*Meeting for Sufferings Appeal Review Group final report*

QF&P provides for an process of appeal to MfS with respect to
decisions of an Area Meeting and disputes between Area Meeting.
Experience with this process has been less than wholly positive, and
MfS commissioned a review.  The review group reported with
recommendations for a narrowed and simplified process, including a
preference for a "conflict transformation" approach (as opposed to
"conflict resolution") and an explicit place for mediation before
things get to Sufferings.

We approved these recommendations, and specific changes to QF&P will
be forthcoming.

We called Area Meetings' attention to the recommendation in QF&P that
they should have a "conciliation group".

There as some questioning of the value of the phrases "conflict
resolution" _or_ "conflict transformation" _or_ any other language
which raises expectations of success which cannot be met or fear of
coercion.

In this context Friends are reminded that Quaker Life can provide help
and guidance to Meetings which are taken by surprise/taken aback by
apparently irresolvable internal conflict, and that asking for help
_early_ is essential to avoid exacerbating aspects of a situation
through ignorance.

The review group also suggested that beyond the narrow matter of an
appeals procedure, the larger question of how we deal with conflict as
a Society, as Meetings and as individuals needs to be considered.

In this context we were reminded that difficulties around Membership
often arise from "lack of familiarity with Quaker ... processes" and
that accordingly care for a Ministry of Teaching in our meetings is
necessary to help promote this familiarity.