“Living the Transformation”: Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) World Gathering | The Australian Friend

“Living the Transformation”: Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) World Gathering | The Australian Friend

Taisoo Kim Watson, Queesland Regional Meeting

Taisoo Kim Watson and Cho-Nyon Kim from Korea

I feel very honoured representing the Australian Friends and attending the FWCC Plenary program at Pisac, Peru, from 19 to 27 January 2016. And I am thankful for the funds provided by AYM and the Thanksgiving Fund. It would have been very difficult to manage the registration cost and airfares without this financial assistance.

The daily program was very full. I was asked to be on the Pastoral Care group, which involved rostering ourselves to be on duty in the Pastoral Care Room and also always wearing a green sash so Friends could seek help at anytime, anywhere. This was a good opportunity to meet Friends individually who dropped in for cups of tea and talk. I have made a special connection with a few Friends through Pastoral care and Choir. When there are over 300 Members from nearly 40 countries, it is not easy to make connections with all.

I was so eager to hear the news from Korean Friends, I tried to sit with them at breakfast time. Also it was a good opportunity to make some suggestions to the itinerary of Lee and Kim who will be visiting AYM in July. It was lovely to hear the Korean bamboo flute played by Kim and the three of us sang a Korean folk song.

Home Groups were decided and compulsory, but we were encouraged to participate in other groups such as Consultation. I joined as many as I could manage until I developed a terrible cough.

I chose the FWCC Constitution Review Consultation Group as I have some experience working with constitutions and also I felt strongly that some issues needed to be reviewed. One recommendation was to hold World FWCC Gathering/Plenary sessions at least once in every 12 years instead of the current practice of every 5 years. The rationale was that FWCC has to find financial and human resources to plan and organise the World Meetings, but every gathering puts FWCC in great financial hardship. There are smaller numbers of full paying Friends and growing numbers of Friends needing help. The Meeting reached a kind of unity to hold it every 10 years.

The North American Section predicted a 15% reduction in contributions to FWCC in the near future. The British Friends are able to continue to support FWCC at the current rate because of their endowment/investment, and some increase from the European and Middle Eastern Section. But as we see the numbers of this Section, we should not expect a great deal more. The registration cost for some YMs/MMs in Asia West Pacific Section was over A$2000. No Members from Japan Yearly Meeting attended. Two Korean Friends received financial assistance from their Monthly Meetings.

Our Group studying the Constitution also have acknowledged that other important works need to be done by FWCC other than organising World gathering/meetings. We will be celebrating 100 years of FWCC in 2037.

I quote a part of the section Equipping FWCC:

… serving the world Quaker community, developing flexibility to face challenges while maintaining organizational integrity and sustainability, looking at meeting requirements and governance changes…

I always valued the early morning silent meeting for Worship. The program noted clearly “un-programmed Meeting for Worship”. I do not think some Friends from evangelical and programmed Quaker churches understood what Silent Meeting for Worship means. On the first morning, a Friend started to sing very energetically, and then another Friend started praying in Spanish. A Friend had translated every sentence to English. We did not have much silent time left. I changed to the Bible Study, led by Janet Scott. I have learned much from these early morning Bible studies. It was rather moving to share the Lord’s Prayer in Korean at the end of one study session.

When I was attending the AWPS gathering in India, a number of Friends expressed concern that we had very little quiet time. I have received some concerns again during this FWCC gathering: there was not enough quiet time.

It has been exciting to meet cousins and distant cousins from many places of the World. We have different ways of worshiping, in many different languages but we came together in spirit .

I feel more strongly than ever the importance of FWCC in the lives of world Quakers.

FWCC needs all our spiritual and financial support to meet the challenges of the next 20 years and longer.

Quakers around the world

For your information, I have listed the YMs and MMs and the numbers of Members. (Ref. FWCC Finding Quakers around the World, 2012)

Bolivia (22,300), Canada (1,300), Colombia (10), Costa Rica (90), Cuba (900), Dominican Republic (110), El Salvador (1,600), Guatemala (19,620), Haiti (1,000), Honduras (2,500), Jamaica (2,100), Mexico (1,400), Nicaragua (200), Peru (3,500), United States (76,360),

Albania (380), Belgium (40), Croatia (50), Czech Republic (10), Denmark (30), Estonia (10), Finland (20), France (70), Georgia (20), Germany/Austria (340), Greece (10), Hungary (4000), Ireland (1,600), Italy (20), Latvia (10), Lebanon/Palestine (70), Lithuania (10), Malta (10), Netherlands (120), Norway (150), Poland (10), Portugal (10), Romania (920), Russia (30), Serbia (50), Spain (20), Sweden (100), Switzerland (100), Ukraine (10), United Kingdom (15,800)

Congo(s) (10+3000), Ghana (10), Kenya (146,300), Madagascar (20), Nigeria (20), Rwanda (4,200), Tanzania (3,100), Uganda (5000)

Australia (1,000), Bangladesh (475), Bhutan (800), Cambodia (410), China (100), India (4,300), Indonesia (1,800), Japan (140), Korea (50), Nepal (6,000), New Zealand (660), Philippines (2,500), Singapore (10), Taiwan (5,000)

Compass - ABC TV Religion | Stories

Compass - ABC TV Religion | Stories

Quakers - Seeking the Light Within

Sunday September 28 2003 

Summary:

A look at the history and experiences of The Society of Friends - Quakers - in Australia and their disproportionate contribution to education and peace activism.

Story:

Intro:

Hello and welcome to Compass. I’m Geraldine Doogue.

In the current climate of international tension the threat of hostilities never quite goes away.
Tonight we profile a religious organisation whose response to the challenge of war is the vigorous pursuit of peace.

It began over three hundred and fifty years ago but most people know little about the organisation called the Religious Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers. Throughout history their numbers have been small but their influence considerable.

Tonight we meet a group of people who may not have met but who all call themselves “friends”. They’re on a shared journey that reflects both their beliefs and their determination that their lives be a testimony to those beliefs.

