FAITH AND
PRACTICE
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Expanding Appreciation of Truth..............................5
Origin and Development of the
Discipline.........................5
Adoption of the Uniform Discipline...............................7
The Book of Faith and Practice...................................7
Part I
CHAPTER I
HISTORICAL STATEMENT
George Fox and the Rise of the People Called Quakers.............9
American Beginnings And Growth..................................11
Branches of Friends.............................................12
Evangelical Movements of the Nineteenth Century.................12
Development of the Pastoral Ministry............................13
Origin of the Friends National Organizations....................14
Other Cooperative Agencies......................................16
CHAPTER II
FAITH AND THOUGHT
Basic Principles................................................19
Ideals of Worship...............................................22
Testimony of Ceremonial Rites...................................23
The Scriptures..................................................25
Spiritual Gifts.................................................27
CHAPTER III
LIFE AND ACTION
Way of Life.....................................................29
Evangelism and Extension........................................29
Friends and Education...........................................33
The Social Order................................................36
Friends and the State...........................................38
Justice in Interracial Relations................................39
Testimonies on Family and
Personal Life...................44
Sanctity of
the Home.......................................44
Recreation and
Amusements..................................45
Healthful
Living...........................................46
Health
Practices...........................................46
Gambling and
Lotteries.....................................47
Judicial Oaths.............................................47
Secret and/or Discriminatory Organizations.................47
CHAPTER IV
THE QUERIES
Introductory Statement..........................................49
General Queries.................................................49
Queries for Meetings on Ministry and Counsel....................51
Part II
ORGANIZATION
AND BUSINESS PROCEDUCER
CHAPTER I
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Ideals in Organization..........................................53
The Meeting.....................................................54
Basis of Membership.............................................55
Rules of Membership.............................................55
Reception by Application....................................55
Reception and Transfer by Certificate or Letter.............57
Discontinuance of Membership................................58
Dealing with Offenders......................................59
Guidelines for Continuing Membership........................60
CHAPTER II
THE MONTHLY MEETING
Organization and Functions......................................61
Committees......................................................63
Ministry and Counsel........................................64
Finance Committee...........................................67
Nominating Committee........................................67
Auxiliary Groups............................................67
Queries.....................................................67
Special Responsibilities for Ministry...........................68
Pastors and Meeting Secretaries.............................68
Minutes for Service.........................................69
Marriage........................................................70
With the Minister Participating.............................70
When Arranged
by the Meeting................................71
Relations to Superior
Meetings............................72
Outreach and New
Meetings.................................73
CHAPTER III
QUARTERLY MEETING
Organization and Function.......................................75
Relation to Monthly Meetings....................................75
Relation to the Yearly Meeting..................................76
Departmental Chairpersons.......................................76
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel.................................77
CHAPTER IV
YEARLY MEETING
Organization and Function.......................................79
Permanent Board.................................................81
Yearly Meeting Ministry and Counsel.............................83
Recording of Ministers..........................................84
Yearly Meeting Boards...........................................87
Relations with Wilmington College...............................88
Sources of Business.............................................90
Young Friends and Junior Yearly Meetings........................91
Miscellaneous...................................................91
CHAPTER V
FRIENDS UNITED MEETING
Preface.........................................................93
Triennial Sessions..............................................94
Organization and Function.......................................95
Commissions and Their Functions.................................99
Property and Financial Interests...............................102
Associated Organizations.......................................105
Part III
AUTHORIZED DECLARATION OF FAITH
Preface........................................................109
Essential Truths...............................................110
Extract from George Fox's Letter to
the Governor of Barbados, 1671................................112
Declaration of Faith Issued by
The Richmond Conference,
1887..................................114
Of God.....................................................114
The Lord Jesus Christ......................................115
The Holy
Spirit............................................117
The Holy Scriptures........................................119
Man's Creation and Fall....................................119
Justification and Sanctification...........................120
The Resurrection and Final Judgment........................122
Baptism....................................................123
The Supper of the Lord.....................................124
Public Worship.............................................125
Prayer and Praise..........................................128
Liberty of Conscience in Its Relation to
Civil Government..........................................128
Marriage...................................................129
Peace......................................................129
Oaths......................................................130
The First Day of the Week..................................130
APPENDIX
A. Application for Membership.............................133
B. Removal Certificate....................................133
C. Letter to Other Denominations..........................134
D. Form of Affirmation....................................134
E. Marriage Vows..........................................134
F. Certificate of Marriage................................135
G. Marriage Service, A Minister Participating.............136
Faith and Practice
Introduction
Page 5
The Expanding Appreciation of Truth
Human
understanding of truth is always subject to growth. This
basic principle also underlies the development of the
organizations and
institutions through which the spirit of Christianity is
made operative
in life. While
fundamental principles are eternal, expressions of
truth and methods of Christian activity should develop in
harmony with
the needs of the times.
God, who spoke through the prophets and
supremely in Jesus Christ, still speaks through men and
women who have
become new creatures in Christ (2 Cor.
renewing of their minds (
receive fresh revelations of truth.
Frequently,
however, we see 'through a glass, darkly," (1 Cor.
as the stream of life flows on, bring new conceptions,
insights and
situations, it is necessary to strive constantly for a
clearer
comprehension of divine truth that will enter vitally
into personal
experience and become a creative factor for the
redemption of human
character and the remolding of society on the Christian
pattern. "A
religion base on truth must be progressive. Truth being so much
greater than our conception of it, we should ever be
making fresh
discoveries." (London Yearly Meeting 1920)
Faith and Practice
Discipline
Page 5-6
Origin and Development of the Discipline
The term
"discipline" is used by Friends to designate those
arrangements which they have instituted for their civil
and religious
nurture and guidance as a Christian group. For almost a decade
following the beginning of the ministry of George Fox,
the founder of
the Society of Friends, his followers were without
organization, but as
they grew in unity and in numbers there arose
responsibilities to
admonish, encourage, and help one another both in
spiritual and in
temporal affairs.
They found it necessary to make certain provisions
for the preservation of order in their fellowship and for
the care of
the poor and those who suffered for conscience sake.
There was also
need for the supervision of the exercise of
spiritual gifts and of the work of publishing the
truth. The rules and
advices pertaining to such ministrations were finally
incorporated in
the discipline.
The earliest Quaker advice on Christian practice was
issued by the famous gathering of Friends at Balby in
1656, a statement that well describes the spirit which
should
characterize all books of discipline: "Dear beloved
friend, these things
we do not lay upon you as a rule or form to walk by, but
that all with
the measure of light which is pure and holy may be
guided, and so in
the light walking and abiding these may be fulfilled in
the spirit, not
from the letter; for the letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life."
An important
step in the development of the discipline was the
drafting by George Fox in 1668 of a body of advices and regulations
to
which his opponents gave the name of "Canons and
Institutions." This
served for a long time as the discipline of the Society,
although the
name was formally disclaimed by Friends in 1675. It formed the basis
for the Discipline of London Yearly Meeting and all later
books of
discipline. As the
various Yearly Meetings were established in
was much similarity because of the common use of material
from the
older editions.
These disciplines were revised from time to time as
the rules and advices which they contained became
inadequate and
inappropriate.
Thus, as the conscience of Friends became aware of
evils involved in human slavery or in the use of
intoxicating drinks,
these convictions were expressed in their disciplines.
Faith and Practice
Page 7
Adoption of the Uniform Discipline
Many diverse
factors during the latter half of the nineteenth
century had affected the outlook, activities, and
relationships of
members of the Society of Friends in
were faced in the conferences of Yearly Meetings held in
1887,1892, and
1897 sentiment developed for a closer union of the Yearly
Meetings to
be accomplished partly by a general representative
meeting and partly
by a uniform discipline.
A committee of two representatives from each of
the Yearly Meetings taking part in the conference of 1897
was appointed
to formulate a plan of union and to prepare the proposed
discipline.
"The Constitution and Discipline for the American
Yearly Meetings of
Friends", the official name of the new discipline,
was adopted by the
Yearly Meetings of
1900;
1908. Canada
Yearly Meeting, when received in the Five Years Meeting
(now called Friends United Meeting see page [index] 93)
in 1907, was
given the privilege of adapting the Discipline to its on
needs.
Faith and Practice
Page 7-8
The Book of Faith and Practice
The Uniform
Discipline met quite acceptably the needs of the
Yearly Meetings which adopted it. But the revolutionary changes in
life and thought experienced in the twentieth century
brought to
Friends the realization that the statements of faith and
practice as
set forth by the Discipline should be re-examined and
revised that
they might more adequately meet the needs of the Yearly
Meetings.
This concern found expression in numerous proposals by
Yearly
Meetings for amendments to the Discipline. Eventually in 1940, the
Executive Committee of the Five Years Meeting recommended
to that
body that steps be taken for a revision. The Five Years Meeting of
1940 adopted a method of procedure providing for the
appointment of a
committee which was instructed to prepare a revised draft
of the
Discipline for the consideration of the Five Years
Meeting and its
constituent Yearly Meetings.
The revised copy
was submitted to the constituent Yearly Meetings.
Some of the Yearly Meetings adopted the revised text as
submitted to
them, making slight revisions and adaptations. Others adopted parts
of the text. One
Yearly Meeting adopted "Part 2" only.
Practically
no two Yearly Meetings took identical action with regard
to it.
Thus, the
necessary acceptance of the revision by four fifths of
the Yearly Meetings was not attained. Since two of the doctrinal
statements included in the revision were from the Uniform
Discipline,
and since the revision was not approved, some concluded
that the
entire contents of the revision (except the business
procedure) were
"unofficial" .
Friends from
several Yearly Meetings requested clarification of
the status of the three-fold doctrinal statement adopted
by the Five
Years Meeting in 1902, and which in 1922 was
re-affirmed. (The
doctrinal statements referred to were "Essential
Truth", "Extracts
from George Fox's Letter to the Governor of Barbados,
1671", and the
"Declaration of Faith" issued by the Richmond
Conference of 1887.
These had all been part of the Uniform Discipline.)
Careful inquiry
by the General Board of Friends United Meeting and the
1975 Sessions
led to the following minute:
"Research
indicated that the action taken in 1922 reaffirming
the Authorized
Declaration was probably not affected by
subsequent
attempt to revise the Discipline and thus has never
been
rescinded.... We accept the findings of
this research and
recognize that
the Authorized Declaration of Faith reaffirmed
in 1922 remains
the official statement of Friends United
meeting. We note the conditions under which it was
adopted.
It is our
understanding that these conditions left constituent
Yearly Meetings
free to be guided by their own inspiration and
did not impose a
particular phraseology on staff or officers
of Friends United
Meeting." (1975 Minutes of Friends Meeting,
page 30.)
Thus Friends
United Meeting Yearly Meetings are no longer operating
under a Uniform Discipline except the section of Business
Procedure
for Friends United meetings and the Authorized
Declaration of Faith.
Faith and Practice
Historical Statement
Page 9
George Fox and the Rise of the People Called Quakers
PART 1
Chapter I
HISTORICAL STATEMENT
George Fox
and the Rise of the People Called Quakers
George Fox
The people
called Quakers had their beginnings in
time of great religious and political ferment. The Reformation had
involved crown and church alike, and the struggle with
the papacy had
opened the way for numerous independent movements that
affected all
elements of society.
It was out of this ferment that George Fox
discovered and developed a vital faith. He was born in July, 1624,
into a Christian home.
His father, Christopher, was known in his
community as "Righteous Christer"
and his mother, Mary, was "a good,
honest, virtuous woman." In Fox's own account in his
Journal, he
writes, "When I came to eleven years of age, I knew
pureness and
righteousness; for while a child I was taught how to walk
to be kept
pure." At nineteen years of age, experiencing deep
spiritual
conflict, he began a four-year period of wandering over
the land,
studying his Bible and seeking spiritual help from
churchmen and
dissenters alike.
He then tells of his great religious experience,
"And when all my hopes in them and in all men were
gone, so that I
had nothing outwardly to help me, nor could I tell what
to do: then,
oh! then I heard a
voice which said, 'There is One, even Christ
Jesus, that can speak to thy condition'."(journal
1694 edition p.8)
In 1647, at the age of twenty-three, he began the
ministry that was
to bring together before his death in 1691 some fifty or
sixty
thousand Friends in
elsewhere.
Faith and Practice
Historical Statement
Page 10
First Called Quakers
First Called Quakers
The emphasis of
George Fox on the "light of Christ" led to the
adoption by his followers of the name "Children of
the Light". This
was succeeded as early as 1652 by "Friends in the
Truth", or merely
"Friends", from the saying of Jesus, "Ye
are my friends if ye do
whatsoever I command you."(John 15:14) The popular
name, "Quaker",
was said by George Fox to have been first applied by
Justice Bennett
in 1650, "because I bade them tremble at the word of
the Lord". It
was said by Robert Barclay to have been applied as a term
of reproach
because "sometimes the power of God will break forth
into a whole
meeting ... and
thereby trembling and a motion of the body will be
upon most if not upon all". (Barclay's Apology, 1908 edition, p.
342.)
Faith and Practice
Historical Statement
Page 10
Early Organization
Early Organization
Although he
declared that he was forming no new sect or denomina-
tional group but bringing a universal message, Fox soon
found some
organization necessary for his growing fellowship. Though various
local and general meetings had been held previously, the
first
regular Monthly Meeting seems to have been organized in
1653. Fox,
referring to 1656, writes, "About this time I was
moved to set up
the men's Quarterly Meetings throughout the nation",
thus carrying on
a work already begun and furnishing an enduring pattern
of
organization.
General meetings had been held in various localities
prior to 1671 when London Yearly Meeting began to meet
regularly.
Faith and Practice
Historical Statement
Page 10
Period of Persecution
Period of Persecution
During this
early period of Quakerism the persecution because of
the refusal to take oaths, pay tithes, and attend the
Established
Church was extremely severe. About four hundred and fifty young
leaders among Fox's followers either were killed or died
as a result
of the various forms of persecution. The Meeting for Sufferings
looked after the victims of the persecution and other
cases of need,
and later had general charge of the affairs of the group
between
sessions of the Yearly Meeting.
Faith and Practice
Page 11
Growth and Expansion
American Beginnings and Growth
Growth and Expansion
The universal
aspect of Quakerism led its messengers at an early
date to the continent of
and peasants. The
first Friends to cross the
Austin who came to the
summer and, as far as is known, were the first Quaker
visitors to
the American mainland.
These women were seized at once, imprisoned,
and finally sent back to their place of departure as were
the other
Quaker apostles who ventured to come later. But banishment, fines,
whipping, imprisonment, and even the hanging of four of
their number
on Boston Common, 1659-1661, were not sufficient to
restrain their
coming . "If
God calls us", they declared, "woe to us if we come
not".
Faith and Practice
Page 11
Early American Yearly Meetings
George Fox and
other early leaders visited
and aiding in the organization of meetings. The first Yearly Meeting
to be organized was
established in 1672 and Virginia Yearly Meeting was
established in
1673 "by the motion and order of George Fox",
who had also attended
the first and second sessions of Baltimore Yearly
Meeting.
Yearly Meeting united with
Meeting united with
was organized in 1681;
became the parent meeting of several other Yearly
Meetings, including
purchased the site for
educate their Quaker youth and the community young
people.
Yearly Meeting's formation in 1892 evolved out of this
joint concern.
Today Wilmington Yearly Meeting continues to play an
active role with
respect to its College as detailed on pages 88 to 90 of
this
document.
Faith and Practice
Branches of Friends
Page 12
Lack of Unity
Branches of Friends
Lack of Unity
The Yearly
Meetings were independent bodies united only by a
common origin and by common beliefs and practices. Some degree of
fellowship was maintained by annual exchange of epistles
and by
visits of traveling ministers who came with minutes
certifying their
good standing at home; returning minutes testified of
their
acceptable attendance.
But since there was no common disciplinary
guide, no central point of reference or mode of
conference, there was
abundant room for the development of divergent standards
and practices
under the influence of local leaders and conditions.
Faith and Practice
Branches Of Friends
Page 12
Orthodox-Hicksite Separation
Orthodox-Hicksite Separation
In 1827-28 long
smoldering differences in doctrinal teaching and
disciplinary practice, not unmixed with personal
feelings, came to a
head over the teaching and standing of Elias Hicks and
resulted in
separations in five Yearly Meetings:
Indiana, and Baltimore, in the order named. No separation occurred in
retained the name of the original Yearly Meeting and were
popularly
distinguished later by the terms, "Orthodox"
and "Hicksite".
Faith and Practice
Branches of Friends
Page 12
Wilbur-Gurney Controversy
Wilbur-Gurney Controversy
Several Yearly
Meetings were involved in a second series of
separations, extended over a longer period. This is known as the
Wilbur-Gurney controversy after the leaders of the two
factions, or
as the Conservative-Progressive separation due to the
questions at
issue. The
conclusive authority and the systematic study and
teaching of the scriptures, the use of evangelistic
methods, and the
discontinuance of some ancient testimonies were the chief
causes of
the separation. A
division occurred in New England Yearly Meeting in
1845 and was followed by divisions in
and
Faith and Practice
Page 12-13
Ministry of Gurney
The development
of American Quakerism has been greatly influenced by
the visits of prominent English Friends. Hannah Backhouse made
extensive visits in the 1830's, encouraging Bible reading
and study, and
the organization of Bible classes and Bible schools. Her cousin,
Joseph John Gurney, who later visited nearly all the
American Yearly
Meetings, gave the Bible a still more important place in
Friends'
consideration and placed a new emphasis on conversion and
on
justification through the atoning death oh Jesus
Christ. Other
influences reinforced these movements and when the
exclusiveness that
had kept Friends from outside contacts was weakened, the
American
revival of the 1850's reached the younger members.
Faith and Practice
Page 13
Leading Evangelists
In 1860 Lindley
M. Hoag of
present at Indiana Yearly Meeting and encouraged a
special meeting for
the young Friends that became a time of vocal exercise
and testimony by
hundreds. As a
result an unusual group of young men and women were
ready for the work of evangelization which followed. The revival
movement, checked by the Civil War, reappeared and
continued throughout
the 1870's and the 1880's under the leadership of such
evangelists as
John Henry Douglas, Robert Douglas, Nathan and Esther
Frame, Allen Jay,
and many others.
There was some opposition to the new methods and some
excesses developed, but the movement spread, reaching the
pillars of
the Meetings and the general community alike.
Faith and Practice
Development of the Pastoral Ministry
Page 13-14
Origin of Pastoral Ministry
The development
of the pastoral ministry during the latter half of
the nineteenth century was due to the growing demand for
leadership.
The change probably would have come eventually but more
slowly if it
had not been for the impetus given to it by the
evangelical movement.
Many were brought into membership by the revival meetings
who had no
experience in the practices and methods of the Society of
Friends nor
any knowledge of their doctrines or traditions. "In places there were
whole Meetings with only a few birthright members. Often converts in a
series of meetings would join Friends merely because the
preacher was a
Quaker and they had no other denominational
preferences." (Russell,
"The History of Quakerisim", p.483) This called for a teaching
ministry and for pastoral care such as never had been
rendered in the
traditional type of Quaker meeting with its system of
distributed
responsibility.
Faith and Practice
Page 14
Employment of Pastors
It was
natural, therefore, that the evangelist should be asked to
remain in the community and devote his/her entire time to
ministry and
the shepherding of the flock. The feeling against the paid ministry
diminished and references to it were omitted in revisions
of the
Discipline.
Definite employment and financial assistance were provided
for ministers and evangelists who were called to serve as
pastors.
These developments were obvious departures from the early
practices of
Friends, meeting as they did at the hour of worship in a
silence that
might continue through the hour, or that might be broken
by any one of
several resident ministers or other members of the
congregation. The
change to pastoral ministry took place gradually but not
without regret
and even opposition on the part of many. Today many Friends find their
needs met in un-programmed worship and others use
pastoral leadership.
Wilmington Yearly Meeting contains both forms of worship.
Faith and Practice
Page 14-15
Concern for Unity
Origin
of the Friends National Organizations
It was felt
that more contact among geographically separated
"orthodox" Friends was needed to help prevent
future divisions. The
year after the separation of 1828, a conference of the
"Orthodox"
Yearly Meetings was held in
formulated which they all adopted as a statement of
belief. Other
conferences were held in 1849, 1851, and 1853 following
the
Wilbur-Gurney separation, but were ineffective since not
all the
Meetings were represented. Western Yearly Meeting twice asked for a
conference but without success. Finally, in 1887, in response to a
proposal made the year before by Indiana Yearly Meeting,
twelve Yearly
Meetings, including
conference held in
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (
official delegates.
The principal work of this conference was the
formation of the Richmond Declaration of Faith which was
alter adopted
by six of the Yearly Meetings represented.
Ohio Yearly Meetings did not adopt the declaration, while
York, and Baltimore Yearly Meetings gave their general
approval without
formal adoption.
Faith and Practice
Page 15
Origin of Friends United Meeting
A second
conference with the same American representation met at
consideration of the pastoral ministry to which it gave
its approval.
It also planned for united foreign missionary activities
and for
another conference to be held in the same city five years
later. When
this third conference met in 1897, it approved the idea
of a uniform
discipline which was to provide for a conference every
five years with
delegated powers.
The new discipline was prepared and submitted to
the Yearly Meetings in 1900 for approval; its adoption by
eleven Yearly
Meetings by 1902 opened the way for the organization of
the Five Years
Meeting. The first
session was held in
Meeting now meets every three years and is called Friends
United
Meeting. Of the
Yearly Meetings represented at the conference of 1897,
only
organization.
Canada Yearly Meeting joined the Five Years Meeting in
1907 and Nebraska Yearly Meeting was organized by the
Five Years
Meeting in 1908.
1937. The Friends
United Meeting is now an international organization
with the following membership:
Faith and Practice
Page 15-16
Origin of Friends General Conference
The Hicksite
Yearly Meetings of
years of working together informally, joined in forming
the Friends
General Conference in 1900. As the bitterness of the nineteenth century
schisms diminished, most of these Yearly Meetings have
united with
their orthodox and/or conservative counterparts. In doing so
Later New England Yearly Meeting, affiliated with F.U.M.,
also joined
F.G.C. Other
Yearly Meetings have since been formed and have joined
Friends General Conference.
Faith and Practice
Page 16
Origin of Evangelical Friends
In 1965 four
strongly evangelical Yearly Meetings;
Mountain,
Friends
between Friends United Meeting and Evangelical Friends
recent years, particularly through the Faith and Life
Movement.
Faith and Practice
Other Cooperative Agencies
Page 16
Associated Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs
The Associated
Committee of Friends on Indian Affairs was
organized in 1869 as the result of government request
that Friends
appoint members to serve as Indian agents in
government relationship lasted only ten years, but the
concern of
Friends in this area was continued. The ACFICA is supported by Friends
from a wide variety of Quaker groups and Yearly
Meetings.
Yearly Meeting has actively participated in the work of
the Committee
by its appointment of representatives. There are four Friends Centers
in
on Indian Affairs.
Support comes from voluntary Yearly Meeting
contributions, local Meetings and individuals.
Faith and Practice
Other Cooperative Agencies
Page 16-17
American Friends Service Committee
As a channel for
service in a wide rage of humanitarian activities at
home and abroad, the American Friends Service Committee
has achieved
wide recognition.
It was organized in 1917 to train and equip war
relief and reconstruction work in
compulsory military training in the first World War. Its work has
continued through the years in
fields of social action.
Whatever concerns human beings in distress,
whatever may help free individuals, groups, and nations
from fear, hate
or narrowness -- these are subjects for the Committee's
consideration.
With the belief that the "Something of God in
Man" will respond to
unselfish love and constructive good will, the Committee
attempts to
interpret religion in concrete ways as a reconciling
influence wherever
violence and conflict have developed. Its work has been supported by
all groups of Friends and by many non-Friends, and it has
cooperated
closely with the Friends Service Council (
organizations were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Faith and Practice
Page 17
Friends World Committee for Consultation
Friends of all branches attended a Friends World
Conference in
in 1920, At Swarthmore and at
1967. An American
All Friends Conference held at
1929, was likewise inclusive. At the World Conference of 1937 steps
were taken to organize a committee "for future
promotion of contacts
and cooperation among Friends". This has resulted in the formation of
a "Friends World Committee for Consultation",
with an American section
in which most Yearly Meetings are represented by official
appointment.
Under is supervision, a second American All Friends
Conference was held
at
Conference of Friends in the
1977. The Faith
and Life Conferences in recent years have attracted
Friends from all of the major groups in the
Faith and Practice
Page 17-18
Friends Committee on Nation Legislation
A group of
Friends gathered at Quaker Hill,
1943 and organized The Friends Committee on National
Legislation. It
was agreed that a national representative Committee would
meet
periodically to discuss issues, make decisions and set
policy for the
program. While it
has been recognized from the beginning that the FCNL
does not speak for all Friends in the
clear that many Friends believe in and support the ideas
advanced by
the Committee. The
staff of the FCNL does not take a position on any
issue without the approval of the Committee. The Friends Committee on
National Legislation presents its views to members of
Congress and
other government officials through personal interviews,
testimony
before congressional committees and printed
statements. It publishes a
newsletter and sponsors conferences and seminars to
provide information
for concerned citizens so they can more knowledgeably
form opinions and
make them known to government officials. The FCNL has offices in
Faith and Practice
Page 18
Councils of Churches
A wider
fellowship and fruitful cooperation with other religious
groups have followed the participation of Friends in
local, state, and
national associations and federations of churches. The most extensive
relationship with the Christian world has been attained
through
membership in the National Council of Churches in the
Friends have traversed a full range of experiences from a
small,
persecuted group, through an age of exclusiveness to a
place of
friendly recognition by churches of widely differing
doctrinal emphases
and modes of worship.
Faith and Practice
Faith and Thought
Page 19
Basic Principles
Chapter II
Faith and Thought
Basic Principles
Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Friends with
other branches of the Christian Church, believe in God,
the Father, the Creator, Infinite in love, wisdom, and
power, and
supremely manifest in the person of His Son, Jesus
Christ, whose life,
death, and resurrection have given to mankind a unique
revelation of
the nature and reality of God. They believe with Paul that "God was in
Christ reconciling the world unto himself," (2 Cor.
that "In Him was life; and the life was the light of
men." (John 1:4)
They accept the assurance of John's gospel that God
"gave His only
begotten Son that whosever believeth in him should not
perish but have
everlasting life." (John 3:16) Friends also hold as essentials of the
Christian life and experience: the divinity and humanity
of Jesus
Christ, the atonement through Him by which men are
brought to God, and
the gift of the Holy Spirit as the ever present Comforter
and Guide.
Friends hold that this is the age of the Spirit, and look
to the Holy
Spirit for guidance in their understanding of Truth.
