The Task of the Recording Clerk: Spiritual Exercise and Ministry

or me, the first step in all aspects of living, including recording the minutes of a meeting, is the personal…

Sharon Hoover

Quaker Organizations Welcome New Leaders

In recent months there have been numerous changes in the executive leadership of several Quaker organizations. Some observers have even…

Diana Allinger

Dear Friends

We are excited to share some news with you. The Board of Trustees of Friends Publishing Corporation, which publishes FRIENDS…

Janet Ross

What value does a draft have?

I was surprised and troubled to see an article in Friends Journal that concludes that Quakers should, "demand that the…

J. E. McNeil

The Weekend: Thoughts on Community

That weekend started the week before, when it snowed almost two feet on Thursday and Friday morning. I spent a…

Paul Hamell

Friends and the Understanding of Reason and Equality

[That] man, as he is a rational creature, hath reason as a natural faculty of his soul, by which he…

Caroline Whitbeck

Ritual, Symbol, and Ceremony

The attraction and staying power of religious tradition rests largely in the appeal of ritual, symbol, and ceremony. Quakerism—and other…

Keith Helmuth

Lancaster (Pa.) Meeting’s Public Apology to Native Americans

The year 2010 marked the 300th anniversary of the first permanent European settlement in what was to become Lancaster County,…

Thomas Gates

Letters to Dear John

Reading John Woolman’s autobiography made me curious about how I would respond to his gentle but challenging ministry for fellow…

Green Marsha

U.N. Climate Talks and the Prevention of Violent Conflict

I was thrilled to attend the UN climate negotiations in Tianjin, China, this past October and the larger Conference of…

Stark Alexandra

Creating a Peace Walk in Washington, D.C.

In early 2010, a local hotel contacted me to devise the itinerary for a "Peace Walk"—a walking tour of sites…

Hayden M. Wetzel

Remembering a Forgotten Zionist Vision for Peace?

I was inspired after reading Bob Dockhorn’s review in Friends Journal about Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta’s book Refusing To Be Enemies: Palestinian…

Steve Chase

Reflections on Clerking a Quaker Committee

Soon after I became involved in the Quaker faith, I was told that anytime Quakers meet, it is a meeting…

Storm Evans

Green Man Visits Adelphi Friends Meeting

Green Man arrived barefoot and crowned with leaves on Adelphi (Md.) Meeting’s sloping lawn under a blue sky. He approached…

Tom Goodridge

Privilege and Presence

Two of the feature articles in this month’s issue spoke to me strongly. I’ve had it easy. I was born…

Gabriel Ehri

Thoughts about food at Gatherings

I have a concern that has been growing for several years about one element of our time together at FGC…

Connie McPeak

Tom Louderback on Quakers and Capitalism

Capitalism is supposed to be an economic system with checks and balances, like democracy, and we…
Steven Davison on Speaking with Spiritual Authority

Thank you, Peter, for this ministry. I share your concern. In fact, Pendle Hill just published…
Ron Braithwaite on Hoopes Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Assaulting an ICE Agent

At the actual sentencing, Jacob was sentenced to 30 months at the Sheridan, Oregon Federal Minimum…
Kevin Johnson on Hoopes Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Assaulting an ICE Agent

I would have hoped that Friends would refrain from violent protests in these difficult days. Friends…