Quaker Theology

F. Woship, Discernment & Quaker Practice

Examines how Quaker theology is expressed through worship and communal practice, including silence, gathered meeting, discernment, ministry, spiritual authority, and the processes by which Friends seek and enact truth together.

  • The Trouble With “Ministers”

    The article explores the historical and contemporary debates surrounding the revival of recorded ministry among liberal unprogrammed Friends. It highlights the problematic two-tier system that once existed, where ministers and elders held control and privilege, and warns against repeating this hierarchical structure. The author calls for a thoughtful, historically informed approach that upholds equality and…

  • The Still Small Voice in the Wilderness

    The Treatment of Silence in Two Abolitionist Quaker Narratives—Tracy Chevalier’s The Last Runaway and Linda Spalding’s The Purchase This post reviews Tracy Chevalier’s *The Last Runaway* and Linda Spalding’s *The Purchase*, exploring how both novels challenge prevailing myths about Quaker abolitionism by portraying complex Quaker characters grappling with slavery, silence, and spirituality. It examines the…

  • Reflecting Theologically from the Gathered Meeting: The Nature and Origin of Quaker Theology

    This article explores the nature and origin of Quaker theology as an experiential, relational, and socially transformative practice rooted in inwardness and communal silence. It emphasizes that Quaker theology differs from systematic theology by focusing on life, spiritual experience, and social justice rather than rigid doctrines, highlighting the gathered meeting as a central context for…

  • Enacting Truth: The Dynamics of Quaker Practice

    Douglas Gwyn analyzes the dynamic structure of Quaker practice in seeking and enacting truth on four levels: individual practice, monthly meetings, yearly meetings, and informal networks of concern. He critiques the decline in answering yearly meeting queries, arguing that this short-circuits Quaker discernment and social witness, and illustrates his points with historical examples and the…

  • The Spiritual Similarities of Quaker Silence and Pentecostal Glossolalia in Worship

    This article explores the spiritual similarities between Quaker silence and Pentecostal glossolalia as distinct means of worship both aiming for direct experience and guidance from the Spirit. It highlights four key shared aspects: direct divine experience, the sovereignty of the Spirit in worship, mutual edification of self and others, and the limitations and challenges of…

  • The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) as a Religious Community

    The article explores the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) as a religious community characterized more as a religious order than a traditional church, emphasizing a distinctive way of life and prayer rather than doctrinal uniqueness. It discusses specific Quaker practices such as Advices and Queries, historical testimonies, and corporate discernment, and identifies key features of…