Faith and Practice
Faith and Thought
Page 19-20
Basic Principles
Meaning of Salvation
Because of sin,
there is need for repentance and salvation which
bring deliverance from sin and the possession of
spiritual life. This
comes through a personal faith in Jesus Christ as
Saviour, who through
His love and sacrifice draws mankind to Him. Conviction of sin is
awakened by the operation of the Holy Spirit causing the
soul to feel
its need for reconciliation with God. Persons thus come into newness
of life and are saved from the power of sin to
righteousness as they
yield their lives to Him in loving and loyal
obedience. Their
relationship to God becomes an actual reality, a
transformation that
may be wrought without any human agency or ceremony since
their entire
spiritual life springs from the direct relation of their
souls with a
living and present God and cooperation with Him. Though adults may
consciously and deliberately yield to evil impulses
necessitating
repentance, it does not follow that infants and young
children are
under condemnation of guilt. Jesus said, "Let the children come to
me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the
children is the highest privilege and most sacred duty of
both the
Christian family and the church.
Faith and Practice
Faith and Thought
Page 20
Basic Principles
The Living Presence
Friends give special
emphasis to the vital principle that one's
salvation and higher life are personal matters between
the individual
soul and God. They
recall that primitive Christianity was a spiritual
society in which all the members were priests and held
direct communion
with God. From the
birth of the Quaker movement, Friends have regarded
Christianity as essentially an experience and a way of
life based on
that experience.
George Fox, in describing the great spiritual
transformation of his early life, declares, "And
this I knew
experimentally." (Fox's Journal, 1694 ed. p. 8) Isaac Pennington gives
as his testimony, "My heart said, 'This is He whom I
waited for and
sought after from my childhood . . . I have met with my
God, I have met
with my Saviour'."
Robert Barclay says, "I felt a power that touched
my heart and as I gave way to it, I felt the evil in me
weakening and
the good raised up."
This intimate fellowship with God, the
consciousness of Christ as a living presence, has run
through the whole
history of Quakerisim as a warm, life-giving stream. Nothing is more
certain that that God is still speaking to mankind as He
did in ancient
times. His Spirit
guides and controls the surrendered life, makes
sensitive the conscience, illuminates the mind, and
strengthens the
will. The
Christian's constant and supreme business is obedience to
Him.
Faith and Practice
Faith and Thought
Page 20-21
Basic Principles
The Light of Christ
From the earliest
days of their history there are frequent references
in the writings of Friends to the belief that there is in
the human
soul a Light (Ps. 36:9 John 1:9) which is of divine origin and which
makes mankind capable of response to moral and spiritual
influences.
It is this divine quality that enables on to develop that
awareness of
moral distinctions and obligations know as conscience,
and inspires one
to live, struggle, and suffer for the achievement of what
ought to be.
It gives persons pre-eminence over the natural world, raises
them above
their physical nature, gives them divine potentialities,
and makes it
possible for them to experience the joys and
satisfactions of the
abundant life through acceptance and obedience to Jesus
Christ. It is
this spiritual endowment that enables mankind to advance
beyond the
narrow bounds of self toward the Christian ideals of
goodness and love,
and to respond to the power and inspiration of the Holy
Spirit. George
Fox often called this principle the "Seed of
God." "That of God in
you," or "the Light within." William Penn called it "The great
principle of God in man, the root and spring of divine
substance."
Robert Barclay described it as "a real spiritual
substance," or "a
divine bestowal."
It is "that something we cannot call less than divine
and universal, for it links us with the eternal
realities, and with our
fellow men of whatever race or creed. It may be hidden or warped by
ignorance or pride or self-will or prejudice, but it
cannot be wholly
lost, for it is part of that which makes us essentially
men, made in
the divine image, and having within us boundless
possibilities of life
in God."
(London Yearly Meeting, 1920)
Faith and Practice
Faith and Thought
Page 21-22
Basic Principles
Divine Human Relationship
The emphasis
placed by Friends upon the foregoing principles is the
source of their special testimonies and activities. Since all persons
are potentially temples of God, all personality is
sacred; persons
everywhere are the object of His special concern and so
are of
immeasurable worth.
This doctrine of the dignity of mankind permeates
all human associations; it rests on the divine-human
relationship and
works through all the aspects of life. As one yields to divine
guidance, one becomes an active partner with God in the
extension of
His Kingdom. It is
the Light of God within that gives a burning sense
of mission and inspires the ideal of universal
brotherhood. Out of the
realization of this spiritual fellowship come the rising
tides of human
sympathy that bear persons forth to do God's will. With faith in the
wisdom of Almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit, and
believing that it is His purpose to make His Church on
earth a power of
righteousness and truth, the Friends labor for the
alleviation of human
suffering; for the intellectual, moral, and spiritual
elevation of
mankind; and for purified and exalted citizenship. It is an essential
part of the faith that a person should be in truth what
he/she
professes in word.
The underlying principle of life and action for
individuals, and also for society, is transformation
through the power
of God and implicit obedience to His revealed will.
For more
explicit and extended statements of belief, reference is
made to those officially recognized at various times,
especially the
"Epistle addressed by George Fox and others to the
Governor of
Conference in 1887," and Essential Truths"
adopted in 1902 by the Five
Years Meeting, which are printed in Part 3 of this Faith
and Practice.
Faith and Practice
Ideals of Worship
Page 22
Meaning of Worship
Friends'
concept of worship is based upon the belief that the
relationship between the Divine Spirit and the Christian
worshiper is
essentially that of Father and child, in which each may
fully
participate. Such
was the experience of Jesus, for to Him God was
always Father and He was Son. Worship is the supreme act of the human
spirit. With a sense
of God's worth and supremacy, the worshiper
enters into a living and uplifting relationship meeting
God in
fellowship and communion.
No intermediary, ritual, or ceremony is
required. the
worshiper, waiting in humility, prayer, and praise,
experiences a renewal of spiritual strength and is the
recipient of the
divine outpouring of revealed truth to the extent that
he/she is
willing to listen and is able to comprehend.
Faith and Practice
Ideals of Worship
Page 22
Prayer and Worship
Prayer is listening
as well as asking, as persons wait before God
in openness and humility.
Vocal prayer during worship should gather up
the aspirations and praise as well as the needs of all,
and voice the
un-worded adoration and longings of worshipers.
Faith and Practice
Ideals of Worship
Page 22-23
Music and Worship
Music, as a
part of worship, may give expression to the common
aspiration of all, and may well serve to develop a
tenderness of soul
in which the divine voice may find sympathetic hearing. To many, music
may be a means of expressing the deepest things in their
experience and
of bringing them into closer touch with God.
Faith and Practice
Ideals of worship
Page 23
Forms of Worship
Some Friends
gather in silence and expectant waiting without
prearranged singing, Bible reading, prayers, or
message. Their worship
proceeds with quiet meditation or prayer, with spoken
ministry only as
Friends may feel led to share their insights and
messages.
Other Friends
follow a programmed form of worship, which was
adopted by many Friends meetings as the nineteenth
century revival
influenced Quakers.
Such meetings for worship may include spoken
prayers, responsive readings, hymn singing, choral-organ
music,
scripture and message.
There may also be a significant open time of
free worship based upon silent waiting, as among other
and earlier
Friends. Worship
is not and end in itself, but should result in
Christian service as a way of life. The object of both forms of
worship is mystical communion with God.
Faith and Practice
Ideals of Worship
Page 23
Meditation and Message
If private
meditation and communion with the Source of all truth
have proceeded the period of worship, any message rising
out of the
Meeting will tend to be clearer, stronger, and more
helpful. One
should never discount the ability of the Holy Spirit to
work through
the fellowship of the group and to find willing lips by
which God's
will may be revealed to those assembled in worship; but
helpful
communications of divine truth may generally be expected
from those who
not only have recognized a call to vocal ministry, but
also have
honored this call by cultivating their gifts and
capacities by special
training and study.
Messages that are fresh, illuminating and
uplifting will help satisfy the hunger of the human
spirit, open the
gates of life to struggling or discouraged souls and
point out the path
of Christian action.
Faith and Practice
Testimony on Ceremonial Rites
Page 23-24
Baptism Communion
Believing that
a direct approach to communion with God, which
brings true inward grace and spiritual satisfaction, is
open to them in
the inward experience of worship, Friends do not feel the
need of
outward symbols in achieving the realities symbolized. They claim
strong scriptural support for the belief that it was
Jesus' purpose to
introduce an era of spiritual religion to replace the
ritualism of the
Old Testament.
Therefore, Friends do not feel it necessary to practice
the rites of water baptism or the Lord's Supper. The baptism which
they consider essential is that of the Holy Spirit; the
communion which
they most earnestly desire is participation in the Spirit
of Christ,
the bread of life, and the spiritual comprehension of God
as the source
of life and power.
Faith and Practice
Testimony on Ceremonial Rites
Page 24
Ordinances, Historical Perspective
From the
standpoint of historical perspective Friends note the
Jewish ceremonial origin of the ordinances and how they
were carried
over into the Christian era along with other Hebrew rites
such as those
pertaining to the use of meats, unleavened bread, and
foot washing.
They note how often the outward forms have been
substituted for inward
and personal experience.
They have also been impressed by the
controversies and divisions over the observance of the
sacraments and by
historical variations in practice.
Faith and Practice
Testimony on Ceremonial Rites
Page 24-25
The Real Presence of Christ
"To the
soul that feds upon the bread of life, the outward
conventions of religion are no longer needful."
(Christian Faith and
Practice #214, by John Wilhelm Rowntree, 1902)
Our experience
leads us to emphasize the fact that entrance into
the community of Christ's people requires no outward
rite, but is to be
known only through trust, obedience, love, and
commitment. As these
are brought forth in us, we find ourselves drawn together
into a unity
with one another in which the presence of the Spirit of
God is
realized.
Similarly we believe that our corporate experience at its
best justifies us in claiming, in humility, that Christ's
real presence
is indeed known by us when even two or three are gathered
together, in
quiet expectancy, in His name. And some Friends would even say that
they have come to know, in Quaker worship and fellowship,
a communion
with Christ and a baptism of the Spirit which go beyond
anything they
had previously experienced in the sacramental practice of
other
Christian groups. "We desire to bear a corporate
testimony to the fact
that, while to be made a member of Christ's Body does not
necessarily
involve any outward rite, it does inescapably require an
inner
transformation of the whole self by the indwelling Spirit
of God. And
we would bear witness to the certain fact that, in a
gathered company
of worshipers, and apart from the use of the outward
elements of bread
and wine, the real presence of Christ is to be truly and
effectually
known, bringing us into unity with one another and with
himself."
(Christian Faith and Practice #210 -- Maurice A. Creasey, 1956).
Faith and Practice
The Scriptures
Page 25
Scriptures and Inspiration
"The
Canon of Scripture may be closed, but the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit has not ceased. We believe that there is no literature in
the world where the revelation of God is given so fully
as in our New
Testament Scriptures; we go back to them for light and
life and truth.
But we feel that the life comes to us, not from the
record itself, but
from the communion with Him of who the record tells. . .
. We feel them
to be inspired, because they inspire us; we go to them
for guidance
because as we read them we feel our eyes being open and
our spirits
kindled. We search them because 'these are they that
testify of me.'
It is the living Christ we want to find, the eternal
revealer of the
will of God. It is
the spirit behind the letter we need." (
Yearly Meeting, Proceedings, 1919).
Faith and Practice
The Scriptures
Page 25-26
Barclay on the Scriptures
Of the
Scriptures the Quaker apologist, Robert Barclay, writes:
"God hath seen meet that herein we should see as in
a looking-glass the
conditions and experiences of the saints of old, that,
finding our
experiences to answer to theirs, we might hereby be the
more confirmed
and comforted, and our hope of obtaining the same end
strengthened.
This is the great work of the Scriptures, and their
service to us, that
we may witness them fulfilled in us, and so discern the
stamp of God's
spirit and ways upon them, by the inward acquaintance we
have with the
same spirit and work in our hearts." "Because they are only a
declaration of the fountain and not the fountain itself,
therefore they
are not to be esteemed the principle ground of all truth
and knowledge,
nor yet the adequate, primary rule of faith and
manners. Yet, because
they give a true and faithful testimony of the first
foundation, they
are and may be esteemed a secondary rule, subordinate to
the spirit,
from which they have all their excellency and certainty; for,
as by the
inward testimony of the Spirit we do alone truly know
them, so they
testify that the Spirit is that guide by which the saints
are led into
all truth: therefore, according to the Scriptures the
Spirit is the
first and principal leader." (Apology, prop. III).
Faith and Practice
The Scriptures
Page 26
Scriptures and Revelation
The Holy
Scriptures were given by the inspiration of God and are
the divinely authorized record of the moral principles
and doctrines of
Christianity. In
them, as interpreted and unfolded by the Holy Spirit,
is an ever fresh and unfailing source of spiritual truth
for the proper
guidance of life and practice. Their value lies in their witness of
the nature and purpose of God, their account of the
message and mission
of Jesus Christ, and their teachings as to salvation, the
way of life,
and eternal destiny.
In the Scriptures is found the record both of
mankind's search for God and of God's revelation to
mankind. Through
numerous spiritual pioneers the illumination moves from
the beginnings
of history to "The light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ." (II Cor.
4:6). The Scriptures are an
inheritance of all who through the centuries have found
strength and
guidance in the inspired wisdom of this storehouse of
spiritual
experience.
Individual leadings should be tested by the teachings of
the Scriptures and the leadings of the community of
faith. We
reverently believe that the leadings of the Holy Spirit
will be in
harmony with the Scriptures.
Faith and Practice
The Scriptures
Page 26-27
Search the Scriptures
The chief
objective of the Bible student should be to grasp
scriptural truths and teachings as vital and life-giving
realities
rather than to regard them as matters only for
intellectual or
doctrinal discussion.
One should accept with appreciation all fresh
light thrown upon the Biblical records but should remain
assured that
the spiritual strength received from such study comes from
a living
communion with Him of whom the records tell. They are an inexhaustible
treasury of spiritual truth, fitted to the needs and
problems of each
age as it re-interprets and appropriates the message for
its own time.
Their words are words of life because they testify of Him
who is Life.
Faith and Practice
Spiritual Gifts
Page 27
Gifts and the Kingdom
In
fulfillment of the promise given to Joel, " I will pour out my
Spirit upon all flesh," (Joel
has bestowed a diversity of gifts upon His children for
the building up
of His kingdom.
"And these were His gifts: some to be apostles, some
prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to
equip God's
people for work in his service, to the building up of the
body of
Christ. So shall
we all at last attain to the unity inherent in our
faith and our knowledge of the Son of God -- to mature
manhood,
measured by nothing less than the full stature of
Christ." (Ephesians
4:11-13
persons and the work of grace that is shared by all
believers, Friends
cherish these manifold gifts and desire to bring each to
full
development, that the whole body may be fitly framed
together by that
which each member supplies.
Faith and Practice
Spiritual Gifts
Page 27
Gifts for Service
These
spiritual gifts include: sensitiveness to human need and
suffering; efficiency in ministering thereto; intuitive
power of
religious insight; the personality and language to
communicate
religious truth and enthusiasm; sympathy, intelligence,
and optimism in
personal counsel; comprehension of broad social problems;
constructive
guidance in public affairs; powers of dedicated
self-expression in
writing and teaching; and the skillful exercise of the
creative arts of
invention, painting, sculpture, and music. When gifts are used to the
glory of God they constitute a vital exercise of the
universal ministry
of all Christians.
Faith and Practice
Spiritual Gifts
Page 27-28
Gift of Ministry
Friends do
not ordain ministers but they recognize that some are
especially called to be prophets, evangelists, pastors
and teachers.
The gift, the call, and the careful training and exercise
of the gift
lead Friends to record some as ministers of the gospel,
to be
especially devoted to equipping God's people for the work
of his
service. However,
no sharp line of distinction can be drawn between
different types of ministry or service. All Christians should
cultivate and develop their gifts by prayerful study,
close observation
of human need, and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Life and Action
Way of Life
Page 29
Way of Life
Chapter III
The Quaker
religious faith leads to a way of life.
In Friends'
thinking, the practice of Christian faith is not
primarily a matter of
taking part in rites and ceremonies. What is of primary importance is
that we should open ourselves to the Light of Christ and
try to live in
obedience to the leading of God's spirit. Friends' missionary outreach
and social service activities alike have grown out of
this continuing
attempt to translate Christian faith into life and
action. The
corporate testimonies and concerns that are set forth in
this chapter,
and the standards of conduct that are recommended, have
grown out of
Friends' experience in trying to be faithful to the
teachings of Jesus
and to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in their
lives as
individuals and as a religious society.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 29
New Testament Evangelism
The early
Christians, in obedience to the divine compulsion to
share with others the spiritual riches of Christ, became
zealous
apostles of the new message of love, peace, and good will
among
mankind. This
early evangelism was not a campaign to develop a new
religious cult, but was rather the sharing of the joy of
a spiritual
transformation.
With zeal and power that stand as a pattern for any
age, these evangelists soon carried the "good
news" to the entire
Mediterranean area.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 29-30
Publishers of Truth
In a similar
manner early Friends were irresistibly moved to share
their experience of a direct approach to God without meditating
instruments. Their
message of free access to divine redemptive grace
was preached without regard to the social rank, race or
religion of
those who would listen.
As a result of their work as earnest
"publishers of the truth", Quakerism spread
rapidly during the
seventeenth century.
Those who were convinced sounded forth their
message, first in
a response would be found among many of like spirit. As early as 1660
they could report "great work and service of the
Lord beyond the seas",
ranging from
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 30
Period of Quietism
Early in the
eighteenth century the Friends as a group lost
interest in active witnessing in and to the outside
world. The became
introspective and largely concerned with maintaining a
testimony
against "creaturely activity". This period of quietism, which
continued through the rest of the eighteenth century, was
characterized
by extreme sensitivity to states and conditions, and by a
rare union of
tenderness and strength as revealed by the journals and
advices of the
time. Even though
withdrawn from contact with the outside world, many
Friends led surrendered and dedicated lives. During the period of
quietism, there were fruitful labors by individuals who
responded to
deeply-felt calls for special service at home and
abroad. Among these
were John Woolman, William Allen, Daniel Wheeler,
Elizabeth Fry, and
Stephen Grellet with their concerns for Indians, Negro
slaves, Russian
serfs, and prisoners in body or spirit throughout the
world. But as
one might expect, from the weakening of the evangelistic
impulse there
resulted not only a loss of membership but also a decline
in spiritual
vitality.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 30-31
New Awakening
Then a new
wave of religious revival swept over
with it a new spirit of evangelism. Among Friends, the early
nineteenth century was marked by a renewed interest in
proclaiming the
gospel of Christ to the world as seventeenth century
founders had done.
Unfortunately, this period of the new awakening was
marked also by
controversies in the society of Friends over matters of
doctrine and
practice, leading to the "Orthodox" --
"Hicksite" separation of 1827-28
and to the "Wilburite" -- "Gurneyite"
separation of 1845-54. While
retaining the distinctive Quaker emphasis on the
indwelling Christ,
"Orthodox" or "Gurneyite" Friends
wanted to give more attention to some
doctrines of historic Christianity which they felt had
been neglected.
they wanted to promote systematic Bible study and
introduce active
evangelistic methods which would alter the form of Quaker
worship as
then practiced.
The "Hicksite" and "Wilburite" Friends, while
differing from each other in doctrinal outlook, both kept
the
traditional form of Quaker worship, resisting such
innovations as hymn
singing and pastoral leadership.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 31
Evangelistic Methods
As westward
migration continued on across the continent, the
greatest expansion and numerical growth occurred among
Friends who
followed the "Orthodox" or
"Gurneyite" path, using active evangelistic
methods and gradually developing a "programmed"
style of worship with
pastoral leadership.
Meeting to which it belongs are of "Orthodox"
or "Gurneyite" origin.
We recognize the
ministries of witnessing, preaching, teaching,
Christian service, and fellowship groups as divinely
approved methods
for carrying the Christian message wherever the way
opens.
Evangelistic efforts of various kinds are acceptable and
may be found
helpful if adapted to the needs of the Meetings which use
them.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 31-32
Pastoral Leadership
Friends have
no ordained clergy. There are no
ceremonial rites or
sacraments to be administered by a special
priesthood. Even in the
"programmed" meeting for worship, vocal
ministry is considered to be a
shared responsibility.
Early Friends, reacting to their perceptions of
the clergy in seventeenth century
against the training of "hireling ministers". Though the custom of
"recording" persons who displayed a gift for
vocal ministry began early
in Quaker history, it was not until late in the
nineteenth century that
some Friends Meetings began to provide means to free
persons for
pastoral service.
As more meetings felt a need for trained and steady
leadership, the practice spread. The feelings against "hireling
ministry" gradually diminished, and meetings with
paid pastoral
leadership came to be the prevailing pattern in many
Yearly Meetings of
Friends.
"The
equipping ministry" (see Ephesians
often used to describe the role of the Friends pastor,
who must
exercise his leadership in harmony with the conviction
that ministry is
a function to be shared by all the members. The founding of the
Earlham School of Religion in 1960 gave to friends for
the first time
in their history a graduate school of their own where men
and women
could prepare themselves for this kind of leadership.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 32
Need of
Though
periods of intensive evangelistic efforts may be
spiritually beneficial, the work of deeping and enriching
the religious
life of the Meeting should be carried on
continually. The most stable
and healthful conditions usually result from constant and
steady
building. Regular
attendance at worship and the fullest possible
participation in the work of the Meeting should be
encouraged, not only
for the growth of each individual member but for the health
of the
Meeting. The
relationship of children with the Meeting through junior
membership provides a great opportunity for special work
in preparing
them for adult membership. Friends should remember the importance of
reaching out to people outside the Meeting sharing their
message and
concerns, and whenever appropriate, inviting others to
join them.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 32-33
Missionary Outreach
The earliest
activities of the Society of Friends were
essentially missionary in character. These activities had important
and far-reaching results, but gradually the conviction
grew that such
brief and transient visits were not enough. Needs were recognized
which required services continuing for many years, or
even for the
lifetime of the workers.
This made necessary a greater financial
outlay and more systematic methods of securing support.
Beginning in
1866 with the establishment of a station in central
in Ramallah, near
American Friends has extended around the world. At first such work was
carried on by committees of concerned Friends, but later
it generally
became part of the organized activities of the various
Yearly Meetings.
Many of the missionary efforts both at home and abroad
are now
administered as a united effort by the Wider Ministries
Commission of
the Friends United Meeting.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 33
Intelligent Adaptation
Discerning
leaders in the mission field have become convinced that
the desired spiritual objectives cannot be achieved by a
reproduction
in other lands of the American culture and form of church
life.
Friends, therefore should not insist upon a particular
form of worship
but should encourage forms of expression and organization
that are in
accordance with the aptitudes and experiences of the
people among whom
they are working.
To implant Christ's principles of living should be
always the primary aim.
Life and Action
Evangelism and Extension
Page 33
A Universal
The love of
Christ constrains His followers to "go into all the
world". As
one acts in accordance with this motive, the spirit of
obedience grows and ripens into a fruitage of outgoing
love and
compassion for those who are in need of the gospel. Fresh revelations
of truth will come and new opportunities for service will
open as each
new generation seeks to understand and respond to the will
of God in
its own day.
Twentieth century Friends are challenged by these words
of George Fox, as were those to whom he addressed them in
1656:
"Let all
nations hear the word by sound or writing.
Spare no
place, spare not tongue or pen, but be obedient to the
Lord God and go
through the world and be valiant for the Truth upon
earth. . . . Be
patterns, be examples in all countries, places, islands,
nations,
wherever you come, that your carriage and life may preach
among all
sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk
cheerfully
over the world, answering that of God in every one."
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 33
Christian Education
The Christian
nurture of children and young people is an essential
goal for Friends.
A plan for religious education should be part of
every Meeting's program.
Though the focus may be on children, adult
members too should have opportunities to grow in
knowledge as well as
in grace.
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 34
Friends' First-Day Schools
American
Friends became interested in Bible Schools soon after
their origin in
Support of the First-Day or
opposed these schools on the ground that such organized
study of the
Bible was a departure from the Friends' position of
dependence on
spiritual guidance.
Nevertheless, Bible Schools were carried on in
scattered areas in the early part of the nineteenth
century, and
multiplied rapidly after 1830. Held first in homes, then in Friends'
schoolhouses, they later became an integral part of most
Meetings.
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 34
Present Day Need
In contrast to
earlier days when most Friends' children had their
week-day education in Friends' schools, the great
majority now attend
public schools.
The unity of the family life that formerly prevailed
is often broken up by the diversified interests and
responsibilities of
members of the household, thus rendering family worship
more difficult.
Many parents feel
poorly equipped for guiding the spiritual growth of
their children.
These changes in the atmosphere in which Friends'
children are reared make it especially urgent that the
Meeting should
have a good plan for religious education for both
children and adults.
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 34
Objectives and Content
Acquaintance
with the history and principles of Friends, with the
Bible, and with the history and teachings of Christianity
are among the
objectives of such a plan. A growing understanding and appreciation of
Jesus and commitment to follow him, an increasing sense
of the reality
of God in human experience, and a deepening respect for
the personality
of others should be among the developmental goals. Preparation for
worship and an introduction to the Quaker method of
arriving at group
decisions should be included. Those who will serve as teachers and
leaders in this work should earnestly prepare themselves.
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 34-35
Quakers and General Education
Although
certain that education alone "was not sufficient to fit a
man to be a minister of Christ", early Friends were
none the less
determined that the young people under their care should
not be
hindered in their development by lack of education. Far in advance of
his time, George Fox advised that schools be provided for
"girls and
young maidens" as well as for boys, for instruction
"in whatever things
were civil and useful in the creation". William Penn also held
advanced views on the importance of right methods and
aims in the
education of children.
Schools were opened in
only two years after Penn's grant, and a Friends' public
school was set
up in
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 35
School and Meeting
The democratic
structure of the Society of Friends has given
emphasis to the usefulness of intellectual training as an
aid to
spiritual development and effective Christian
service. Monthly Meeting
minutes and other records from the very beginning contain
many
expressions of concern that the education of the young
should be
promoted and safeguarded.
Schools and Meetings have constantly gone
hand in hand as expressions of Quakerism throughout the
world.
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 35
Institutions of Learning
With their
many elementary and secondary schools, Friends
pioneered in the development of educational opportunities
and standards
in this country.
Though not so numerous as they once were, Friends'
elementary and secondary schools, along with a number of
Friends'
colleges and the Earlham School of Religion, play an
important part in
carrying out Friends' objectives and developing
leadership for the
Society of Friends.
Meeting opportunities for a Quaker education. To maintain its Quaker
identity,
other Yearly Meetings for personnel, students and
financial support.
Life and Action
Friends and Education
Page 35-36
Aims of General Education
"The aim
of education is the full and harmonious development of
the resources of the human spirit. Human nature has
within it the
promise of divine growth; upon this we base our faith as
a religious
community. There
can, therefore, be no task nearer our hearts than to
help all our members towards the fulfillment of this
promise. Such
fulfillment means that body and mind alike bring all
their gifts to
fruition in the unity of the Spirit. Here is a clear call to educative
effort as a part of the very purpose of the Christian
religion. We
desire to testify in word and deed to the truth that
religion gathers
the whole of life into its domain. We believe that there are godlike
possibilities in every man. We must proclaim a Christian gospel of
education which in breadth and depth shall be worthy of
this faith. . .
