Beyond Majority Rule: Voteless Decisions in the Religious Society of Friends

By Michael J. Sheeran

It is hoped that this book will be useful to Catholics and other Christians in tracing how Friends successfully employ a tradition of religious decision making which is deeply embedded in Scripture... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0941308049
• ISBN13: 9780941308045
• Release Date: December 1983
• Publisher: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Religious Society of Friends
• Length: 153 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Not quite consensus...

This book is about Quaker decision-making, but the use of the secularly familiar word "consensus" in the previous review may be misleading. Sheeran examines and explores in great depth how Friends come to make decisions. Both simple and complicated, the process comes out of a history and practice based on spirit-led decision making. The book can explain far better than I what the process is, how it can work amazingly well, how it may sometimes fail. The decision-making process among Friends is what 'hooked' me to keep coming to meetings, especially decision-making meetings (Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business). When it works it is an awe-filled experience. When it doesn't, the results of the decision often crumble. An excellent book for new clerks and newcomers, as well as a reminder to Friends who may be tempted to fall back on the corporate or secular world's way of finding consensus.

Consensus decision-making processes - Quakers

Well-written examination of how and why consensus works among the Society of Friends (Quakers) in Meeting for Business, both historically and in the present. Applicable to many other groups and institutions. A fascinating read.