Friends Decision-Making & Clerking
Participating in Meetings for Business with Joy and Confidence
with Steve Mohlke and ,O
January 30 - February 1, 2026
This is a workshop for everyone who wants to deepen their understanding of Quaker decision-making; it’s for clerks, but not just for clerks. For clerks, it will be an opportunity to learn and sharpen skills. For others, it will be an opportunity to get better grounded in what Quaker decision-making is all about. It is expected that each person will leave the weekend with new energy and enthusiasm for participating in meetings for business, well grounded in both the theoretical and the practical. There will be handouts, exercises and opportunities for experience sharing.
The workshop will address racism in the context of Friends’ decision-making and clerking. We need to pay attention to racism because it affects (infects) nearly everything in this society, and we will be lifting up decision-making processes that seek to liberate the Spirit among all participants.
Among other topics, we will consider:
The fundamentals of a Quaker meeting for business
What is a “sense of the meeting,” and how is it different from consensus?
What is the meaning of “unity?”
Why “standing in the way” is no longer a useful concept.
Techniques of “good” clerking.
Dealing with difficult situations
Rates
As a Quaker non-profit organization, your participation and your support in the ways you are able are crucial. Thank you for being part of our community!
Registration: A $100 deposit is required to complete your registration for this event. Deposits will be refundable up to 2 weeks prior to the start of the event. Meals are included with this conference training.
$500 - Private Room, shared bath
$380 - Shared Room, shared bath
$320 - Commuter
If you wish this were hybrid so you could attend online only, please email us to let us know at info@powellhouse.org. If we can offer hybrid the cost would be the commuter rate as we have to ensure that our fixed costs are fully covered.
Private House: Two will be available for weekend reservations. Please email us at info@powellhouse.org to arrange. (Photos available upon request)
$500 - Knoll House, on campus, Plus $320/per person (commuter rate). Each person in your group, please register as commuters. (3 bedroom, 1 bath) Scholarship cannot be applied.
$400 - Hogo House, on campus, Plus $320/per person (commuter rate). Each Person in your group, please register as commuters. (4 bedroom, 1.5 baths) Scholarship cannot be applied.
Scholarship is available: We recognize that costs are certainly sometimes real obstacles. Powell House has prioritized financial accessibility by providing scholarships to attend conferences and trainings for which there is no scholarship application process. We ask that you contribute something you are able to contribute (no amount is too small) and then simply indicate the amount of scholarship needed to complete the payment in the scholarship field.
We ask that Friends please inquire with your affiliated Meetings or Yearly Meetings to see if they can help contribute toward your costs for this training in addition to requesting Powell House scholarship. Many Meetings are happy to support if asked. Thank you for your support in this way.
If you are requesting financial aid, please contact us for other payment options
Steve Mohlke is a longtime Friend and former clerk of Ithaca Monthly Meeting. He served as co-clerk for the 2017 Friends General Conference Gathering. He currently serves as General Secretary of New York Yearly Meeting.
,O is a Friend and co-clerk of Racial Healing and Wholeness Committee at Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. They engage in Environmental Racial Justice work as a community activist in the Philadelphia area. They serve as Elder for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and have facilitated programming for Annual Sessions Spiritual Formation Retreat. ,O has also provided workshops with PYM Quaker Life Counsel, on Truth & Transformation exploring the transformative practice of deep listening to increase our capacity for healing by responding compassionately to incidents of racial wounding.
Schedule
Friday
07:00 Supper
08:15 Session
09:15 Adjourn for the evening
Saturday
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 to noon Session with a break in the middle
12:15 Lunch
01:30 to 05:30 Session with about an hour break at around 3 pm
06:00 Supper
07:15 Session
09:00 Adjourn for the evening
Sunday
08:00 Breakfast
09:00 to 11:45 Session with a break
12:00 Lunch
1:15 Session
3:15 Adjourn