Peter Jones 
Quakerism represents a road that you walk on. It’s a search.

Sarah Davies 
For me being a Quaker is definitely something that involves a lifestyle

Jo Vallentine
It’s like a spiritual well into which I dip for renewal.

John Green 
And in Quaker speak we would talk about that of God in every person.

Narrator
In Sydney’s leafy north Quakers have gathered for their weekly Meeting for Worship. For Quakers world wide this practice is both integral to their faith and central to their lives. There is no priest or pastor, no sermon, hymns or spoken prayer.
It’s a form of worship conducted largely in silence ….broken only when an individual feels called to speak.

Speaker 
Each of us in our relationships with people every day can provide a model for how communities and nations and cultures might and can relate to each other.

Narrator
Quakers believe the experience of a shared active and listening silence brings them closer to their God….and that God is present in each and every individual.

Sheila 
When you are really centred in a meeting with a group of people it’s a very powerful experience

Pera 
I think a sense of oneness it’s not just a brotherhood or sisterhood or whatever. It’s actually being part of each other. That’s my experience.

David 
The notion that the spirit is there to be encountered, to be heard, to be listened to is the heart of it.

Narrator 
Quakers accept Christ’s teaching but not Christian dogma.
Their daily lives are geared to upholding testimonies of Peace, Truth, Integrity, Equality and Simplicity.

Ro Morrow
One of the strongest testimonies for me, and perhaps one of the hardest is the testimony of simplicity.

Narrator
Ro Morrow lives near Katoomba in the Blue Mountains district of NSW where she teaches permaculture.
Searching for something more she abandoned the Anglicanism of her childhood to find a spiritual home in Quaker belief and testimonies.
She tries to live simply with no car, television or refrigerator….It’s a way of life she finds rewarding.

Ro Morrow 
So to live simply is to live as much as I can from the garden; to live simply is to be a very low low consumer. Like not to consume packaging and be part of the big buying thing.
To live simply is also to consume locally and support local people. To live simply is to try and speak simply and to think more purely.
In fact it’s a joy, it’s so less cluttered. Your shopping list goes down to about six or eight main things and that's it. Most of your supermarket is in your garden. No life is much much better living simply.

Narrator
Through her work with Quaker World Service Ro Morrow is passing on her horticultural skills to women in third world countries so that they too may become more self sufficient.

Ro 
In Cambodia I was involved in a project to teach district women, all women, how to grow food. And when they could grow food they had to go and teach poorer women.
So I basically taught them permaculture. And they had to practice it before they could teach. It's a sort of nutrition that takes people out of chronic persistent hunger into better health. So it's food gardens and fruit.
Poverty is an injustice against the spirit of God or the inner spirit of all those people. And at least if they have food they can rise a little above that terrible gut feeling of being hungry and worse for many people is seeing their children hungry.

Narr 
Quakers do not prosyletise. They believe people can’t be converted but must discover for themselves whether they are Quakers or not. The great majority are Quakers of conviction who have come to the belief from different beginnings.
This was not the case for Sarah Davies.

Sarah Davies 
My mother is a Quaker so it was a natural process for me to become a Quaker. When she went to meeting I just came along. Her father actually was a Quaker. I don't have a process where I went from knowing something else or going to a different church and then becoming a Quaker like a lot of people have. For me it was just a natural process, I was always there.

Narrator
Sarah Davies’ grandparents were Quakers. The advent of World War II was to herald very challenging times. The attacks on Britain both tested her Grandfather’s Quaker convictions and isolated him when other men were rallying for their country.

Sarah 
My grandfather was a conscientious objector during the 2nd World War. And this was due to his being a Quaker. Quakers believe in pacifism, and I know stories about my grandfather. During that time he would be given white feathers by people, such as a symbol of being a coward. But I think often it is the person who says no, and who says this is wrong is the person who is much more courageous.

Narr 
Sarah Davies is a media studies graduate but her career path has taken a very different direction from that of her fellow students.
As a consultant with the Geneva based World Council of Churches she spent 2002 working in their peace building and disarmament section.
In 1999 she went to Israel and Palestine as part of a Quaker peace observation team

Sarah 
For me to be able to see these people and talk to these people face to face was just an unbelievable experience.
We went as part of a peace observation team, sponsored by Quakers, but not all the people there were Quakers. And people on either side of the fence if you like in Israel and Palestine were told we were coming, were invited to come and talk to us.
And it really really opened my eyes to how the situation was. I think it was a harrowing experience as well to be able to witness what they’re going through, and then how easy and wonderful our lives are here.

Narrator 
For Sarah Davies being a Quaker determines how she lives her life.

Sarah 
There’s one famous quote which is from George Fox which says Live Adventurously and that’s something I really try and do with my life. Don’t stand back, don’t hesitate. Live adventurously and let your life speak when you’re doing that. Let your life be what you’re trying to do or trying to be.

Narrator
The Quaker movement was founded by George Fox, the shoemaker son of Puritan parents in the mid 17th century.

In the midst of a spiritual crisis Fox experienced what he believed to be the voice of God speaking directly to him.

He began expounding the gospel of the inner light which emphasised the immediacy of Christ’s teaching within each person. He argued that all human beings had the capacity to know God directly and had no need for consecrated churches and ordained clergy.

Fox and other early Quakers were persecuted and imprisoned for their radical beliefs.
But the movement grew and underwent various name changes.

Peter Jones 
Quakers originally called themselves Publishers of the Truth, or Children of the Light. And they are both phrases I really enjoy.
But in 1652 George Fox was on trial before Judge Bennett, and I think he was an Anglican - or you had to be in those days if you were a judge- in Derby in England. And the judge was laughing. He wasn't a very religious Anglican. And Fox turned around to him and said, Thou shouldest quake at the name of the Lord. And Judge Bennett thought this was so funny he called George Fox a Quaker, and the name stuck.