. The intellect is
an integral part of man's spiritual equipment; and
its development brings with it a growth in personality
and an increased
power of facing difficult moral issues. The man whose mind is
many-sided has a special contribution to make to the
complex personal
and social problems of modern life." (
93, par. 10).
Life and Action
The Social Order
Page 36
Early Reforms
The abolition
of slavery, prison reform, the humane treatment of
the mentally ill and retarded, systematic relief for the
poor,
provisions for their employment and self-help, the
education of poor
children, the prevention of injurious employment of
children in
industry, and the use of fair and fixed prices for goods
and services
are some of the activities in which Friends pioneered in
times of much
indifference and even vigorous opposition. They established for
themselves new ethical standards and sought earnestly
that these be
applied to every victim of oppression or wrong.
Life and Action
The Social Order
Page 36-37
Concern for Justice
George Fox
felt a deep concern for justice in social and economic
relationships.
According to his conception the practical workings of
Christianity reached into every phase of human relations,
so that
whenever inequity or injustice was discovered, there was
a matter for
spiritual concern and remedial action. His intense and constructive
evangelism in the social and economic fields gave a
quality to early
Quakerism that has survived changing conditions from the
simple,
localized industrial and economic systems of his day to
the world-wide
complexities of modern times. The Quaker concerns for justice was
manifest in such well known Friends as Elizabeth Fry in
prison reform,
John Woolman, Anthony Benezet, Joseph Sturge, and John
Greenleaf
in the relief of the poor and unemployed and in promotion
of popular
education.
Life and Action
The Social Order
Page 37
Change Without Violence
The profound
changes wrought by the industrial revolution and the
effects of modern invention challenge Quakerism to adapt
its philosophy
to the new conditions and prove its applicability to
present day
problems. The
theory of violent coercion relies on the ability of one
group to impose its will upon another by mere
preponderance of physical
strength. The
yielding of the weak to the strong does not prove that
the right has been vindicated nor that opinions have altered.
The slower but
more effective process of education is a field in
which Friends are called to use the weight of enlightened
influence.
The mere enactment of good laws does not it itself
constitute reform;
just and fair administration is also necessary. Friends, among others,
are called to demonstrate that economic wrongs can be
righted and that
justice for oppressed minorities or for any
underprivileged group can
be secured without the use of violence.
Life and Action
The Social Order
Page 37-38
Ethical Obligations
The
development of a sensitive conscience concerning the existing
maladjustments, unfair practices, and positive evils of
our economic
system should be a vital concern to all Friends. As consumers all
should endeavor to control their purchases so as to
encourage healthful
living conditions and adequate wages. The producer is under an ethical
obligation to produce goods under sanitary conditions and
without
deception as to quality.
Upon employers rests the responsibility to
see that their employees receive adequate wages and
general treatment
that will not dwarf but rather develop their
personalities. Employees
should feel obligated to render loyal and efficient
service to their
employer and to exercise proper care in the use of tools
and machinery
and in handling of materials used or produced in their
work. As an
investor the individual should strive to avoid support of
enterprises
which promote social or economic injustice. The problem of
distribution in the world's economic order should be a
matter for
profound Christian concern. The availability of the necessities of
life to all people is highly important in the promotion
of the
political and economic stability of the world.
Life and Action
The Social Order
Page 38
Social Redemption
In every
social or business relationship Friends should seek
diligently and experiment actively to find ways of
bringing a social
order based on the Christian principles of justice, love,
and good
will. So keenly
did early Friends feel their responsibility as
individual members of society that, when the observed the
violation of
moral and religious principles, they assumed an attitude
of penitence
for society's sins.
A greater measure of such responsibility must be
felt by Christians of the present day if they are to be
effective
agents in carrying on the work of social redemption.
Life and Action
Friends and the State
Page 38
Under Authority
The first
authentic pronouncement of early Friends on their
relation to the state was made in the days of Oliver
Cromwell in the
form of an advice from a meeting of ministers and
elders. It urged
fellow members to accept public office, if they could
rightly do so, as
a means of serving their community. George Fox professed his loyalty
to Protector and King in turn, declaring, "Our
prayers are for them
that are in authority, that under them we may live a
godly life in
peace". In
those days of unsettlement and strife, friends utterly
disowned all plottings and
armed resistance against the government.
Life and Action
Friends and the State
Page 38
Limitations of Authority
Friends do not
see their governmental rulers as having unlimited
authority, but give their ultimate allegiance to
God. If occasion
arises when it is necessary to refuse obedience to unjust
laws, such
conscientious objection should not be entered into
lightly or hastily,
and should be made with love and forbearance toward those
who disagree,
and willingness to suffer the consequences. The conquest of evil is to
be effected only by the overpowering force of truth and
righteousness.
Friends' testimonies in support of these principles in
the days of
their persecution and their steadfast insistence on the
right of the
freedom of conscience, peaceable assembly, and worship
did much to gain
religious liberty for citizens of both
Life and Action
Friends and the State
Page 39
Crime and Punishment
Friends'
influence has been felt in the abrogation or modification
of harmful laws and customs in may fields. Government by spiritual
forces rather than by arbitrary compulsion and the
prevention of
criminal acts rather than their punishment are the
primary objectives
of Friends. Our
testimony against capital punishment is based on the
belief that it is a violation of the sacredness of human
life, that it
disregards the fundamental capacity of all persons to
respond to right
influences, and that it gives no opportunity to reform
the offender.
Every since the
days of Elizabeth Fry, Friends have been active in
prison reform.
Today many Friends are involved in the ministry of
prisoner visitation, education, and the overall
improvement of prison
life. By acting on
this concern, Friends feel that they can offer the
prisoner hope for a changed life, and reduce the
likelihood of repeat
offenders.
Life and Action
Friends and the State
Page 39
Highest Allegiance
Friends regard
the state as a social instrument to be used for the
cooperative promotion of the common welfare. The source of its
authority and the most reliable guide in its
administration should be
the inward convictions of right possessed by its
citizens. "Our highest
allegiance as Christians is not to the state but to the
But this does not
mean that we have not duties, as Christians, toward
the state and the nation to which we belong, or that our
attitude
toward the state should be a negative one, or one of
indifference."
(London Yearly Meeting, 1925). Good government depends on observance
of the laws of God by those in authority. It behooves all Friends to
fit themselves for efficient public services and to be
faithful to
their performance of duty as they are gifted and guided
by the
inspiration of God.
Life and Action
Page 39-40
Racial Equity
SUBTOPIC: Justice in Interracial Relations
The views of
Friends on justice in interracial relations are based
upon their conception of the light within as an endowment
of all
mankind. This
belief makes it impossible for Friends to draw lines of
distinction in capacity or privilege between races or
nations. George
Fox, in an epistle to Friends in America wrote, "Let
you light shine
among the Indians, the blacks and the white, that ye may
answer the
truth in them, and bring them to the standard and ensign
that God hath
set up, Christ Jesus." When Fox visited Barbados he was deeply moved
by the sinfulness and cruelty of slavery.
Life and Action
Page 40
Woolman and Slavery
SUBTOPIC: Justice in Interracial Relations
In 1688,
Germantown Monthly Meeting in Pennsylvania made what is
believed to be the first official protest of any
religious body against
slavery. Although
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting acknowledged the protest
by a minute that a paper had been "presented by some
German Friends,
Concerning the Lawfulness and Unlawfulness of Buying and
Keeping of
Negros", their position on
the question was far from clear and it was
not until 1758 that the Yearly Meeting was ready to call
on Friends
everywhere to free their slaves. There had always been those who had
testified against the practice, and much effective work
had been done
in the preceding decades, notably by John Woolman. His
faithfully-borne testimony to the necessity of making
conduct conform
to profession was so fruitful (there was) a message that
Friends were
generally free of slaveholding by 1780. Their efforts were then
devoted to the convincing of society in general of the
iniquity of
slavery.
Life and Action
Page 40
The Black Race
SUBTOPIC: Justice in Interracial Relations
Preceding the
Civil war the homes of many Quakers became stations
for the "Underground Railroad" by which
thousands of slaves gained their
freedom. After the
Emancipation Proclamation, Friends became very
active in aiding Blacks to establish themselves as free
citizens in the
full enjoyment of their rights. Since the Civil War, various Yearly
Meetings have founded schools and orphan's homes for
Black children,
and many individual Friends, in belief that there should
be no
distinction of privilege on the basis of color, have
cooperated with
numerous movements for the promotion of the social and
economic welfare
of Blacks.
Life and Action
Page 40-41
The American Indians
SUBTOPIC: Justice in Interracial Relations
The Indians
have at times been treated most unjustly and cruelly,
both officially and unofficially. The record of Friends' relations
with the Indians has been one of continuing good will
from the time of
William Penn.
During the later eighteenth and early nineteenth
centuries a number of missions and schools were
maintained among the
Indian tribes, notably by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
among the
Shawnees first in western Ohio and later in Indian
Territory when they
were moved by the Government.
In 1869
missionary work among the Indians were placed under the
care of the Associated Executive Committee of Friends on
Indian
Affairs, and has been carried on principally among the
tribes of
Oklahoma. In
recent years the American Friends Service Committee has
monitored Indian trials and worked with Indians in large
urban areas as
well as on reservations.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation
has taken an active interest in legislation affecting
Indians.
Life and Action
Page 41
Of One Blood
SUBTOPIC: Justice in Interracial Relations
The methods by
which justice for all races can be secured are
primarily spiritual.
Their success will be measured by the depth of
the divine concern that is the spring of all effective
effort. Race
prejudice or a feeling of racial superiority tends to
invalidate all
attempts to secure justice in interracial relations. It is the
concern of Friends that Indians, Spanish speaking,
Blacks, Orientals,
and every victim
of prejudice or oppression may share with most
favored the heritage
of justice, freedom, and brotherly love which is
their equal right.
For God "hath made of one blood all nations of men
for to dwell on all the face of the earth." (Acts
believe that any racial discrimination is essentially a
violation of
God's law of love, whether by legal enactment or by
inequitable
practices which interfere with democratic liberties or
cultural or
economic development.
To dwell together in friendly relations on a
basis of mutual respect, courtesy, and understanding
works toward the
fulfillment of this law of love.
Life and Action
Page 41-42
Penn and Conciliation
SUBTOPIC: Justice in International Relations
Throughout
their history Friends have cherished the testimony that
justice in international affairs, as in every other
sphere of human
life, can be achieved only by peaceful methods. The use of military
force leaves the causes of disputes unsettled and often
aggravated; the
participants themselves become embittered and assume an
attitude of
hatred that is likely to precipitate another war. William Penn in 1693
drew up a plan for the peace of
permanent tribunal for the settlement of international
differences.
From that time the testimony of Friends has been in favor
of mediation,
conciliation, and arbitration instead of war which has
been condemned
by them as one of the greatest violations of the
sacredness of human
personality and as an absolute contradiction of the
message and spirit
of Christ.
Life and Action
Page 42
War Renounced
SUBTOPIC: Justice in International Relations
Statements
against war have been issued by Friends during
practically every military crisis since the earliest days
of history.
In 1660 the following declaration was made to Charles II
by George Fox
and others: "We utterly deny all outward wars and
strife, and fighting
with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense
whatever. . . .
And we certainly know and testify to the whole world that
the Spirit of
Christ, which leads us unto all truth, will never move us
to fight and
war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the
kingdom of
Christ nor the kingdoms of this world." In 1805,
thus advised in an epistle: "Guard against placing
your dependence on
fleets and armies; be peaceful yourselves in words and
actions, and
pray to the father of the universe that He would breathe
the spirit of
reconciliation into the hearts of His erring and
contending creatures."
The spirit of this
testimony has been maintained through the years,
and Friends groups such as Friends United Meeting have
approved minutes
denouncing war, and sent appeals for peace to world
leaders.
Life and Action
Page 42-43
Conscience and Responsibility
SUBTOPIC: Justice in International Relations
Friends hold
that it is inconsistent with the teachings and
example of Jesus to participate in war or preparation for
war. They
have sought, and in recent years have generally been
granted exemption
on grounds of conscience and religious conviction. They recognize,
however, that a consistent policy of non-violence must
include a
willingness to face personal risk in administering relief
to all
victims of the tragedy of war and in performing other
non-military
services. Although
Friends teach compliance with the law, there have
been and continue to be some members of their Society
that cannot
conscientiously register with the draft. These Friends feel that they
must make a witness against the total war system, and
therefore choose
prison or exile instead of alternative service. Still other Friends
choose to join the armed forces, feeling that they cannot
conscientiously refuse military service or choose alternative
service.
The Society of Friends holds all of its members in
prayerful concern,
feeling that this decision is up to the individual
conscience.
Although they urge and teach the position of
conscientious objection,
they hold in their loving concern those who cannot comply
with this
teaching. Friends
who are not subject to military service must also
search their lives for the seeds of war and seek to avoid
practices
that contribute, however subtly, to the war system.
Life and Action
Page 43
Foundations for Peace
SUBTOPIC: Justice in International Relations
Friends
emphasize the fact that the most effective way to end war
is to remove its causes, such as misunderstanding, the
desire for
revenge, the spirit of aggression, and economic, racial,
and territorial
rivalries. This
calls for the utmost endeavor to demonstrate the
working power of fair dealing, universal equity,
friendliness, and
sympathy. The
intricate network of modern life demands that Friends
use every legitimate means to influence the attitudes of
their
government towards other nations, that all may conform to
the highest
standards of justice and good will as taught by
Jesus. They should
equip themselves with a knowledge of the needs and
opportunities of
whatever ministries of Christian friendship exist in the
world-family
of nations. They
should cultivate the personal skills and abilities
that will enable them to become interpreters of the
Christian way of
life which is a sure foundation for enduring peace.
Life and Action
Page 43-44
War Relief
Subtopic: Justice in International Relations
The work in
American Friends Service Committee during and after the
World War of
1914-18 may be cited as one example of the practical
application of
Friends' philosophy to international affairs. This work included the
reconstruction of devastated areas and the feeding of
children and
other victims in
for another example, in an effort to bind the wounds of
those directly
affected, the American Friends Service Committee set up a
hospital in
In keeping with the Friends' tradition of helping all
victims of war,
some members sailed to
civilian population injured as a result of American
aerial bombardment.
In an effort to
promote friendly understanding and good will around
the world, American Friends, through the American Friends
Service
Committee, in cooperation with Friends of London and
Dublin Yearly
Meetings, have established centers of religious
fellowship,
international comity, and reconciliation in important
cities of Europe
and Asia.
Life and Action
Page 44
Marriage
SUBTOPIC: Testimonies on Family and Personal Life
Marriage, if
rightly conceived and faithfully maintained, is
regarded by Friends as the most sacred of all social
arrangements. The
family was Jesus' favorite illustration of the nature of
the Kingdom of
Heaven. He honored
and blessed marriage as the truest example of
divine-human cooperation in perfecting a social structure
"for the help
and continuance of the human family"(1)and "for
the mutual assistance
and comfort of both sexes that they may be help-mates to
each other in
things temporal and spiritual." Marriage therefore,
"should be entered
upon discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of the
Lord." It can never be
truly accomplished by prescribed forms of the church,
legal sanctions,
or ministerial pronouncements, but should be consummated
as an inward,
voluntary, spiritual union of hearts, in the free
initiative of mutual
choice and outwardly expressed by the contracting
parties. Sanctions
of church and state are the social acknowledgements of
the true
marriage into which those enter "whom God has joined
together," and
are, therefore, to be held in high regard and to be
observed with
fidelity.
1 (Richmond Declaration of Faith, p.129)
Life and Action
Page 45
Family Life
SUBTOPIC: Testimonies on Family and Personal Life
The faithful
fulfillment of the marriage covenant is essential to
the welfare of the family, the proper nurture of
children, and the
strength of the social structure. Every effort should be made in the
spirit of mutual forbearance and forgiveness to reconcile
all
differences in family life. Failure to practice mutual
consideration
and to search for divine guidance in all of the interests
and problems
of family life often destroys the cohesive power of love,
causes the
disruption of the home, and, in many cases leads to
divorce. Friends
recognize that in some situations of troubled marriage,
divorce is
chosen as the least destructive alternative. Friends who have been
involved in divorce should make serious efforts to solve
the problems
that contributed to the break up of the marriage. Meetings should
provide ministry to persons involved in divorce to help
minimize the
destructive force of the fierce emotions which are present.
Homes should
be testimonials to the grace of God in human
relationships and, if established under the care of the
Meeting and
continued in warm Christian fellowship, have great
assurance of
permanence and success.
Life and Action
Recreation and Amusements
Page 45-46
Health and Recreation
Recreation and
well chosen physical activities are important in
the maintenance of physical and spiritual health, but the
question of
the type of activity to be pursued must be answered by
each individual
in line with accepted Christian principles and
standards. The problem
of proper recreation and amusements resolves itself in
the question:
Does this or that activity tend to promote the abundant
life of which
Jesus spoke? Some
classes of amusement are unquestionably unwholesome
and degrading; self-respect, as well as high spiritual
motives, should
rule them out.
Border line forms may raise doubts, and if such doubts
cannot be intelligently and conscientiously resolved,
these amusements
should also be avoided.
The Meeting
and community should cooperate in furnishing wholesome
and constructive recreation which would provide for
social and mental
as well as physical needs. Friends should be active among those who
insist upon high standards of quality and moral influence
in all forms
of entertainment.
The natural desires of youth for beauty, activity;
social fellowship, and romance must be recognized with
wisdom and
understanding, and sympathetically guided into wholesome
Christian
living.
Life and Action
Healthful Living
Page 46
Alcohol and Drugs
The testimony
of Friends regarding the use of alcohol is based on
the belief that the human body is the temple of the Lord
and that to
mar it is to dishonor Him. Any pleasurable or exhilarating effects
produced by alcohol or drugs are but temporary and tend
to react
injuriously on both mind and body. Scientific research and
experimentation show that alcoholic beverages tend to
dull the ethical
sense, impair judgment, effect the eyesight, and slow up
muscular
control and coordination.
On the highways, drivers in this condition,
often cause accidents and/or loss of life. Therefore, each has need to
be aware of one's social responsibility and that by
example one
influences others.
Friends recognize that social drinking is not a
sound basis for friendship. Friends recommend total abstinence from
alcoholic beverages and from miss-use of drugs.
Life and Action
Healthful Living
Page 46
Tobacco
Friends have
consistently borne testimony against the use of
tobacco as a wasteful and harmful self-indulgence which
tends generally
to make the constant user indifferent to the discomfort
thrust upon
others.
Discoveries of the probable contribution to cancer from the
use of cigarettes increase our concern. Our testimony appropriately
applies to the cultivation, manufacture, and sale of
tobacco.
Life and Action
Health Practices
Page 46
Health Practices
The belief
that the human body is the temple of the Lord further
leads to the belief that all poor health practices should
be deplored.
Friends encourage all to practice good nutrition and to
follow the best
practices known to them to preserve their health be it
through
preventative medicine or curative medicine prescribed by
the
individual's physician.
Life and Action
Gambling and Lotteries
Page 47
Something for Nothing
Friends are
strongly urged to abstain completely from seeking
monetary gain or personal pleasure or entertainment
through any form of
gambling methods or devices. To receive value when no value is given,
results in wrong attitudes towards property and is
destructive of
character. The
precarious gains of winner are at the cost of many
losers. The
current practice of states to legalize lotteries for the
purpose of financing government should be deplored and
protested.
Life and Action
Judicial Oaths
Page 47
Swear Not At All
The word of
Jesus, " Swear not at all," emphasizes the importance
of honesty in speech.
Friends' position in regard to the taking of the
judicial oath is not merely a negation of a procedure
which they
believe to be wrong, but it is positive evidence of an
ideal but which
they endeavor to regulate their lives. They base their attitude upon
the principle that the truth is to be spoken at all
times. When oath
is to be taken before a judge or in court, instead of
taking the legal
oath, Friends simply affirm that they will speak the
truth. Most States
now have provisions by law whereby persons are permitted
to make the
affirmation rather than take the oath.
Life and Action
Page 47
Freedom of Action
SUBTOPIC: Secret and/or Discriminatory Organizations
The rights of
individuals to freedom of action, within proper
bounds, must be maintained, but it is the duty of the
Meetings to warn
its members against whatever may interfere with the
development of
Christian character.
Although such organizations may have benevolent
and useful provisions for their members, Friends are
cautioned against
membership in any organization which will directly or
indirectly
diminish sympathy with any portion of mankind or tend to
take the place
of the
activity.
The Queries
Introductory Statement
Page 49
Introductory Statement
The purpose of
the Queries is to direct attention to the true
source of spiritual strength, to promote individual
faithfulness to
Christ, and to keep the society in a healthy
condition. They are of
value in appraising the state of society and for
self-evaluation of the
consistency of one's Christian life. The Queries should be read
frequently in private devotions and at specified
intervals both in
Monthly and in Quarterly Meetings.
The Queries
General Queries
Page 49
Spiritual Growth
1. Do you strive for the constant realization of God's
presence in
your life?
Are you sensitive and obedient to the leading of the Holy
Spirit?
Do you attempt to follow the teachings and example of
Jesus?
Do you engage in prayerful study of the Bible and other
devotional
literature?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 49
Meetings for Worship and Business
2. Are all meetings for worship and for business duly
held and are you
regular and punctual in attending them?
Do you come with heart and mind prepared for communion
with God and
fellowship with one another?
Do you individually assume your rightful share in the
responsibility of
the work and worship of the Meeting?
Are your meetings for business times of spiritual concern
and prayerful
search for the way of truth?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 49-50
Christian Fellowship
3. Do you love one another as becomes the followers of
Christ?
Are you careful of the reputation of others?
When differences arise, do you make earnest effort to end
them
speedily?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 50
Home and Family
4. Do you practice the daily reading of the Scriptures in
your families,
giving time for reverent meditation?
Do you make your home a place of hospitality,
friendliness, peace, and
Christian fellowship?
Do you promote the moral and spiritual life of your
children through
careful supervision of their education, recreation, and
friendships?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 50
Youth and Meeting
5. Do you seek the spiritual development and Christian
commitment of
young people?
Do you endeavor to instruct them in the principles and
practices of
Friends?
Do you strive to create a community life that will
promote their mental
and physical well-being?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 50
Standards of Life
6. Believing your body to be a temple of God, are you
concerned to
attain a high level of physical and mental health?
To this end, is your life an example of temperance in all
things?
Do you avoid and discourage the use and handling of tobacco,
intoxicants and alcoholic beverages, and the misuse of
drugs?
Do you observe simplicity and moderation in your manner
of living, and
in your consumption of world resources?
Do you choose such recreations as are wholesome and
consistent with
Christian character?
Are you careful in your choice of ways to use your money,
time and
energy?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 50
Business Responsibility
7. Do you avoid such undue expansion of your business
responsibilities
as to endanger your personal integrity?
Are you truthful and honest in your business
transactions, punctual in
fulfilling your promises, and prompt in the payment of
your debts?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 50
Missionary Enterprise
8. Do you make diligent effort to acquaint yourself and
those under
your care with the spiritual needs of the world?
Do you support by prayer and systematic giving those who
are laboring
to extend Christ's kingdom?
Do you use your spiritual gifts in serving humanity as
God grants you
light to see such service?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 50-51
Peace
9. Do you consistently practice the Christian principles
of love and
good will toward all men?
Do you work actively for peace and the removal of the
causes of war?
Do you observe the testimony of Friends against military
training and
service?
Do you endeavor to make clear to all whom you can
influence, that war
is inconsistent with the spirit and teachings of Jesus?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 51
Human Relations
10. Does your attitude and behavior toward people of
other races
indicate your belief in their right to equal opportunity?
Do you believe in the spiritual capacity of all persons
and do you
recognize their equality in the sight of God?
Are you aware of your responsibility as a Christian to
help eliminate
prejudice and inequality of treatment?
The Queries
General Queries
Page 51
Social Conscience
11. Are you concerned that our economic system shall so
function as to
sustain and enrich the life of all?
Are you giving positive service to society in the
promotion of peaceful
methods of adjustment in all cases of social and
industrial conflict?
Do you as workers, employers, producers, consumers, and
investors
endeavor to cultivate good will and mutual understanding
in your
economic relationships?
Do you intelligently exercise all of your constitutional
privileges and
thus seek to promote Christian influence locally,
nationally, and
internationally?
The Queries
Ministry and Counsel
Page 51
Responsibilities of Membership
1. Do you as Ministry and Counsel recognize your
responsibility in
setting an example of faithfulness and loyalty to the
meetings for
worship and business?
Do you accept appointment to this group as a definite
response to the
"high calling of God in Christ Jesus?"
(Philippians 3:14)
Are you concerned that the needs of all are ministered to
in your
Meetings, whether by silent worship, inspirational
speaking, or
reverent music?
The Queries
Ministry and Counsel
Page 51
Relations with Other Members
2. Are you aware of the necessity of harmonious relations
with your
fellow members as a basic for the most effective service
to the
Meeting?
Do you as leaders in the Meeting strive to relate persons
to Christ and
to strengthen the faith and loyalty of fellow Christians?
The Queries
Ministry and Counsel
Page 52
Spiritual Gifts
3. Do you endeavor to recognize and develop your special
talents and
abilities for service in the meeting and do you pray for
divine
guidance in their use?
Do you stimulate the discovery and cultivation of the
spiritual gifts
of members of your Meeting?
Are you sufficiently thoughtful for the spiritual
awakening of youth?
Do you concern yourself in helping them develop,
consecrate and exercise
their various talents in the Meeting and the Community?
Are you always ready to encourage and advise those who
engage in the
vocal ministry or in other Christian work?
The Queries
Ministry and Counsel
Page 52
Personal Life and Conduct
4. Do you provide in your schedule of activities an
opportunity for
daily devotions?
Do you prayerfully seek the leading of the Holy Spirit in
the
interpretations of spiritual truth?
Does your personal conduct reflect the true dignity of
Christian
character as set forth in the Scriptures?
Do you always strive so to live that you will have a
"conscience void
of offence toward God and man?" (Acts 24:16).
Form of Government
Ideals in Organization
Page 53
The Church as a Society
The Christian
group whose faith and activities have been described
in Part I is know historically as the Society of Friends
and more
commonly as Quakers.
The name,
local Meetings and by certain Yearly Meetings. The choice by early
Friends of the term Society, as a name for the group
gives a clear
indication of their attitude toward organization. The word meant to
them a fellowship, a vitally spiritual body held together
by spiritual
forces freshly operating through each individual, without
creed,
ritual, or any sacramental administration. The Society of Friends was
to be a democratic brotherhood in which there would be
but one Master
and no intermediary affecting any individual's
relationship to God.
