QuakerQuaker

Ben Woods; Liberal Quakerism and the Need for Roots

On our relationship with Christianity: > In this vein, for early Friends, ‘being a Christian‘, was more than simply assenting to theological abstracts. To live as a ‘Friend of the Truth’ was to experience directly the claim that God loves the universe perpetually in Christ. In this respect, ‘Quaker’ Christianity is more than a theory or philosophy of things, but a practical relationship with a living person. To walk with Jesus of Nazareth meant to live with the same mantle upon one’s shoulders, to teach, to heal, and to restore.

Steven Davison: Prophecy and Continuing Revelation

Where does new ministry come from? > It is through prophecy, through continuing revelation, that the Religious Society of Friends moves forward into God’s next work for us. And we very often get our first inkling of that new truth from someone’s vocal ministry, in a meeting for worship, or a meeting for worship with attention to the life of the meeting, or in a consultation or Triennial or world gathering or FGC Gathering

Friendly Fire: The Making of a Charismatic Quaker

A look at the Vineyard Movement’s Quaker roots: > When it comes to Spirit-attentive worship and ministry, the Vineyard manifests Quaker spirituality in a way that is faithful to the Evangelical tradition, but truly mystical, and of course deeply Quaker. They live out a Quakerism many of today’s American Quakers, both Liberal and Orthodox, would find laughable, backwards. George Fox, on the other hand, may get it.

Regina Baird Haag on the sharing of vocal ministry

Study turns to something more spontaneous after a failed computer save: > Since that Sunday worship, I have found myself more inclined and responsive to leadings to share vocal ministry out of Silence. While I still prepare diligently when occasions to plan to preach arise, melding scholarship, daily life, and spirit over time, I am more sensitive and responsive to those inner leadings and the Spirit, from which ALL vocal and non-verbal ministry are born and enlivened.

What Attracts Newcomers to Quaker Meeting?

From QuakerSpeak and Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, a look at what attracts newcomers to Friends: > I very much like for example the determination that says somebody believes in peace and has the guts to say in a time of war, “No, I can’t fight. I can’t do that.” I think that takes a lot. > I think it had a lot to do with the people. There wasn’t really that hierarchy, where there was someone talking down to us, but we could really share ideas and we could all learn from each other, and I really appreciated those ideals.

Making Sense of the Starbucks Incident

Here’s a piece we’ve published in the current *Friends Journal,* written by a seventh-grader from the Friends School in Newtown, Pa. We regularly publish middle- and high-schoolers in our annual Student Voices Project but this is a general feature we published because it’s interesting and fresh and intriguing. Here’s what I wrote about it in my [opening column](https://www.friendsjournal.org/keeping-it-real-quaker-style/) in the magazine: > In Making Sense of the Starbucks Incident, Newtown Friends School seventh-grader Ankita Achanta shows how the Quaker values she’s been taught in classes could have defused a nationally publicized racial incident in a Philadelphia Starbucks. It’s sometimes easy to be skeptical of the Quaker identity of Friends schools, but Achanta reflects back the powerful impact of our collective witness in these institutions. In Ankita Achanta’s reckoning, Quaker values like integrity are basic universal values of decency. By claiming them, Friends could (and often do) easily fall into the trap of Quaker exceptionalism, but in Achanta’s piece, I see them as something we put special emphasis into. Early Friends didn’t expect to found a denomination; Fox went across the land assuming everyone could be a Friend of the Truth, of Christ, of the Light. The leading influence of the Inward Light is available to all and we can expect to see inspiring incidents of it in action everywhere—even in viral Twitter videos. Achanta also gave a new-to-me neologism: > s a seventh-grade student attending a Friends school, I have been taught Quaker values. Although I am a Hindu and not formally a Quaker, Quaker values are well aligned with my own religious principles. I am committed to living by them and consider myself a “Quindu.”

Friend Jocelyn Bell Burnell gets Breakthrough Prize

Famously overlooked for a Nobel, the Quaker scientist has won an award that she will put toward diversifying future researchers: > She’s being given the award for her "fundamental contributions to the discovery of pulsars, and a lifetime of inspiring leadership in the scientific community,“ according to a statement from the prize board. Bell Burnell told the BBC she plans to give all of her prize money to women, ethnic minorities and refugee students aiming to become physics researchers.  You can read more about Bell Burnell on her [Quakers in the World](http://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/366/Jocelyn-Bell-Burnell) page.

Doug Gwyn on QuakerSpeak: What Does Quakerism Teach About Connecting to Nature?

A new video from Quaker historian Gwyn: > Connecting with nature is about more than just exercise or tranquility. As Quaker author Doug Gwyn shares, even in the 17th century, Quakers were concerned about our disconnection with the natural world and what it would mean for the future.

Quaker cultures and young Friends

Emily Provance is back talking about the disconnect between different Quaker subcultures: >In other words, as far as your personal experience tells you, Quaker meeting is supposed to be about fun and excitement—but suddenly, you’re seeing planning and structure instead. Quaker meeting is supposed to be about light-heartedness—but suddenly, you’re seeing methodical rule-following. Quaker meeting is supposed to be about playfulness—but suddenly, you’re seeing cautious cooperation. Last month I talked a little bit about the problem when Quaker youth culture and meeting culture [don’t quite line up](https://www.quakerranter.org/emily-provance-an-application-of-cultural-theory/).

NYC Friends school back in the spotlight in the NYTimes Magazine

A deep dive into a controversy more complicated than it first appears, “A Teacher Made a Hitler Joke in the Classroom. It Tore the School Apart”: > At a meeting with administrators about the incident in late February, members of the high school’s Parents Association said that keeping Frisch would send the message that the school didn’t take anti-Semitism seriously. Another parent told Lauder that this was not the first time Frisch had said or done something inappropriate.

Ben Woods; Liberal Quakerism and the Need for Roots WP

Friendly Fire: The Making of a Charismatic Quaker

Steven Davison: Prophecy and Continuing Revelation

Regina Baird Haag on the sharing of vocal ministry

Patricia Dallmann’s observations of Matthew 17