Narrator
Peter Jones has been a Quaker for 30 years. He was born in Britain to peace activist parents. The family were staunch protestants, his father a lay preacher

Peter Jones 
Historically Quakers undoubtedly came out of 17th century Christianity. They're one of what we call the three historic peace churches. We're part of the radical reformation if you sort of trace it from the Catholics through the Anglicans and the non conformists, and the Puritans. And then right at the end of this you've got the Society of Friends. And everybody hated the Quakers and that’s why so many of them went to gaol.

Narrator 
Quakers were denied access to university and the professions.
Instead they turned to business and manufacturing. Cadury’s Chocolate was established by Quakers…and great banks like Lloyd’s and Barclay’s.

The movement spread to America.
In 1862 William Penn founded Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Quaker principles.

In 1832 it came to Australia when two London Quakers were sent to report on conditions in the colony.

Sheila Given 
Well of course I consider Tasmania to be the cradle of Quakerism in Australia because this is where it began when the two English missionaries George Washington Walker and James Backhouse came here in 1832. They had the first meeting, Friends Meeting for Worship in Australia here on 12th February 1832.

Narr.
Sheila Given is a former teacher and historian at the Friends School in Hobart. Originally an Irish Anglican it was through teaching at the school that she was drawn to Quakerism 25 years ago at age 50.

Sheila 
I have been all my life fascinated by children and education. And I believe and always have that a child is not born in original sin but is an original blessing. Has a core spirituality, magnificent mystery inside them and that you build on that.

And when I came to this school Friends School I found my educational beliefs aligned really well with the beliefs of, the underlying beliefs of this school.

I feel that that of God whatever that God is I’m not sure whether I’d even put a capital G to it ..is in everybody. That’s not to say they don’t have the reverse, evil or wickedness or wrong. But it is up to the individual to nurture that of God in themselves.

But the mystery of it intrigues me and the seeking after whatever it is that the spirit, the inner light, or whatever one wants to call it, is exciting to me and has been from the start and continues to be.

Narrator
Since retiring Sheila Given has been busy…..A grandmother of five, she gained a Ph.d at 64; a place on the Council for the Ageing;
A column on aged issues for a weekly newspaper; and Presidency of her local University of the Third Age.

Sheila
There are two aspects to being a Quaker. That is ‘being’ a Quaker and two is ‘doing’ from that belief…action to do with the community or following through on any of the testimonies. People are often astounded at their commitment and where has that come from. Where does anyone’s commitment come from? It comes from their basic beliefs. And I think the Quaker basic beliefs inspire one. They’re an inspiration.


Narr
Originally financed by London Quakers, The Friends school was established in Hobart in 1887.
The Cadbury family were ongoing benefactors.

Whilst the school does not aim to produce Quakers, it does aim to inspire students with its Quaker values….and to instil a sense of service.
On the surface it may look like many other schools but what distinguishes the Friends’ School is its emphasis on the practice of silence.

John Green 
I think this is very distinctively Quaker. And it makes us a Quaker school. We live in a world that very rarely gives a great deal of value to times of quietness and reflection. But I think in those periods it’s a time when we become aware that there is something greater than self. And it is a time when we start to realise that fulfilment is more than the narrow pursuit of self interest.

Narrator
John Green is school principal and one of only three Quakers on the staff. But he believes the Quaker principle of the ‘light within’ shapes the culture of the school.

John Green 
In this school it’s a commonly held idea that there is something special inside oneself and in others. And that I think has a profound influence on the way relationships develop in a Quaker school. Because if you start to believe that there is something intrinsically good or that of God in someone else you treat them with less arrogance and with more respect. And so if you actually believe there is that of God in someone else then obviously it produces a more egalitarian feel in the whole place.

Peter Jones is also on the staff of the Friends School.

From a young age he took part in anti war demonstrations and at 16 attended his first Quaker meeting.

As a student at Oxford University his commitment to Quaker ideals was cemented and at age 23 he became a full member.

The road he’s travelled has led Jones to full time work in the peace movement and has brought him in touch with Quakers around the globe. He’s taught in Quaker schools in Yorkshire and Romallah and now teaches comparative religions at the Friends School.

Peter 
What's happened is that in the last hundred years there has been a sort of difference amongst Quakers. There's those Quakers that are very Christocentric, equally there are those who are drawn from other faiths. We call them universalist, who wouldn't probably call themselves Christians. And those of us who are everything in the middle. And I'm somewhere in the middle.

Peter
As a teacher of comparative religion I value a lot what I learned from my Jewish friends, my Muslim friends, my Buddhist friends, my Hindu friends. But I have always seen myself as a radical Christian, and I rather accept the idea of God as sort of the top of the mountain. But there are many ways to walk up the mountain, and nobody has a prerogative of the truth.

This inclusivity underpinning Quaker belief is one of the features that attracted overseas aid worker Mark Deasy.

Mark
I think the meeting at its best is very inclusive, very accepting. And I think if we go back to that doctrine of the inner light, of recognising there is that of God in every person it becomes much easier to be inclusive.

Narrator
He comes from a long Anglican tradition. His grandfather and father were both clergymen and he grew up happily in a strong parish community. But in adolescence he began to question both his sexuality and his church.

Mark
I think one of the key things though for me was going to an elite church school. And there seemed to be a dissonance between the values that the church officially professed and what was in fact supporting in terms of this elite institution which seemed in some ways to be about the perpetuation of difference, of injustice, of inequality in society that got me asking some serious questions about the church.

Narrator
On the advice of his school house master, at age 16 he attended his first Quaker meeting.

Mark
It was the time I was really coming to terms with my sexuality, recognising that I was gay when I was about 15 or 16. And not being at all satisfied with what was coming through in terms of official church doctrine about that.
It was at that time that Quakers were somewhat in the news because they'd put out in Britain a couple of publications which were the first to come out of any long-standing mainstream church, which was to suggest that homosexual relationships were not intrinsically sinful.

