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Faith and Practice of Baltimore Yearly Meeting

Faith and Practice of Baltimore Yearly Meeting

This section currently contains the complete text of the current Faith and Practice of Baltimore Yearly Meeting, as adopted in 1988 and revised in 2001.

In addition, there is the complete text of the 2011 Proposed Revisions. These Proposed Revisions were promulgated at the 2011 Annual Session and are continuing to be considered, revised, and worked on by the Faith and Practice Revision Committee.

The First Reading of the 2012 Draft was done during Annual Session 2012. The planned Second Reading, with possible approval, is currently set for Annual Session 2013. Printed and e-reader copies of the 2012 draft are currently available for purchase online. Click here to download a pdf version of the 2012 Draft The complete text, with side-by-side table of contents, should be available here in the near future.

Adopted at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Session, 1988

Introductory Statement


  1. Part I. Faith
    1. Historical Sketch
      1. Quakers in Maryland and Virginia
      2. Compensation of Native Americans
      3. Slavery, Civil War, and Reconstruction
      4. "Quietism," Division and Reunion
      5. Statement on Spiritual Unity, 1964
      6. Early Quaker Testimonies
      7. Enforcement of Testimonies



    2. The Life of the Spirit
      1. Cultivation of the Life of the Spirit
      2. Meeting for Worship
      3. Vocal Ministry
      4. Use and Nurture of Gifts
      5. Prayer and Meditation
      6. The Scriptures
      7. The Practice of the Life of the Spirit
      8. The Meeting as Caring Community
      9. Personal Life
      10. Home Life
        1. Living With Self and Others
        2. Marriage
        3. Sexuality
        4. Raising Children
      11. Fellowship and Community
        1. Within the Local Meeting
        2. Within the Society of Friends
        3. With Other Religious Bodies and Persons
        4. With All Humanity
      12. Education
        1. Religious Education
        2. Adult Education
        3. Friends' Educational Institutions
        4. Public Education
      13. Science and Religion
      14. The Arts and Religion
      15. Social Responsibility
      16. Peace and Non-violence
      17. Civic Responsibility
      18. Vocational and Financial Decisions
      19. Prejudice and Discrimination
      20. Those Requiring Special Care
      21. Humankind and the Environment

  2. Part II The Queries
    1. Introduction
    2. Queries with References for Advices
      1. Meetings for Worship
      2. Meetings for Business
      3. The Meeting Community
      4. Personal Spiritual Life
      5. Personal Way of Life
      6. Home and Family
      7. Caring for Others
      8. Outreach
      9. The Social Order
      10. The Peace Testimony
      11. Education
      12. The Environment







  3. Part III Practices and Procedures
    1. Organization and Business Procedure
      1. Principles of Organization and Conduct of Business
      2. General Organization
      3. Preparative and Allowed Meetings for Worship
      4. Establishment of Monthly Meetings
      5. Discontinuance of Monthly Meetings
      6. Decision Making in Friends Meetings
    2. The Monthly Meeting
      1. Membership
        1. Application for Membership
        2. Sojourners
        3. Transfers
        4. Attenders
        5. Membership of Children
        6. Isolated Members
        7. Resignations
        8. Termination of Membership
      2. The Officers
        1. The Clerk
        2. The Recording Clerk
        3. The Treasurer
        4. The Recorder
      3. Monthly Meeting Committees
        1. The Nominating Committee
        2. Ministry and Counsel Committee and Overseers
      4. Other Monthly Meeting Functions
        1. Stewardship and Finance
        2. Trustees
        3. Advancement and Outreach
        4. Religious Education
        5. Peace and Social Concerns
      5. Visiting Among Friends
        1. Letters of Introduction
        2. Minutes for Spiritual Service
        3. Endorsements
      6. Marriage under the Care of the Monthly Meeting
        1. Marriage Procedures
        2. Committees of Clearness and Oversight
      7. In Time of Death
        1. Memorial Meetings
        2. Wills and Related Matters
      8. Monthly Meeting Records
        1. Membership Roll
        2. Monthly and Preparative Meeting Minutes
        3. Financial Accounts
        4. Committee Minutes
        5. Other Records
        6. Preservation of Records
        7. Retention and Disposition of Records
      9. Monthly Meeting Responsibilities to Yearly Meeting
    3. Quarterly Meetings
    4. The Yearly Meeting
































  4. Part IV Appendices
    1. Advices for Clerks
    2. Suggested Formats for Transfers
      1. Transfer to Another Meeting
      2. Acknowledgment of Transfer
    3. Suggested Formats for Letters and Endorsements
      1. Sample Letter of Introduction
      2. Sample Travel Minute
      3. Sample Endorsement
    4. Advices on Counseling
    5. Guidelines for Applications for Membership
    6. Marriage under the Care of the Monthly Meeting
      1. Questions for couple applying for Marriage
      2. Duties of the Clearness Committee
      3. Duties of the Oversight Committee
      4. The Form of the Marriage Certificate
      5. Procurement of the Marriage Certificate
      6. The Customary Events at a Quaker Wedding
    7. A Establishing a Preparative Meeting
      1. Sample Minute to Establish a Preparative Meeting
      2. Membership
      3. Finance and Property
      4. Business, Officers, and Committees
    8. Queries for Preparative Meetings
    9. Advices on Estates and Bequests
      1. Advice to Individual Friends
      2. Advice to Monthly Meetings
      3. Yearly Meeting Policy
    10. Planning a Memorial Meeting
      1. The Memorial Meeting
      2. Practical Considerations
2012 Proposed Revisions
Preface

Who Are The Quakers?

Vision Statement

Progress of the Revision

  1. Living Our Faith
    1. A Brief History

    2. The Life of the Spirit
    3. Meetings for Worship
    4. Quaker Testimonies


  2. Part II. Queries, Advices, and Voices
    1. Caring for One Another
    2. Children and Young People
    3. Education
    4. Equality
    5. Fostering Community
    6. Home and Family
    7. Integrity
    8. Listening
    9. Meeting for Business
    10. Meeting for Worship
    11. Membership
    12. Outreach
    13. Peace
    14. Simplicity
    15. Social Concerns
    16. Stewardship
    17. Vocal Ministry


  3. Part III. Our Quaker Communities
    1. Monthly Meetings
    2. Quarterly Meetings
    3. Yearly Meeting
    4. Quaker Organizations
    5. Visiting Among Friends

  4. Part IV. Appendices:
    1. Glossary
    2. References
    3. Readings and Resources
    4. Forms & Letters
    5. Estates and Bequests
    6. Called Meetings: Practical Considerations
    7. History of Faith and Practice