The Quaker belief that each of us can make direct contact with the Divine and that we are all inherently equal has led us to deny the need for paid clergy. Everything that must be done to support our religious communities is therefore done by Friends on a voluntary basis. This usually means establishing various committees that focus on particular activities, both practical and spiritual. We aim to have a non-hierarchical organisational structure, and to rotate members of committees regularly.
Meetings for Worship
Meetings for Worship are the most important element of the Society of Friends. However, in order to support these Meetings and provide continuity it is necessary to have a framework. The organisational structure of Friends is as simple as possible, and the basics have remained almost unchanged for three centuries.
Members of the Religious Society of Friends are known as ‘Friends’ or ‘Quakers’
Attenders are people who worship and work with Friends, but have not applied for membership.
In Ireland there are about 20 local Meetings, 7 Monthly Meetings, 3 Quarterly Meetings and 1 Yearly Meeting. There are also about 7 “Worship Groups” – smaller groups of Friends who hold informal Meetings for Worship on a regular basis.
Preparative Meetings
Local Meetings, known as ‘Preparative Meetings’, hold a monthly business meeting in preparation for the Monthly Meeting, to consider local and wider issues. Attenders are encouraged to be present and to help with the business. The Preparative Meeting appoints representatives to the Monthly Meeting, and they report on it on the following Sunday at the end of Meeting for Worship.
Monthly and Quarterly Meetings
Monthly Meetings are made up of several Preparative Meetings and are held according to preset dates. The frequency of these varies in each Monthly Meeting.
There is a Quarterly Meeting of Friends for each of the Provinces of Leinster, Ulster and Munster (Galway is affiliated to the latter). Quarterly Meetings were formerly held four times a year. Nowadays Leinster QM takes place twice yearly, while Ulster QM and Munster QM take place 3 times yearly.
Ireland Yearly Meeting
Friends from all over Ireland come together annually for Ireland Yearly Meeting which lasts for about four days. Here reports are given and decisions are made, in addition to explicitly spiritual content in the form of talks and interest groups. This takes place at various places around the island; recent Yearly Meetings have taken place in Dublin, Belfast and Cork. Special Preparative, Monthly, Quarterly or Yearly Meetings may be held if a particular situation or decision indicates that it is needed.
quakers-in-ireland.ie 