So I went along to a Quaker meeting. And I think the sense that I had there was what a lot of people will describe when they first come to Friends. That it's not a sense of conversion - we never really talk about that. It was a sense of homecoming.

Mark Deasy’s spiritual homecoming was to hone his concern for social justice issues and steer his working life.
Much of it has been spent in relief and reconstruction projects in areas of conflict or its aftermath in Asia and the middle east. He’s been with Quaker World Service, the Middle East Council of Churches, and for the past decade with the strictly secular Oxfam community Aid Abroad.

But it was his work with Quaker Service Australia that took him to Cambodia when few others had been allowed entry.

Mark
Quakers see themselves as having a mission particularly to work either in areas of conflict or in the aftermath of conflict. And of course in Cambodia this conflict continuing there was also the aftermath of genocide.

Narrator
Deasy’s experiences influence his views on the proactive demands of pacifism.

Mark
I think being a pacifist is not about waiting till the conflict happens and then saying, I'm not going to take up arms. It's about in all the stages previously, looking at the sources of injustice, the sources of conflict of exploitation of aggression and giving the rule to work against others. Also working on mediation, working on conflict resolution.

Narrator
Fundamental to Quakerism is the Peace Testimony, a testimony first proclaimed to Charles II in 1660.
It is this principle that most clearly defines Quakers in the public mind.

Jo
Well the peace testimony is very important to me. And I think that’s one thing that I was very interested in about the Quakers when I first started going along in 1972. At that stage we were involved in the Vietnam War. I’d been to moratorium marches. I’d seen these people who were marshals and I like the way they were in the marches. They were quiet and dignified and weren’t ranting and raving and so on. So that appealed to me.

And that really led me to going along to Meeting for Worship. And so it was the first testimony that I became aware of, and it has given me a framework in which to lodge all of the feelings that I had about non-violence and not wanting to fight and so on, that came from the teachings of the people like Jesus. Because he was a great exponent of non-violence.

Narrator
She was raised a Roman Catholic but thirty years on former Greens Senator Jo Vallentine has become one of Australia’s better known Quakers.
It was the issue of nuclear disarmament that first saw her elected to the national Parliament.
A long time activist her passion for peace and social justice issues has twice landed her before the courts and produced short stints in prison.


Jo Vallentine
I think civil disobedience should be taken through to its logical conclusion. For me that’s not paying a fine to get out of going to goal. For me it is going to gaol and bearing that witness right in the gaol system. It's also helped me with my AVP work of course.
It has given me a perspective that I would otherwise not have. Of what it's actually like to be locked down, to be deprived of liberty. Not to have any of your own personal things around you. To have to live in very crowded situations.

Narr
Through history Quakers have been no strangers to prison. In the 19th century Quaker Elizabeth Fry wrought wide-sweeping reforms in the prison system thoughout England and Europe.

These days Jo Vallentine works on the “Alternatives to Violence” Project.
Now mainstream, it was initiated 30 years ago when prisoners at a US gaol invited Quakers to devise for them a “non violence” program to help bring about personal change.

Jo
So that’s really how it began. And I think from that light within that the Quakers believe is in everybody. No matter where they've been or what they've done, no judgments, out of that a loving atmosphere could be engendered. A spirit of community could be built in a workshop, even in the darkness of prisons. Even with people who had done the most dreadful things.
You see we're all capable of violence, and I believe we all actually do violence in our lives.
Another way must be found to deal with conflicts from the personal to the international. And that’s what Quakers really work on very hard.
Quakers are famous for setting up meetings between diplomats of countries that would not normally talk to each other. And they will come to the Quaker house in New York and have these lovely lunches and sit and talk off the record no media no reporting back. They just provide the opportunities for people to get together and know each other. Because then they can really begin to talk about the things that separate them if they’ve found some common ground first.

Narrator
Quakers believe that all life is sacred and war is not the way to resolve conflict. Whilst their calls for peace may seem idealistic to some, Quakers insist that their peace testimony is not merely about abstaining from violence. Instead it’s about seeking a process that can lead to a different way of being in the world.

Jo Vallentine
Sometimes I’ve been called an armchair pacifist and I guess that’s the case for a lot of us if we haven’t actually suffered repression at the point of a gun. But I do think that it’s important to be a witness.
We’re called to be faithful, to be witnesses to what we know is true. We’re called to be faithful to be witnesses to what we know is true. We’re not necessarily called to be successful. And so we stand out there on street corners week after week saying non violence is the way, let’s not go to war. Let's address the underlying causes of terrorism that is in front of everybody's minds at the moment. Let's look at what's behind all of that. Address those issues. We're never going to have peace without justice. So as well as being an idealist and saying well let's not have war, Quakers really put that into practice by looking at the underlying injustices

Peter Jones
Quakers don't deal with the concept of evil very well, and I'm acutely aware of that.
And I think it's something we really have to come to grips with.
I can understand why people turn to war. In many ways it's actually the easy option because it represents a black and white view of the world. I'm good you're bad. But the world isn't like that. It's different shades of grey, and all that war breeds is more hatred and more war. It’s not the answer.

I think the problem for Quakers is we can warn about the conditions that create war. That is why we put the emphasis on equality and simplicity and the sharing of right resources and so on.

I think what a lot of Quakers are wrestling with today through groups like Peace Brigades International and the global peace force is trying to find some way of dealing with some of the dictatorships, some of the injustices in the world in a way to say we have got a non violent solution but we certainly don't claim to have an easy answer. War has never worked either.

Narr
Peter Jones believes that much of the conflict in the world today is shaped by a refusal to respect the beliefs of others.

Peter Jones
Probably the greatest evil facing the planet today is fundamentalism. It doesn't matter if it is Jewish fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Hindu fundamentalism or Muslim fundamentalism. It is the position that simply says, I am right and you're all wrong, and I'm going to shove my religion down your throat whether you like it or not, and all the ideas that go with it.

And I teach comparative religion because I want students to understand that that's actually the opposite of what religion stands for.

