The Queries
“Friends have assessed the state of this religious society through the use of queries since the
time of George Fox. Rooted in the history of Friends, the queries reflect the Quaker way of life,
reminding Friends of the ideals we seek to attain. From the Christian tradition, Friends have taken as a
standard the life and teaching of Jesus, not only as recorded in the New Testament, but even more
importantly as revealed inwardly, as we seek God’s truth and its expression through our lives today.
Friends approach queries as a guide to self examination; using them not as an outward set of rules, but
as a framework within which we assess our convictions and examine, clarify, and consider prayerfully
the direction of our lives and the life of the community.”
-- Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice, 1998
Queries and Advices, SEYM, 2005 [PDF]
What is the state of our meetings for worship and business?- First month - Meeting for Worship
- Second month - Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business
- Third month - Harmony within the Meeting community
How do Friends care for one another?
To what extent is our personal life in accord with Quaker principles?
- Seventh month - Self discipline and responsibility
- Eighth month - Personal integrity and right action
- Ninth month - Witness
How do Friends meet our responsibilities to the community and the world ?
- Tenth month - Social and economic justice
- Eleventh month - Care of the natural world
- Twelfth month - Peace testimony and non-violence
First Month - Meeting for worship
Are our Meetings for Worship held in expectant waiting for Divine guidance, with a living silence in which we feel drawn together in the Light by the presence of God?
Do we respond to the Spirit’s prompting to minister, whether in silence, through the spoken word or through action after the Meeting for Worship?
Are we sensitive to one another’s needs in Meeting for Worship?
Are the spiritual gifts within the Meeting fostered and encouraged?
Are our Meetings accessible and welcoming to everyone?
Are our Meetings a source of strength and guidance for daily living?
Is the vocal ministry in our Meetings exercised under the leading of the Spirit?
Second Month - Meeting for Worship with a concern for business
Are Meetings for Business held in the spirit of Meetings for Worship?
In decision making, do we promote a spirit of love, understanding and patience as we seek unity on an appropriate course of action?
Do we keep our remarks simple and speak only as the Spirit leads?Are we able to unite in good grace with the Sense of the Meeting when our personal desires tend in another direction?
Do we maintain respect for others, however strongly our opinions may differ?
Are Meetings for Business seen as positive opportunities for testing and practicing our spiritual life?
Third Month - Harmony within the Meeting community
Are love and unity maintained among us?
When differences arise, do we settle them in a spirit of love and humility?
Are we careful not to hold an idea too firmly, knowing that another may bring us closer to the truth?
Are we patient and considerate towards those we find difficult to understand or like?
Do we demonstrate a forgiving spirit?
Do we have concern and respect for the reputation of others?
When people are hurt, do we take care to hold them up with a tender heart?
Do we respect that of God in each person, though it may be expressed in unfamiliar ways or may be difficult for us to discern?
Fourth Month - Mutual care
How do we foster a spirit of community among the Meeting’s members and attenders?
How does the Meeting keep in contact with all of the Meeting’s members and attenders?
How does the Meeting assist couples and families to communicate, grow together, and rear children in a loving environment?
Does the Meeting Community nurture the Meeting’s children?
How does the Meeting care for those who live alone, the sick, the aging, the widowed, the separated or divorced, and others with families affected by disruption?
Do we assist Friends in need as their circumstances require?
How do we labor with and care for those whose conduct or manner of living give grounds for concern?
How are visitors to our Meeting made to feel welcome?
Fifth Month - Education
Do we share our deepest beliefs and values with each other and with our children, while leaving them free to develop as the Spirit may lead them?
Does the Meeting give the children loving care, and promote their spiritual life through religious education and other activities?
Do we encourage our children’s participation in the Meeting’s work and cultivate their desire for service to others?
How do we educate our members and attenders about the Bible (especially the teachings of Jesus), other spiritual literature, and the history, principles and practices of Friends?
Sixth Month - Home, family and relationships
Do we make our home a place where love, peace, happiness, friendship, and refreshment of spirit are found, and where the presence of God is experienced?
