Meetings

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Meetings are to be held in an open public space such as a park, or location open to the public such as an establishment for social gathering.  Meetings should not be held at the home of a member.  The reasoning is a private space may feel inhibiting or dominated by one person. Additionally, the Society does not want the projection of any shade of secrecy.  By having discussions in open space, all are welcome to witness the goings on of the Society and may even join if they freely so desire.   When meetings are held in areas that require commerce, each person is expected to pay for themselves or to be benefited by another member. The Society never collects funds and therefore the Society has no ability to provide for any activity, materials, or other expenses.  

The meeting construct is as follows: 

Prior to the meeting, a discussion leader is chosen either by volunteering or nominating.  The discussion leader picks a topic or question designed to spark a conversation based on ethics, morality, faith, responsibilities to others. Examples include: 

• What are principals one should guide their life by? 
• What aspects of faith are true and good versus self-serving?  
• How does one balance the good of the individual with the good of the family with the good of society with the good of civilization? 
• What causes harm to individuals, society, and civilization? 
• What motivates actions of people and groups that willfully cause harm? 
• How can inclusiveness and cooperation be promoted in a polarized society? 

1.     The discussion leader opens the conversation with the topic question. This is followed by a narrative on why the leader is pondering this question.  This may be a story of that happened, was seen, or heard, or a thought experiment that created the question. The narrative closes with restating a direct question to the group. 
2. Another member should respond with a postulation or another question. Statements should be backed with evidence or reference. Ideas not based on evidence or reference should be asked to the group as a question. 
3.  After a minimum of one member responding to the discussion leader’s question, the leader may state their thought on the matter thus far.  This is to encourage the group’s independent thought and protect against the group being lectured.  
4. The Socratic method is encouraged for stimulation of discussion. 
5. All thoughts are to be accepted for discussion unless the thoughts are for the promotion or exposition of intolerance, exclusion, hate, fear, or anger. 
6.  A member can disagree with a thought, but no thought is considered abjectly wrong unless it is in direct conflict with an accepted fact based on known science or empirical evidence or can be shown to cause direct harm to an individual, group, or society.  
7. The meeting concludes when a consensus has been met or discussion has been exhausted. Group members may come and go throughout the meeting.  
8. Any tenets agreed upon born out of the discussion may be added to this guidebook.  
9. At the end of a meeting, the next discussion leader is chosen.  

There are no customary ceremonies or rituals required for opening, closing, or conducting meetings, nor are any such exercises expected of any person during the meeting or in their personal lives to be considered in good standing with the Society.  There are no prayers or blessings. There may be moments of silence when deemed relevant to an event or situation during which members are encouraged to reflect.  Ceremonies for marriages and civil unions, and for funerals or memorial services may be led by any member of the Society. As there is no single leader of the Society, there is no ordainment. The only requirement is that the services are held by parties of consenting, legal adults.  When creating the text and ceremony for marriages and memorial services, the wishes of the persons at the center of the event should be the primary focus.  The service should be as faith based or as secular as they do or would have desired. 

Any service or ceremony conducted in the name of GBAE should not receive any compensation, gratuity or honorarium.  Services are conducted as an act of kindness.