Form of Government
Ideals in Organization
Page 53-54
Equal Rights
Friends recognize the fact that God has
endowed each person with
gifts or capacities which he/she is to develop and
exercise to the
extent of their ability.
Each member has duties and responsibilities
varying in character according to his/her talents and the
faithfulness
with which each has cultivated them. All have equal rights and
privileges in the consideration of the affairs of the
body and in
reaching conclusions as to courses of action. No appointments made for
a particular service confer upon the appointed person or
group any
degree of arbitrary or final authority. Friends recognize no
distinction in the rights, privileges or responsibilities
of members
because of sex.
Form of Government
Ideals in Organization
Page 54
Waiting for Guidance
The practice
of holding meetings for business following a period
of worship opens the way for a continuance of the state
of religious
fellowship experienced during such a period. The right conduct of
these meetings, even in matters of routine, is important
to the
spiritual life of all; they are a part of the organized
undertaking to
promote the
regarded as service for God. The same reverent waiting that operates
in the meeting for worship is also helpful in seeking
divine guidance
and unity of action in the transaction of business.
Form of Government
Ideals in Organization
Page54
Friendly Method
It is the
practice of Friends to give unhurried and sympathetic
consideration to all proposals and expressions of
opinion. They
endeavor to respect an earnest and sincere minority and,
if it seems
necessary, may postpone action until they have secured
more light on
the question at issue and have attained a greater degree
of unanimity.
After due consideration has been given to all points of
view, it is the
duty of the clerk of the Meeting to weigh carefully the
various
expressions and to state what he/she believes to be the
will of the
Meeting.
Form of Government
Ideals in Organization
Page 54
Tenure of Office
In keeping
with the Quaker ideals of service and the distribution
of responsibility, the Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly
Meetings should
not unduly prolong the services of officers and committee
members nor
give to one person many appointments. In following this policy of
rotation in office, Friends can develop the talents of a
wider range of
members. Where
numbers permit, appointment and reappointment for one,
two, and three-year cycles should not extend the tenure
of office
beyond a maximum of six consecutive years. A member may quite properly
be reappointed to a given service after a term out of
office.
Form of Government
The Meeting
Page 54-55
At Worship
The meeting is
composed of resident and nonresident members and
consists of the meeting for worship and the meeting for
business,
including all of the activities and organizations
connected therewith.
The meeting for worship is a fellowship of all those who
find it
spiritually helpful to be associated in worship and
service and is a
united expression of the human longing for vital
religious experience.
Form of Government
The Meeting
Page 55
At Business
The
development of these processes of spiritual enrichment
involves certain organizational factors such as the
activities of
officers and committees, matters of finance, group
concerns, and the
determination of attitudes and policies on subjects of
common or public
interest. For the
care of such matters a meeting for business
consisting of the whole membership, known as the Monthly
Meeting,
convenes each month.
If two or more congregations are associated in
one Monthly Meeting, each congregation may have a local
or preparative
business meeting, subordinate to the Monthly meeting and
limited it its
authority to purely local matters. For the care of spiritual interests
and the promotion of consistent conduct among the members
each Monthly
Meeting selects elders who, together with the ministers,
are
specifically charged with these responsibilities in the
Meeting on
Ministry and Counsel.
Form of Government
The Meeting
Page 55
At Study
The Meeting
shall have concern for the Christian nurture of its
members and attenders and shall
provide the means of study necessary in
every area of concern.
Form of Government
Basis of Membership
Page 55
Member
Friends
receive into membership those whose faith in Christ as a
personal Savior is manifest in their lives and who are in
unity with
the teachings of Christian truth as held by Friends.
Form of Government
Basis of Membership
Page 55
Junior Member
The children
of parents who are both members are customarily
enrolled at birth as Junior Members; other children may
be enrolled
under special provisions.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 55-56
Application
Reception by Application
Application for membership should be made in writing to
the Monthly
Meeting through the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel. Special
application forms may be provided by the Monthly Meeting,
if desired.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 56
Preparation
I shall be the
duty of the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel to
instruct and guide applicants for membership in their
search for truth,
to ascertain whether they make a sincere profession of
faith in Christ
and accept the principles of Christianity as held by
Friends, and
whether they will share in the financial obligations of
the Meeting.
It shall advise the applicant that regularity in
attendance and
faithfulness in service are also obligations of
membership. After
hearing the report of the judgment of the Meeting on
Ministry and
Counsel, the Monthly meeting shall act upon the
application for
membership.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 56
Welcome
The clerk
shall then inform the applicant of the action of the
Monthly Meeting.
If it has been favorable, a committee may be
appointed to welcome him/her into membership. Announcement of his/her
reception may be made at a regular meeting for worship
that all members
may have an opportunity to extend a welcome.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 56
Minor Children
Parents and
guardians when applying for membership, or when
transferring from other denominations, may make application
for the
enrollment of minor children as Junior Members. Where but one parent
is a member, the children may be enrolled as Junior
Members upon the
request of that parent and the consent of the other. Such request
shall be made to the meeting on Ministry and
Counsel. Other children
may be received in Junior Membership upon the
recommendation of that
body.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 56-57
Junior Member to Member
Children
enrolled as Junior Members shall be transferred to
membership when they shall have given satisfactory
evidence of faith in
Jesus Christ, have accepted the principles of Christian
truth as held
by Friends, and have requested transfer to
membership. The enrollment
of children as Junior Members is an expression of the
conviction that
children in this fellowship rightfully possess a precious
heritage. As
the children mature, the Meeting has the important
responsibility of
encouraging their spiritual growth and preparing them for
full
membership.
Friends should
note that transfer from the status of Junior Member
to Member is not an automatic one, but is made by the
action of the
Monthly Meeting upon the conditions listed above. The continuance of
mature men and women as Junior Members is an indication
of the failure
or neglect of the Meeting in one of its most important
functions.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 57
Resident Members
Resident
members are those members of a Meeting whose residence is
of geographical nearness to the Meetinghouse to allow
them to be
present regularly for participation in the worship,
business, work and
fellowship of the Meeting.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 57
Non-Resident Members
Non-resident
members are those members of a Meeting whose
residence is beyond the Meeting's geographical limits or
vicinity, such
that the distance from the Meetinghouse makes impossible
their regular
participation in the worship, business, work and
fellowship of the
Meeting.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 57
Affiliates
Monthly
Meetings may, at their discretion, accept as Affiliates,
students and other person residing temporarily within
their limits.
Such affiliation constitutes a sojourning fellowship, and
is not to be
included in statistical reports. While such persons may be granted the
standing of Affiliates during their sojourning
relationship within a
Meeting, they are not in the same status as members. They are not
considered members of the Quarterly Meeting nor of the
Yearly Meeting,
nor have they the right to participate in the business of
these bodies
nor in Monthly Meeting business matters relating to these
superior
Meetings. The
affiliations automatically ceases when the Affiliates
leaves the limits of the Meeting.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 57-58
Transfer
Reception and Transfer by Certificate of Letter
Members
removing to the limits of another Monthly Meeting should
request the transfer of their membership to that Meeting. At the
discretion of the Monthly Meeting, certificates shall be
issued for
such members if requested; or in default of such request,
when the
monthly meetings deems it best to do so. Such certificates shall be
accepted by the Monthly Meeting to which they are
addressed, unless
sufficient reason shall appear to the contrary. In every case the
Monthly Meeting receiving a certificate shall inform the
Meeting which
issued it, of the action taken thereon. A certificate of membership
shall be issued only to a Monthly Meeting and shall be
sent to the
clerk thereof.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 58
Joining Other Bodies
If a member in
good standing wishes to unite with some other
denomination, the Monthly Meeting may grant a letter of
recommendation.
Upon official
acknowledgement of its receipt, his/her membership with
Friends shall cease.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 58
Church Letters
When an
applicant for membership brings a letter of recommendation
from another denomination, the Monthly Meeting may
exercise its
judgment in regard to receiving him/her on this
recommendation. All
certificates and letters should first be presented to the
Meeting on
Ministry and Counsel.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 58
Records
The acceptance
and issuance of all certificates and letters shall
be recorded in the minutes of the Monthly Meeting, and
the list of
members shall be changed accordingly. Removal certificates for
recorded ministers shall include a statement to the
effect that they
are recorded ministers.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 58
Resignation
Discontinuance of Membership
Resignation of
membership shall be made to the Monthly Meeting in
writing. The
Monthly Meeting may exercise its discretion in accepting
a resignation.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 58
Forfeiture
When any
member shall have united with another denomination
without having requested a letter of recommendation, the
Monthly
Meeting, upon receipt of such information, shall remove
the name from
its list of members and inform the member of its action.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 58-59
Discontinuance
A member
removing beyond the limits of the Monthly Meeting should
correspond with the Meeting and contribute to its
support. Monthly
Meetings should correspond with absent members. If no information has
been, or can be, received from a member for a period of
three years,
the Monthly Meeting, at its discretion, may remove
his/her name from
its list of members.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 59
Dismissal
When any
member habitually neglects attendance at Meetings, fails
to contribute to its support, and is generally inactive
in the work of
Friends, the Monthly Meeting, after due consideration,
may remove
his/her name from its list of members.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 59
Junior Members Discontinued
If a Junior
Member, after reaching mature years, has shown no
interest in becoming a member, he/she may, upon
recommendation of the
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel, be dropped from the
records by the
Monthly Meeting.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 59
Disownment
Dealing with Offenders
All formal
complaints against a member shall be introduced to the
Monthly Meeting by the Meeting on Ministry and
Counsel. The Monthly
Meeting shall appoint a committee to confer with the
offender. It
shall, in a spirit of love and tenderness, endeavor to
lead the member
to a state of mind and heart that will result in restored
fellowship
with the Meeting.
If the exercise of due care and forbearance shall be
of no avail, the Meeting shall execute a minute of
disownment and
furnish the offender with a copy of the same. The membership records
shall be corrected accordingly.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 59
Review Committee
When an
offender is dissatisfied with the decision of the Monthly
Meeting, he/she may, within two months, file an appeal
with that body
to the Quarterly Meeting for a review of the case. If the Quarterly
Meeting upholds the decision of the Monthly Meeting, the
offender may
appeal to the Yearly Meeting through the Quarterly Meeting. The
decision of the Yearly Meeting shall be final.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 59
Hearings
When a case is
reviewed before a superior Meeting, a committee of
three shall be appointed to represent the Meeting from
which the appeal
is made.
Form of Government
Rules of Membership
Page 60
Guidelines for Continuing Membership
In order that
membership may continue to be a vital experience,
each individual is encouraged to carry on a continual
process of
re-examination of his/her faith.
The historic
"Queries" (questions for spiritual examination) have
served this purpose in the past and it is recommended
that they
continue to be the guidelines by which one determines the
basis for
continuing membership in the Society of Friends.
Elders of the
Meeting shall counsel with persons desiring
membership and shall deal lovingly and firmly with
Friends whose life
and witness may hinder the fellowship of the Meeting.
Membership
should be regarded as a life-long matter only for those
who maintain close ties with the local meeting and share
in its
ministry, outreach and support.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 61
Duties and Responsibilities
A Monthly
Meeting is a regular organization of one or more
congregations and consists of all persons who are
recorded upon its
list of members.
It is charged with the administration of the Meeting
and has authority to receive, transfer and dismiss
members; to deal
with offenders; to grant appeals; to consider and act
upon all
questions affecting the membership; to hold and
administer real estate
and other property for the use of the Meeting; and to
carry out
programs for the improvement of the spiritual interest of
the Meeting.
Each member has a responsibility to participate in the
business and
service of the Meeting.
The Monthly Meeting should convene at a
regularly appointed time preferably monthly, for the
transaction of
business. A
regular session may be adjourned, to be reconvened at an
appointed time to consider matters not attended to at the
regular
session.
Special Sessions
Special
meetings of the Monthly Meeting may be called by either
the clerk or the assistant clerk upon the request of
three members.
Notice shall be given at a regular meeting of the
congregation at least
seven days prior to the date of holding the special
meeting; it shall
name the business to be considered and the persons
calling for the
special meeting.
No business may be considered at a special meeting
other than the business for which it was called.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 61
Organization
A Monthly Meeting is duly organized for the transaction of business when it has been established by a superior Meeting and has appointed a clerk or clerks to present its business and record its action.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 61-62
Appointment of Officers
It is
recommended that persons appointed as officers or to
standing boards/committees be duly recorded members of
the Meeting. A
Monthly Meeting shall appoint Clerks as needed, such
as: Presiding,
Recording, etc.
It shall be
the duty of the Presiding Clerks to see that the
business is properly presented to the Meeting for its
consideration, to
announce decisions when made, to make certain that all
actions are
properly recorded to sign documents on behalf of the
Monthly Meeting.
The Recording Clerk shall keep an accurate set of minutes showing all
matters brought to the attention of the Meeting and the
action taken.
Theses minutes shall be kept in permanent form in a
Minute Book. They
will become the permanent record of the Meeting when they
have been
approved and signed by the Clerks and properly dated.
The
Statistical Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all
matters pertaining to the membership, such as births,
marriages and
deaths; members received by application, by transfer from
junior
membership to membership; and transfers of membership to
or from other
Meetings or denominations.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 62
Treasurer
The Monthly
Meeting shall appoint a Treasurer, who shall receive
and disburse funds as directed by the Meeting, keep a
regular account
of money so received and disbursed, and submit a complete
report of the
state of the treasury at the end of the fiscal year;
he/she should be
ready to report each month to the Monthly Meeting, if
requested.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 62
Auditors
The Monthly
Meeting shall appoint Auditors who shall audit the
accounts of the treasurer at least once a year.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 62-63
Trustees
Unless the laws
of the state pertaining to the appointment and
service of trustees provide otherwise, the Monthly
Meeting shall
appoint three or more trustees for the period of three
years; it shall
appoint one-third of the number each year. Where the financial
responsibility of the Meeting is involved, and in other
matters, the
trustees should, except in emergencies, act only in
accordance with the
expressed will of the Meeting.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 63
Tenure in Office
All officers
of the Monthly Meeting shall be appointed annually,
unless otherwise stated.
All appointees hold their positions until
their successors are appointed. Where numbers permit, committee
members may be appointed to a two-year or a three-year
cycle.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 63
Records
Monthly Meeting minute books and valuable papers shall be
carefully preserved and, wherever conditions permit,
shall be placed in
a fireproof safe or vault. The Yearly Meeting urges the Monthly
Meeting to send all record books and valuable papers to
the vault of
the Quaker Room at Wilmington College, when there is no
longer an
immediate need for them.
This would include the deeds and abstracts to
property, as well as membership records and minutes.
The Monthly Meeting
Committees
Page 63
Committee Structure
Each Monthly
Meeting should appoint Committees to carry forward
the activities of the Monthly Meeting, as well as relate
to the Boards
and Committees of the Yearly Meeting. In Monthly Meetings, at least
one person should be appointed to represent each
department. This will
provide a means of communication between local Meeting
and the Yearly
Meeting Boards. In
the experience of various Yearly Meetings several
departments of work have proven their worth, such as
Ministry and
Counsel, Outreach, Education, Peace and Society, Finance,
and Youth.
The Monthly Meeting may appoint such other committees as
may be needed
to accomplish its work.
It is to be understood that any Committee is
at liberty to appoint to a task force such persons as may
be qualified
and willing to serve with approval of the Monthly
Meeting. Such
appointments shall be for a specific purpose and a
definite period of
time and the task force shall be responsible to the
committee
appointing the same.
The Monthly Meeting
Committees
Page 63-64
Reports
Each Committee
shall submit a complete report to Monthly Meeting
at the end of each fiscal year or at more frequent
intervals on matters
of special importance or interest.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 64
Organization
Ministers,
elders, and pastors can accomplish their work with
greater efficiency through close cooperation and frequent
consultation.
For this purpose
Meetings on Ministry and Counsel shall be established
for Monthly Meetings.
Those appointed to Ministry and Counsel shall be
considered Elders of the Meeting. The position of Elder is not
transferable by removal of membership to another
meeting. Where two or
more congregations constitute a Monthly Meeting, the
members of the
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall constitute
congregational
committees in their own congregations respectively.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 64
Membership
The Monthly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall be composed of
all the elders and those resident ministers appointed to
this body by
the Monthly Meeting.
Resident ministers shall be subject to
appointment to this body on the same basis as other
members. Pastors
or those serving the Meeting in a similar capacity shall
be members of
this body by virtue of their position in the
Meeting. The Meeting on
Ministry and Counsel shall appoint one or more members of
this body to
serve as clerks who shall keep a written record of
proceedings.
Each Meeting
should have at least 6 elders so that an interchange
of counsel will give weight to their conclusions. Without sacrificing
efficiency, attention should be given to providing
rotation in office
as a means by which other Friends with gifts may be
introduced to the
responsibility of membership on Ministry and Counsel,
one-third of the
members to be appointed each year. Length of service should be limited
to 2-three year terms with reappointment possible after a
time off of
the Committee.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 64
Additional Counsel
To coordinate
and strengthen the work of the Monthly Meeting, the
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel may call in for
consultation the
leaders of religious education, the chairmen of the
standing committees
of the Monthly Meeting, and other persons as needed.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 65
Time of Meetings
The Monthly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall hold regular
sessions, preferably each month, but not less frequently
than once in
three months.
Special meetings may be called by the clerk on request
of three members.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 65
Duties
It shall be
the duty of this body to have general care of the
spiritual welfare of the congregation. Therefore it has the
responsibility for the meetings for worship, the quality
of the vocal
ministry, the pastoral leadership and the development of
ministry on
the part of all the members.
It shall be
aware of the entire membership and all non-member
attenders and seek to nurture
their spiritual lives by every means
suitable.
Non-resident members should be urged, where appropriate, and
helped to affiliate with a Meeting or church in their
geographical
location.
The Ministry
and Counsel shall see that classes of instruction for
membership in Friends will be offered regularly. Elders should
encourage any who render vocal service in Meetings for
Worship and who
give evidence of having spiritual gifts. The development and use of
these gifts shall be a concern of elders. They should be alert to find
and suggest avenues of service to members of the Meeting.
It is the
responsibility of Ministry and Counsel to initiate the
process of recording for any who, in their judgment, have
the gift of
ministry. The
entire process of recording is described in the Yearly
Meeting section below.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 65-66
Pastors or Meeting Secretaries
Meetings
desiring the help of Pastors or Meeting Secretaries shall
make such arrangements through the recommendation of
Ministry and
Counsel to the Monthly Meeting. These arrangements should be made only
after consultation with the Yearly Meeting Executive
Secretary, or
other persons made responsible by the Yearly Meeting for
such service.
If and when a Meeting call a pastor or Meeting Secretary
to serve on its
behalf, the Meeting should see that the salary and other
considerations
are sufficient to free the worker for such service to
enable him or her
to work effectively; The amount shall be recommended by
the Meeting on
Ministry and Counsel in conjunction with the Finance
Committee to
Monthly Meeting.
The Meeting shall provide a job description of
expectations and reach an agreement on duties. Employee relationships
shall be reviewed on behalf of the Meeting and counseling
with the
employee shall be an accepted responsibility of Ministry
and Counsel.
It is helpful to have an annual review. The time of employment year
shall be July 1 to June 30. Meetings are encouraged to make two or
three year or indefinite calls for service with provision
for advance
notification by either party when change is desired.
Ministry and
Counsel shall have responsibility to evaluate the
needs of the Meeting when an employment change is before
the Meeting.
It shall give prayerful and thoughtful consideration to
spiritual
maturity, educational qualifications, knowledge and
experience of
Friends' principles and history of a person who may be
available for
pastoral and/or administrative service. Ministry and Counsel shall
bring its recommendations to Monthly Meeting for
decision. Employees
shall not be engaged or dismissed without the action of
the Monthly
Meeting.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 66
Memorials
Memorials for
deceased members may be prepared by Ministry and
Counsel and forwarded to Monthly Meeting. If approved by that body,
such memorial shall be entered on its minutes and may
also be forwarded
to the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel of the Quarterly
Meeting. This
body may transmit the same, with or without revision to
the Yearly
Meeting Ministry and Counsel to be read. Names of all deceased members
should be forwarded in like manner.
The Monthly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel
Page 66-67
State of Society
The Monthly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall annually appoint
one or more of its members to prepare and present to its
sessions a
report on the spiritual condition of the Monthly Meeting
(State of
Society). The report
when approved shall be forwarded to the Monthly
Meeting for its approval and by that body to the Clerk of
Ministry and
Counsel of the Quarterly Meeting. These reports shall be presented to
the Quarterly Meeting session proceeding Yearly
Meeting. The Clerk of
Ministry and Counsel of Quarterly Meeting shall forward
reports to the
State of Society Committee of the Yearly Meeting Ministry
and Counsel
which shall summarize the same report. The report shall cover such
activities as give evidence of spiritual vitality of the
members, their
social concern, special Christian work in which members
may be engaged
outside the limits of the Meeting, the character of the
ministry in the
meeting for worship, and significant accomplishments
which may give
incentive to others.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 67
Finance Committee
The Monthly
Meeting shall annually appoint a Finance Committee
which shall have charge of the raising of funds and the
preparation of a
budget for the consideration of the Monthly Meeting and
its
congregations.
There may be a separate committee for each congregation
if desirable.
Careful attention should be given to wise methods for
interesting the members and attenders
in the service of the Meeting and
for raising funds for the support of its work. The Meeting should
encourage voluntary giving and extend to every member an
opportunity to
make regular and systematic contributions.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 67
Nominating Committee
The Monthly
Meeting shall appoint a Nominating Committee which
shall function throughout the year. Care should be taken that this
committee shall represent all of the interests of the
Monthly Meeting.
It shall make nominations for all officers, committees,
and
representatives as directed by the Monthly Meeting. It should consult
with the proposed nominees before presenting their names
to the Monthly
Meeting for appointment.
The functioning of a Nominating Committee
shall not abridge the right of any member to suggest
additional
nominations in the sessions of the Monthly Meeting.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 67
Auxiliary Groups
Meetings are
encouraged to form auxiliary groups of Quaker Men,
United Society of Friends Women, and Young Friends and
cooperate with
Yearly Meeting and National Organizations of these
groups.
The Monthly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 67-68
Queries
The Queries
should be read in Monthly Meeting or in series during
Meeting for Worship at regular intervals, allowing due
time for
thoughtful consideration.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 68
Pastors and Worship
Special Responsibilities for Ministry
It is recommended that pastors be recorded ministers of
the Society of
Friends.
Non-recorded ministers, called to serve as a pastor, may be
issued a temporary certificate of service at the
discretion of the
Committee on Evangelism, Church Extension and Pastoral
Care. Pastors
are called by meetings to fulfill certain special lines
of service and
to assume a measure of guidance and direction in the
conduct of the
affairs of the Meeting.
They are expected to serve the Meeting in the
field of the public ministry, although they should always
have due
regard for other ministers in the Meeting and for
visiting friends who
may come with a message.
Consideration should be given by pastors to
the value of silent worship and to the need of preserving
in every
Meeting that freedom of expression which is vital to the
membership in
group worship.
Pastors are considered as co-workers with the members
of the Meeting.
They should endeavor to bring all the members of the
Meeting to a sense of their responsibility for ministry.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 68
Meeting Secretaries
Some Meetings
employ Meeting Secretaries instead of pastors.
They
are not necessarily recorded ministers. Their relation to the
Boards/Committees of the Monthly Meeting is the same as
that of
pastors.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 68
The Pastor or Meeting Secretary and the Community
In the
development of a sense of responsibility on the part of the
Meeting toward the community, pastors or meeting
sectaries should
maintain an interest in public affairs and should
cooperate with other
churches and associations in fostering the welfare of the
community.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 69
Relationship of Pastor or Meeting Secretary and M.&
C.
The Pastor or
Meeting Secretary shall be a member, but not an
officer, of the Monthly Meeting Ministry and
Counsel. He/she should
present concerns for the consideration of this body but
possess no more
authority over its decisions than other members. All matters of policy
affecting the Meeting for Worship, the undertaking of
special
evangelistic efforts, and programs of work shall be
submitted to the
Ministry and Counsel for discussion and decision.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 69
Relationship of Pastor or Meeting Secretary and
Committees
Pastors or
Meeting secretaries will sustain a cooperative
relationship with all committees of the Meeting,
assisting in their
programs and policies when called upon.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 69
Counseling Relationships
Information
received in counseling shall be considered a
privileged communication by the pastor and others serving
the Meeting
in a counseling capacity.
The Monthly Meeting
Minutes for Service
Page 69
Minutes for service
When any Friend
feels called of God to service beyond the limits of
the Yearly Meeting, he/she shall present the concern to
the Monthly
Meeting of which he/she is a member. If this Meeting concurs, it shall
transmit a minute of the proposed service, together with
an expression
of its unity and concurrence therein, to the Clerk of the
Quarterly
Meeting who shall, in turn, if the Meeting approves,
transmit the same
to the Yearly Meeting.
If that body approves it shall express the
unity and concurrence of the Yearly Meeting in the Minute
for Service
to be borne by the traveling friend.
All minutes
shall, after the performance of the labor, be
seasonably returned to the Meeting that granted
them. The same
procedure shall be followed in the case of request for
Traveling
Minutes.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 70
Meeting's Concern
With the Minister Participating
Friends of
Friends United Meeting, influenced by the general
acceptance of pastoral leadership, recognize the fact
that many young
people are looking to pastors and other Friends'
ministers for guidance
in relation to marriage.
The meeting should share with the pastor a
concern for the happiness and spiritual welfare of those
who request
pastoral participation in the solemnization of their
marriage. It
should cooperate in every possible way with the pastor in
keeping the
marriage procedure harmonious with the ideals of Friends.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 70
Advise to Ministers
Since Friends'
ministers are recognized by the state as qualified
to perform the functions of clergy in the solemnization
of marriage,
they have equality in performing this service along with
the ministers
of other churches.
They are advised, therefore, to exercise due care
to observe all legal requirements as set by the several
states, and
also to endeavor to make the exchange of marriage vows a
matter of the
deepest religious import to the contracting parties and
to all who are
present.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 70
Counseling
Pastors are
encouraged to conduct classes in which helpful counsel
may be given to those contemplating marriage, and to all
youth in the
matter of choosing their life companions. Personal counsel with
individuals and couples is also advised. Pastors are urged to be sure
that all legal and moral obligations have been met. Pastors should
endeavor to help the couple to consider carefully the
sacredness of the
obligations they are assuming and to assure themselves
they are
prepared to enter into such a covenant
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 70
Marriage Service
A ceremony is
provided (see appendix) for the help it may give to
those who feel the need for suggestions or guidance. Pastors, in
consultation with the couple, are encouraged to work out
a ceremony in
keeping with the highest aspirations of the couple and
the ideals of
Friends.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 71
Significance
When Arranged by the Meeting
As a
traditional practice, Friends have provided a form of
ceremony in keeping with their idea of the deep religious
significance
of marriage. The
avoidance of undue haste, the emphasis upon the
equality of the sexes, the responsibility assumed by the
Monthly
Meeting, the thoughtful attention given to the religious,
moral, and
physical qualifications, and the impressive statement of
the marriage
vows by the contracting parties are all important
features of the
Friends' marriage practice. Persons desiring to unite in marriage
through the Meeting shall proceed as follows. . .
