<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> What to Expect in Quaker Meeting for Worship, QuakerSpeak </Td> </Tr> <P> Unprogrammed worship (also known as waiting worship, "silent worship", or holy communion in the manner of Friends) is based on the practices of George Fox and the Early Friends, who based their religious beliefs and practices on their interpretation of how the early Christians worshipped God their Heavenly Father . Friends gather together in "expectant waiting upon God" to experience his still small voice leading them from within . There is no plan on how the meeting will proceed, and actual practice varies widely between Meetings and individual worship services . Friends believe that God plans what will happen, with his spirit leading people to speak . When a participant feels led to speak, he or she will stand and share a spoken message of ("vocal ministry") in front of others . When this happens, Quakers believe that the spirit of God is speaking through the speaker . After someone has spoken, it is customary to allow a few minutes pass in silence for reflection on what has been said, before further vocal ministry is given . Sometimes a meeting is entirely silent, sometimes many speak . These meetings lasted for several hours in George Fox's day . Modern meetings are often limited to an hour, ending when two people (usually the elders) exchange the sign of peace by handshake . This handshake is often shared by the others . This style of worship is the norm in Great Britain, Ireland, the continent of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, Canada, and parts of the United States (particularly yearly meetings associated with Friends General Conference and Beanite Quakerism)--constituting about 11% of Quakers . Those who worship in this style hold each person to be equal before God and capable of knowing the light of God directly . Anyone present may speak if they feel led to do so . Traditionally, Recorded Ministers were recognised for their particular gift in vocal ministry . This religious practice continues among Conservative Friends and Liberal Friends (e.g. New York Yearly Meeting). Many meetings where Liberal Friends predominate abolished this religious practice . London Yearly Meeting of Friends abolished the acknowledging and recording of Recorded Ministers in 1924 . </P> <P> Governance and decision making is conducted at a special meeting for worship--often called a meeting for worship with a concern for business or meeting for worship for church affairs at which all members can attend, as in a Congregational church . Quakers consider this to be a form of worship, conducted in the manner of meeting for worship . They believe this is the gathering of believers who wait upon the Lord to discover God's will, believing that they are not making their own decisions . They seek to understand God's will for the religious community, via the actions of the Holy Spirit within the meeting . </P> <P> As in a meeting for worship, each member is expected to listen to God, and, if led by Him, stand up and contribute . In some business meetings, Friends wait for the clerk to acknowledge them before speaking . Direct replies to someone's contribution are not permitted, with an aim of seeking truth rather than of debating . A decision is reached when the meeting, as a whole, feels that the "way forward" has been discerned (also called "coming to unity"). There is no voting . On some occasions Friends may delay a decision because they feel the meeting is not following God's will . Others (especially non-Friends) may describe this as consensus decision - making; however in general Friends continue to seek God's will . It is assumed that, if everyone is attuned to God's spirit, the way forward will become clear . </P>

Who were the quakers and what did they believe