To learn about or review the IYMC business process you can read our Faith and Practice at LINK beginning on page 47. Some of the principles described there, and how we plan to carry them out via Zoom, are summarized below.
When the clerk asks for approval of a minute or report, you can use “thumbs up” to indicate approval without waiting to be recognized by the clerk.
People do not normally speak until recognized by the clerk. The clerk recognizes you (gives you permission to speak) by saying your name. Use ‘raise hand’ below the list of participants on the right when you wish to be recognized by the clerk. People who are participating via phone may say “Clerk Please” to request that they be recognized, because they can not use the hand-raising tool.
When someone is speaking, others listen attentively, not only to the person speaking but to the Spirit. We bear in mind that we are worshipers seeking to discover the will of God, which may be revealed through anyone. Normally, one does not continue to stand or leave one’s hand raised while listening in this way. In Zoom you can indicate that you are listening by lowering your raised hand while someone speaks. After the person has spoken and you have listened, if you find you still carry the concern, you should raise your hand again.
If you have already spoken to a point, there is no need to repeat yourself, because you can trust that everyone else will have carefully listened to you and considered your point.
Because the clerks and all participants will be listening attentively, we do not anticipate using the chat room to make comments during the meetings. However, if you cannot make yourself understood via audio for any reason, you may use the chat if the clerk has recognized you. If necessary, you may also chat privately to the Yearly Meeting Host, and the host will pass the message to the clerks.
When the clerk feels that she has gathered the sense of the meeting, she will say that, and ask if anyone else needs to be heard before she calls us into worshipful silence while she writes the minute.
The clerk will then read the minute and ask for the body’s approval. At that time, you may feel that the minute captures what is important, and you can give a “thumbs up” or say “I approve” if you’re on the phone. If you feel otherwise, you can either stand aside or ask to be recognized by the clerk in order to voice your concern. Sometimes a Spirit- led dissenting message can help the body find a new direction. Other times, the meeting may hear the message but continue in the same direction.