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 71
Report Intentions
When Arranged by the Meeting
The parties
shall report their intentions to the Monthly Meeting
of which both are members, or to the Monthly Meeting of
which the woman
is a member if they belong to different Meetings.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 71
Committee Appointed
When Arranged by the Meeting
The Meeting or
Meetings shall appoint a committee or committees of
two men and two women, who shall make inquiry as to the
qualifications
of the parties for marriage, such as their clearness from
other
engagements, the consent of parents or guardians in the
case of minors,
and suitable provisions for the rights of children by a
previous
marriage, if there are such. If the parties belong to different
Meetings, committees shall be appointed in each
Meeting. Reports may
be made to the next regular sessions of the respective
Monthly Meetings
or to special sessions and, if the reports are found to
be
satisfactory, the other Monthly Meeting shall send its
findings to the
one in which the marriage is to be consummated, and the
parties will be
at liberty to proceed accordingly.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 71
One Not a Member
When Arranged by the Meeting
If one party
is not a member of Friends, a committee may be
appointed by said Meeting which may proceed as in the
above paragraph.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 71-72
Non Members
When Arranged by the Meeting
A Monthly
Meeting may allow a marriage to be solemnized with the
Meeting when both parties are non members. In such a case the Meeting
shall appoint a committee to proceed as in paragraph
3. If the
findings of the committee are satisfactory, the
proceedings in relation
to the proposed marriage shall be in the same manner as
if the
contracting parties were members of Friends.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 72
Oversight of Marriage
When Arranged by the Meeting
After a couple
has been liberated to proceed with arrangements for
their marriage, a committee of not less than two women
and two men
shall be appointed by the Monthly Meeting to attend the
marriage and
report to the following session of the Monthly Meeting as
to whether it
has been properly solemnized.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 72
Marriage in Meeting
When Arranged by the Meeting
The marriage
shall be solemnized in regular meeting of the
congregation or in a special meeting arranged by the
Monthly Meeting at
a time convenient to the contracting parties.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 72
Certificate
When
Arranged by the Meeting
Following the
exchange of vows, the marriage certificate shall be
signed by both parties; it shall then be audibly read by
a designated
person. At the
conclusion of the meeting it shall be signed by others
as witnesses.
The Monthly Meeting
Marriage
Page 72
Assistant
When Arranged by the Meeting
The pastor or
other minister may assist in the solemnization of a
marriage within the Meeting, if the couple so desires.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 72
Representatives
SUBTOPIC: Relations to Superior Meetings
Two or more
representatives shall be appointed by each Monthly
Meeting to attend the Quarterly Meeting.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 72
Reports
SUBTOPIC: Relations to Superior Meetings
Once in three
months the Monthly Meeting shall report in an
abstract to its minutes, such business as should be laid
before the
Quarterly Meeting of which it is a part. Annual reports shall be made
to the Quarterly Meeting of such information as the
Yearly Meeting may
direct.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 72-73
Permanent Board
SUBTOPIC: Relations to Superior Meetings
Each Monthly
Meeting shall appoint representatives to the
Permanent Board according to its Membership. (See Yearly
Meeting
Section on Permanent Board.)
The Monthly Meeting
Page 73
Right of Petition
SUBTOPIC: Relations to Superior Meetings
Monthly
Meetings, through their Quarterly Meetings, have the right
to petition Yearly Meetings to establish, discontinue, or
divide a
Quarterly Meeting, to unite two or more Quarterly
Meetings, and to
promote other religious interests for which there is a
concern.
The Monthly Meeting
Page 73
Independent Meetings
SUBTOPIC: Relations to Superior Meetings
Independent
Meetings are composed of Friends from various branches
who unite to form a meeting for worship. Such Meetings should be
encouraged to affiliate with established Quarterly and
Yearly Meetings.
Friends' methods
are more effective when a fellowship of service and a
wholesome example are brought to bear upon the life of
the members by
contact with others in established Meetings with their
historic
backgrounds and their inclusive variety of organized
activities.
The Monthly Meeting
Outreach and New Meetings
Page 73
Growth and Outreach
Friends should
be encouraged to be on the alert for opportunities
to extend their efforts into new fields of service. New work which
gives promise of permanence should be placed under the
care of the
Monthly Meeting, and new meetings for worship should be
established
when desirable.
The Monthly Meeting
Outreach and New Meetings
Page 73
New Monthly Meetings
When a Monthly
Meeting shall deem it advisable for a new Monthly
Meeting to be established within its limits, it shall
send a
proposition therefore to the Quarterly Meeting, which
shall appoint a
committee to consider the subject and to make a
report. If the
Quarterly Meeting approves the proposition, it shall
establish the
Meeting and report its action to the Yearly Meeting. When the Meeting
which is to be established will be composed of members of
two or more
Monthly Meetings, the consent of each shall be obtained.
Quarterly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 75
Membership
A Quarterly
Meeting consists of the members of the Monthly
Meetings within its limits and subordinate to it.
Quarterly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 75
Officers
Officers shall
consist of a Presiding Clerk, a Recording Clerk,
and a Treasurer, and others as needed, whose names shall
be presented
by a Nominating Committee to the Quarterly Meeting for
their approval.
Quarterly Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 75
Nominations
A Nominating
Committee shall be appointed annually to serve
throughout the year.
The functioning of this committee shall not
abridge the right of any member to suggest additional
nominations in
the sessions of the Quarterly Meeting.
Quarterly Meeting
Relation to Monthly Meeting
Page 75
Authority
A Quarterly
Meeting has the responsibility to establish,
discontinue, or divide a Monthly Meeting, or to unite two
or more
Monthly Meetings,
Quarterly Meeting
Relation to Monthly Meeting
Page 75
Supervision
A Quarterly
Meeting has supervision over the Monthly Meeting. It
may review their proceedings and examine the records
thereof, so that
any irregularities in proceedings may be corrected by the
Monthly
Meeting. It shall
receive appeals from Monthly Meetings and decide
upon them, and shall grant appeals from its own decisions
to the Yearly
Meeting.
Quarterly Meeting
Relation to Monthly Meeting
Page 75-76
Transfer
A Quarterly
Meeting may transfer a Monthly Meeting, upon the
request of that body, to the jurisdiction of another
Quarterly Meeting
within the Yearly Meeting with the consent of the
Quarterly Meeting to
which transfer is to be made. A request from a Monthly Meeting for
transfer to a Quarterly Meeting within the limits of another
Yearly
Meeting must first be referred to its Quarterly Meeting
and then to its
Yearly Meeting for action. In all cases the Meeting to which transfer
is made shall act upon said transfer and notify the
Meetings involved
of its action.
Quarterly Meeting
Relation to the Yearly Meet.
Page 76
Subordinate Meetings
In order to
establish, discontinue, or divide a Quarterly Meeting,
or to unite two Quarterly Meetings, applications should
be made by the
Monthly Meetings concerned through their Quarterly
Meeting or their
respective Quarterly Meetings to the Yearly Meeting for
its action.
Quarterly Meeting
Permanent Board Appointments
Page 76
Permanent Board Appointments
The Quarterly
Meeting shall forward to the Yearly Meeting names of
those appointed by Monthly Meetings to Permanent
Board. If
appointments have not been received by the last Quarterly
Meeting prior
to Yearly Meeting sessions, Quarterly Meeting shall have
authority to
fill, on an at-large basis any vacancies.
Quarterly Meeting
Permanent Board Appointments
Page 76
Nominations
The Quarterly
Meeting, upon recommendation of its nominating
committee, shall appoint annually one person each to the
Yearly Meeting
Finance and Yearly Meeting Nominating Committee for terms
of three
years.
Quarterly Meeting
Departmental Chairpersons
Page 76
Appointments, Functions
The Quarterly
Meeting shall, at its last session before Yearly
Meeting, appoint chairpersons in accordance with the
Yearly Meeting
boards or committees.
These chairpersons shall act as conveners for
group activities in their particular fields as carried on
by the
Quarterly Meeting and shall serve as ex-offico members of
the
corresponding Yearly Meeting boards. They shall prepare and present,
at appropriate times, reports on the work done.
Quarterly Meeting
Meeting on M.& C.
Page 77
Membership
A Quarterly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall be composed of
all of the pastors, recorded ministers and elders
belonging to its
constituent Monthly Meetings. It shall meet regularly, near the time
of the Quarterly Meeting, to transact the business
pertaining to its
responsibilities.
Quarterly Meeting
Meeting on M.& C.
Page 77
Reports
At the last
session before Yearly Meeting, the Quarterly Meeting
on Ministry and Counsel shall review reports on the
spiritual
conditions and work received from the Monthly Meetings,
and shall
forward them to the Ministry and Counsel State of Society
Committee of
the Yearly Meeting.
Quarterly Meeting
Meeting on M.& C.
Page 77
Duties
The Quarterly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall have the
general oversight of the pastoral work within its
limits. It shall be
diligent and judicious in advising measures and means for
the promotion
of spiritual life and godliness, and it shall give
special attention to
new congregations, weak Meetings, and those without
ministry. It shall
name one person annually to the Yearly Meeting Ministry
and Counsel
nominating committee.
Memorials received from Monthly Meeting shall be
reviewed and forwarded to Yearly Meeting Ministry and
Counsel.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 79
Membership, Purpose
A Yearly
Meeting consists of the members of the Quarterly Meetings
and thus the constituent Monthly Meetings subordinate to
them. The
purpose of its annual assemblies is the general ordering
and regulating
of the affairs of the constituent bodies in the service
of God and the
maintenance and promotion of Christian faith, love,
unity, life, and
practice throughout the subordinate Meetings. All members have the
privilege and responsibility of attendance and
participation in its
sessions. Monthly
Meetings are encouraged to appoint representatives
whose responsibility is to attend and participate in
Yearly Meeting
sessions and to report the work of the sessions to their
respective
Quarterly and Monthly Meetings.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 79
Jurisdiction
The yearly
Meeting has authority to decide all questions of
administration, to counsel, admonish, or discipline its
subordinate
Meetings, to institute measures and to provide means for
the promotion
of truth and righteousness, and to inaugurate and carry
on departments
of religious and philanthropic work.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 79
Clerks
A Presiding
Clerk, Recording Clerk and Assistants shall be
appointed. The
Yearly Meeting shall be opened at the appointed time
and place by the Presiding Clerk. In the absence of the Presiding
Clerk, the assistant Presiding clerk shall perform this
service. If
neither shall be present, the Meeting shall appoint a
temporary clerk.
The Presiding Clerk and Assistant Presiding Clerk shall
be appointed
annually, but not to exceed six consecutive years in one
office or a
total of nine consecutive years for one person in both
offices. The
Recording Clerk, or Assistant, shall keep approved
minutes of all
sessions.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 80
Trustees
The Yearly
Meeting shall appoint six Trustees in accordance with
the laws of the state in which it is incorporated. They shall be
appointed for terms of six years, one-third of their
number being
appointed every two years, with a limit of two
consecutive full terms
of service. Due
care must be exercised by Trustees to observe the
requirements of the statutes of their respective states
in
administration of their trust.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 80
Fiduciary Corporation
Wilmington
Yearly Meeting Fiduciary Corporation is to provide for
the establishment and administration of an endowment fund
for the
benefit of Wilmington Yearly Meeting. The Corporation has authority to
receive, hold and disburse gifts, devises, bequests and
funds from
other sources and to invest, manage, and dispose of such
funds subject
to regulations of the donor and/or Wilmington Yearly
Meeting. The
Corporation has charge of all property owned by
Wilmington Yearly
Meeting with authority to hold, invest, control and
manage such
property for its benefit and to purchase, sell, lease,
mortgage any
real estate owned by Wilmington Yearly Meeting.
Members of the
Corporation shall be the Trustees of Wilmington
Yearly Meeting.
The financial
books of the Corporation shall be audited annually
and a report made to Yearly Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 80
Finance Committee
The Finance
Committee of the Yearly Meeting shall be composed of
those persons designated by Quarterly Meetings for this
purpose. Each
Quarterly Meeting shall annually appoint one person for a
term of three
years. The Finance
Committee shall annually receive and refine the
Board and Committee requests for the future and shall
recommend to
Yearly Meeting sessions a budget and apportionment to
Monthly Meetings.
If a Monthly
Meeting feels an adjustment is in order, it may bring the
matter to the Finance Committee and the Finance Committee
may recommend
an adjustment to Permanent Board.
The fiscal
year of Wilmington Yearly Meeting shall be the calendar
year with a grace period of ten days.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 80-81
Treasurer
The Finance
Committee shall annually nominate to the Yearly Meeting
a person to serve as Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive monies
from the Monthly Meetings and others and shall pay the
same as directed
by the Permanent Board, its Executive Committee or
Chairpersons of
Boards or Committees.
The Yearly Meeting Trustees shall annually audit
the Treasurer's Books and present their report to Yearly
Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Organization and Function
Page 81
Nominating Committee
The Nominating
Committee of the Yearly Meeting shall be composed
of those persons designated by the Quarterly Meetings for
this purpose.
Each Quarterly
Meeting shall annually appoint one person to the Yearly
Meeting Nominating Committee for a three year term. The Nominating
Committee shall be responsible for all Yearly Meeting
nominations
except the Nominating Committee itself, the Finance Committee
and
Friends United Meeting Commission Members who shall be
recommended by
the Executive Committee to the Yearly Meeting.
A person may
not continue service on a given committee or board
more than two consecutive terms. After a year out of office a person
may be reappointed.
The nominating
Committee shall obtain the consent of each nominee
before presenting the name to the Yearly Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Permanent Board
Page 81-82
Organization
The Permanent
Board shall consist of representatives from each
Monthly Meeting and of persons in the following
administrative
positions in the Yearly Meeting: Presiding Clerk, assistant Presiding
Clerk, Recording Clerk, Treasurer, Clerk of Ministry and
Counsel,
United Society of Friends Women President, Quaker Men
President, Young
Friends Committee Chairman, Chairman of Finance
Committee, Chairman of
Education Board, Chairman of Outreach Board, Chairman of
Board on
Christian Concerns for Peace and Society, Chairman of
Camp Board,
Chairman of Trustees, Wilmington College President or
representative,
and the Executive Secretary.
Each Monthly
Meeting shall have one representative on the
Permanent Board plus one for each two hundred members or
fraction
thereof over the first two hundred members. These
representatives shall
serve a term of three years and may be reappointed for
one additional
three year term. A
substitute may be authorized by the Monthly Meeting
to serve in place of its regular representative.
Each Monthly
Meeting should forward the names of its Permanent
Board representatives to Quarterly Meeting prior to the
annual sessions
of Yearly Meeting.
The Quarterly Meeting shall have the authority to
fill, on an at-large basis, any vacancies not filled by
the Monthly
Meetings.
Yearly Meeting
Permanent Board
Page 82
Duties
The Permanent
Board shall represent the Yearly Meeting in the
interim between annual assemblies. It may act on behalf of the Yearly
Meeting in accordance with Faith and Practice in cases where
the
interests of Friends render it necessary.
Yearly Meeting
Permanent Board
Page 82
Time of Meeting
The Permanent
Board shall meet as necessary through the year.
Ten
days notice of meetings must be given in writing to all
members and the
business to come before the meeting shall be stated in
the call. The
Yearly Meeting Presiding Clerk shall be the Clerk of the
Permanent
Board. The
Permanent Board shall name its own Recording Clerk. All
matters of business referred to the Permanent Board shall
be presented
in writing to one of the clerks.
It shall keep
a record of its proceedings and annually lay the
same before the Yearly Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Permanent Board
Page 82
Executive Committee Organization
An Executive
Committee of the Permanent Board is formed of the
following twelve members: Presiding Clerk, Assistant
Presiding Clerk,
Clerk of Ministry and Counsel, Chairman of Board on
Outreach, Chairman
of Board on Educational Concerns, Chairman of Board on
Christian
Concerns for Peace and Society, Chairman of Trustees,
Chairman of
Finance Committee, Executive Secretary and three
members-at-large,
representative of the Yearly Meeting geographically. Preceding Yearly
Meeting, members-at-large are to be named for the following
year from
the membership of the Permanent Board. The Assistant Presiding Clerk
shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Yearly Meeting
Permanent Board
Page 82-83
Executive Committee Duties
The Executive
Committee is responsible to the Permanent Board and
shall have the power to act on its behalf on those
matters of business
referred to it by that Board.
The Executive
Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the
Executive Secretary.
After reviewing the work of the Executive
Secretary, it shall make recommendations to the Permanent
Board
concerning employment, salary, travel expense and other
matters.
The Executive
Committee shall plan the program of Yearly Meeting
sessions, and shall make provisions for handling items of
new business.
Yearly Meeting
Permanent Board
Page 83
Executive Secretary
Upon the
nomination of the Executive Committee the Permanent Board
may appoint a person to serve as Executive
Secretary. Such a person
shall be responsible to the Executive Committee and shall
serve the
interests of all departments of the work of the Yearly
Meeting, meeting
with Boards and Committees and be ready to assist and
advise wherever
helpful. The
Executive Secretary shall work with local meetings in the
process of selecting pastoral leadership. The Executive Secretary
shall give immediate attention and counsel to pastors and
meetings if
difficulties arise in meetings. The Executive Secretary shall keep the
members of Wilmington Yearly Meeting informed of the
needs and
opportunities in all departments of the Yearly Meeting
work.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting on M.& C.
Page 83
Membership
The Yearly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel is composed of the
members of the Quarterly Meetings on Ministry and Counsel
within its
limits. It shall
meet annually at such times as the Yearly Meeting
shall direct, and thereafter on its own adjournment, but
in no case so
as to conflict with the sessions of the Yearly Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting on M.& C.
Page 83
Clerk Reports
It shall
appoint clerks annually and receive reports from the
Quarterly Meetings on Ministry and Counsel, and it shall
report
annually to the Yearly Meeting the conditions and work of
the ministry
and of the membership; it may address epistles of advice
and
instruction to its subordinate Meetings, and appoint
committees to visit
them. The Clerks
shall serve no more than six consecutive terms.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting on M.& C.
Page 84
Duties
The Yearly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall carefully
consider subjects which have reference to spiritual needs
and may
report its judgment to the Yearly Meeting for its action.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting on M.& C.
Page 84
Committees
There will be
the following Committees: (a) The Committee on
Training and Recording of Ministers will be composed of
six members, at
least one-half of whom shall be other than recorded
ministers.
Appointments shall be made for three years, the term of
two members
expiring each year.
(b) The Committee on Evangelism, Church Extension
and Pastoral Care will be composed of twelve
members. Each year the
Yearly Meeting Ministry and Counsel will name two members
at-large for
three-year terms.
In addition one from each Quarterly Meeting will be
named each year for two year terms by the respective
Quarterly
Meetings. No more
than six years can be served consecutively.
The
Yearly Meeting Clerk of Ministry and Counsel shall serve
ex-officio.
(c) Committee to Edit Memorials will have three-year
terms, one
member's term expiring each year. (d) State of Society
Committee will
be composed of three persons serving three year terms,
one term
expiring each year.
The Executive
Committee of Yearly Meeting Ministry and Counsel
will be composed of the Clerks, the Chairmen of the four
Committees and
the Clerks of the Quarterly Meetings. The Yearly Meeting Presiding
Clerk and Yearly Meeting Executive Secretary will serve
in an ex-officio
capacity.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting on M.& C.
Page 84
Nominating Committee
Each Quarter
will name one person to the nominating committee.
These names shall be presented annually to Yearly
Meeting. (In case of
failure to send these names, the Yearly Meeting Ministry
and Counsel
has the right to name said persons.)
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 84-85
Evidence of Gift
When a member
has spoken to the edification and spiritual help of
the congregation, and has rendered said service in such a
manner and to
such an extent as to afford a basis for the formation of
a judgment as
to the nature of his/her gifts and calling, the Meeting
on Ministry and
Counsel shall carefully consider whether there is
evidence of a gift in
the ministry that should be officially recognized. While a spoken
message may be helpful in its place, and should be
esteemed and
encouraged accordingly, not every person who speaks in
public should be
given official recognition. It should be borne in mind that such
recognition in ministry is not only a seal of approval of
one who is
locally helpful but that it also involves extension of
service beyond
the local community.
Recorded ministers not only have opportunity for
service among Friends generally but, because of the
increase of
interdenominational activity, such recognition opens the
way for
contacts and associations with ministers and members of
other religious
bodies.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 85
Initial Steps
When the
Monthly Meeting on Ministry and Counsel is satisfied that
a member has a gift in the ministry and in its judgment,
is of suitable
character and aptitude, it shall report its judgment to
the Monthly
Meeting, which shall in turn report back to the Monthly
Meeting on
Ministry and Counsel.
If the report is favorable, the Monthly Meeting
on Ministry and Counsel shall report its judgment by a
minute to the
Quarterly Meeting on Ministry and Counsel, which shall
appoint a
committee that shall appraise the general fitness of the
individual
under consideration.
This committee shall visit the member under
consideration to ascertain maturity, experience and
knowledge of the
Christian faith and desire to continue in the public
ministry as a
Friends' minister as well as a willingness to pursue a
course of
instruction to develop understanding of Christian truth
and Friends'
principles. It
shall also confer with persons who know this member and
will testify as to his/her qualification for the
ministry. It may, if
desirable, meet with the Monthly Meeting on Ministry and
Counsel. If
the Committee of the Quarterly Meeting on Ministry and
Counsel reports
favorably, the matter shall be brought before the Yearly
Meeting on
Ministry and Counsel by an extract from the minutes of
the Quarterly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 85-86
Training and Recording
If the Yearly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel, after due inquiry,
concurs in the action of the subordinate Meeting, it
shall refer the
matter to the Committee on the Training and Recording of
Ministers.
This committee shall have the person under its care until
he/she has
completed the educational requirements as set up by the
Yearly Meeting.
When the Yearly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel has received a report
from its Committee on the Training and Recording of
Ministers that a
member who has been under their care has satisfactorily
met the
educational requirements of the Yearly Meeting they shall
consider
again the whole question of the fitness of the individual
to be
recognized as a minister.
After due consideration, if the way seems
clear, the Yearly Meeting on Ministry and Counsel shall
recommend to
the Yearly Meeting that the member under consideration be
recorded as a
minister.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 86
Final Action
When the
Yearly Meeting has acted favorably upon the matter, the
recording is thereby completed and the clerk shall
furnish a copy of
the minute to the Quarterly Meeting and through it to the
Monthly
Meeting of which the individual is a member. Both Meetings shall enter
in full this minute on their books of record.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 86
Disapproval
When a
proposition to record a member as a minister is
disapproved, the body taking this action shall so inform
the Monthly
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel in which the proposition
originated.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 86
Rescinding
In case a
member who has been recorded as a minister appears to
have lost his/her gift and usefulness in the ministry, a
proposition to
rescind the action of recording as a minister may
originate in the
Meeting on Ministry and Counsel of the Monthly Meeting,
of the
Quarterly Meeting, or of the Yearly Meeting of which
he/she is a
member. In every
case, procedure shall follow the usual course through
superior bodies, and final action shall rest with the
Yearly Meeting.
The individual concerned and the Monthly Meeting shall be
notified
before final action is taken and care shall be exercised
that all
rights involved are fully safeguarded.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 86-87
Transfer
The status of
a minister is transferable by certificate of
membership from one Yearly Meeting to another. It is expected,
however, that a minister planning to engage in the
pastoral ministry
will endeavor to meet the educational requirements of the
Yearly
Meeting to which transfer is made.
Yearly Meeting
Recording of Ministers
Page 87
Standards of Preparation for Recording
The minimum
requirement for one to be recorded a minister in
Wilmington Yearly Meeting shall be the equivalent of a
high school
education. All
persons contemplating service in the ministry shall be
encouraged insofar as possible to attend college and
seminary. All
candidates for Recording will submit transcripts of
college and
seminary work for examination by the Training and
Recording Committee.
The Yearly Meeting Committee shall determine areas of
deficiency, if
any, and shall recommend specific courses for completing
training
through the Tri-Yearly Meeting Training and Recording
Committee
(Indiana, Western, Wilmington Yearly Meetings). All student ministers
shall be urged strongly to attend other helpful
assemblies, including
the Ohio Pastor's Convocation, the Yearly Meeting's
Pastors Short
Course, Yearly Meeting sessions, and the sessions of
Friends United
Meeting, etc.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting Boards
Page 87
Board on Property
The Board on
Property shall coordinate the property and financial
interests of the Yearly Meeting and shall be composed of
members of the
Trustees of the Yearly Meeting, the Camp Board,
Historical Materials,
representatives of Wilmington College, Legal Counsel and
the Yearly
Meeting Treasurer.
The Chairman of the Yearly Meeting Trustees shall
be the Chairman of the Board on Property and shall call
the Board
together at the request of the Executive Committee of the
Permanent
Board or one of the groups within the Board on Property.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting Boards
Page 87
Board on Christian Concerns for Peace and Society
This board
shall be composed of persons appointed by the Yearly
Meeting plus ex-officio members appointed by the Yearly
Meeting to
Friends United Meeting, Friends Committee on National
Legislation,
American Friends Service Committee, William Penn House
and Quarterly
Meeting Chairmen.
Duties will be
to carry forward concerns of Friends for peace,
public morals, and improvement of the social order.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting Boards
Page 88
Board on Christian Outreach
This board
shall be composed of persons appointed by the Yearly
Meeting plus ex-officio members: Yearly Meeting
Treasurer, United
Society of Friends Women President, Quaker Men President,
FUM
representatives to Wider Ministries Commission and
Quarterly Meeting
Chairman.
Its duties
shall be to carry forward concerns regarding missions,
stewardship, cooperation with Friends groups and other
Christian
groups.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting Boards
Page 88
Board on Educational Concerns
This board
shall be composed of persons appointed by the Yearly
Meeting plus ex-officio members; Quarterly Meeting
Chairmen, FUM
representatives to the Meeting Ministries Commission plus
three Young
Friends named by Young Friends Quarterly Conference.
Its duties
shall include planning and supervision of camping
activities at Quaker Knoll, directing children and youth
programs
throughout the year and at Yearly Meeting sessions,
strengthening
relationships with Wilmington College, and leadership
training
programs.
