At the heart of Friends’ understanding for more than 350 years is the trust that spiritual gifts and calls to work in the world we share are given to the community, not only to individuals. What do Friends’ experiences engaging in spirit-led service and witness over time have to teach us about our work, our life in spiritual community, and our witness today? How can we share what we are learning to help one another grow in faithfulness to the work we are called to take up? What is the role of the meeting in supporting individual leadings? What work should we engage in together, and how can we discern this? Do we all have to do everything? Why don’t more people care about my leading? Is it okay to say “no” sometimes, even if the work is important? Is there another way? What is the distinction between a leading and a concern? How does all of this relate to “ministry”? What does it mean to “release” a Friend for spiritual work and witness? Join us to explore these questions and practices, and to seek an enlivening and refreshing way forward together.

Noah Baker Merrill, a member of Putney Friends Meeting in Vermont, travels widely in the ministry among Friends and elsewhere. He currently serves as staff of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), helping to deepen the impact of AFSC’s worldwide programs and partner communities on U.S. policy. In 2009, for work supporting a future of peace for and with
the people of Iraq, the Utne Reader recognized Noah as one of “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.”