So I take my students to the synagogue, I take them to Muslim prayer. I bring people to come and talk to the school. And we try and celebrate the festivals and Holi is one of the is one of the most fun loving joyous festivals in the Indian calendar because it is the spring festival. So I bought the power back with me from India. We filled the dust bins with water and we throw water over each other like one billion Indians are doing today.

Narr 
As Peter Jones’ religion class reinvents the Hindu spring festival of Holi, he sees it as just another small step that can build bridges to other faiths and peoples. Quaker numbers have always been small yet their influence considerable. They believe Quaker values lay the groundwork for a wider vision of society… The task of individual Quakers is to communicate their testimony by the way they live their lives.

Peter Jones
If you look through the history of the world, the only things that have made the world a better place are the little people who did little things. There's very few of us are going to be great leaders. But it's all those little cumulative acts.
The first women who demanded the vote, you know. The first trade unionists. The first people who demanded equality for black and white people, or spoke out against slavery. Those are the people who make the world go forward.

Ro Morrow
I think your lives need to speak. I think it’s much more powerful than words.

Ends

The millionth snowflake : the history of Quakers in South Australia by Charles Stevenson | LibraryThing

The millionth snowflake : the history of Quakers in South Australia by Charles Stevenson | LibraryThing

DSLM's review

From the Foreword by William Oats: "Charles Stevenson has been most thorough in his research, but he brings that research to life through his concern to portray characters in action. His flair for intimate anecdote adds to the interest of his narrative.
"There was good reason for the Quaker fledgling colony in the early days of South Australia to be hailed as 'the Pennsylvania of the South'. Even if that promise was not fulfilled, the influence of the early Quaker pioneers on Australian Quaker history stemmed from the quality of their individual and family life. These pioneers too played a significant part in the history of the colony and indeed in the development of Australia.
"My first contact with Quakers was with Frederick Coleman. Quakers do not think in terms of prototypes, but I looked upon him as one who expressed for me what Quakerism means. He was a major reason for my decision to seek membership.
"Charles Stevenson, by telling the story of the lives of South Australian Quakers such as Frederick Coleman, will give others a reason for saying, 'Is that what it means to be a Quaker?'"

   DSLM | May 19, 2010 

Quaker by Convincement (Pelican): Geoffrey Hubbard

Quaker by Convincement (Pelican): Geoffrey Hubbard

Quaker by Convincement
ByKerouac fanon 17 February 2003

I read Quaker by Convincement 25 years ago and because it explained Quakerism in a down-to-earth, easy to understand way it helped me make up my mind to become an attender at Quaker meetings (for 10 years) and then a Friend (full member). I think that for a person of the hippy generation, their liberal attitude, spirituallity and peace testament are very attractive. Underlying this is a strict wisdom, logic and sincerity which I find un-rivaled in most other churches. Quakers don't preach to you but are interested in your spiritual experiences of life. The author has a friendly, engaging style that explains clearly and simply the precepts of Quakerism. Read it and you'll see why many Jews, Hindu's and Christians attend Quaker meetings while retaining their own beliefs.

Things My Best Friends Told Me for the Camino and for Life eBook: Kerry O'Regan: Books

Things My Best Friends Told Me for the Camino and for Life 
 Kerry O'Regan: Books

A woman sets out to walk the Camino, the ancient pilgrimage across the north of Spain. No longer young, she walks alone, leaving family and friends behind. But she also carries them with her, in the messages they've written on her stick. Each day she walks and each day she reads the messages, and muses on them. These are her musings, on the places she sees, the people she meets, the events she lives. The Things My Best Friends Told Me for the Camino and for Life is part travel adventure, part soul journey. It's whimsical, witty, and wise. 
Kerry O'Regan lives in suburban Adelaide. She's a retired academic, a Quaker, grandmother and unlikely adventurer.

Living the Quaker Way: Discover the Hidden Happiness in the Simple Life - Kindle edition by Philip Gulley. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Living the Quaker Way: Discover the Hidden Happiness in the Simple Life - Kindle edition by Philip Gulley. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.



Living the Quaker Way: Discover the Hidden Happiness in the Simple Life

byPhilip Gulley

Format: Kindle EditionChange

Price:$11.99

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Quakerism has many admirers but considerably fewer adherents. Gulley, a Quaker pastor and much-published author (The Evolution of Faith), hopes to reach new members with his newest work, part of the inaugural list of a new imprint aimed at the spiritually curious. He explains central Quaker values and practices—simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality—in clear and inviting ways, drawing on Quaker history to provide context and illustration of the distinctive ways of the Religious Society of Friends (another name for Quakers). He also draws on his own life, acknowledging shortcomings in ways that disarm and attest to the Quaker value of integrity of speech. The set of queries at the book&'s end is extremely helpful; queries are spiritual tools for self-examination and reflection that can give readers a small taste of the faith. The author goes light on his trademark charming humor, which is unfortunate; religion goes down easier when preached with a smile. Still, Gulley might make nightstand Friends—people who flirt with Quakerism, reading about it before going to sleep. (Sept.)

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From Booklist

“I took a test on the Internet,” a newcomer told Quaker pastor Gulley, “and it told me I’d be happy as a Quaker.” Others saying much the same thing reconfirmed Gulley in his “long-held suspicion” that more people are philosophically Quaker than ever join a Quaker meeting. They are attracted by the Quaker way of life, which is best expressed in the basic Quaker testimonies of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. Gulley devotes a chapter to each testimony—a persuasive homily delivered by a very personable minister—and considers the contemporary appeal of the Quaker understanding of the particular testimony being discussed. His aim throughout is not “for you to seek out the nearest Quaker meeting” but to help others “embrace these values . . . so that our world might be transformed.” In conclusion, he offers a month’s worth of daily queries—examples of the kinds of questions Quakers use to guide themselves in living out the testimonies—for readers’ reflection should they chose to take the Quaker way. --Ray Olson

5.0 out of 5 starsFull to Overflowing with Timeless Wisdom and Insight

ByFaithfulReader.comon October 23, 2013

Format: Hardcover

Philip Gulley is the author of 17 books, host of the PBS programs “Porch Talk with Philip Gulley” and “Across Indiana,” and a contributor to The Saturday Evening Post. More importantly, though, Gulley is a Quaker (the Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church). His kindness-laced, easygoing style makes reading his work a restful, peaceful endeavor. Quite in opposition to the chronic, hurry-hurry of the day, settling down for a long read is simply medicine to the soul.



