Discontinuance of Meetings
If it becomes desirable in the judgment of the constituent members of any meeting to discontinue it or to unite with another, the request should be laid before the larger meeting with which it is associated. For example, a preparative meeting should not discontinue or suspend its meetings without first consulting the monthly meeting of which it forms a part; a monthly meeting should, in like manner, obtain the approval of the quarterly meeting; and a quarterly meeting wishing to discontinue should refer such a request to the Yearly Meeting.
If the request is approved, a committee should be appointed to assist in making necessary business arrangements and, upon the discontinuance of a monthly meeting, to arrange for the proper transfer of individual members to another meeting. Information of such action should be forwarded promptly to the Yearly Meeting.
Whenever meetings have ceased to function or to report regularly to the larger bodies which have care and oversight for them, the latter may take the initiative to discontinue them.
A quarterly meeting at its discretion may review the status and the spiritual condition of its monthly meetings and may determine that, in the best interests of the Society of Friends as a whole, one or more such monthly meetings should be joined, divided, or laid down. Such action should not become final until approved by the quarterly meeting in at least one of its regular sessions in each of three successive years.
When a meeting is discontinued, the records, physical property and investments belonging to that meeting vest in the Yearly Meeting, except when otherwise determined by deed or other legal obligation. Such property may be used for the advancement of the general work of the Yearly Meeting or for some specific purpose, as that body may determine. All funds held from such discontinued meetings should be administered as far as possible in accordance with the directions of the original donors. All records of the discontinued meeting should be deposited in the archives of New England Yearly Meeting.
A meeting is not to be considered as discontinued if it unites as an organized group with another Friends meeting.