benefits of this time-tested decision-making model can be available to nonbelievers without hypocrisy or pretense. A brief list of recommended readings is included.

You can read a Friends Journal review of this pamphlet here.

There is a brief summary with excerpts here.

“A clerk’s guide to minute-preparation, other paperwork, and procedures”    “A clerk’s guide to minute-preparation, other paperwork, and procedures”

A clerk’s guide

“A clerk’s guide to minute-preparation, other paperwork, and procedures” is a collection of advice gathered by ‘weighty Friends’ from Fifteenth Street Monthly Meeting.

“Before Business Begins” - by William B Watson- 

“Before Business Begins : Notes for Friends Meeting Recording Clerks and Recorders” by William Braasch Watson

“Before Business Begins : Notes for Friends Meeting Recording Clerks and Recorders” (now out-of-print and a bit dated [1996]) is a practical guide to serving as a recording clerk and/or recorder in a Friends meeting.  This indexed, 52-page version is in Microsoft Word .docx format and bookfold-formatted for double-sided printing on 13 sheets of 8½" x 11" (215.9 x 279.4 mm) paper.  Damon Hickey (see below) makes frequent reference to the original typewritten edition.

(There is also a scanned PDF version of this pamphlet on New England Yearly Meeting’s website at

“Unforeseen Joy : Serving A Friends Meeting As Recording Clerk” - by Damon D Hickey 

“Unforeseen Joy : Serving a Friends Meeting As Recording Clerk” by Damon D Hickey

Unforeseen Joy : Serving A Friends Meeting As Recording Clerk” (now out-of-print and a bit out-of-date [1987]) is a very practical guide to serving as a recording clerk in a Friends meeting.  This indexed, 36-page version is in Microsoft Word .docx format and bookfold-formatted for double-sided printing on 9 sheets of 8½" x 11" (215.9 x 279.4 mm) paper.  From reviews on LibraryThing:

My Friends Meeting had just appointed me as Recording Clerk, when I found this booklet.  The author answered a lot of my "How?" question and gave useful examples of how to style minutes.  One of the most important suggestions he made is to take your time and don't hurry when drafting a minute.

"When a matter is resolved, minute the resolution, not the discussion." page [12]

Useful guidelines not only for recording clerks, but for everyone who participates in meeting for business and benefits from the faithful service of the recording clerk.

“Guidelines for minutes of monthly meeting for business”    “Guidelines for minutes of monthly meeting for business”

Guidelines for minutes

“Guidelines for minutes of monthly meeting for business” is a collection of advice gathered by Friends Meeting of Washington, DC.

“Directions for Clerks and Recorders of Constituent Meetings” - Record Services Group of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Quakers)    “Directions for Clerks and Recorders of Constituent Meetings” - Record Services Group of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Quakers)

Directions for clerks & recorders

“Guidelines for Clerks and Recorders of Constituent Meetings” is a collection of advice about archiving records from monthly meetings gathered by Record Services Group of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Quakers) at Bryn Mawr College, Special Collections.

“The role of the clerk (Quaker business meeting practice)” - advice from Arthur Larrabee    “The role of the clerk (Quaker business meeting practice)” - advice from Arthur Larrabee

The role of the clerk

“The role of the clerk (Quaker business meeting practice)” - advice from Arthur Larrabee.

“Raw Notes from the Quaker Clerking Workshop” - from Sue Gardner’s blog    “Raw Notes from the Quaker Clerking Workshop” - from Sue Gardner’s blog

Notes from clerking workshop

“Raw Notes from the Quaker Clerking Workshop” - from Sue Gardner’s blog.

“Reading Resource List for Clerks of Committees and Meetings” - compiled by Martin D Reber    “Reading Resource List for Clerks of Committees and Meetings” - compiled by Martin D Reber

Reading list for clerks

“Reading Resource List for Clerks of Committees and Meetings” - compiled by Martin D Reber, London Grove Monthly Meeting.

Arthur Larrabee teaches a popular workshop on how to facilitate Quaker decision making. In this week’s video, we asked him what advice he has for future clerks.

When Quakers make decisions together, we go through a process that often yields surprising results.