And wisdom? LIVING THE QUAKER WAY is full to overflowing with timeless wisdom and insights for bettering not only one’s own heart, mind and soul, but also everyone else’s too. Gulley makes it his mission to keep a sharp lookout for the well-being of everyone who crosses his path. He and his wife make it their lifestyle to live simply, contentedly, peacefully, and with a consistently service-minded purposefulness.



In this lovely resource, Gulley explains what a Quaker is (and what it isn’t). He shares that unity is very important to the Quakers, and yet they allow themselves areas of disagreement, so it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what a Quaker is to outsiders. Quakers, writes Gulley, espouse simplicity, peace, integrity, community and equality. In many ways, they aspire to live by the evangelical’s fruits of the Spirit, but while they may use the Bible for a source of their beliefs, they embrace other religious principles and religions as well. Christians would discover that Quakers live their lives as Jesus taught, but they don’t require the sacrifice Jesus gave for their salvation.



Readers will value Gulley’s insertion of today’s modern issues and problems into his timeless text on living simply. He offers real-life scenarios of folks who have gotten on the mindless, endless treadmill of materialism and then opted out (and how they did it and what they gained from their choice). He also hits upon the taxes Americans are forced to pay and how a good portion goes to military support (he again offers alternatives to this standard). Perhaps one of the most fascinating parts of this text is his persuasive section on how to live life more simply (and what the immense gains are when this freer path is chosen).



At the close of the book, Gulley includes a reflective question section where readers ask themselves a question each day for deeper contemplation or for use in a group. Among these thoughtful queries: Do I live simply and promote the right sharing of the world’s bounty? Do I keep my life uncluttered with things and activities, avoiding commitments beyond my strength and light? Do I refuse to let the prevailing culture and media dictate my needs and values? Do I recognize when I have enough? Do I keep myself informed about the effects my style of living is having on the global economy and environment? When differences arise, do I make an earnest effort to end them speedily? Do I treat conflict as an opportunity for growth, and address it with careful attention?



Surely, even with a cursory read through this fine text, readers of many faith traditions will find themselves thoughtfully challenged and encouraged. No wonder Gulley’s work and words are so transcendent.



Reviewed by Michele Howe

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3.0 out of 5 starsIs Quakerism a religion or a way of life?

ByTeddy's Mamaon October 13, 2013

Format: Hardcover

The Society of Friends, or Quakers, is considered a religion that has been around about 400 years. Most people if asked to define Quakers would probably start with how they used to dress like the pilgrims and are rather conservative "religious" folk. Anyone who reads Gulley's book will learn contemporary Quakers don't fit that description. Though they may (or may not) be conservative in their dress or habits they cannot be put in a one-size-fits-all box.



I have always thought the Quakers were an interesting group but did not know much about their beliefs. After reading thisQuaker book some of my thoughts have been confirmed...they are active in political and social issues, live simply, there are meeting houses not churches with many styles of worship, they are generally pacifists. There are others I was not aware of...some meetings have pastors some do not, what they believe is not confined to the bible, there is no formal joining of the meeting, one can join or not and still be considered a Quaker...are a few of the things I learned.



Gulley explores the Quaker Way; simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. His views are interesting and thought-provoking for me. Some I agree with, some I disagree with, and some I am still thinking about.



Right from the first chapter, What is a Quaker?, I found myself surprised by some of his statements and I kept asking myself is the Society of Friends a religion or a way of life, a philosophy? Apparently, it is a question they ask themselves with many different answers. For example, from the first chapter:



"...For some Friends-indeed for most Friends-Quakerism is first a religion, an understanding and experience of God that leads to a certain way of life. But for others it is a way of life rich in its own right, needing no origin in or confirmation from a divine entity."



"... while Quakerism for some Friends is a way of life rooted in our experience of God, that is not the case for all. At one time, I would have mightily resisted that view, but now I am quite willing to welcome as brother and sister those persons whose integrity will not permit them to affirm a god they have not encountered. Though our perceptions of the Divine may differ, our mutual commitment to the Quaker way allows us to stand with one another as Friends and friends."



At the end of the book there are 30 questions, Queries, to consider for yourself. Gulley encourages the reader to use them as a personal check-list of sorts or as a small group discussion. The questions are well worth pondering and discussing.



Overall, I liked the book because I like to hear what others think about God and faith and life. I also liked it because it made me look a bit closer at what, and why, I believe. It's worth a read but probably not for everyone.



This book was sent to me by Waterbrook Multnomah free of charge in exchange for this review.

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5.0 out of 5 stars

The Quaker view of how to live the life we are intended to live.

ByJoseph Palenon November 15, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

The Way---



I am much older than Phil Gulley, but am willing to readily admit that he surpasses me in the wisdom department. His two books “ If Grace is True” and “If God is Love” written some years ago with James Mulholland, were very helpful in my growth as a new, middle aged Christian, who had earlier rejected the Church as a den of hypocrites. In this book, I see the source of his wisdom – of course from God, but from God through the practices and beliefs of the Quaker Church. This book is a reminder that the true principles of right living are: Loving God (loving his created Natural Universe) and Loving Others (his created Creatures). This truth is independent of religion, but is especially emphasized by the Quaker Faith. I loved this book. It was another encouragement to continue on the same path, the Way, despite bumps and potholes, and all the hypocrites who appear along the way, as they did in Jesus’ day.

