Issue #34 – Spring 2020 – Quaker Theology

Editor’s Introduction by Chuck Fager

The post introduces a diverse range of Quaker theological topics, including the unique collaboration with Evangelical Friends, narrative theologies from the Vietnam War era, and the unexplored legacy of Quaker involvement with the Ku Klux Klan, particularly focusing on Daisy Douglas Barr. It also features reflections on Quaker peace witness efforts and the political thought…
Editor’s Preface to “Engaging Homelessness behind the ‘Orange Curtain’” by Chuck Fager

This article examines the struggle of a small Quaker church in Orange County, California, that sought to minister to and advocate for homeless individuals in one of the nation’s wealthiest and most conservative counties. It contrasts the church’s inclusive, compassionate mission with the dominant evangelical Friends Church Southwest’s (EFCSW) centralizing, market-driven, and property-controlling leadership, highlighting…
Engaging Homelessness Behind the “Orange Curtain” By Joseph Pfeiffer

This article explores the increasing homelessness crisis in Orange County, California, through the lens of a small Quaker church’s compassionate response and the ensuing conflict with local authorities and the church denomination. It critically examines how suburban ideals, white normativity, and church growth models in Evangelical Friends Church Southwest have contributed to exclusionary practices and…
Four-Track Mind: The True Story of the Brothers Doug by Doug Gwyn

Doug Gwyn shares the story behind his music project “The Brothers Doug,” exploring themes of Quaker spirituality, irony, and paradox through his songwriting. The article reflects on his early work, influences from blues music, and his meditations on faith, hope, eschatology, and progressive Quaker theology. Gwyn intertwines his personal experiences with broader Quaker history and…
From “The Church, the Draft Board, and Me” by George Amoss, Jr.

This article recounts George Amoss Jr.’s journey from his early years as a Catholic seminarian faced with moral and institutional failures to his evolving pacifist stance during the Vietnam War draft. It culminates in his transition to Quakerism, where he finds a faith centered on direct spiritual experience, love, and social witness without reliance on…
The Ku Klux Klan by Daisy Douglas Barr

This article presents a poem by Daisy Douglas Barr, a Quaker preacher and leader in the women’s Ku Klux Klan in 1920s Indiana. The poem vividly describes the Klan as a force of justice and protector of social order, reflecting Barr’s controversial involvement in promoting its ideology.
Political Thought of John Dickinson and William Penn — Two Books Reviewed by H. Larry Ingle

“Constitutionalism and the Political Thought of John Dickinson” and “Liberty, Conscience, and Toleration: The Political Thought of William Penn. Reviewed by H. Larry Ingle
Theology & Peace Witness by Chuck Fager

This post is a detailed letter about the unique theological and practical challenges faced by the Director of Quaker House at Fayetteville-Fort Bragg, a peace witness mission operating within a military culture. It explores the enduring military-industrial complex as a pervasive spiritual and cultural influence, the isolation experienced by peace activists, and the need for…
About the Authors

George Amoss Jr. is a retired social worker living north of Baltimore in Maryland. Daisy Douglas Barr (1875-1938) was a popular preacher in Indiana Yearly Meeting. She served as pastor for at least six different Friends meetings/churches there. She was also a key figure in the statewide women’s counterpart Klan group. Chuck Fager is the…