Queries for Monthly Meeting
From the North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative)
Faith & Practice
1.
Do we faithfully uphold
our testimony for worship which is based on silent waiting, and for a free and
unprogrammed ministry that may be shared by all? Is there a living silence in which we feel drawn together by the
Light of Christ, the power of God in our midst; and is this inspiration carried
over into our daily lives? Do we come
to meeting with hearts and minds open and ready to worship in silence or in
vocal ministry or prayer as the Holy Spirit leads us? Does our Meeting encourage those who may have a gift in the
spoken ministry?
2.
Are we faithful in our
attendance at meetings for worship and are we careful not to disturb the spirit
of the meeting by our late arrival? Is our behavior therein that of open
submission to God in silent communion?
Love and
Unity:
3.
Do we follow the
teachings of Jesus and seek the inspiration of His Holy Spirit in our daily
lives? Are love and unity maintained
among us? Do we cultivate a forgiving
spirit, and do we avoid and discourage needless and destructive criticism of
others? When differences arise, do we
endeavor promptly to resolve them in a spirit of love, honesty, and
humility?
Work of the
Meeting:
4.
Do we assume our
rightful share in the expenses of our Meeting?
Do we regard our time, our talents, and our possessions as given us in
trust, and do we use them freely for the needs of others?
Meeting for
Business:
5.
Do we regularly attend
our meetings for business, and are they held in a spirit of love,
understanding, and forbearance? Do we
seek the right course of action in humble submission to the Authority of Truth
and in the patient search for a sense of unity under Divine guidance?
Growth of
Our Children:
6.
Do we endeavor by
example and precept to cultivate in our children a sense of openness and
expectancy about life, and to aid them in their growth in spiritual
understanding and moral discernment? Do
we share with them the faith that guides the practice of Friends, while
encouraging them to develop their religious insights as the Spirit of God may
lead them?
Peace
Testimony:
7.
Do we endeavor to live
in the life and power that takes away the occasion of all war, seeking to do
our part in the work of reconciliation between individuals, groups, and
nations? Do we faithfully maintain our
testimony against nuclear and all other military preparations, the bearing of
arms, and all participation in war?
Manner of
Living:
8.
Do we observe
simplicity and honesty in our manner of living? Are we careful to live within the bounds of our circumstances,
punctual in keeping promises, prompt in the payment of debts, and just in all
our dealings? Do we choose those
activities which will strengthen our physical, mental, and spiritual life; and
do we avoid those harmful to ourselves and others?
9.
Are we mindful of
Friends testimonies against alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and other harmful
drugs; and do we refrain from using them or dealing in them, realizing that
abstinence is the clearest witness against overindulgence? Do we seek to avoid all kinds of gambling
and places of diversion that tend to be demoralizing? Do we keep in mind how diverse and widespread are the temptations
to grow richer at the expense of others?
Are we faithful to our testimony against taking oaths?
10. Do we endeavor to live in harmony with nature? Are we careful in our stewardship of the
world's irreplaceable resources?
A revision proposed by Durham Meeting junior-hi young
Friends during Yearly Meeting sessions, Sixth Month, 1991:
Do we sincerely seek to understand our place in the universe and our purpose
here on the earth? Are we willing to
make sacrifices and to ask others to join us in changing the things we use and
the way we use them in order to preserve life everywhere? Are we willing to persist gently in
persuading others, not giving up, but being receptive to others’ needs, as we
strive to establish lifestyles dedicated to the preservation of all life? Are we open to the strength, the purpose,
the joy, the desire within and beyond ourselves as a resource in truly living
in and genuinely loving the world?
Social
Justice and Equality:
11. Do we reverence that of God in every human being with
concern for the needs of each individual?
Are we seeking to rectify existing social injustice and racial
discrimination in our local communities and in the world at large?
Outreach:
12. Do we welcome newcomers and non-members to our
meetings? Are they encouraged to share
in Meeting activities and to consider membership when they are in agreement
with the principles and practices of Friends?
Are our younger members appointed to committees and encouraged to share
in other responsibilities of the Meeting?
Do we visit one another frequently, remembering those who may be
lonely? Does this visitation and caring
extend beyond the members of our own Meeting?