Quaker Speech
By Carol
When someone wants a broader understanding of Quakerism, we often suggest looking at the videos online called Quaker Speak without even noticing the oxymoron. If our worship is silent, what are we doing talking about speech? In fact, Friends are called to speak on many occasions — messages in worship and in Joys & Concerns, discernment in business meeting, and sharing in meeting for learning. In each case there is a Quaker way to do it.
To begin with, it is important to know if it is spirit that is prompting you to stand and deliver a message in worship. Here’s what we say in our handout for visitors:
we query any message we feel a need to deliver. Ideally, it should come from our own experience and yet be likely to speak to the condition of others as well
We also try to keep our messages concise and speak only once, but most importantly, in order to maintain the spirit of worship, we always allow at least a few minutes between messages so that each can be heard in an unhurried way.
When we gather for worship with attention to business, these guidelines are helpful, although with much more talking going on, we also try to speak and release, lapsing back into silence as we listen to hear how the spirit is moving among us. We each have the chance to speak our minds but Friends try not to debate or argue. Discerning the sense of the meeting is not just a job for the clerk; it is a job for everyone in the room. We work to release our own point of view and watch for the sense of the meeting as it develops. In the December 2021 issue of this newsletter, Khyber wrote about this process noting that disunity, rather than being disheartening, can be seen as an invitation to explore together toward a greater understanding.
Must a Friend be quiet even when they stand and speak? Not being able to hear messages seems to be a perennial problem among Friends. Perhaps it is not just shyness that keeps us from projecting our voices and speaking to the room. Breaking the silence of worship with a message is daunting and lowering our voices may just feel more spiritual. But if Spirit is prompting you to stand and speak, it probably wants your message to be heard. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, Friends. As we practice silence, we can also practice Quakerly speaking.