This section is devoted to adult religious education courses, retreats, workshops, longer programs, and Quaker conference and retreat centers that help individuals and faith communities deepen their lives in God.
Quakers traditionally were very resistant to formal religious education because of concern that it would interfere with the spontaneous motion of God in Friends’ hearts through prayer, vocal ministry, and spontaneous song during worship. Most Friends today, even Conservative Friends, are much more open to intentional and group activities outside of waiting worship that open our hearts and lives to the Divine Teacher.
Quaker Religious Education Collaborative is a fairly new international, inter-branch Quaker group devoted to all forms of religious education and spiritual formation across the lifespan. They hold annual conferences, which now are held hybrid so that Friends can take part from around the world. They host a variety of “conversation circles” on subjects relating to RE. Their website includes a terrific online resource library with hundreds of courses and many other kinds of resources.
School of the Spirit is a Quaker ministry offering a variety of programs and publications relating to the broader topic of spiritual nurture and prayer. Many people have taken their two year program “On Being a Spiritual Nurturer”. They are currently offering a program called “Faithful Meetings”.
Earlham School of Religion is a Quaker seminary based in Richmond, Indiana. They offer a number of different graduate programs, including masters of divinity, and certificates. They have master’s programs for those called to ministries in the arts or in peace and social transformation. It is also possible to enroll in individual courses as an “occasional student”.
Concord (NH) Friends Meeting has offered many courses over the years on Quakerism. You can download three course curricula from their library resource area (on “Quaker Basics”, “This Is Our Testimony to the World”, and “Gospel Order”). They say these participatory courses have brought a number of new people into the meeting.
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting for many years offered a traveling ministries program that provided adult religious education teachers to offer courses at meetings across Southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and South Jersey on a variety of Quaker subjects. They printed curricular volumes drawing on many of these courses. “Quakerism 101” courses were focused on basic introduction to Quaker faith and practice. “Quakerism 201” courses were focused on Quakers’ social “testimonies” such as peace, integrity/truth, simplicity, and racial and gender justice.
Quaker Conference & Retreat Centers
All of these centers offer a wide variety of in-person, online, and hybrid programs as well as personal retreats.
Friends Center of Ohio Yearly Meeting (Barnesville, Ohio)
Pendle Hill (Wallingford, Pennsylvania)
Powell House (Old Chatham, New York)
Quaker Center (Ben Lomond, California)
Woodbrooke (Birmingham, England)
Woolman Hill (Deerfield, Massachusetts)
Courses and Workshops
Revolutionary Roots of Quakerism – a 5-6 module program well-suited for use as a course series or as a weekend workshop.