The Religious Society of Friends
Spiritual Journey
I am a member of the Society of Friends, otherwise known as Quakers, but
over the years I have been on a complex and convoluted spiritual journey.
I was sent to a Methodist Sunday School as a child and, despite misgivings,
stayed with the Methodist Church until I went to University. There I worshipped
at the United Service at the College Chapel, enjoying the ecumenical atmosphere.
Later, after I made my decision to live an openly gay life, I was told
by more than one church to leave and not return; this gave me a rather
jaundiced view of organised religion. It was not all bad news, though.
I joined the Gay Christian Movement (as it was then) and worshipped in
churches where I was made welcome. When I moved to Devon, some years ago,
I couldn't find a suitable place to worship and spent a while "in the wilderness".
Eventually I discovered the local Friends Meeting House; after my first
visit I felt as if I had come home. Some months later I was accepted as
a member.
Quaker Worship
To anyone brought up on the usual "hymn sandwich" style of worship,
as found in most churches, a Quaker meeting will come as a culture shock.
Seats are arranged in a circle or square, there are no clergy or leaders,
no programme at all, and there is an hour's deep pervading silence as we
try to let go of everyday distractions and listen together for "That of
God within us". This may sound simple, but it can take long while to be
able to open up at this deep level. Anyone may feel called to offer spoken
ministry; the words may come from scripture, other books or from events
in everyday life. The silence is not really broken by spoken words; they
just serve to make explicit what is happening within the silence.
The Peace Testimony
Quakers are usually associated with Conscientious Objectors and Peace work.
A Declaration from the Harmless and Innocent People of God, Called Quakers
dates back to the Civil War, and states the position of Quakers at the
time.
We utterly deny all outward wars and strife and fightings with
outward weapons, for any end or under any pretence whatsoever. And this
is our testimony to the whole world. The spirit of Christ, by which we
are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as
evil and again to move unto it; and we do certainly know, and so testify
to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all Truth,
will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons,
neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world.
There are many other forms of words, but few so eloquent. Here is a more
recent Statement on Peace from New Zealand, dated 1987.
We actively oppose all that leads to violence among people
and nations, and violence to other species and to our planet. Refusal to
fight with weaponsis not surrender. We are not passive when threatened
by the greedy, the cruel, the tyrant, the unjust. We will struggle to remove
the causes of impasse and confrontation by every means of non-violent resistance
available. We must start with our own hearts and minds. Together, let us
reject the clamour of fear and listen to the whisperings of hope.
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