How to Serve on a Quaker Clearness Committee

How do Friends support one another in discernment? Sometimes, it involves gathering in a Quaker clearness committee.

Jon Watts

Jon Watts launched and directed the QuakerSpeak project for its first 6 seasons. Keep up to date with Jon’s work at his website.

2 thoughts on “How to Serve on a Quaker Clearness Committee

  1. I love that you had the gentleman with the speech impediment as one of the speakers – and what a magnificent red beard! It seemed to me an expansion of our inclusiveness and I found it very touching. Thank you.

  2. Thanks for this…I attended a Clearness Committee workshop at FGC several years ago. One of the most important things I learned was – as a member of the committee – how “tricky” it can be to formulate questions that are not “leading” the answer, but instead, are led by Spirit. Guarding against asking questions that “I” think might help the person’s discernment, and relying on Spirit to help guide me in asking questions that will help the person’s discernment – is, in itself, an important discernment process for a committee member. I believe this point – discernment for committee members as they provide “discernment support” for the questioner – is what fills a clearness process with grace.

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