Yearly Meeting
Yearly Meeting Boards
Page 88
Other Committees and Boards
Other
committees and Boards may be appointed by the Yearly Meeting
to carry forward concerns and programs as desired.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 88
Trustees
The Board of
Trustees governing Wilmington College shall consist
of at least twelve and not more than twenty-four members,
a majority of
which shall be members of the Religious Society of Friends.1
1(Charter
Amendment,1960
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 88-89
Election
The Board of
Trustees shall be elected in accordance with the
procedure set forth in the amended Articles of
Incorporation provided
however, that: (a) The Joint Committee shall consist of
three members
of the board of Trustees, and three members of Wilmington
Yearly
Meeting appointed by the Yearly Meeting, (b) Every member
of the Joint
Committee has an equal right to suggest names in nomination
to the
committee. (c) Should the Yearly Meeting not accept one
or more of
nominations of the Joint Committee, the matter of the
remaining
vacancies will be referred back to the Joint Committee
for further
nominations, but if after this referral the Yearly
Meeting is in
disagreement with the nominations, or if there is no
clear majority
recommendation of the Joint Committee, the Yearly Meeting
may make its
own selection.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 89
Responsibilities
The Board of
Trustees is responsible for the general management of
the affairs of Wilmington College, all within the
limitations of the
law, and the Articles of Incorporation. The Board of Trustees shall be
attentive to advices from representatives from the Yearly
Meeting, duly
appointed for that purpose, giving careful consideration
to any concern
proposed with possible deferment of action until an
understanding is
reached, with the Board of Trustees however, having
responsibility and
authority for final action.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 89
Records
The Board of
Trustees shall keep correct and complete records of
accounts and minutes of the proceedings of the Trustees
and committees
of the Trustees.
Such books, records, and minutes may be examined by
any member of the Board of Trustees, by any authorized
representative
of Wilmington Yearly Meeting, or by the agent or attorney
representing
either body, for any reasonable or proper purposes and in
reasonable
time.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 89
Term of Office
Beginning with
the 1962 election, each newly elected Trustee shall
be eligible for a maximum of two successive terms of six
years
duration, after which he/she shall become emeritus and
eligible for
re-election for active trusteeship only after a lapse of
one year.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 89
President
The President
of the College or the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees shall make an annual report to the Yearly
Meeting upon the
conditions of the college including significant events of
the year, its
physical property, endowments and finances, and the
developments of its
faculty and academic achievements, and its goals.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 89-90
Yearly Meeting Relations
The Yearly Meeting will exercise its
supervisory power as provided
in the Articles of Incorporation over Wilmington College
through: (1)
Appointment of all members of the Board of Trustees: (2)
Sharing with
the faculty and the Board of Trustees in the nomination
of a
President.1 (3) Sharing with the Board of
Trustees in Charter
Amendments, and Amendments to the Regulations; (4)
Reports from the
President of the College or the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees to
the Yearly Meeting at the Yearly Meeting session; (5)
Consultations
with the President or the Board of Trustees, both formal
and informal,
which may be carried out by representatives from the
Yearly Meeting
duly appointed for the purpose.
1 When a
President of the College is to be elected, it shall be done in
the following manner: The Board of Trustees will select
three of its
members, and the Wilmington Yearly Meeting will select
three of its
members; and the Faculty of Wilmington College will
select three of its
members to compose a Nominating Committee which will
gather,
investigate, interview and nominate to the College Board
of Trustees,
candidates for President.
This committee, so appointed and organized
by the Board of Trustees, will develop its own
requirements for
candidates. The
President shall be elected by the Board of Trustees
from candidates nominated by this Committee. The Nominating Committee
may disband itself by majority action and request a new
committee to be
constituted, whenever it feels it is unable to make further
progress.
(1960 Charter Amendment).
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 90
Amendments
Amendments to
the Articles of Incorporation will be made by the
Yearly Meeting, but only after consultation with the
Board of Trustees.
Yearly Meeting
Relations with W.C.
Page 90
Amendments
Amendments to
the Regulations may be initiated either by the Board
of Trustees or by Wilmington Yearly Meeting, but before
their final
adoption by the Yearly Meeting, the Board of Trustees
must concur.
Yearly Meeting
Sources of Business
Page 90
Quarterly Meeting Concerns
Quarterly
Meeting concerns may be introduced to the Yearly Meeting
for consideration and action.
Yearly Meeting
Sources of Business
Page 90
Boards, Committees
Business may
be introduced to the Yearly Meeting from the
Permanent Board, its Executive Committee, Yearly Meeting
Boards or
Committees, or from Yearly Meeting Ministry and Counsel.
Yearly Meeting
Sources of Business
Page 91
Other Sources
Business may
be introduced by Friends United Meeting or from other
Yearly Meetings.
Business may also be laid before a Yearly Meeting by
any of its members in which case it is referred to the
Executive
Committee before discussion by the Yearly Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Page 91
Organization
Young
Friends and Junior Yearly Meetings
Young Friends and Junior Yearly Meetings may be held
during Yearly
Meeting sessions under the direction of the Board on
Educational
Concerns.
Yearly Meeting
Page 91
Officers, Business
Young Friends and Junior Yearly Meeting
The youth and children appoint officers and committees
from their own
number and carry on their business according to the
manner of Friends.
They participate in the meetings for worship and conduct
discussions of
such topics as missions, peace, and temperance. Classes are provided
for the study of the Bible, and of the history, teaching,
and practices
of Friends.
Reports are forwarded to the adult Yearly Meeting and
communications exchanged with other Young Friends and
Junior Yearly
Meetings.
Yearly Meeting
Miscellaneous
Page 91
Property of Discontinued Meetings
When a Meeting
is discontinued, the physical property and
investments belonging to said Meeting shall be vested in
the Wilmington
Yearly Meeting Fiduciary Corporation, a subsidiary
corporation of
Wilmington Yearly Meeting, except when otherwise
determined by deed or
other legal restriction.
Such property is to be held for some specific
purpose, or used for the advancement of the general work
of the Yearly
Meeting, as that body may determine. All funds held from such
discontinued Meetings shall be administered as far as
possible in
accordance with the directions of the original
donors. A Meeting is
not to be considered as discontinued if it unites as an
organized group
with another Friends Meeting.1
1 See
Quarterly Meeting, Relation to Monthly Meeting, Authority page
75.
Yearly Meeting
Miscellaneous
Page 92
Interdenominational Memberships
Wilmington
Yearly Meeting is a member of the Ohio Council of
Churches.
Appointments requested by this body shall be named by the
Nominating Committee.
Persons named to represent Wilmington Yearly
Meeting may report to appropriate Boards or Committees.
Member
Meetings outside of Ohio may affiliate with a comparable
interdenominational group on approval of the Yearly
Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Miscellaneous
Page 92
New Yearly Meetings
When it is
proposed to establish a new Yearly Meeting by setting
off a portion of an existing Yearly Meeting, or portions
of two or more
Yearly Meetings, or when two or more Yearly Meetings wish
to be united,
such meeting or meetings shall consult and seek approval
of the Yearly
Meetings involved.
If approved, the Yearly Meetings involved shall
request Friends United Meeting to establish the new
Yearly Meeting.
Yearly Meeting
Miscellaneous
Page 92
Transfer of Quarterly Meeting
A Yearly
Meeting may transfer a Quarterly Meeting, upon request of
that body to the jurisdiction of another Yearly
Meeting. The Yearly
Meeting to which transfer is made shall act upon said
transfer and
notify the Meetings involved of its action.
Yearly Meeting
Miscellaneous
Page 92
Revising Faith and Practice
Proposition
for the amendment or revision of the Book of Faith and
Practice, coming to the Yearly Meeting from constituent
Meetings, must
be referred to the Permanent Board or to a special
committee for
consideration for one year before being acted upon.
Yearly Meeting
Miscellaneous
Page 92
Bond of Union
The bond of
union between Yearly Meetings is maintained by annual
correspondence, by issuing and receiving credentials of
ministers and
others for special service, by granting and receiving
certificates of
membership in cases of removal, by joint participation in
religious and
benevolent enterprises, and by common membership in the
Friends United
Meeting. Though
the constituent Yearly Meetings delegate certain
authority to the Friends United Meeting, they retain
their original
independence in the transaction of business.
Friends United Meeting
Preface
Page 93
Preface
The Five Years
Meeting of Friends, while convened in
own organization and procedure. In keeping with that action a chapter
on Five Years Meeting of Friends Business Procedure was
printed in the
FAITH AND PRACTICE which was subsequently issued. The 1955 session of
Five Years Meeting made changes in procedure which was
noted in the
1957 edition of FAITH AND PRACTICE. Further changes came in the wake
of the 1960, 1963 and 1966 sessions, which were
incorporated in the
1966 edition of FAITH AND PRACTICE.
An outstanding
action of the 1960 sessions was the approval of
triennial sessions and the setting of the next session in
1963 on a
trial basis. The
triennial sessions were approved as a regular
procedure in the 1963 session.
Recommendations for a new name was considered and action was taken
in 1963 as follows: "It was approved to ask
Executive Council to choose
a name and it was empowered to act." (Minute 67,p.
81)
The Executive
Committee of the Executive Council in the council
sessions of March, 1965 recommended the name
"Friends United Meeting."
The Council (Minute 65 E 22-A) took the action:
"Friends United Meeting
was approved, and the Executive Committee was directed to
follow
through on necessary adjustments and legal procedures. .
. ." The
final legal steps required were taken in the July, 1966
sessions.
The Triennial
Sessions held in July, 1972 authorized rewriting this
Chapter in FAITH AND PRACTICE in order to incorporate the
changes in
structure and business procedure effected by the
reorganization
authorized by the Triennial Sessions in 1969.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 94
Membership
Friends United
Meeting is composed of members of fifteen
constituent Yearly Meetings:
East Africa, Indiana, Iowa, Jamaica, Nebraska, New
England, New York,
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 94
Jurisdiction
Friends United
Meeting shall have full jurisdiction over all
matters delegated to it by the constituent Yearly
Meetings. It shall
have advisory supervision of the interests of the Yearly
Meetings and
shall publish a complete record of its proceedings for
their
information.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 94
Fiscal Year
The fiscal
year of the Friends United Meeting shall be the
calendar year with a grace period of ten days.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 94
Sessions
The time and
place for holding the sessions of Friends United
Meeting shall be designated by the minute of its own
adjournment or by
the General Board.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 94
Representatives
Each Yearly
Meeting is entitled to appoint five representatives
and one additional representative for each one thousand
members or
major fraction thereof.
Vacancies in the quota of any one Yearly
Meeting may be filled by action of that Yearly Meeting,
or by its
representatives at the triennial session. The representatives may
participate in a travel pool.
The Clerks
and/or Assistant Clerks of Friends United Meeting shall
be the Clerks of the Representative Body.
Major matters
and proposals shall be considered by the
Representative Body before they are presented for action
in the General
Meeting. Routine
procedural matters shall be acted upon by the
Representative Body and reported to the General Meeting
which reserves
the right to approve, disapprove or reconsider.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 94-95
Nominating Committee
Each Yearly
Meeting shall name one of its Representatives to serve
on the Nominating Committee and another to serve on the
New Business
Committee. These
Committees serve the Representative Body only during
the Triennial Sessions.
The Nominating Committee make recommendations
to the Representative Body for Clerks, Trustees and the
Treasurer. It
makes other recommendations as directed by the Clerk or
by the
Representative Body.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 95
New Business Committee
The New
Business Committee screens and channels new items of
business either to the Representative Body or to the
Clerk, as may be
appropriate.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 95
Clerks
The Presiding,
Assistant Presiding, Recording, Assistant
Recording,
sessions and shall take their positions as Clerks at the
end of the
sessions, continuing though the triennium and through the
following
sessions, when their successors will be appointed. In the absence of
one or more Clerks, nominations for temporary
appointments shall be
made by the Nominating Committee of the Representative
Body.
The Clerks
shall receive correspondence from Yearly Meetings, the
General Board, affiliated groups or concerned Friends,
which shall then
be referred to the appropriate bodies.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 95
Referrals
The Clerk, or
the Representative Body, may refer appropriate
matters to the General Board or to the proper Commission
of the Friends
United Meeting.
Friends United Meeting
Triennial Sessions
Page 95
Appeals
Those
presenting new proposals may appeal to the Representative
Body if not satisfied with the channels used by the
Clerks or the New
Business Committee.
Friends United Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 95-96
General Board Authority
In the interim
between Triennial Sessions, the General Board is
the responsible body and legal representative of the
Friends United
Meeting. It shall
have the authority and responsibility to act for
Friends United Meeting between Triennial Sessions.
The General
Board shall report to the Representative Body of the
Friends United Meeting in triennial session. Its report shall include
its recommendations for the appointment of the General
Secretary, the
Associate General Secretaries and the Editor of QUAKER
LIFE. These
appointments shall be considered by the Representative
Body before they
are presented for action by the Friends United Meeting in
triennial
sessions. The
General Board is authorized to fill vacancies in these
positions or among the Clerks, if they occur during the
interim between
sessions.
Friends United Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page96-97
General Board Composition
The General
Board shall consist of members as follows:
Yearly Meeting appointments -29 (may vary)
Presiding and Assistant Presiding Clerks -2
Recording Clerk -1
Chairman of Commissions -3
U.S.F.W. appointments -1
Quaker Men appointments -1
Treasurer -1
Trustees appointment -1
Young Friends appointment -3
___
42
The formula
for Yearly Meeting appointments to the General Board
is :
Membership -
3,000 or less - one appointee
3,001 to 10,000 - two appointees
10,001 and over - three appointees
The General
Secretary, Associate General Secretaries, and Editor
of QUAKER LIFE are resource members of the General
Board. At the
discretion of the General Board, resource members may
serve on any
committee but the Personnel Committee.
The FUM
Recording Clerk is a member and recording secretary of the
General Board.
Yearly
Meetings shall make their appointments to the General Board
and Commissions during the year preceding the Friends
United Meeting
Triennial Sessions, and they shall take office at the
first session of
the respective bodies following these Sessions. Appointments to fill
vacancies shall take office at the first meeting of their
respective
bodies following the appointment by their Yearly Meeting.
The Young
Friends Members of the General Board are to be appointed
by the Chairman of the Meeting Ministries Commission in
consultation
with this Commission until such time as a Friends United
Meeting Young
Friends organization might come into existence. If such an
organization should materialize, then the organization
would appoint
the Young Friends representatives.
The United
Society of Friends Women and National Quaker Men each
shall appoint one person to each Commission, and from
those appointed
to the Commissions shall choose one from each
organization to serve on
the General Board.
The Presiding
Clerk of the Friends United Meeting shall serve as
the Clerk of the General Board. In his absence the Assistant Presiding
Clerk shall preside.
When the Presiding Clerk is reporting he shall
yield his presiding role to the Assistant Presiding
Clerk.
The General
Board shall have four regular internal Committees:
Executive Committee, Personnel Committee, Priorities and
Budget
Committee, and Nominating Committee.
Friends United Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 97
Executive Committee of the General Board
The Executive
Committee of the General Board shall be made up of
eight members all of whom are members of the General
Board: Presiding
Clerk, Assistant Presiding Clerk, General Secretary,
Commission
Chairman and two members-at-large shall represent
different Yearly
Meetings and shall be appointed for terms of three years
by the General
Board at the first meeting following the Triennial
Sessions of Friends
United Meeting.
This Committee
shall assume responsibility for active counsel with
and guidance of the General Secretary. It shall have authority to act
for the General Board within limits as prescribed by the
General Board
and shall make a full report thereto.
The members of
this Committee should be willing and able to meet
at least five times a year.
Friends United Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 97-98
Personnel Committee of the General Board
The Personnel
Committee of the General Board shall have the
responsibility for screening and recommending to the
General Board
names for those to serve as General Secretary, Associate
General
Secretaries and Editor of Quaker Life. It shall work in close
consultation with the General Secretary, the Executive
Committee and
the Commissions and shall present its recommendations to
the General
Board. It shall
review periodically all personnel policies applying to
the total staff and shall recommend changes to the
General Board. The
basic salary structure shall be reviewed by this
Committee and salary
recommendations shall be sent to the Priorities and
Budget Committee
for budget preparation.
This Committee
shall be made up of five appointees from the
General Board broadly representative of the interest of
Friends United
Meeting, and shall serve for three years.
Friends United Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 98
Priorities and Budget Committee of the General Board
The Priorities
and Budget Committee of the General Board shall be
composed of: The General Secretary and Associate General
Secretaries,
Treasurer of Friends United Meeting and the three Yearly
Meeting
representatives, clerks or committee chairmen, to be
named by the
General Board.
From the ongoing and projected needs of the Commissions
it shall prepare the budget for review by the Executive
Committee and
approval by the General Board.
The five
steps in developing the budget are:
1.
Prepared by the Priorities and Budget Committee
2.
Reviewed by the Executive Committee
3.
Approved by the General Board
4.
Interpreted by the General Services Commission
5.
Implemented by the Commissions and their staffs
Friends United Meeting
Organization and Functions
Page 98-99
Nominating Committee of the General Board
At its first
meeting following the Triennial Sessions of Friends
United Meeting the General Board shall appoint from its
membership five
persons to serve for a three year term as a Nominating
Committee.
The Nominating
Committee of the General Board shall present names
to the General Board for its approval: two
members-at-large to serve on
the Executive Committee, the five members of the
Personnel Committee,
the three Yearly Meeting executives, clerks or committee
chairmen to
serve on the Priorities and Budget Committee, and the
chairmen of these
committees. It
shall also make other nominations for appointments as
directed by the General Board.
Friends United Meeting
Commissions & their Functions
Page 99
Commissions and their Functions
In cooperation
with the General and Associate General Secretaries,
and under broad policies established by the General
Board, the
Commissions shall delineate their areas of service, study
and recommend
priorities, and appoint such task groups, project units
or ad hoc
committees as are found necessary to carry out their
responsibilities,
and suggest staff, financial support and arrangements
needed therefore.
Each Commission shall name a Chairman, Vice Chairman and
such other
officers as may be required to carry out their
responsibilities.
Friends United Meeting
Commissions & their Functions
Page 99
Meeting Ministries Commission
This
Commission focuses its energies on those services which are
designed to facilitate Monthly and Yearly Meetings in
their ministries.
Concerns relating
to curriculum and leadership development, Meeting
growth, social and ethical issues, youth, family life and
creative
aging are illustrative of the appropriate agenda
considerations of the
Meeting Ministries Commission.
Friends United Meeting
Commissions & their Functions
Page 99
Wider Ministries Commission
The concerns
of this Commission focus largely on educational and
program activities designed to encourage Monthly and
Yearly Meetings in
two ways: to reach out beyond themselves and to provide
programs for
channeling their outreach ministries. Besides administration of
outreach ministries some of which are in cooperation with
some of our
constituent Yearly Meetings, this Commission seeks to
enable the
development of new Meetings and new creative ministries
in areas of
special human need.
Such programs or projects may have quite varied
objectives. But
whether their chief accent is on education,
proclamation, social concerns, leadership development,
health,
agriculture or economics, they have a common under-girding
assumption.
It is that the Christian mission calls Friends to reach
out beyond
themselves in ministry to the whole of life wherever a
need may be
found and wherever friends sense through a corporate
leading that they
may make a contribution.
Friends United Meeting
Commissions & their Functions
Page 100
General Services Commission
This
Commission encompasses the business and office administration
of the Friends United Meeting. In this sense it provides a supportive
role and back-up role for the ministries of the other two
Commissions.
General Services Commission assumes major
responsibilities for
interpretation and promotion, publishing, Friends United
Press,
Bookstore services, curriculum promotion and sales,
accounting, office
management, and oversight of our national group pension
and health
insurance programs.
In 1969 the Friends United Meeting inaugurated a
new retirement plan designed to provide more appropriate
benefits to the
retired than our earlier plan established in 1945. The new plan, in
contract with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company,
is designed
for pastors and other employees of Monthly and Yearly
Meetings and
others employed by any Quaker organization or
agency. Minimum
eligibility requirements include an annual minimum salary
and specify
that the participants be under age 70. The Plan is managed by the
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and is under
the supervision
of a five-member Pension Committee which reports to the
Business
Management sub-committee of the General Services
Commission.
The Pension
Committee consists of five members appointed by the
General Board of Friends United Meeting. Inquires may be directed to
the Pension Committee at the Friends Central Offices in
National
Friends Insurance Trust -- in order to provide for
sharing medical treatment expenses at a moderate cost The
Friends
United Meeting offers a group plan open to all employees
of Monthly and
Yearly Meetings and others employed by Quaker
organizations and
agencies. This
Health, Hospitalization and Major Medical coverage
includes life insurance on the employee, plus accidental
death benefit.
Single and family
memberships are available.
Responsibility for this
insurance program is lodged with the Business Management
sub-committee
of the General Services Commission.
Friends United Meeting
Commissions & their Functions
Page 101-102
Composition of Commissions
Yearly Meeting
appointments--
Membership -- 3,000 0r less
- one
to General Services Commission
- one
to Meeting Ministries Commission
- one
to Wider Ministries Commission
3,001
to 10,000
- one
to General Services Commission
- three
to Meeting Ministries Commission
- three
to Wider Ministries Commission
10,001 or over
- one
to General Services Commission
- four
to Meeting Ministries Commission
- four
to Wider Ministries Commission
Other appointments:
The United
Society of Friends Women shall appoint one person to
each of the three Commissions. Quaker Men shall also appoint one
person to each of the three Commissions. Young Friends shall have one
representative on each of the three Commission to be
appointed by the
Meeting Ministries Commission until such time as a
Friends United
Meeting Young Friends organization shall materialize.
(see section on
General Board Composition).
For information
concerning terms and time of Yearly Meeting
appointments to Commissions see same section.
In making
appointments to Commissions it is suggested that Yearly
Meetings give careful consideration to those named so
that the areas of
function of the Yearly Meeting are fairly represented in
their
Commission appointments. Yearly Meeting appointments shall be for a
term of three years and should coincide with the
Triennial year of
Friends United Meeting.
It is suggested that terms of Yearly Meeting
appointees be limited to two consecutive triennial terms.
At present,
time, distance and travel costs preclude regular
participation by east Africa Yearly Meeting in full quota
representation. By
utilizing EAYM members in the
hoped that EAYM might fill its full quota (3) on the
General Board as
frequently as possible and that at least one
representative might serve
on each Commission.
Yearly Meetings
shall first appoint members to serve on the
Commissions and shall then choose from among Commission
appointees
those to serve on the General Board.
Members of the
General Board who are not serving on Commissions as
well as other Friends are invited to meet with the
Commission of their
preference as guests and observers.
Friends United Meeting
Commissions & their Functions
Page 102
Administrative Staff
The appointment
of the General Secretary, Associate General
Secretaries and the Editor of QUAKER LIFE shall be made
by the Friends
United Meeting in its Triennial Sessions. They shall
administer the
work of the Friends United Meeting.
a. GENERAL
SECRETARY: The person in this office serves as the
Executive of the Friends United Meeting. He shall be responsible to
the General Board.
The General Secretary, in addition to his executive
functions, has field responsibilities with freedom to
travel among
Friends, visiting Yearly Meetings, attending conferences
and giving
inspiration and encouragement to Friends wherever a way
opens. He is a
resource member of all Boards and Commissions and
Committees of Friends
United Meeting.
b. ASSOCIATE
GENERAL SECRETARIES: The Associate General Secretaries
shall assist the General Secretary and may be assigned by
the General
Secretary to meet with the Commissions and to carry out
specific duties
in the area of a particular Commission's responsibility.
c. EDITOR of
QUAKER LIFE: The Editor of QUAKER LIFE shall be
responsible for producing QUAKER LIFE, the preparation
and distribution
of regular news releases to Yearly Meetings, and such
other duties as
may be designated by the General Board and the General
Secretary.
d. ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANTS: The General Secretary shall be
responsible for the appointment and assignment of
administrative
assistants.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 102-103
Trustees
The Board of
Trustees shall hold and administer such property as
Friends United Meeting shall place in its custody and
shall have the
management of annuity, trust and endowment funds given
for the use of
the Friends United Meeting or one of its Commissions,
Committees or
programs.
The Board
shall consist of seven members chosen for periods of six
years, three to be selected at one triennial session and
four at the
next. They shall
be appointed Friends United Meeting upon
recommendation of the Nominating Committee of the
Representative Body.
In keeping with Quaker ideals of service and the
distribution of
responsibility, the service of trustees should not extend
beyond the
limit of twelve consecutive years, not counting the
filling of
unexpired terms.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 103
Friends Extension Corporation
The Friends
Extension Corporation serves to offer financial
assistance through loans and small grants to new
fellowship groups
preparing to establish a Friends Meeting and to existing
Friends
Meetings planning to extend their physical
facilities. Consideration is
also given for financial assistance to Friends retirement
homes, camps,
conference grounds and educational buildings. The Corporation solicits
funds and property from individuals, Meetings and Trustee
groups who
wish to invest in this program of extending the witness
and work of
Friends.
The membership
of the Friends Extension Corporation Board of
Directors shall consist of the Chairman of the Wider
Ministries
Commission, the Chairman of the Meeting Ministries
Commission, two
Associate General Secretaries to be named by the General
Secretary,
Friends United Meeting Treasurer, one member designated
by FUM Trustees
and three members at large to be appointed by the General
Board.
The Executive
Committee shall conduct interim business delegated
to it by its Board.
The Committee consists of the four officers and
one other Director appointed by the chairman.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 103
Treasurer
The Treasurer
shall be appointed by Friends United Meeting upon
recommendation of the Nominating Committee of the
Representative Body.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 103-104
United Services Budget
The United
Services Budget is a financial system by which the work of
the Commissions is supported. It is raised by the Yearly Meetings on a
voluntary basis.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 104
Assessment Budget
The permanent
expenses for the administration of Friends United
Meeting and the operation of the Central Offices are
provided through
per capital giving by the Yearly Meetings to the
Assessment Budget.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 104
Expense Pool
Expenses for
travel of the designated number of representatives to
and from the sessions of Friends United Meeting shall be
paid by the
Yearly Meetings (see section on Representatives). To equalize these
expenses, a pool shall be arranged whereby each Yearly
Meeting shall
pay the expenses of its quota of representatives
according to the
average expenses of all the representatives in
attendance. Details in
connection with the pool shall be determined by the General
Board.
When the
Travel Pool is inadequate to cover the expense of the
representatives to the Triennial Sessions, the Yearly
Meetings shall
make such financial arrangements as may be necessary to
ensure their
proper representation at the Sessions.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 104
Membership of Yearly Meetings
Upon the
approval of the Meetings involved, Friends United Meeting
may establish a new Yearly Meeting by setting off a
portion of an
existing Yearly Meeting, or portions of two or more
Yearly Meetings, or
upon the request of a group of new Meetings.
Applications
for membership in Friends United Meeting received
from Yearly Meetings already established will be
considered on an
individual basis.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 104
Yearly Meetings on Mission Field
The Wider
Ministries Commission shall inform Friends United
Meeting when the organization of a Yearly Meeting is
proposed on any of
its mission fields.
Friends United Meeting shall carefully consider
the proposition and, if it deem it advisable, shall
establish the new
Yearly Meeting.
Such Yearly Meetings shall be constituent members of
Friends United Meeting but shall not necessarily be
expected to assume
the financial and representative responsibilities
required of other
Yearly Meetings.
