The Handbook Revision Committee (HRC) works proactively to review the Handbook of Quaker Practice and Procedure in Australia, to ensure that it is up-to-date and accurately reflects not only our current practices, but also the underlying principles which guide us in our actions and discernment.
The process of developing revisions to the handbook as at YM2019 is illustrated in this flowchart A new flowchart has been drafted and there will be a Share and Tell at YM22 to consider the implications of this.
Friends are encouraged to report possible errors in the handbook to the HRC through discussion with the Liaison Friend for their Regional Meeting, or if the error relates to an AYM committee, through discussion with that committee.
Links to draft revisions ready for Friends' discernment in the lead up to YM22 are on another tab of this webpage. Our report to YM2022 is DiA22 HRC Report.docx Drafts revised as a result of the YM business process will replace these SOON.
Our Preparatory session was held on Saturday 14th May. Please click on these links to read the Prep Session Report and Minutes
All draft revisions are subject to the discernment of Friends at Yearly Meeting and remain draft until approved by that body. Suggested drafts are circulated via Regional Meetings' Liaison Friends, and this website, to obtain comments from Friends thus guiding the Committee in finalising the wording offered to the gathered YM.
Here is a link to our Handbook of Practice & Procedure in Australia (7th edition). It has been updated to include revisions approved by Yearly Meeting in July 2021, and factual changes relating to non-AYM bodies.
The three committee members share the convenership. The committee is supported by Liaison Friends appointed by Meetings within Australia. The Handbook Revision Committee and our Liaison Friends are listed on the Committee tab. The role description for Liaison Friends is available on the Committee tab above.