Policy on Addressing At-Risk or Disruptive Behavior

At our Yearly Meeting Sessions, we seek to create a place of safety and respect for all who attend. As a Religious Society, we profess a belief in that of God in each of us. Therefore, we cannot permit violent physical, verbal or other behavior that we find, through corporate discernment, violates that Inward Light. Those in our midst whose behavior disrupts program activities and/or threatens the physical and emotional safety and integrity of another may be asked to leave.

Procedure:

1. Disruptive behavior should be reported in confidence to one of the following people: the Clerk of Sessions Committee (Jean McCandless), the Clerk of Ministry and Counsel (Kristna Evans), the Interim Young Friends Sessions Coordinator (Aimee Belanger), the Yearly Meeting Secretary (Jonathan Vogel-Borne), the Sessions Pastoral Counselor (Kevin Lee). The Clerk of Sessions Committee shall coordinate the implementation of this policy and should be promptly advised of all incidents.
2. If disruptive behavior is reported, the above named people will use a process of corporate discernment to determine appropriate actions, consulting with all parties involved.
   1. If the risk or disruption is not extreme, the offending party will be warned.
   2. If the risk or disruption is extreme, the offending party will be asked to leave the program activity and/or Sessions, either from the current Sessions or from all Sessions.
   3. If repeated offenses to individuals or property have occurred, the offending party will be asked to leave the program activity and/or Sessions, either from the current Sessions or from all Sessions.