Composition and Powers. The Yearly Meeting consists of the members of the local churches and Areas. In its meetings for business it consists of the Council of Representatives and any other members in attendance. It possesses complete legislative, judicial, and administrative authority. It has the authority to counsel, admonish, and discipline its constituent churches; to institute measures and provide means for the promotion of truth and righteousness; to inaugurate and maintain departments of evangelistic outreach and philanthropic work. It may review the proceedings of any church and give advice and instruction to the churches when requested or when considered necessary by the Yearly Meeting. Its officers and all persons serving its internal organizations are resident active members of Northwest Yearly Meeting. Any exceptions must be approved by the Yearly Meeting or its Executive Council.

Time and Purpose of the Annual Sessions. The annual sessions of Northwest Yearly Meeting are held at Newberg, Oregon, at times determined by the Yearly Meeting or its Executive Council. (See Yearly Meeting Minutes for current schedule.) Sessions may be held elsewhere by adjournment or action of the Meeting. The sessions are opened by the presiding clerk, who directs the representatives from the churches to make nominations at once to fill vacancies, on a pro tem or regular basis, as the case may require. If the presiding clerk is absent, the sessions are opened in turn by the assistant clerk or the recording clerk. These annual sessions are held in order for Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends to determine policies and procedures appropriate to its mission, to communicate them to members of the churches, and to find fellowship and unity through worship and instruction.

Business Procedures.

1. Business presented as an expression of concern is forwarded from the churches, from Areas, from councils, from constituent bodies of the Yearly Meeting, or from other yearly meetings through official correspondence. Also, with the consent of the presiding clerk, business may be laid before the Yearly Meeting by any of its members. Information regarding anticipated items of business will be sent to local churches at least ninety days prior to annual Yearly Meeting sessions. The Council of Representatives approves the agenda and order of business prior to the first business meeting, normally on the previous Saturday.

2. The Meeting may take action in one of the following ways: a) The clerk may call for action by the Meeting. b) If the matter requires discussion or investigation beyond what can be handled in open session, the clerk may refer it to the Council of Representatives or to a special committee for consideration and recommendation before the Meeting takes formal action. c) The clerk may, with the approval of the Meeting, refer some matters to a separate meeting of the Council of Representatives for final decisions, which will be reported back to the Meeting.

3. Proposals from the churches or Areas are to be submitted in writing as excerpts from their minutes and are to be held over at least one day subsequent to their introduction in order to allow deliberation. All proposals for amendment to this Faith and Practice must be submitted in writing and referred after preliminary approval to the Revision Committee before final action (YM Revision Committee).

4. The Council of Elders reports to the Yearly Meeting in plenary session its summary of the state of the church, allowing time for prayerful consideration of issues raised by the report and by any attached judgments or interpretations offered by the Council of Elders.

5. The Yearly Meeting receives and decides all cases of appeal from the decisions of local churches which may be brought before it (Appeals).