Comments on: Quaker Testimonies

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:30:00 +0000

In reply to K D Roberts. Thanks KD, always nice to be affirmed. I'm actually pondering a piece on integrity as a foundational value to the testimonies. We'll see if I write it.

By: K D Roberts

K D Roberts — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:48:00 +0000

never read this until today, bud.

i agree.

ciao

By: Harriet

Harriet — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:08:16 +0000

I wonder what would happen if Quakers, for instance, refused to address anyone by a title like "Professor So-and-so" or "Doctor" at least in the case of non-medical doctors. The hierarchy in academia, where people build up egos based on intellectual knowledge and then expect everyone else to slather butter on the egos they've created, is quite ugly. It is as artificial as wealth or noble birth (and generally the result of both), and the honor of a diploma or degree is certainly bestowed by man, not God.

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Mon, 01 Nov 2004 18:51:45 +0000

Hi Liz,
Yesterday was the gospel order/authority/membership/structure session for the “Quakerism 101”:http://www.nonviolence.org/martink/archives/000418.php course at Medford MM (five sessions down, one to go!). I divided the participants into four groups, each of which explored an assigned page or two from Marty Grundy’s “Quaker Treasure”:http://www.quakerbooks.org/get/11–99-01006–5 or Paul Lacey’s “The Authority of Our Meetings”:http://www.quakerbooks.org/get/11–99-01066–9. One of the groups picked up on a line from page 24 of Quaker Treasure: “Friends seem to have developed a somewhat casual concept of their relationship to the meeting.” One (notoriously vocal) Friend said he thought all the Quaker rules on behavior and membership seemed arbitrary and were justified only by history. I don’t agree but I can certainly concede his point: we’re often so nervous about talking about our theology that we do end up trying to justify our practices by the passage of time.
Clearness processes can be great but you’re right that they’re so incomplete. When I was still actively involved in my meeting I felt led to start home visitations. I only did one, and it was a restaurant lunch visitation, but it was a time where I consciously asked an active attender to share a meal where we could talk about spiritual journeys. It was really nice and not long afterward he applied for membership.
You’re right that it would also be great if those high schoolers and young adults were exposed to “something exciting that was also Quaker”:http://www.nonviolence.org/quaker/strangers.

By: Liz Oppenheimer

Liz Oppenheimer — Mon, 01 Nov 2004 16:22:17 +0000

I am newly returned from traveling to a Friends Meeting in western Wisconsin, where I spoke with Friends about Quaker identity. One Friend mentioned something about his process in becoming a member, and I was grateful for the opportunity to respond to his comment. My response was this:
Originally, when there was no process for becoming a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Quaker was recognized by her or his outward behavior that was an extension of her or his *inward* transformation. As I understand it, evidence of such inward transformation–along the lines of experiencing the Living Presence inwardly and directly, such as in Fox’s historic exclamation–was all that was needed to be recognized as a Friend. (Hat honor and plain speech are readily pointed to as such consequential outward behaviors–and David Ferris makes mention of this in his journal/memoir, “Resistance & Obedience to God”:http://www.quakerbooks.org/get/1–888305-66–5, edited by Marty Grundy. )
Among my concerns these days is that there is danger of diluting our faith tradition when our clearness committees for membership focus on outward behavior and adherence to the testimonies without an exploration of inward transformation and an experiential seeking/knowing of the Divine. Similarly, I can no longer expect a living, rich Quakerism to be passed on when it appears that more frequently than not, we share of our faith, principles, and history primarily during the clearness process–too late for high schoolers and young adults who are exposed to many other exciting things…
One expected pleasure I have encountered, though, has been in presiding over committee meetings as a clerk. During committee meetings, I find teachable moments when I can explain concepts and practices such as “spiritual discernment,” “testing,” “seasoning,” and “good (Gospel) order.” I experience more Friends being more open to asking questions about our corporate Quakerism, which gives me some hope.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts so openly, Martin.
Blessings,
Liz

By: Joe G.

Joe G. — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 13:09:14 +0000

I just knew I had read this somewhere before. :) I checked your previous article on "A Testimony against Community". I appreciated your critique of Brinton's ideas, as alluded to in this post. I'd like to read more about this whole issue of the SPICE (girls) testimonies, since I'm unfamiliar with this issue, in future posts. Yours "in the Light" (sorry, I couldn't resist).