Friends United Meeting
Property & Financial Interest
Page 105
Relationship to Interdenominational Agencies
All
Commissions shall seek and maintain cooperation with such
church affiliated agencies as may best serve to increase
the range and
effectiveness of their work.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 105
Associated Organizations
There are
several groups that are closely associated with Friends
United Meeting, some of which are represented on our
Boards or
Commissions. (Others share in the concerns and activities
while not
officially identified with the Friends United
Meeting). They are
classified as Affiliated, Cooperative or Ecumenical
Relationships.
a. Affiliated
organizations include the United Society of Friends
Women and the National Quaker Men. They appoint representatives to the
three Commissions and the General Board. They share in the discussion
of business matters and in the decisions made.
b. Cooperative
organizations are those that are made up largely of
Friends and whose interests and concerns parallel or
supplement the
work of Friends United Meeting. They are welcome to attend Commissions
and General Board sessions as observers at their own
expense. An
observer has the privilege to speak but may not enter
into the decision
making.
c. Ecumenical
organizations are those that promote Christian
fellowship and service through national or international
structures.
These so identified are the National Council of Churches
and the World
Council of Churches, as well as the State and local
Councils of
Churches. They may
attend the General Board and Commission sessions by
request as observers at their own expense. The General Board may make
appointments to these organizations in response to
requests from them.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 105-106
United Society of Friends Women
The United
Society of Friends Women has as its principal objective
the unification and correlation of the activities and
concerns of all
women in their Meetings in one inclusive organization
with a view to an
enlarged program of study and giving. As a part of this approach to
their task the name of the organization was changed in
1948 from the
Women's Missionary Union to its present name. The United Society
includes the women's societies in the following Yearly
Meetings:
Yearly Meeting.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 106
National Quaker Men
The Quaker Men
movement among Friends started essentially as a
local Meeting enterprise, later becoming a Yearly Meeting
and Friends
United Meeting movement.
It seeks to enlist the manpower of its
membership for effective service through the local
Meeting. With a
background of development in several Yearly Meetings, the
Quaker Men
organization of Friends United Meeting was formed during
sessions of
1950. This
organization promotes and supports special projects for
which the local Meetings, Yearly Meetings and Friends
United Meeting
are concerned.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 106
American Friends Service Committee
The American
friends Service Committee is a channel for service in
a wide range of humanitarian activities at home and
abroad through
which many Friends in Friends United Meeting may express
their
convictions in relief and service. Its membership includes
representatives of many of the constituent Yearly
Meetings of Friends
United Meeting.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 106
Friends Committee on National Legislation
The Friends
Committee on National Legislation, with headquarters in
national policy.
Through meetings and literature, the F.C.N.L. informs
Friends on matters pertinent to Friends beliefs and provides
a channel
for action. It
seeks to work with legislators and administrative
officers for those laws which help to make a peaceful
world. The
Executive Board of the F.C.N.L. is made up of Friends
many representing
constituent Yearly Meetings of the Friends United
Meeting.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 106-107
Friends World Committee for Consultation
The Friends
World Committee for Consultation has headquarters in
seeks to nurture the spiritual life and growth of the
world-wide
community of Friends through literature, conferences,
inter-visitation
and outreach. It
is composed of representatives from Yearly Meetings
around the world.
Its purpose is to strengthen in Friends the sense of
unity and interdependence and to enable Friends to take
their place in
the development of a world Christian community.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 107
National Council of Churches
The National
Council of Churches of Christ in the
oneness of the
Divine Lord and Savior and to promote the spirit of
fellowship,
service, and cooperation among them. Friends United Meeting is a
constituent member represented in the organization . the General Board
may make appointments to the National Council of Churches
as requested
by this body.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 107
World Council of Churches
The World
Council of Churches is an organization of like purpose
to the above, (National Council of Churches) but
world-wide in scope.
It is basically, "A fellowship of Churches which
accept our Lord Jesus
Christ as God and Savior." Friends were represented at the Advisory
Conference in 1938, which drafted the Constitution of the
proposed
Council, and in 1940 the Five Years Meeting approved the
proposal of
membership in the World Council of Churches in this
statement: "The
Five Years Meeting of Friends in
invitation to join the World Council of Churches. Our central interest
is to affirm our absolute loyalty to Jesus Christ as Head
of the Church
and to express the spirit of love, the power of truth,
and the
promotion of vital religion of life." The General Board may make
appointments to the World Council of Churches as
requested by that
ecumenical body.
Friends United Meeting
Associated Organizations
Page 107
Amending, Revising Discipline
Propositions
for amendment or revision of these procedures may
originate with a Yearly Meeting, or with Friends United
Meeting, or its
General Board.
These provisions may be considered as administrative
procedure of Friends United Meeting and may be amended or
revised by
that body at its triennial session.
Faith and Practice
Page 109-110
Authorized Declaration of Faith 1
Preface
"We recognize
with profound sorrow that there is in the world today
a great drift of religious unsettlement, unconcern and
unbelief. We
desire at this time to call our own membership to a
deeper religious
life, a greater consecration of heart and will to God and
a more
positive loyalty to the faith for which so many of our
forerunners
suffered and died.
We wish to reaffirm the statements and declarations
of faith contained in our Uniform Discipline, viz., 'The
Essential
Truths', 'The Declaration of Faith' issued by the
Richmond conference
in 1887 and 'George Fox's Letter to the Governor of Barbados'
and we
urge upon all our membership to refresh their minds by a
careful
reading of these documents which gather up and express
the central
truths for which we stand, now as in the past. but we would further
remind our membership that our Christian faith involves
more than the
adoption and profession of written statements however
precious they may
be. It stands and
lives only in free personal loyalty and devotion to
a living Christ and in an inward experience of His
spiritual presence
and power in the soul, making the facts of our religion
as real and as
capable of being soundly tested as are the facts of the
physical
universe. May
Friends everywhere bear in their bodies the marks of the
Lord Jesus."
"Hardly
less important for the promotion of our spiritual
influence and power in the world is an increase of faith,
trust and
confidence in one another, a love that suffers long and
is kind and a
unity of spirit which will bind us more closely together
than
uniformity of thought could ever do . . . ."2
1 See
page 8
2 Minute
presented by Rufus Jones and adopted by the five Years
Meeting,
Faith and Practice
Essential Truths
Page 110-112
Authorized Declaration of Faith
The vital
principle of the Christian faith is the truth that man's
salvation and higher life are personal matters between
the individual
soul and God.
Salvation is
deliverance from sin and the possession of spiritual
life. This comes
through a personal faith in Jesus Christ as the
Savior, who, through his love and sacrifice draws us to
Him.
Conviction for
sin is awakened by the operation of the Holy Spirit
causing the soul to feel its need of reconciliation with
God. When
Christ is seen as the only hope of salvation, and a man
yields to Him,
he is brought into newness of life, and realizes that his
son-ship to God
has become an actual reality. This transformation is wrought without
the necessary agency of any human priest, or ordinance,
or ceremony
whatsoever. A
changed nature and life bear witness to this new
relation to Him.
The whole spiritual life grows out of the
soul's relation to God
and its cooperation with Him, not from any outward or
traditional
observances.
Christ Himself
baptizes the surrendered soul with the Holy Spirit,
enduing it with power, bestowing gifts for service. This is an
efficient baptism, a direct incoming of divine power for
the
transformation and control of the whole man. Christ Himself is the
Spiritual bread which nourishes the soul, and He thus
enters into and
becomes a part of the being of those who partake of
Him. This
participation with Christ and apprehension of Him become
the goal of
life for the Christian.
Those who enter into oneness with Him become
also joined in living union with each other as members of
one body.
Both worship
and Christian fellowship spring out of this immediate
relation of believing souls with their Lord.
The Holy
Scriptures were given by inspiration of God and are the
divinely authorized record of the doctrines which
Christians are bound
to accept, and of the moral principles which are to
regulate their
lives and actions.
In them, as interpreted and unfolded by the Holy
Spirit, is an ever fresh and unfailing source of
spiritual truth for
the proper guidance of life and practice.
The doctrines
of the apostolic days are held by the Friends as
essentials of Christianity. The Fatherhood of God, the Deity and
humanity of the Son; the gift of the Holy Spirit; the
atonement through
Jesus Christ by which men are reconciled to God; the Resurrection;
the
High Priesthood of Christ, and the individual priesthood
of believers,
are most precious truths, to be held, not as traditional
dogmas, but
as vital, life-giving realities.
The sinful
condition of man and his proneness to yield to
temptation, the world's absolute need of a Savior, and
the cleansing
from sin in forgiveness and sanctification through the
blood of Jesus
Christ, are unceasing incentives to all who believe to
become laborers
together with God in extending His kingdom. By this high calling the
Friends are pledged to the proclamation of the truth
wherever the
Spirit leads, both in home and in foreign fields.
--continued--
Faith and Practice
Essential Truths (2)
Page 110-112
Authorized Declaration of Faith
--continued--
The indwelling
Spirit guides and controls the surrendered life,
and the Christian's constant and supreme business is
obedience to Him.
But while the
importance of individual guidance and obedience is thus
emphasized, this fact gives no ground for license; the
sanctified
conclusions of the Church are above the judgment of a
single
individual.
The Friends
find no scriptural evidence or authority for any form
or degree of sacerdotalism
(priestly office CDS) in the Christian Church,
or for the establishment of any ordinance or ceremonial
rite for
perpetual observance.
The teachings of Jesus Christ concerning the
spiritual nature of religion, the impossibility of
promoting the
spiritual life by the ceremonial application of material
things, the
fact that faith in Jesus Christ Himself is
all-sufficient, the purpose
of His life, death, resurrection and ascension, and His
presence in the
believer's heart, virtually destroy every ceremonial
system and point
the soul to the only satisfying source of spiritual life
and power.
With faith in
the wisdom of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit, and believing that it is his purpose to
make His
church on earth a power for righteousness and truth, the
Friends labor
for the alleviation of human suffering; for the
intellectual, moral and
spiritual elevation of mankind; and for purified and
exalted
citizenship. The
Friends believe war to be incompatible with
Christianity, and seek to promote peaceful methods for
the settlement
of all differences between nations and between men.
It is an
essential part of the faith that a man should be in truth
what he professes in word, and the underlying principle
of life and
action for individuals, and also for society, is
transformation through
the power of God and implicit obedience to His revealed
will.
For more
explicit and extended statements of belief, reference is
made to those officially put forth at various times,
especially to the
letter of George Fox to the Governor of Barbados in 1671,
and to the
Declaration of Faith issues by the Richmond Conference in
1887.
Faith and Practice
Page 112-114
Extract from George Fox's Letter to the Governor of
Barbados, 1671
We do own and
believe in God, the only wise, omnipotent, and
everlasting God, the Creator of all things both in heaven
and in earth,
and the Preserver of all that He hath made; who is God
over all,
blessed forever; to whom be all honor and glory,
dominion, praise and
thanksgiving, both now and forevermore.
And we own and
believe in Jesus Christ, His beloved and
only-begotten Son, in whom He is well pleased; who was
conceived by the
Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary; in whom we have
redemption
through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who is
the express
image of the invisible God, the first-born of every
creature, by whom
were all things created that are in heaven and that are
in earth,
visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or
dominions,
principalities, or powers; all things were created by
Him. And we do
own and believe that He was made a sacrifice for sin, who
knew no sin,
neither was guile found in His mouth; that he was
crucified for us in
the flesh, without the gates of
rose again the third day by the power of His Father, for
our
justification; and that He ascended up into heaven, and
now sitteth at
the right hand of God.
This Jesus, who was the foundation of the holy
prophets and apostles, is our foundation; and we believe
that there is
no other foundation to be laid than that which is laid,
even Christ
Jesus; who tasted death for every man, shed His blood for
all men and
is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only,
but also for the
sins of the whole world according as John the Baptist
testified of Him,
when he said, "behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the
world!" (John 1:29).
We believe that He alone is our Redeemer and
Saviour, even the captain of our salvation, who saves us
from sin, as
well as from hell and the wrath to come, and destroys the
devil and his
works; he is the Seed of the woman that bruises the
serpent's head, to
wit, Jesus Christ, the Alpha and Omega, the First and the
Last. He is
(as the Scriptures of truth say of Him) our wisdom and
righteousness,
justification, and redemption; neither is there salvation
in any other
for there is no other name under heaven given among men,
whereby we may
be saved. It is He
alone who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls:
He is our Prophet, who Moses long since testified of,
saying, "A
prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of the
brethren, like
unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he
shall say unto
you; and it shall come to pass, that every soul that will
not hear that
prophet shall be destroyed from among the people."
(Acts
--continued--
Faith and Practice
Page 112-114
Extract from George Fox's Letter to the Governor of
Barbados, 1671
--continued--
He it is that
is now come, "and hath given to us an understanding,
that we may know him that is true." He rules in our hearts by His law
of love and of life, and makes us free from the law of
sin and death.
We have no life, but of Him; for He is the quickening
Spirit, the
second Adam, the Lord from heaven, by whose blood we are
cleansed, and
our consciences sprinkled from dead works, to serve the
living God. He
is our Mediator, that makes peace and reconciliation
between God
offended and us offending: He being the Oath of God, the
new covenant
of light, life, grace and peace; the author and finisher
of our faith.
This Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly man, the Emmanuel,
God with us, we
all own and believe in; He whom the high-priest raged
against then
said, He had spoken blasphemy; whom the priests and
elders of the Jews
took counsel together against and put to death; the same
whom Judas
betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, which the priests
gave him as a
reward for his treason; who also gave large money to the
soldiers to
broach a horrible lie, namely, "That his disciples
came and stole him
away by night whilst they slept." After He was arisen from the dead,
the history of the acts of the apostles sets forth how
the chief
priests and elders persecuted the disciples of this
Jesus, for
preaching Christ and His resurrection. This, we say, is that Lord
Jesus Christ, whom we own to be our life and salvation.
Concerning the
Holy Scriptures, we do believe that they were given
forth by the Holy Spirit of God, through the holy men of
God, who, as
the scripture itself declares, (2 Peter
by the Holy Ghost.
We believe they are to be read, believed, and
fulfilled: (He that fulfills them is Christ), and they
are "profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for
instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect,
thoroughly furnished
unto all good works." (2 Timothy
unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus.
Faith and Practice
Of God
Page 114-115
Declaration of Faith Issued by the
(N.B. It should be understood that the quotations from
Scripture are
made from the Authorized Version unless stated to be from
the Revised
Version.)
It is under a
deep sense of what we owe to Him who has loved us
that we feel called upon to offer a declaration of those
fundamental
doctrines of Christian truth that have always been
professed by our
branch of the
Of God
We believe in one holy, (Isa.
6:3, 57:15) almighty, (Gen. 17:1)
all wise, (Rom.
Father, (Matt.
who all things were made, (John 1:3) and by whom all
things consist;
(Col. 1:17) and in one Holy Spirit, proceeding from the
Father and the
Son, (John
Witness for Christ, (John
(John 16:13) and Sanctifier (2 Thes.
that these three are one in the eternal Godhead; (Matt.
28:19, John
forever. Amen.
Faith and Practice
The Lord Jesus Christ
Page 115-117
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
It is with
reverence and thanksgiving that we profess our
unwavering allegiance to our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. No man
hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is
in the bosom
of the Father, He hath declared Him (John
(John 1:4) and the life was the light of men. (John
1:4) He is the
true Light which ligheth every
man that cometh into the world; (John
1:9) Through whom the light of truth in all ages has
proceeded from the
Father of lights. (James 1:17). He is the eternal Word (John 1;1) who
was with God and was God, revealing Himself in infinite
wisdom and
love, both as man's Creator (Col. 1:13-16) and Redeemer;
(Col. 1:14)
for by him were all things created that are in heaven and
that are on
earth, visible and invisible. conceived of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 1;20)
born of the virgin Mary, (Matt.
flesh, (John 1;14) and dwelt amongst men. He came in the fullness (Gal.
4:4) of the appointed time, being verily foreordained
before the
foundation of the world (1 Peter
11:1-5, 52:13-15) the eternal counsel of the
righteousness and love of
God for the redemption of man. (Isa.
53). In Him dwelleth
all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Col. 2:9). Though He was rich, yet
for our sakes, He became poor, veiling in the form of a
servant (Phil.
2:7) the brightness of His glory, that, through Him the
kindness and
love of God (Titus 3:4) toward man might appear in a
manner every way
suited to our wants and finite capacities. He went about doing good;
(Acts
anguish (Luke
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb.
4:15). Thus humbling
himself that we might be exalted, He emphatically
recognized the duties
and the sufferings of humanity as among the means
whereby, through the
obedience of faith, we are to be disciplined for heaven,
sanctifying
them to us, by Himself performing and enduring them,
leaving us the one
perfect example (1 Peter
self sacrificing love.
But not only
in these blessed relations must the Lord Jesus be
ever precious to His people. In Him is revealed as true god and
Perfect man, (Eph.
almighty to save.
He became obedient (Phil. 2:8) unto death, even the
death of the cross, and is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for
ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world;(1
John 2:2) in
whom we have redemption through His blood, (Eph. 1;7) the
forgiveness
of sins according to the riches of His grace. It is our joy to confess
that the remission of sins which any partake of is only
in and by
virtue of His most satisfactory sacrifice and no otherwise.
(Barclay's
Apology, Propos. 5 and 6 par. 15, p. 141)
--continued--
Faith and Practice
The Lord Jesus Christ
Page 115-117
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
--continued--
He was buried
and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:4) according
to Scriptures, becoming the first fruits (1 Cor.
sleep, and having shown Himself alive after His passion,
by many
infallible proofs. (Acts 1:3). He ascended into heaven, and hath sat
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, now to
appear in the
presence of God for us. (Heb. 1:3,
His ascension, we rest in the assurance of the angelic
messengers,
"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into
heaven shall so come
in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven,"
(Acts
v. 7). With the
apostle John, we would desire to unite in the words
"Amen; even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev.
22:20). And now, whilst thus
watching and waiting, we rejoice to believe that He is
our King and
Savior. He is the
one Mediator of the new and everlasting covenant (1
Tim. 2:5, Heb. (:15) who makes peace and reconciliation
between God
offended and man offending; (George Fox's Epistle to the
Governor of
(Heb.
unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth
to make intercession for them.
(Heb. 7:25). All
power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth.
(Matt. 28:18). By
Him the world shall be judged in righteousness;
(Acts
judgment unto the Son, that all men should honor the Son
even as they
honor the Father. (John 5:22,23). All that are in the graves shall
hear His voice, and shall come forth, they that have done
good unto the
resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto
the
resurrection of judgment. (John
We reverently
confess and believe that divine honor and worship
are due to the Son of God, and that He is in true faith
to be prayed
unto and His name to be called upon, as the Primitive
Christians did
because of the glorious oneness of the Father and the
Son; and that we
cannot acceptably offer prayers and praises to God, nor
receive from
Him a gracious answer or blessing, but in and through his
dear Son.
(Declaration of 1693, in Sewel's History, vol. II, 379).
We would, with
humble thanksgiving, bear an especial testimony to
our Lord's perpetual dominion and power in His
church. Through Him the
redeemed in all generations have derived their light,
their
forgiveness, and their joy. All are members of this church, by
whatsoever name they may be called among men, who have
been baptized by
the one Spirit into the one body; who are builded as living stones upon
Christ, the eternal foundation, and are united in faith
and love in
that fellowship which is with the Father and with the
Son. Of this
church the Lord Jesus Christ is the alone Head. (Eph.
1;22). All its
true members are made one in Him. They have washed their robes and
made them white in His precious blood. (Rev. 7:14) and He
has made them
priests unto God and His Father. (Rev. 1:6). He dwells in their hearts
by faith, and gives them of His peace. His will is their law, and in
Him they enjoy true liberty, a freedom from the bondage
of sin.
Faith and Practice
The Holy Spirit
Page 117-118
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
We believe that
the Holy Spirit is, in the unity of the eternal
Godhead, one with the Father and with the Son (Matt.
28:19, 2 Cor.
13:14). He is the
comforter "Whom" saith Christ, "the
Father will send
in my name." (John 14:26). He convinces the world of sin, of
righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:8). He testifies of the
glorified Jesus. (John 16:14). It is the Holy Spirit who makes the
evil manifest. He
quickens them that are dead in trespasses and sins,
and opens the inward eye to behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the
sin of the world (Eph. 2:1). Coming in the name and with the authority
of the risen and ascended Savior. He is the precious pledge of the
continued love and care of our exalted King. He takes of the things of
Christ and shows them, as a realized possession, to the
believing soul.
(John 16:14).
Dwelling in the hearts of believers, (John
opens their understandings that they may understand the
Scriptures, and
becomes, to the humbled and surrendered heart, the Guide,
Comforter,
Support, and Sanctifier.
We believe
that the essential qualification for the Lord's service
is bestowed upon His children through the reception and
baptism of the
Holy Ghost. This
Holy Spirit is the seal of reconciliation to the
believer in Jesus, (Eph. 1;13,14) the witness to his
adoption into the
family of the redeemed; (Rom.
the full communion and perfect joy which are reserved for
them that
endure unto the end.
We own no
principle of spiritual light, life or holiness, inherent
by nature in the mind or heart of man. We believe in no principle of
spiritual light, life or holiness, but the influence of
the Holy Spirit
of God, bestrowed on mankind,
in various measures and degrees, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is the capacity to receive this blessed
influence, which in an especial manner, gives man
pre-eminence above
the beasts that perish; which distinguishes him, in every
nation and
every clime, as an object of the redeeming love of God,
as a being not
only intelligent but responsible; for whom the message of
salvation
through our crucified Redeemer is, under all possible
circumstances,
designed to be a joyful sound. The Holy Spirit must ever be
distinguished, both from the conscience which He
enlightens, and from
the natural faculty of reason, which when un-subjected to
His Holy
influence, is in the things of God, very
foolishness. As the eye is to
the body so is the conscience to our inner being, the
organ by which we
see; and, as both light and life are essential to the
eye, so
conscience, as the inward eye, cannot see aright without
the quickening
and illumination of the Spirit of God. One with the Father and the
Son, the Holy Spirit can never disown or dishonor our once
crucified
and now risen and glorious Redeemer. We disavow all professed
illumination or spirituality that is divorced from faith
in Jesus Christ
of
Faith and Practice
The Holy Scriptures
Page 119
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
It has ever
been, and still us, the belief of the Society of
Friends that the Holy Scriptures were given by
inspiration of God;
that, therefore, there can be no appeal from them to any
other
authority whatsoever; that they are able to make wise
unto salvation,
through faith which is in Jesus Christ. "These were written that ye
might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;
and that
believing ye might have life through His name."
(John 20:31). The
Scriptures are the only divinely authorized record of the
doctrines
which we are bound, as Christians, to accept, and of the
moral
principles which are to regulate our actions. No one can be required
to believe, as an article of faith, any doctrine which is
not contained
in them; and whatsoever any one says or does, contrary to
the
Scriptures though under the profession of the immediate
guidance of the
Holy Spirit must be reckoned and accounted a mere
delusion. To the
Christian, the Old Testament comes with the solemn and
repeated
attestation of his Lord.
It is to be read in the light and
completeness of the New; thus will its meaning be
unveiled, and the
humble disciple will be taught to discern the unity and
mutual
adaptation of the whole, and the many-sidedness and
harmony of its
testimony to Christ.
The great Inspirer of Scripture is ever its true
Interpreter. He
performs this office in condescending love, not by
superseding our understandings, but by renewing and
enlightening them.
Where Christ presides, idle speculation is hushed; His
doctrine is
learned in the doing of His will, and all knowledge
ripens into a
deeper and richer experience of his truth and love.
Faith and Practice
Man's Creation and Fall
Page 119-120
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
It pleased
God, in His wisdom and goodness, to create man out of
the dust of the earth, and to breathe into his nostrils
the breath of
life, so that man became a living soul; formed after the
image and
likeness of God, capable of fulfilling the divine law,
and of holding
communion with his Maker. (Gen 2:7,
to disobey, he fell into transgression, through unbelief,
under the
temptation of Satan, (Gen. 3:1-7) and, thereby, lost that spiritual
life of righteousness, in which he was created; and, so,
death passed
upon him, as the inevitable consequence of his sin. (Rom.
children of fallen Adam, all mankind bear his image. They partake of
his nature, and are involved in the consequences of his
fall. To every
member of every successive generation, the words of the
Redeemer are
alike applicable, "Ye must be born again."
(John 3:7). But while we
hold these views of the lost condition of man in the
fall, we rejoice
to believe that sin is not imputed to any, until they
transgress the
divine law, after sufficient capacity has been given to
understand it;
and that infants, though inheriting this fallen nature,
are saved in
the infinite mercy of God through the redemption which is
in Christ
Jesus.
Faith and Practice
Justification & Sanctification
Page 120-122
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
"God so
love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosever believeth in Him should not perish, but have
everlasting
life." (John 3:16).
We believe that justification is of God's free
grace, through which, upon repentance and faith, He
pardons our sins,
and imparts to us a new life. It is received, not for works of
righteousness that we have done, (Titus 3:5) but in
unmerited mercy of
God in Christ Jesus.
Through faith in Him, and the shedding of His
precious blood, the guilt of sin is taken away, and we
stand reconciled
to God. The
offering up of Christ as the propitiation for the sins of
the whole world, is the appointed manifestation both of
the
righteousness and of the love of God. In this propitiation the pardon
of sin involves no abrogation or relaxation of the law of
holiness. It
is the vindication and establishment of the law, (Rom.
of the free and righteous submission of the Son of God
himself to all
its requirements.
He, the unchangeably just, proclaims Himself the
justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. (Rom.
age, sufferings and death of Christ have been a hidden
mystery, and a
rock of offense to the unbelief and pride of man's fallen
nature; yet,
to the humble penitent whose heart is broken under the
convicting power
of the Spirit, life is revealed in that death. As he looks upon Him
who was wounded for our transgressions, (Isa. 53:5) and upon whom the
Lord was pleased to lay the iniquity of us all, (Isa. 53:6) his eye is
more and more opened to see, and his heart to understand,
the exceeding
sinfulness of sin for which the Savior died; whilst, in
the sense of
pardoning grace, he will joy in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by
whom we have now received the atonement. (Rom.
We believe
that in connection with Justification is regeneration:
that they who come to this experience know that they are
not their own,
( 1 Cor. 6:19) that being
reconciled to God by the death of His Son, we
are saved by His life; (Rom.
desires; old things are passed away, and we become new
creatures, (2
Cor. 5:17) through faith in
Christ Jesus; our will being surrendered to
His holy will, grace reigns through righteousness, unto
eternal life,
by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom.
