Comments on: Burnt Ubers and Reluctant Ranters

By: Martin Kelley

Martin Kelley — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:51:06 +0000

@Allison: From what I can tell now I think the internet is the prime portal for Quaker outreach. I rarely hear any recent convincement stories that don't include Google or Wikipedia. That said, there's usually some Quaker in the seeker's past who always made a good impression, planted a seed, and helped inspire the seeker to type "quaker" into the computer. If I were going to start a local worship group the other essential would be a flyer at the supermarket. Very high tech and very low tech. The second part is giving people a reason to come back. I think most Quaker meetings (certainly urban ones that I've known) have tons of visitors coming by. If the meeting were able to "convert" one tenth of them (I'm using "conversion" more in the marketing sense than the theological one) then any meeting in the country would be bursting at the seams within a few years. If I were to organize something, I try for an ongoing Quakerism 101 course every week. A problem we have is that visitors can come and even become relative regulars without having a clue what we're all doing there (or worse yet think they know but be way off; some meetings even let them become members in that state!). @Suzanne: I'm rejoicing yes, but I'm also surprisingly alone. As I said if not for the Internet I'd be the model of the semi-uninvolved burnt out Quaker. I've got my old books (right now I'm in Clarkson, published 202 years ago) but because of distance I only see my live fellowship for about three hours a month if lucky. This isn't just Quakerism, it's the nature of the contemporary hour-a-week Protestantism which most Friends have bought into. There are winds of change in the greater religious world, yes, but few I know of in my local Friends meetings.

By: quakersusanne.wordpress.com

quakersusanne.wordpress.com — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:31:06 +0000

In reply to Allison. Martin, I find it very inspiring whenever I see several people blogging on the same theme - just as we sometimes know a covered Meeting by the unity of ministry. (Not so long ago it was on diversity in Quaker Meetings, now it's on structure/vision/leadership.) The unity of voices tells me that the Spirit is deeply at work: Something is brewing deep in the heart of Quakerism, and we need only wait for that Something to become more visible! Add to that that the Gen X phenomenon in many ways takes spirituality beyond the organization and into relationships and community - that's what I see in your post-Quaker work and in so many others: God's Spirit bubbling and bursting forth all around, not just in the Quaker Meetings. Who knows what new life will burst forth in our Meetings when the time is ripe? Our longing and yearning for something new is a guarantee that it will continue to take form in the depths. Fortunately, as people of faith, we can start to enjoy the new creation and proclaim it before we fully see it and can name it. So let's rejoice in God's work in and around us and joyfully anticipate the day when its form is so solid that we can name it.

By: Allison

Allison — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:07:24 +0000

Hi Martin,
I’ve definitely felt the pull to commit in a committee manner, which to me is different than committing to the religion. I’m resisted the pull to be a Quaker and am trying to just be Allison. I searched and found my personal Middle Way which is to be on the Welcoming committee. One foot in, one foot out. I think my idea of Welcoming is different than standing at the front door and signing people in, and I think I will be bringing up those ideas later on.
You probably share that idea, since I think the internet nowadays is one portal for Seekers.