BEING IN UNITY
The ideal of corporate agreement, in which the group, worshiping together, has come to a Spirit-led decision. See Sense of the Meeting.

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BEING MOVED TO SPEAK
Friends listen carefully for the movement of the Spirit before rising to speak in Meeting for Worship. Remembering that all present in Meeting for Worship are vital, whether it's their presence or their spoken word, Friends test whether the spoken message they feel growing is from the Spirit or from their own mind, whether it is meant for the group or for themselves, and finally, whether it must be shared. Some feel an inner prompting; some find themselves propelled to their feet.  
 

CLEARNESS
Historically, Friends’ sense of clearness was to be free of any obstacles or impediments, either spiritual or practical, to a course of action, in particular a marriage. Coming to clearness means finding spiritual and practical clarity regarding a concern or conflict.
 

CLEARNESS COMMITTEE
A clearness committee is a small group of Friends gathered to help a person, couple or group come to clearness, either in having a marriage under the care of a Meeting for Worship in the case of a couple or in discerning the right direction for spiritual and practical concerns.
 

CLERK
The person in a Meeting for Business or a committee who is responsible for setting the agenda of the meeting, calling on people to speak, requesting a moment of silence when needed and, most importantly, listening for the Sense of the Meeting. The clerk is responsible for maintaining a safe and open atmosphere so that all who are moved to speak feel able to do so. The clerk voices their sense of an emerging decision or lack of agreement within the group.
 

CONSENSUS REACHING
a consensus is often defined as complete agreement or unanimity among members of a decision making group. It is not the same as the Quaker process of finding the Sense of the Meeting (see below).
 

DISCERNMENT
The process of arriving at the right course of action through spiritual perception and clear thinking.
 

ELDERING
The process of assisting one another, from a centered place, to stay true and faithful to Quaker practice.
 

GATHERED MEETING
A Meeting for Worship in which people who are participating feel that the individual personalities know themselves to be part of a whole; this is often characterized by a thread of messages that develops coherently, although a Meeting sensed to be gathered may also be completely silent.
 

HOLD SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IN THE LIGHT
To pray that divine guidance and healing will be present to an individual or group in need, or to give prayerful consideration to an idea.
 
"I AM SORRY TO SPEAK TWICE"
Traditionally, after questions of fact and clarification are answered, a person speaks once to express his or her opinion, trusting that it will be heard. A person then may apologize if they speak again.
 

"I HAVE A CONCERN"
An expression which draws attention to a situation, program or belief that a Friend is either deeply committed to or finds worrisome.
 

"I STAND ASIDE"
A statement made by a person who disagrees with a proposed decision, but will not “stand in the way” (see below) of the group reaching unity on the decision.
 

"I STAND IN THE WAY"

A statement made by a person who is completely opposed to a proposed decision. There is disagreement among Friends about how to proceed when this statement is made. Some feel it brings the decision-making process to a halt. Others feel that the Meeting may choose to move forward after considering the person’s objections, if the clerk perceives that there is a sense of the meeting to do so. Friends may also ask to be recorded as standing aside from a decision, that is, not in agreement, but not standing in the way.
 

INNER LIGHT

The direct, unmediated experience of the divine; a source of guidance, creativity, hope, peace, joy, and understanding.

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LEADING

A felt sense of being led in a spiritual direction or to take a certain course of action.

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MEETING FOR BUSINESS (also Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business)

A meeting in the manner of Friends to consider and decide on business matters. In a Friends’ religious setting, the purpose is to discern the will of the Spirit regarding the matters at hand.

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MONTHLY MEETING

Traditionally, the basic unit of administration and decision making in the Religious Society of Friends, so-called because of the practice of holding a Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business once a month.

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POPCORN MEETING

A Meeting for Worship at which members continually stand to speak without allowing sufficient time for reflection between messages.

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PROGRAMMED/GUIDED MEETING

A Meeting for Worship that features readings, a sermon or pastoral message, music or a query, along with silent worship. Meetings that are silent except when someone is moved to speak are “unprogrammed.”

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QUARTERLY MEETING (e.g. New York Quarter)

Several monthly meetings and other worship groups are joined together for various common purposes; members of these meetings gather quarterly to conduct the business of the “Quarter.” The New York Quarterly Meeting is a grouping of six meetings: 15th Street, Morningside, Flushing, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island.

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QUERY

A query, or Query, is an open-ended question posed to encourage individual and communal reflection on a specific theme or topic. Centering gatherings around a query or queries is a centuries-old Quaker practice that helps participants process their own and other community members' ideas, insights, and revelations related to that theme or topic. Spoken queries are generally shared at the beginning of a meeting or gathering, and written queries may be shared with community members to foster personal reflection outside of meetings.

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RISE OF MEETING

The end of Meeting for Worship.

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SENSE OF THE MEETING

A perception that all are willing to support a course of action even if every person is not equally enthusiastic about it. This may also be experienced as being in unity with the decision.

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SPEAK FROM THE SILENCE

To give remarks after a period of silence.

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TESTIMONY

Testimonies are the validating evidence of the Inner Light. They are common actions by which Friends have come to be characterized and values that they put into action.

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"THAT FRIENDS SPEAKS MY MIND"

A phrase expressing agreement with the previous speaker, indicating that one’s own views on the issue under discussion have already been well described by what someone else has said.

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WEIGHTY FRIEND

A person who is influential among Friends (i.e., one whose opinion carries weight) because of their experience and wisdom. Its use denotes awareness of a certain incongruity with the testimony of equality.

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WORSHIP (in the context of Meeting)

Worship in an unprogrammed Quaker meeting may be best characterized as “expectant waiting.” Friends become inwardly still and set aside the activities of mind and body that usually fill our attention in order to create an opportunity to experience the presence of the Spirit. Each worshiper is a listener, opening to the “still, small voice” within. As each helps others in this process, worship becomes corporate.

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YEARLY MEETING

A regional grouping of monthly and quarterly meetings that meets at least once a year. The New York Quarter and its monthly meetings are members of the New York Yearly Meeting.