Faith and Practice
Justification & Sanctification
Page 120-122
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
Sanctification
is experienced in the acceptance of Christ in
living faith for justification, in so far as the pardoned
sinner,
through faith in Christ, is clothed with a measure of His
righteousness
and receives the Spirit of promise; for, as saith the Apostle, "Ye are
washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified, in the name
of the Lord
Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11). We
rejoice to
believe that the provisions of God's grace are sufficient
to deliver
from the power, as well as from the guilt, of sin, and to
enable His
believing children always to triumph in Christ. (2 Cor. 2:14). How
full of encouragement is the declaration, "According
to your faith be
it unto you." (Matt. 9;29). Whosoever submits himself wholly to God,
believing and appropriating His promises, and exercising
faith in Jesus
Christ, will have his heart continually cleansed from all
sin, by His
precious blood, and, through the renewing, refining power
of the Holy
Spirit, be kept in conformity to the will of God, will
love Him with
all his heart, mind, soul and strength, and be able to
say, with the
Apostle Paul, "The law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made
me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom.
8:2). Thus, in its full
experience, Sanctification is deliverance from the
pollution, nature
and love of sin.
To this we are every one called, that we may serve
the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness
before Him, all
the days of our life. (Luke 1:74,75). It was the prayer of the apostle
for the believers, "The very God of peace sanctify
you wholly; and I
pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved
blameless
unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth
you who also will do it" (1 Thess.
Christian is still liable to temptation, is exposed to
the subtle
assaults of Satan, and can only continue to follow
holiness as he
humbly watches unto prayer, and as kept in constant
dependence upon his
Savior, walking in the light, (1 John 1:7) in the loving
obedience of
faith.
Faith and Practice
Page 122-123
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
The
Resurrection and Final Judgment
We believe,
according to the Scriptures, that there shall be a
resurrection from the dead, both of the just and of the
unjust, (Acts
24:15) and that God hath appointed a day in which He will
judge the
world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ whom He hath
ordained. (Acts
judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the
things done in
his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad. (2
Cor. 5:10).
We sincerely
believe, not only a resurrection in Christ from the
fallen and sinful state here, but a rising and ascending
into glory
with Him hereafter; that when He at least appears we may
appear with
Him in glory. But
that all the wicked, who live in rebellion against
the light of grace, and die finally impenitent, shall
come forth to the
resurrection of condemnation. And that the soul of every man and woman
shall be reserved, in its own distinct and proper being,
and shall have
its proper body as God is pleased to give it. It is sown a natural
body, it is raised a spiritual body; (1 Cor.
which is natural, and afterward that which is
spiritual. And though it
is said, "this corruptible shall put on
incorruption, and this mortal
shall put on immortality," (1 Cor.
will accord with the declaration, "Flesh and blood
cannot inherit the
out of all mortality, and shall be the children of God,
being the
children of resurrection. (Luke 20:36) (See also
Declaration of 1693,
Sewel's History, vol. II, 383-384.).
"Our
citizenship is in heaven" (R.V.), from whence also we look
for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change
our vile body
that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body,
according to the
working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto
Himself.
(Phil. 3:20,21).
We believe
that the punishment of the wicked and the blessedness
of the righteous shall be everlasting; according to the
declaration of
our compassionate redeemer, to whom the judgment is committed,
"These
shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous
into eternal
life." (R.V., Matt. 25:46)
Faith and Practice
Baptism
Page 123-124
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
We would
express our continued conviction that our Lord appointed
no outward rite or ceremony for observance in His
church. We accept
every command of our Lord in what we believe to be its
genuine import,
as absolutely conclusive.
The question of outward ordinances is with
us a question, not as to the authority of Christ, but as
to His real
meaning. We
reverently believe that, as there is but one Lord and one
faith, so there is, under the Christian dispensation, but
one baptism,
(Eph. 4:4,5) even that whereby all believers are baptized
in the one
Spirit into one body. (1 Cor.
12:13, R.V.). This is not an outward
baptism with water, but a spiritual experience; not the
putting away of
the filth of the flesh, (1 Peter
transforming the heart and settling the soul upon Christ,
brings forth
the answer of a good conscience towards God, by the
resurrection of
Jesus Christ, in the experience of His love and power, as
the risen and
ascended Savior.
No baptism in outward water can satisfy the
description of the apostle, being buried with Christ by
baptism unto
death. (Rom. 6:4)
It is with the Spirit alone that any can thus be
baptized. In this
experience the announcement of the Forerunner of our
Lord is fulfilled.
"He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with
fire." (Matt. 3;11)
In this view we accept the commission of our
blessed Lord as given in Matthew 28:18,19 and 20:
"And Jesus came to
them and spake unto them
saying, All authority hath been given unto me
in heaven and on earth.
Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I
commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto
the end of the
world." (R.V.).
This commission, as we believe, was not designed to set
up a new ritual under the new covenant, or to connect the
initiation
into membership, in its nature essentially spiritual,
with a mere
ceremony of a typical character. Otherwise it was not possible for the
Apostle Paul, who was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostle, (2
Cor. 11:5) to have disclaimed
that which would, in that case, have been
of the essence of his commission when he wrote,
"Christ sent me not to
baptize, but to preach the Gospel." (1 Cor. 1:17) Whenever
an external
ceremony is commanded, the particulars, the mode and
incidents of that
ceremony, become of its essence. There is an utter absence of these
particulars in the text before us, which confirms our
persuasion that
the commission must be construed in connection with the
spiritual power
which the risen Lord promised should attend the witness
of his apostles
and of the church to Him and which, after Pentecost, so
mightily
accompanied their ministry of the word and prayer, that
those to whom
they were sent were introduced into an experience wherein
they had a
saving knowledge of, and living fellowship with, the
Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
Faith and Practice
The Supper of the Lord
Page 124-125
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
Intimately
connected with the conviction already expressed is the
view that we have ever maintained as to the true supper
of the Lord.
We are well aware
that our Lord was pleased to make use of a variety
of symbolic utterances, but He often gently upbraided His
disciples for
accepting literally what He intended only in its
spiritual meaning.
His teaching, as in His parables or in the command to
wash one
another's feet, was often in symbols, and ought ever to
be received in
the light of His own emphatic declaration, "The
words that I speak unto
you they are spirit and they are life." (John
6:63). The old covenant
was full of ceremonial symbols; the new covenant, to which
our Savior
alluded at the last supper, is expressly declared by the
prophet to be
"not according to the old." (Jer. 31:32, Heb. 8:9).
We cannot believe
that in setting up this new covenant the Lord Jesus
intended an
institution out of harmony with the spirit of his
prophecy. The eating
of His body and the drinking of His blood cannot be an
outward act.
They truly partake of them who habitually rest upon the
sufferings and
death of their Lord as their only hope, and to whom the
indwelling
Spirit gives to drink of the fullness that is in
Christ. It is this
inward and spiritual partaking that is the true supper of
the Lord.
The presence
of Christ with His church is not designed to be by
symbol or representation, but in the real communication
of His own
Spirit. "I will pray the Father and He shall give
you another
Comforter, who shall abide with you forever," (John
of sin, testifying of Jesus, taking of the things of
Christ, this
blessed Comforter communicates to the believer and to the
church, in a
gracious, abiding manifestation the real presence of the
Lord. As the
great remembrancer, through
whom the promise is fulfilled, He needs no
ritual or priestly intervention in bring to the
experience of the true
commemoration and communion. "Behold," saith
the risen Redeemer, "I
stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the
door, I will come in and sup with him and he with
me." (Rev. 3;20). In
an especial manner, when assembled for congregational
worship, are
believers invited to the festival of the Savior's peace,
and in a
united act of faith and love, unfettered by any outward
rite or
ceremonial, to partake together of the body that was
broken and of the
blood that was shed for them, without the gates of
a worship they are enabled to understand the words of the
apostle as
expressive of a sweet and most real experience: "The
cup of blessing
which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of
Christ? The
bread that we break, is it not the communion of the body
of Christ?
For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are
all partakers
of that one bread." (1 Cor,
Faith and Practice
Public Worship
Page 125-128
Declaration of Faith Issued by the
Worship is the
adoring response of the heart and mind to the
influence of the Spirit of God. It stands neither in forms nor in the
formal disuse of forms; it may be without words as well
as with them,
but it must be in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) We recognize the
value of silence, not as an end, but as a means toward
the attainment
of the end; a silence, not of listlessness or vacant
musing, but of
holy expectation before the Lord. Having become His adopted children
through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our
privilege to meet
together and unite in the worship of Almighty God, to
wait upon Him for
the renewal of our strength, for communion with one
another, for the
edification of believers in the exercise of various
spiritual gifts,
and for the declaration of glad tidings of salvation to
the unconverted
who may gather with us.
This worship depends not upon numbers.
Where
two or three are gathered in the name of Christ there is
a church, and
Christ, the living Head, in the midst of them. Through meditation
without the necessity for any inferior instrumentality,
is the Father
to be approached and reverently worshiped. The Lord Jesus has forever
fulfilled and ended the typical and sacrificial worship
under the law,
by the offering up of Himself upon the cross for us, once
for all. He
has opened the door of access into the inner sanctuary,
and graciously
provided spiritual offerings for the service of His
temple, suited to
the several conditions of all who worship in spirit and
in truth. The
broken and the contrite heart, the confession of the soul
prostrate
before God, the prayer of the afflicted when he is
overwhelmed, the
earnest wrestling of the spirit, the outpouring of humble
thanksgiving,
the spiritual song and melody of the heart, (Eph. 5;19)
the simple
exercise of faith, the self denying service of love,
these are among
the sacrifices which He, our merciful and faithful High
Priest, is
pleased to prepare, by His Spirit, in the hearts of them
that receive
Him, and to present with acceptance unto God.
By the
immediate operations of the Holy Spirit, He as the Head of
the church, alone selects and qualifies those who are to
present His
messages or engage in other service for Him; and hence,
we cannot
commit any formal arrangement to anyone in our regular
meetings for
worship. We are
well aware that the Lord has provided a diversity of
gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-6) for the
needs both of the church and of the
world, and we desire that the church may feel her
responsibility, under
the government of her Great Head, in doing her part to
foster these
gifts, and in making arrangements for their proper
exercise.
It is not for
individual exaltation, but for mutual profit, that
the gifts are bestowed; (1 Cor.
12:7) and every living church, abiding
under the government of Christ, is humbly and thankfully
to receive and
exercise them, in subjection to her Holy Head. The church that
quenches the Spirit and lives to itself alone must die.
--continued--
Faith and Practice
Public Worship
Page 125-128
Declaration of Faith Issued by the
--continued--
We believe the
preaching of the gospel to be one of the chief
means, divinely appointed, for the spreading of the glad
tidings of
life and salvation through our crucified Redeemer, for
the awakening
and conversion of sinners, and for the comfort and
edification of
believers. As it
is the prerogative of the Great Head of the church
alone to select and call the ministers of His Gospel, so
we believe
that both the gift and the qualification to exercise it
must be derived
immediately from Him; and that, as in the primitive
church, so now
also, He confers spiritual gifts upon women as well as
upon men,
agreeably to the prophecy recited by the apostle Peter,
"It shall come
to pass in the last days, saith
God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon
all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy." (Acts
you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many
as the Lord your God shall call." (Acts
received so it is to be freely exercised, (Matt. 10:8,
See also Acts
Spiritual
gifts, precious as they are, must not be mistaken for
grace; they add to our responsibility, but do not raise
the minister
above his brethren or sisters. They must be exercised in continued
dependence upon our Lord and blessed is that ministry in
which man is
humbled, and Christ and His grace exalted. "He that is greatest among
you," said our Lord and Master, "let him be as
the younger; and he that
is chief as he that doth serve. I am among you as he that serveth."
(Luke 22:26,27).
While the
church cannot confer spiritual gifts, it is its duty to
recognize and foster them, and to promote their
efficiency by all the
means in its power.
And while, on the one hand, the Gospel should
never be preached for money, (Acts
the duty of the church to make such provisions that it
shall never be
hindered for want of it.
The church, if
true to her allegiance, cannot forget her part in
the command, "Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to every
creature.(Mark
alone prepare and qualify the instruments who fulfill
this command, the
true disciple will be found still sitting at the feet of
Jesus,
listening that he may learn, and learning that he may
obey. He humbly
places himself at his Lord's disposal, and, when he hears
the call,
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" is
prepared to respond in
childlike reverence and love, "Here am I send
me." (Isa. 6:8).
Faith and Practice
Prayer and Praise
Page 128
Declaration of Faith Issued by the
Prayer is the
outcome of our sense of need, and our continual
dependence upon God.
He who uttered the invitation, "Ask and it shall
be given you." (Matt. 7:7) is himself the Mediator
and High Priest who,
by His Spirit, prompts the petition , and who presents it
with the
acceptance before God.
With such an invitation, prayer becomes the
duty and the privilege of all who are called by His
name. Prayer is,
in the awakening soul, the utterance of the cry,
"God be merciful to me
a sinner," (Luke
prayer is essential to his spiritual life. A life without prayer is a
life practically without God. The Christian's life is a continual
asking. The thirst
that prompts the petition produces, as it is
satisfied, still deeper longings which prepare for yet
more bounteous
supplies, from Him who delights to bless. Prayer is not confined to
the closet. When
uttered in response to the promptings of the Holy
Spirit, it becomes an important part of public worship,
and, whenever
the Lord's people meet together in His name, it is their
privilege to
wait upon Him for the spirit of grace and supplications.
(Zech. 12:10).
A life of prayer
cannot be other than a life of praise.
As the peace
of Christ reigns in the church, her living members accept
all that they
receive, as from His pure bounty, and each day brings
them fresh
pledges of their Father's love. Satisfied with the goodness of His
house, whether as individuals, in families, or in
congregations, they
will be still praising Him, (Psa.
84:4) heart answering to heart,
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within
me, bless His holy
name." (Psa. 103:1).
Faith and Practice
Page 128-129
Declaration of Faith Issued by the
That
conscience should be free, and that in matters of religious
doctrine and worship man is accountable only to God, are
truths which
are plainly declared in the New Testament; and which are
confirmed by
the whole scope of the Gospel and by the example of our
Lord and His
disciples. To rule
over the conscience, and to command the spiritual
allegiance of his creature man, is the high and sacred prerogative
of
God alone. In
religion every act ought to be free. A
forced worship
is plainly a contradiction in terms, under the
dispensation in which
the worship of the Father must be in spirit and in truth.
(John 4:24).
We have ever
maintained that it is the duty of Christians to obey
the enactments of civil government, except, those which
interfere with
our allegiance to God.
We owe much to its blessings.
Through it we
enjoy liberty and protection, in connection with law and
order. Civil
government is a divine ordinance, (
instituted to promote the best welfare of man, hence
magistrates are to
be regarded as God's ministers who should be a terror to
evil doers and
a praise to them that do well. Therefore, it is with us a matter of
conscience to render them respect and obedience in the
exercise of
their proper functions.
Faith and Practice
Marriage
Page 129
Declaration of Faith Issued by the
Marriage is an
institution graciously ordained by the Creator
Himself, for the help and continuance of the human
family. It is not a
mere civil contract, and ought never to be entered upon
without a
reference to the sanction and blessing of Him who
ordained it. It is a
solemn engagement for the term of life, (Matt. 19:5,6)
designed for the
mutual assistance and comfort of both sexes, that they
may be helpmates
to each other in things temporal and spiritual. To this end it should
imply concurrence in spiritual as well as temporal
concerns, and should
be entered upon discreetly, soberly, and in fear of the
Lord.
Faith and Practice
Peace
Page 129-130
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
We feel bound
explicitly to avow our unshaken persuasion that war
is utterly incompatible with the plain precepts of our
divine Lord and
Law-giver, and the whole spirit of His Gospel, and that
no plea of
necessity or policy, however urgent or peculiar, can
avail to release
either individuals or nations from the paramount
allegiance which they
owe to Him who hath said, "Love you enemies."
(Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27).
In enjoining this love, and the forgiveness of injuries,
He who has
bought us to Himself has not prescribed for man precepts
which are
incapable of being carried into practice, or of which the
practice is
to be postponed until all shall be persuaded to act upon
them. We
cannot doubt that they are incumbent now, and that we
have in prophetic
Scriptures the distinct intimation of their direct
application not only
to individuals, but to nations also. (Isa.
2:4, Micah 4:1). When
nations conform their laws to this divine teaching, wars
must
necessarily cease.
We would, in
humility, but in faithfulness to our Lord, express
our firm persuasion that all exigencies of civil
government and social
order may be met under the banner of the Prince of Peace,
in strict
conformity with His commands.
Faith and Practice
Oaths
Page 130
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
We hold it to
be the inalienable privilege of the disciple of the
Lord Jesus that his statements concerning matters of fact
within his
knowledge should be accepted, under all circumstances, as
expressing
his beliefs as to the fact asserted. We rest upon the plain command of
our Lord and Master, "Swear not at all"; (Matt.
any departure from this standard to be prejudicial to the
cause of
truth and to the confidence between man and man, the
maintenance of
which is indispensable to out mutual well being. This command, in our
persuasion, applies not to profane swearing only, but to
judicial oaths
also. It abrogates
any previous permission to the contrary, and is,
for the Christian, absolutely conclusive.
Faith and Practice
The First Day of the Week
Page 130-131
Declaration of Faith Issued by the Richmond Conference in
1887
Whilst the
remembrance of our Creator ought to be at all times
present with the Christian, we would express our
thankfulness to our
Heavenly father that He has been pleased to honor the
setting apart of
one day in seven for the purpose of holy rest, religious
duties, and
public worship; and we desire that all under our name may
avail
themselves of this great privilege as those who are
called to be risen
with Christ, and to seek those things that are above
where He sitteth
at the right hand of God. (Col. 3:1). May the release thus granted
from other occupations be diligently improved. On this day of the week
especially ought the households of Friends to be
assembled for the
reading of the Scriptures and for waiting upon the Lord;
and we trust
that, in a Christianly wise economy of our time and
strength, the
engagements of the day may be so ordered as not to
frustrate the
gracious provision thus made for us by our Heavenly
Father or to shut
out the opportunity either for public worship or for
private retirement
and devotional reading.
In presenting
this declaration of our Christian faith, we desire
that all our members may be afresh encouraged, in
humility and
devotedness, to renewed faithfulness in fulfilling their
part in the
great mission of the Church, and through the Church to
the world around
us, in the name of our Crucified Redeemer. Life from Christ, life in
Christ, must ever be the basis of life for Christ. For this we have
been created and redeemed, and, by this alone, can the
longings of our
immortal souls be satisfied.
We recommend for further
reading: Christian Faith and Practice in
the Experience of the
Society of Friends, London Yearly Meeting
Faith and Practice
Page 133
Appendix
A. Application for Membership
"Friends receive into active membership those whose faith in
Christ as a personal Saviour is manifest in their lives and who are in
unity with the teachings of Christian truth as held by Friends." Faith
and Practice Part II, chapter I, Basis of Membership.
On the basis of the above statement, accepting Jesus Christ as my
Saviour, declaring it to be my purpose to devote my life to His
service and to follow His teachings, agreeing to observe the rules
and practices of Friends, and to be loyal to the interests of this
Meeting, I do hereby make application for membership in ___________________ Monthly Meeting of Friends.
Date_________________
Signed_________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Approved by the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel and
recommended to the Monthly Meeting
Date________________
Signed_______________________________________________ Clerk
______________________________________________________
Faith and Practice
Page 133
Appendix
B. Removal Certificate
(One Monthly Meeting to Another)
To ____________________________________ Monthly Meeting of Friends:
Dear Friends:
This is to certify that ____________________________________
Is a member of this Meeting. Upon due inquiry no obstruction
Appears to the granting of ___________________ request for a
Certificate to your Meeting. We therefore recommend ________
_________________________ to your Christian care. Please acknowledge
____________________ reception by returning to our clerk the annexed
Statement, properly filled and signed.
In love, we are your Friends,
By direction, and on behalf of ______________________
____________________________________________________________________
Monthly Meeting of Friends, held at ________________________________
State of ___________________ day of ____________________month, 20______
_______________________________________________________ Clerk
Address _______________________________________________________________
Faith and Practice
Page 134
Appendix
Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement
To____________________________________________ Monthly Meeting of Friends:
We have received the removal certificate issued by you the ______________
day of ____________________________ month, 20___________, and have accepted
________________________________________________into membership with us.
In behalf of __________________________________Monthly Meeting of Friends,
Held at__________________________________________________,___________day of
__________________________________________________month, 20___________.
_____________________________________ Clerk
Faith and Practice
Page 134
Appendix
C. Letter to Other Denominations
To __________________________________________________________ Church
_____________________________ and __________________________________
member(s) of ____________________________________ Monthly Meeting of
Friends, having expressed the desire to unite in membership with the
above named Church, this letter of dismissal is granted in favor of
said Church, and he (she) is (they are) commended to your Christian
fellowship. Upon receipt of official acknowledgement of the acceptance
of this letter, the membership with Friends will cease.
By direction of __________________________________ Monthly Meeting
_____________________________________________________ Clerk
_____________________________________________________ Address
Acknowledgment
To _____________________________________ Monthly meeting of friends:
We have received the letter issued by you the _____________ day of
_________ month, 20_________, and have accepted ____________________
into membership with us.
In behalf of ________________________________ Church, ____________
________________ day of _______________________ month, 20____________.
Signed ____________________________________________
Faith and Practice
Page 134-135
Appendix
E. Marriage Vows
(Within the Meeting)
At a suitable time in the Meeting the parties shall stand, and taking
each other by the right hand shall declare - the man first:
"In the presence of the Lord and before these friends, I take thee,
D.E., to be my wife, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto thee
a loving and faithful husband as long as we both shall live."
The woman in like manner:
"In the presence of the Lord and before these friends, I take thee,
A.B., to be my husband, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto
Thee a loving and faithful wife as long as we both shall live."
Faith and Practice
Page 135
Appendix
F. Certificate of Marriage
Whereas, A.B. of _________________________, County of ________________
and State of ________________________, son of C.B., and E., his wife, of
_____________________, and D.F., of _________________________, County of
_____________________ and State of __________________________, daughter
of H.F., And K., his wife, of _______________________________, having
declared their intentions of marriage with each other to the
__________________________ Monthly Meeting of the society of Friends of
__________________________, held at ____________________________________
State of _________________________, on the ______________________ day of
the _____________________________________ month of the year two thousand
and _____________________________________, having nothing being found to
obstruct, they were set at liberty by that Meeting to accomplish their intentions.
Now these are to certify to whom it may concern, that from the
accomplishment of their marriage, this _______________ day of the
_________________________ month of the year two thousand and
__________________, they, the said A.B. and D.F. appeared
in an appointed meeting held at ___________________________ under
the oversight of the ____________________________________ Monthly
Meeting of the Society of Friends in the presence of a committee
thereof appointed for that purpose, and A.B., taking D.F. by the
hand, declared that he took her to be his wife, promising, with divine
assistance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband as long as
they both should live; and then D.F. did in like manner declare that
she took him, A.B., to be her husband, promising, with divine
assistance, to be unto him a loving and faithful wife as long as they
both should live.
And in further confirmation thereof, they, the said A.B. and D.F.,
(she, according to the custom of marriage, adopted the surname of
her husband) did then and there to these present set their hands.
A.B.
D.F.B.
And we, having been present at the solemnization of the said
Marriage, did as witnesses thereto, set our hands.
Faith and Practice
Page 136-138
Appendix
G. Marriage Service, A Minister Participating
Introductory
Marriage, in its deepest meaning, is an inward experience - the
voluntary union of personalities effected in the mutual self-giving of
hearts that truly love, implicitly trust, and courageously accept each
other in good faith. Such marriage is honored and blessed of God as
the fulfillment of his supreme design for man and woman, who alone
of all his creation bears His divine image. The state sanctions and the
church adorns marriage as the ideal relationship in human society.
The wisdom of the ages bears testimony to the beneficent values
which this honorable estate yields in the happiness and well being of
mankind.
(If the "giving of the bride" is desired, the minister may say:)
"Who among the kinfolk (or friends) of this bride-to-be shares her
great joy and presents her to the man of her choice with benediction
of her family?"
the father, brother, or other person will answer: "I do."
To the Contracting Parties
Marriage involves at once the highest privileges and the greatest
responsibilities of life. Its achievement of happiness and success is
dependent upon the mutual love, the unfailing patience, and the
absolute fidelity of one to the other. You will henceforth live a
blended life, each seeking and promoting the joy, the comfort, the
health, and the enrichment of the other, all of which will divide you
sorrows and multiply your satisfaction.
The Vows of Marriage
If you have carefully considered the sacredness of the obligations
assumed when lives are wed, and are well assured that you are
prepared to enter into this covenant, binding yourselves each to the
other in holy sanctuary of the home as long as you both shall live, will
you please face each other, clasp your hands, and repeat these
vows which have brought joy to so many others:
(Each repeat from memory if possible; if not, then follow the
minister.)
The Man: "In the presence of the Lord, and before these friends,
Take thee, (D.F.) to be my wife, promising, with divine assistance, to
be unto thee a loving and faithful husband, as long as we both shall
live."
The Woman: "In the presence of the Lord, and before these friends,
I take thee (A.B.) to be my husband, promising, with divine
Assistance, to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife, as long as we
Both shall live."
(Unclasp hands and face the minister.)
(If a ring is [or rings are] to be given and received, the minister may
say:)
"What do you offer as a token of your
pledge of love and loyalty?"
(The groom or an attendant places the ring,
or both place rings, in
the minister's hand, or
upon his book, saying simply, "This ring.")
To the Man:
"Do you, (A.B.) offer this ring as a token that you will
Keep this covenant and
perform these vows?" He answers,
"I Do."
(In case of a double ring service, the
minister may say:)
To Both Parties: "Do you, (A.B.), and you, (D.F.), give
and receive
These rings as a pledge
that you will keep this covenant and perform
these vow?"
Together, they answer: "We Do."
The Minister: "Let this ring (these
rings) ever be to you a symbol of
The preciousness, the
purity, and the permanence of true wedded
love."
Recognition
In recognition of that real marriage between
you, accomplished in
The uniting of your hearts
by mutual love and confidence, and in
Conformity to the laws of
this state by whose sanctions these visible
expressions of your
pledged fidelity have been given and received, as
a minister acknowledged by
the church, I do now recognize you as
husband and wife. Those whom God hath joined together, let no
man
put asunder.
Prayer by the Minister.
The Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make His face to shine
upon you and be gracious
unto you; the Lord life up His countenance
upon you and give you
peace. Amen.
* * * *
Alternate Vows
(If more formal vows than those in the
foregoing ceremony are
desired, the following is
suggested:)
To the Man: (A.B.), will you take (D.F.),
whose hand you hold,
choosing her alone from
all the world, to be your wedded wife?
Will
you love her and comfort
her, support and cherish her in sickness and
in health, in prosperity
and adversity, and, forsaking all others,
remain faithful to her as
long as you both shall live?
He answers: "I Will."
To the Woman: (D.F.), will you take (A.B.)
whose hand you hold, to
be your wedded
husband? Will you love him and comfort
him in
sickness and in health, in
sunshime and in storm, and forsaking all
others, remain faithful to
him as long as you both shall live?
She answers: "I Will."