Faith in Community: Core communal practices of Quakerism

Quakerism has developed unique approaches to worship, communal decision-making, and ongoing nurture of spiritual gifts and ways of holding each other accountable in love and in truth. All spring from a theology of the Light Within or Inward Christ—God’s unmediated guidance of the faith community via direct ongoing revelation via the willing, listening hearts of the faithful in the present time.

Witness: Transforming our ways of living & the world around us

This is a single Testimony rooted in our Quaker faith—not a basket of separate social testimonies. This Testimony is a form of prophecy—words and ways of living that express and live out God’s vision of the world. True prophecy stands in sharp contrast to the values and practices of Empire. Each dimension of this prophetic speaking and living flows from and is rooted in core Quaker faith.

Transformation: Personal practices drawing us closer to God & heal our brokenness

Having a willing, teachable heart is key to a life of faithfulness. And our ability to open our hearts is in turn deeply tied to the extent that we feel ourselves to be loved—by God and by those near us. We are learning how to live in and love our own bodies as temples of God’s spirit—and to untangle and heal many form of brokenness that get in the way of our ability to love and serve God with all our heart.

Resources: For deepening our personal & corporate life in God

These provide a variety of tools and practices by which our hearts can be cracked open through reading and reflecting on the Bible, the writings of Friends, song, poetry, and adult religious education courses, workshops, and long-term programs. All facilitate a deeper relationship with God — both for us as individual Friends and for our meetings.

  • Bible: Living in the power in which the scriptures were given forth – Christ (God working in our hearts & lives) is the Word not the words of scripture, capacity to understand the deeper meaning, different approaches to Bible study & reflection
  • Quaker Writings – early (16th c.), middle period (17th-18th c.), modern (20th-21st c.), Quaker libraries and publishers.
  • Teaching – courses, workshops & retreats, programs, retreat centers
  • Song – song as ministry, as a spiritual practice, group singing, use in retreats
  • Poetry – Quakers’ & others poems that deepen our journey
  • Art & story – using the visual arts, play & story for spiritual formation. Faith in Play that work for all ages and those with different learnign styles.