Worship-Sharing in Its Place

Dear Friends: In the September/October issue of Western Friend, Ann Birch asks: “Am I the only one who has grown disenchanted by the limits of too much worship sharing?”

I wonder if the real issue here is actually one of mismatch between the purpose of a Quaker gathering and the procedure(s) used within it. Worship-sharing can be a wonderful experience, but it is not an all-purpose tool for all occasions.

When I first encountered worship-sharing, the process spoke to me in a way that was qualitatively different from a Quaker meeting for worship. Although it was worship, it included the option to speak. Or not speak. With support from my monthly meeting, I have been convening occasional worship-sharing sessions for 23 years, usually before worship on Sunday. My intention has been to offer a worshipful experience; community-building has been an extra benefit. I draw queries for these sessions from Quaker Testimonies, Advices and Queries, Psalms, and other Spirit-related resources.

Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Faith and Practice (2001) describes worship-sharing and Quaker dialogue as processes that are similar, but not identical. Quaker dialogue is a “structured process for creative listening in small groups” (p.203). It may be suited to help the group make specific decisions about identified issues. Of worship-sharing, Faith and Practice says that it “provides an opportunity to deeply reflect on a topic, to build community with others, and to feel the movement of the Spirit within the group.” (p.206)

Faith and Practice also indicates that, in some situations, either process might used: “Occasionally an issue may be complex, controversial, dependent on technical details, or emotionally charged so that significantly more corporate preparation is required than can reasonably be accomplished in Meeting for Business. If matters are emotionally charged or members need to be heard in a receptive setting, Quaker dialogue or worship-sharing may be helpful.” (p.136) Faith and Practice further acknowledges similarities between the two processes through cross-references in the Glossary: “Quaker dialogue – . . . See also worship-sharing.” (p.203) “Worship-sharing – . . . See also Quaker dialogue.” (p.206)

However, the two definitions express a clear distinction between the two practices. Quaker dialogue is presented as “a structured process for creative listening in small groups.” (p.203) Worship-sharing is described as “a structured worshipful experience in which all participants are invited to speak (usually to a query). Worship-sharing provides an opportunity to reflect deeply on a topic, to build community with others, and to feel the movement of the Spirit within the group.” (p.206) Worship-sharing focuses more on individual experience and openness to Spirit, less on group decisions.

– Georgia Daniels, Claremont Friends Meeting (PacYM)