Micah MacColl Nicholson: Freedom to Explore

A Quaker Author Chat. Micah MacColl Nicholson’s “What Kind of Quaker Am I?” appears in the October 2024 issue of Friends Journal.

Micah shares their journey of identifying as a Quaker, reflecting on their upbringing in a Quaker family and their experiences at Quaker institutions. She discusses the struggles of reconciling personal beliefs with the broader Quaker community, particularly regarding the peace testimony and the importance of engaging with current global issues.

Micah emphasizes the significance of questioning one’s faith and the freedom to explore what it means to be a Quaker today. She highlight the challenge of maintaining a spiritual grounding while working in advocacy and the need for silence and reflection in both personal and professional settings. Micah also speaks about their supportive community at FCNL, the importance of connecting with others, and the ongoing projects that Friends can engage with, such as weekly worship and the Quaker Changemaker series.

Links:

• Friends Holding Space Together, FCNL’s election-related worship
• Quaker Changemaker Series

Micah MacColl Nicholson (she/they) served as the Quaker engagement program associate at Friends Committee on National Legislation for the 2023–2024 year. In that role, she advocated for Quaker voices within the organization and strengthened relationships with established and new Quaker networks nationwide. Micah graduated with honors from Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., in 2023.