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5.0 out of 5 stars

Reflection and thoughts

ByChuck Jenkinson September 19, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I really looked forward to reading this book because I have enjoyed so many of Philip Gulley' s other books and writings. This book speaks directly to me, and in many cases for me. I could not read this book without thinking about the many feelings Phil must have felt while writing this book.



I am reading this book during a period of time when their are people of privilege who want to shut down the government so others could not have health care insurance like they possess. I think about what their thought process might be and wish they would take the time to reflect on concepts such as the Quaker way. Injustice is not a new concept and will probably be with us until the end of time.

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5.0 out of 5 stars

A non-coersive way to live faithfully

ByRuth E. Nayloron December 26, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I love Philip Gulley's way of lightening a serious load. His naturally humorous personality permits him to be delightfully entertaining or deeply serious and thought provoking. I think I've read all of his books, beginning with the playful Front Porch tales and more recently his co-authored book on God's grace and this one on the Quaker way.



Marriage moved me away from the Quaker community in which I was raised but I've always valued the emphasis Quakers place upon simplicity, integrity, community, service, non-resistance, contemplation, and peace within. These are the very qualities that Jesus teaches.



There is much to challenge us today within these pages. Gulley does not condemn. He's brutally honest about his own temptations and shortcomings. And in the typically Quaker way, he is not proselytizing. He invites the reader into a way of living that seeks to see "that of God in every human-being" and into being a person of peace, love, forgiveness and grace.



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4.0 out of 5 stars

An Explanation of Ethics

ByAmazon Customeron November 25, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition

"Living the Quaker Way" is an interesting, easy-to-read book covering what the author sees as the basic ideas of the Quaker faith. The author is careful to point out that the Quaker faith can be viewed as either a religion or a way of life (or both), and that the ideas and beliefs within the faith are extremely varied. Although it seems that the Quaker faith is difficult to "pin down" even for the author, who is a Quaker pastor, he narrows the ideals of the faith down to simplicity, peace, integrity, community and equality, creating the five-letter acronym S.P.I.C.E. The author also points out that these five ideals are not exclusive to the Quaker faith or way of life, nor are they even exclusive to any particularly "religious" way of life at all.



I appreciated the author's honesty and openness, and his use of personal stories to illustrate his points. I enjoyed the book a great deal, but did not come away with a very succinct idea of what Quakerism actually is. But, I think that perhaps this was the author's point--the Quaker faith or way of life is so open and varied that it can be a spiritual home for virtually anyone who seeks a faith that is based more on a sound (yet individualized) ethical structure, rather than dogma.



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5.0 out of 5 stars

Excellent book on living as a Friend

ByWanda H. Gileson February 25, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is the best book that I, a lifelong Friend, have read on Friends faith and practice, particularly practice. Gulley takes up five prime Quaker values---simplicity, community, peace, integrity, and equality. Each receives a thorough, thoughtful, modest, and clear discussion, with a generosity of spirit I found quite remarkable. He is a progressive Friend; he has more than entered the current century. But his values are as strong and solid as those of the founding Friends, and his style is accessible, respectful, and pleasant. I highly recommend this book for a good understanding of contemporary Friends. It is not entirely theoretical; it includes human experience. Very fine.

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3.0 out of 5 stars

Interesting Insight for a better life from a best-selling author & Quaker Pastor.

ByCristion January 22, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition

The premise of this book intrigued me from the second I read the above description. I was interested in learning about the Quakers and I also wanted to read Philip Gulley's thoughts on applying Quaker principles to live a better, more peaceful life. I did come away from the book feeling like I had my eyes opened to some new ideas that I hadn't thought of before or had thoughts that I have long held confirmed by someone else feeling the same way. The Quaker's are peaceful people and they are all about serving others, living modestly, having integrity, taking care of others and participating and being a part of a tight knit community. All of the Quaker principles mentioned are examined in detail in Living the Quaker Way. Sulley illustrates these principles by being open and relaying personal stories throughout his lifetime that relate to each. I love how honest the author is, he is not perfect but you can tell he truly just wants to be a good and peaceful person. I did feel like there were great thoughts in this book about making the world a better place, especially the section on community. I found myself nodding my head vigorously the whole time. I truly think if we were more connected, closer knit and relied on each other as our grandparents did with their neighbors and even their families, we would all be a little happier and there would be less of a prevalence of depression.



As far as learning more about the Quakers as people and a group, I really didn't feel this book delivered in that area, but then the point of this book was not to preach Quakerism, but to share ideals and principles that would indeed help this world be a better place. This book isn't one that is trying to convert anyone, but it does what it sets out to do, sharing some great insight. Because of that, I would recommend this book if you are looking to better yourself or just enjoy reading inspiration books.



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5.0 out of 5 stars

Eat lots of oats?

ByJ. Lietzon October 16, 2013

Format: Hardcover

Living the Quaker Way: Timeless Wisdom for a Better Life Today by Philip Gulley is a discussion of the Quaker beliefs and pillars of simplicity, peace, integrity, community and equality. What I can appreciate the most is simplicity in my own life and community as a more overarching issue.



For me, simplicity is an ideal state of being. My reality is that with three kids, school, preschool activities, a lot of doctor's appointments, freelance writing assignments and just plain old life, it seems like an unreachable goal. However, a lot of it is stuff that I do to myself. We make life more complex than it needs to be. The Quakers have some interesting ideas on this.



In current events, there's been so much disunity in our government, with some people fighting just to fight, or so it seems. It seems like the politicians only care about who donates the most money to their ongoing campaigns. The gerrymandering ensures that they'll get re-elected, even if they have a 10 percent or less approval rating, which is what Congress currently has. I think we could all glean some pearls of wisdom from this book.



The book includes discussion questions as well as personal anecdotes. It's an easy read, it's not preachy, and it conveys a lot of material to think about.



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5.0 out of 5 stars

A most thought provoking book...

