Comments on: “Conservative Liberal Quakers” and not becoming a least-common-denominator, sentimental faith

By: Gerard Bane

Gerard Bane — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:57:59 +0000

I am a Quaker who believes in God a personal God and influenced by christian roots so maybe I am a conservative liberal or liberal conservative Quaker

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 23:58:00 +0000

In reply to Hye Sung. Twelve actually, isn't it? Hey Sung, I wonder how this post sounds from your perspective. Many of us who used to comment on this blog and its close kin have gone from peanut gallery to facing bench. "Conservative Liberal" lost to "Convergent" as the canonical nickname for this particular movement but what's happened to the concern? Have things seasoned and deepened or are we too busy with day to day responsibilities to talk about the big picture anymore?

By: Hye Sung

Hye Sung — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 20:51:00 +0000

11 years ago.

By: Chris Mohr

Chris Mohr — Tue, 03 May 2005 00:19:11 +0000

Thanks to Liz's recent post, I just found this thread for the first time. And wonderful to read Carl Magruder's thoughtful and thought-provoking eldering. Coming in mid-stream, I was reminded of a recent post here on Quaker Ranter by Rich Accetta-Evans on the "What's God Got to Do with It?" thread: "I hope in time to tell the story of an “opening” I received... Christ told me inwardly that “I am not the leader of a faction”. I took that to mean that in order to follow him I should not act like a member of a faction." One of the things I appreciate about (what little I know of) Buddhism is its constant reminder that these things are only concepts, not the "thing itself." What matters are the experiences. The true gift, to me, of Martin's ministry through Quaker Ranter is the opening of a space for people to have these conversations about their experiences. What's wonderful is how the conversation frequently focuses on how people approach naming their self-understanding, and then their subsequent experience of how well -- or not -- that self-understanding relates back to the local and wider Quaker communities. And, again to me, that wider community definitely includes this one and the similar blogs.

By: Liz Opp

Liz Opp — Sun, 01 May 2005 16:06:40 +0000

So what might we call ourselves? Is “conservative liberal Friends” a useful term?
It’s months after you posted this piece on your blog, but I just read a comment elsewhere from frequent reader Robin, who used the phrase “Quaker renewalist.”
That has a nice ring to it for me, without triggering my spiritual baggage when I hear the similar word “revivalist.”
Blessings,
Liz

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 18:55:02 +0000

Hi Kevin-Douglas! It's so good to hear from you, I've thought about you quite a bit since I first heard that Russell was ill, you both have been in my prayers. I'm grateful to hear that the ministry stirs. I think quietness in worship is not an indication of a spiritual desert; indeed, some of the most powerful ministers I've known rarely speak in meeting. But when they stand, my heart leaps for joy (yep) and I just sit back with a contented assurance that I know these Friends have a confidence in the Source of what they're about to say! I think re-establishing a sense of the ministry is our most important task now, especially for YAFs like you (ha, I'm two years over the FGC definition!). You have seen the "workshop":/quaker/strangers/ Zachary and I are doing, right?!

By: Kevin-Douglas Olive

Kevin-Douglas Olive — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 22:22:12 +0000

It just does not surprise me as I type in "Conservative Quakers" that your blog comes up. I've been laboring with a renewed call to ministry and have requested that Homewood Friends provide the necessary eldering. We'll see where that goes. In the meantime, I'm trying to remain faithful to the call. I've been shut up in meetings for worship lately. I thought it was just grief from losing Russell. Could be. Whatever it is, while my mouth isn't moving in worship, my spirit is. I wonder how many other YAFs (as well as older Friends and Young Friends) feel at all a call to ministry within the Society, and have no CLUE what to do about it or even to entertain the idea that they could be callled to ministry.

By: Laila

Laila — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 11:00:39 +0000

This is a really interesting page and I’m glad I found it! I have been attending a liberal friends meeting and it is a wonderful group of people. Sometimes I wonder, though, if we are TOO open and tolerant to the point that we simply exist to be a nice group of politically and socially active (in the social justice sense) people that gets together periodically. I think it important to remember the Christian roots of the Friends and am glad that there are Friends out there of the same persuasion.