Do all members of our family receive our affection and understanding?
Do we take care that responsibilities outside the home do not encroach upon the time and loving attention our family needs?
Do we acknowledge and support all relationships and families, whether conventional or not, that are based on love and commitment?
Does our family set aside First Day and other times for worship, service, rest and refreshment of spirit?
Seventh Month - Self discipline and responsibility
Do we attend Meeting for Worship regularly and punctually?
Do we participate in Meeting for Worship with a Concern for Business and support it financially and with personal service according to our resources and abilities?
Are we conscientious in fulfilling all obligations of state and society that are not contrary to our religious convictions?
Are we punctual in keeping promises, just in payment of debts, and honorable in all our dealings?
Do we choose recreations that strengthen our physical, mental and spiritual life, avoiding those that may hinder others, our Earth, and ourselves?
Do we act responsibly concerning substances and behaviors that can become addictive?
Eighth Month - Personal integrity and right action
Do we keep to simplicity and moderation in speech, manner of living and vocation?
Do we make time in our day for silence, solitude, spiritual reflection and the growth of our inner life?
Do we remind ourselves each day of our connections with people, other creatures and all that sustains life?
Are we ready to live in the Spirit that heals estrangements that may arise from resentment, nagging fears, and alienation from others?
Do we listen to others, even beyond words, being sensitive to their personal needs and difficulties?
Are we free from the use of judicial oaths, thus affirming that our statement is only part of our usual integrity of speech?
Do we regard our possessions as given to us in trust and do we part with them freely for the needs of others?
Are we careful to keep our jobs and social activities from absorbing time and energy that need to be given to spiritual growth and service to others?
Do we stay tender and open to the leadings of the Spirit?
Ninth Month - Witness
Do our lives reflect Quaker testimonies?
Are we open and responsive to continuing revelation and do we incorporate it in our spiritual life?
Is our Quaker witness characterized by humility and a willingness to learn from others?
Do we recognize that the Spirit works in the world through us?
Does our witness lead us to the condition in which we “walk cheerfully over the earth answering that of God in everyone”?
Do we as a Meeting try to share in the religious life of our wider community, availing ourselves of opportunities for worship and service with other local religious groups?
Tenth Month - Social and economic justice
Do we seek to transform the world with our loving spirit?
Do we take an active interest in the social and economic conditions of our community?
Have we objectively considered the causes of discrimination and are we ready to abandon old prejudices and think anew?
Do we, as individuals and as a Meeting, do all in our power to end governmental, social, economic and educational injustices in our community, and to create equal opportunity for all?
How do we as individuals and as a Meeting promote the welfare of those in need and work to secure a just distribution of the world’s resources?
What are we doing as individuals and as a Meeting to understand and remove the causes of war and violence and to develop the conditions and institutions of peace?
Eleventh Month - Care of the natural world
Do we live in harmony with nature?
Do we live in keeping with the spirit of the unity, sacredness and integrity of all creation?Do we seek to minimize our consumption of the Earth’s resources?
Do we encourage equitable and sustainable use of those resources?Do we walk gently over the earth, seeing that of God in all of Nature?
Do we seek to educate ourselves, our children, our Meeting, and our community about how our lives can be more in harmony with the Earth?
Does the Meeting strive to bring all its practices in harmony with the natural world?
Twelfth Month - Peace testimony and non violence
Do we work for peace in the world?
Do we nurture peace within ourselves?Do we “live in the virtue of that life and power which takes away the occasion of all wars?”
Do we seek consistently to carry out this testimony for peace in all our relationships, including family, community, and work life?
Do we as an individuals and as members of Meeting seek to take part in the ministry of reconciliation between individuals, groups and nations?
Do we faithfully maintain our peace testimony?
Do we reject military training, preparation for war, and participation in war as inconsistent with the spirit of Christ’s teachings?
Do we as a Meeting take a stand and do all we can to remove the causes of war and violence?