ByDr. Darryll W. Barksdaleon October 19, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I like to learn about how other religions think about the world and Pastor Gulley does a great job opening up the Quaker mindset for us to explore. While I may take issue from time to time, I still find the book to be most readable and educational. Understanding the basic premises of any Faith is the first step in truly understanding that Faith and their belief structure. It is not a text on theology per se but rather a statement of beliefs written in a simple yet thought provoking manner. Wonderful and touching personal anecdotes interspersed throughout the book give life to the principles and foundations of the Quaker beliefs. No matter what your Faith, you will find this to be an interesting read and one that perhaps will act in a positive manner to influence your personal thoughts and behaviors. But of course, I have found all of Pastor Gulley's books to do just that.............they all seem to make a positive impact upon the life of the reader.

This We Can Say eBook: The Religious Society of Friends: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

This We Can Say eBook: The Religious Society of Friends: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

This We Can Say 
by The Religious Society of Friends (Author)

Prepared over a period of nearly 10 years, this book is the distillation of the thoughts of around a thousand Quakers with an interest in spiritual subjects, including inspirational writings and personal stories about challenge and opportunity, which reflect on the geography and social history of Australia.

Arranged under subject headings such as 

- Experiences of the Spirit, 
- Images of God, 
- Silence and stillness, 
- Faith in action, 
- Prayer, 
- Truthfulness and integrity, 
- Simplicity and peace, 
- Life stages and challenges and Indigenous people.

This We Can Say can be used for personal study and meditation, for group work or just for inspiration.

Includes an extensive glossary, sources, index and history of the Quaker movement in Australia.
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Quaker faith & practice eBook: Britain Yearly Meeting: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

Quaker faith & practice eBook: Britain Yearly Meeting: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store

Quaker faith & practice Kindle Edition
by Britain Yearly Meeting (Author)
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Review:

Worthwhile Reading for (Mature Believing) Non-Quakers Too 12 July 2015

By Joshua Gaudreau - Published on Amazon.com

I've always been interested in reading how different "streams" of Christianity practice their faith, and last year read the Hutterite Confession of Faith (see my review here: http://wp.me/p2xQEQ-8Q ), which was great. So when I saw "Quaker Faith and Practice" on Amazon, I wanted to pick it up.

One thing I found surprising right off the bat was a lack of the history of the Quakers; how they came to be called that, when and by who they were founded, etc. The introduction was a history of the manual itself only. In that way, this book really is a manual for Quakers themselves who (presumably) know this history already. This information is readily available on Wikipedia of course, but reading it from a Quaker perspective would have been insightful. Because of that I won't say much more about their beginnings here beyond to say that the term "Quaker" began as a derogatory term, but over time gained acceptance amongst their practitioners (they also call themselves "The Religious Society of Friends").

As a non-Quaker, I found the parts on the necessity of listening in silence until God speaks, especially in community, to be fascinating. I knew of the Quaker practice in their worship gatherings already, but reading the ideas behind it (especially the emphasis on doing it in community - not as individuals in the same room but doing it together) encouraged me to continue trying to practice it in my own life, both on my own and to now include others when I can.

"True silence..." said William Penn, "is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment." (2.14)

"Worship is our response to an awareness of God. We can worship alone, but when we join with others in expectant waiting we may discover a deeper sense of God's presence."
Advices and Queries (1.02/8)

The sections "Meeting for Worship" (2.35 ff), "The Sense of the Meeting" (3.02 ff), and "Our Community" (10.01 ff) were also worthwhile readings.

I skipped past all the business regulation items, of course, it having no relation to me; however, the fact that they aim to conduct business meetings as they do their times of worship is great - and one day if I'm in a church business meeting (and am able to) will introduce this idea to the participants.

I was very saddened to read of all the more liberal theological & moral ideas that has seeped into Quakerism; They mentioned it was introduced at the Manchester Conference in 1895 (19.60), and not as a bad thing.

And so God is sometimes referred to in terms like "whatever he is to us," or as a non-personal seeming "inward Light."
The Bible was seen as a non-authoritative book by some sections (which, when compared to Jesus/The Holy Spirit I agree it is subservient.
George Fox is quoted saying "If we did not have the Scriptures... Jesus is enough" which I like), and personal experience of the Light as superseding it.
My own thought on this is that,
while God is bigger than the Bible and will still speak to us outside of it today (as Quakers teach), He will never contradict the Bible (which some sections in this document disagree with).

While this book is meant to be a manual, there are a lot of personal testimonies and anecdotes included in each section from Quakers throughout history; the writers were careful to include both men and women and non-Europeans when they could. These were fascinating, but because of what I found in my previous comment, I tended to skip many of them that were post-1700's. Of course, like in every denomination, not all Friends are theologically liberal and not all of them are conservative, but either way they are a part of the global Body of Christ and their voice is worth listening to and engaging with and learning from.

On the plus side, reading this document has inspired me to seek out other Quaker writings, such as those by George Fox (the founder), Thomas Kelly (his "Testament of Devotion" being on my to-read list for some time already) and William Penn. Interestingly, as I was writing this review I learned that Dallas Willard was a Quaker (I'm reading his "Divine Conspiracy" right now & recommend it). I've also loved Richard Foster's works, another Quaker, especially "Streams of Living Water" and the more famous "Celebration of Discipline," both of which I highly recommend.

So, in conclusion there are some valuable ideas in "Quaker Faith and Practice" that I will refer back to and continue to learn from and practice in my life, but as a non-Quaker I wouldn't recommend it overall, and especially not to an immature believer.
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HASH(0xa3029f0c) out of 5 stars
Good to get an easy update! 12 January 2014
By DefSufi - Published on Amazon.com

The yearly Faith and Practice from the Britain Yearly Meeting is often hard (and expensive) to come by if you're in the US. It's great to see the BYM offering more and more of their books and reports as PDF and ebooks. Hurrah for Amazon US to have this title (since if you try yo buy the ebook from the British Quakers, you can only do so if you're in the UK!)