“To say that Friends have no creed is not to say that each Friend has no belief. Far otherwise. Each one, and each group, 

has the responsibility to seek, and seek, and seek again where the Light is leading…”  

—Hugh L. Doncaster, 1963

Overview

What does it mean to practice Quakerism? From our beliefs—including that there is that of God in everyone—flow our daily practices and approaches to seeking spiritual development, fostering our communities, making significant decisions, and allowing our lives to speak for our values.  This session includes key aspects of Quaker culture, faith, and practice. Presenting a mix of videos, short readings, and discussion questions, it lasts a little over an 1 hour.

The material posted here is an online version of a live course offered regularly by the Friends Meeting of Washington. For those who would like to participate in discussions, Q&A, and other activities of the live course, they may be interested attending it.

Course Content (Note: Content is best viewed through Chrome or MS Edge internet browsers.)

1. What Do Quakers Believe? (Video,  19 min.)

2. Making Space for Faith (Video and Discussion Questions, 10 min.)

3. Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) Faith and Practice (Online Excerpt, 14 pages, Approx. 20-25 min.)

4. What is a Quaker Query? (Video and Discussion Questions, 10 min.)

Opportunities to Participate

• FMW Queries for Reflection

• Bible Study Groups: The Bible study groups meet weekly and monthly. For more information, see Quaker Spiritual Development Programs.

• Quakerism:  A Deeper Dive-Book Study Group: The group meets monthly to discuss Quaker practice and thought. See the Welcome Guide for more information and contact info.

• "Reading Quakers Together" discusses Quaker texts on a monthly basis. For information and contact information, see the Quaker Spiritual Development Programs page.

Additional Resources

Follow-Up Discussion

• To follow-up with questions about the material presented in this session, please reach out to the course facillitators using the contact page.

Video

• Listening Each Other Into Wholeness (Video and Discussion Questions, 10 min.)

• The Quaker Practice of Discernment (Video and Discussion Questions, 10 min.)

Suggested Readings

Shorter Pieces

• Exploring Quakerism at Friends Meeting of Washington

• Quaker Worship, Faith, and Practice (Silent Worship and Quaker Values: An Introduction )

• Quaker Terms and Phrase

• Extracts on Experience and Faith

• Quaker Quote Archive

Books

• BYM Faith and Practice Handbook

• Handbook of the Friends Meeting of Washington

• The Quakers: A Very Short Introduction  (Available to borrow through the FMW library or purchase online.)

• Listening Spirituality: Personal Spiritual Practices Among Friends  (Available to borrow through the FMW library or purchase online.)

• Letters to a Fellow Seeker: A Short Introduction to the Quaker Way  (Available to borrow through the FMW library or purchase online.)

Quaker Centers, Presses, and Media

• Pendle Hill (Conference Center, Resources, and Press)

• QuakerBooks of Friends General Conference

• Friends Wilderness Center (Wilderness Preserve and Spiritual Sanctuary)

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