Leading directly out of our morning meeting for worship, on Sunday 10th January, we had a special business meeting, to consider whether we should make changes in our worship arrangements. This issue has arisen partly because our meeting has been growing so steadily over the last year or two. There have been one or two Sundays when there is scarcely room for us all to sit, at the end of the meeting when we are joined by the children and young people, and the adults who have been working and worshipping with them.

There were too many people at the meeting for an accurate head-count but it was well over 80. Many views of what we should or shouldn’t do were expressed, within the loving and respectful format of a Quaker business meeting. We heard time and time again how happy people are that there is such a large and lively meeting in Sheffield and so many youngsters as part of that meeting.

Some of the children held their own business meeting, at the same time, so that they could also share their views about coming to meeting.

The minute agreed at the end of the meeting was this:

We have met together as a large group to think about whether we should make any changes to our worship arrangements. This question has arisen because the meeting has grown dramatically. This is a wonderful development. This question will be taken to further meetings and we hope that we will find the unity for the right way forward.

For an insight into the meaning and effectiveness of what we call ‘threshing’ meetings, and how they relate to the way Quakers make decisions, read more here.