Quakerism 101

The Ministry and Worship Committee offered Quakerism 101, in 2017, a series of four two-hour sessions focused on learning about living in the Religious Society of Friends. Topics covered included history, beliefs, worship, social witness, decision making and other traditions of Friends. All videos, PDFs, and links and suggested readings, used in these 4 sessions, are available online to support your journey in Quakerism. Click on the session link and you will be taken to these materials.

If you have further questions, please contract: Ministry & Worship

Follow the session links below for a list of preparatory readings.

Assigned Readings

  • Quaker Terms and Phrases (participants will receive copy in class folder)
  • Spectrum of Diversity in Quakerism and Our Own Unprogrammed Meeting (please print and bring to class, if able)
  • “The Light Within;” Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice
  • The Inner Light and Our Diverse Experiences of the Light (please print and bring to class, if able)
  • Friends General Conference (FGC) Suggested Guidelines for Group Discussions
  • Brief History of George Fox, by Andrew Wright (please print and bring to class, if able)
  • Ben Pink Dandelion, “Inward Quaker Spirituality” on FutureLearn:

Additional Resources

Assigned Readings

Centering Down

  • “Living from the Center: Mindfulness Meditation and Centering for Friends” p.14-15, by Valerie Brown. Pendle Hill Pamphlet 407, 2010
  • “A Quaker in the Zendo” pps. 21-25, by Steve Smith. Pendle Hill Pamphlet 370, 2005
  • Steere, Douglas; On Speaking Out of the Silence: Vocal Ministry in the Unprogrammed Meeting for Worship. Pendle Hill Pamphlet 182 (1972) p. 7

Vocal Ministry

  • “Participating in Meeting for Worship” CHFM Ministry and Worship Committee
  • “On Becoming Tender and Broken Meetings” by Marjorie Post Abbott, June, 2001, Keynote at Intermountain Yearly Meeting, Religious Society of Friends
  • “Four Doors to Meeting for Worship” William Taber, p. 4-5, Pendle Hill Pamphlet 306, 1992: PDF Download

Additional Resources

  • “On Quaker Unity”, by Os Cresson, Friends Journal, 2009
  • “What to Expect in Quaker Meeting for Worship”: QuakerSpeak, sponsored by Friends Journal, Friends General Conference, and Friends Voluntary Service
  • “Unprogrammed Quaker Worship” pps. 7-9, “Exploring Quakerism: A Study Guide” by Marcia D. Holliday: Quaker Press, 2006
  • “Worship and the Meeting for Worship” Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice
  • Pendle Hill Pamphlets: For over 80 years, Pendle Hill has expanded understanding of Quaker life and witness through pamphlets and books. Each publication arises from the writer’s spiritual experience, religious concern, or special knowledge of an important contemporary theme.
  • More videos from QuakerSpeak

Facilitated by Lynn Drake and Jan Hutton, with Matt Drake as special presenter.

Assigned Readings

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

  • Beyond Consensus: The Quaker Search for God’s Leading for the Group by Matthias C. Drake on October 1, 2005, Friends Journal
  • Four Pillars of Meeting for Business by Debbie Humphries on September 1, 2009, Friends Journal

Clearness Committees

  • Seeking Clearness By Iris Graville, February 1, 2015, Friends Journal
  • Clearness Committees and Their Use in Personal Discernment by Jan Huffman, 1996
  • Excerpts from Parker Palmer’s “The Clearness Committee”

Additional Resources

Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business

Clearness Committees

Assigned Readings

Overview and History of Quaker Testimonies and Faith in Action

  • Holliday, Marcia D.; “Quaker Faith in Action”, pps. 32-34 Exploring Quakerism: A Study Guide. Quaker Press (2006)
  • Holliday, Marcia D.; “Friends Testimonies”, pps 35-36 Exploring Quakerism: A Study Guide. Quaker Press (2006)

Testimonies

  • S-P-I-C-E-S: The Quaker Testimonies: Friends Journal, September 20, 2010, (Acronym of testimonies used to teach our children)
  • Ben Pink Dandelion, “Confident Quakerism” by Ben Pink Dandelion, p. 15, Pendle Hill Pamphlet 410
  • Patience Schenck, “Answering the Call to Heal the World” Pendle Hill Pamphlet 383
  • “Concerns and Leadings” Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice

Additional resources