“Quakerism started as a revival or renewal process for Christianity at a time when some folks were feeling like the existing church wasn’t possible to reform,” Jade Rockwell, a pastor at West Elkton Friends Meeting in Ohio, reminds us.
Though historically Friends have often held themselves back, cautious about doing anything without absolute certainty about Spirit’s leading, Quakers today are “living in a time when we can see inaction is risky,” Jade says. “If we’re not able to respond to our world, bad things can happen. And we may be morally responsbile if we aren’t able to be responsive and active.”
Jade introduces us to Quaker Connect, a new project from the Americas section of Friends World Committee for Consultation. It seeks to help local meetings come out of their shells, strengthening their relationships with their neighbors and the wider Quaker community.
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Discussion Question:
- Has your Quaker community taken steps to deepen its connections to the wider world?
- What successes or setbacks have you experienced on that journey?
The views expressed in this video are of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Friends Journal or its collaborators.
I really valued this post as we constantly struggle with when to pursue a leading and when to wait for communal unity
Very timely!
Wow. This one is really good.