by Dan Lederer                   

     Quaker Quest began as an outreach project developed in 2002 at Friends House in London.  It consists of a series of 2-hour sessions that are open to the public and that address various topics such as “Quakers and Worship”, “Quakers’ Experience of God”, and “Quakers and the Practice of Peacemaking”, with a typical session consisting of brief presentations by three speakers, group discussions, questions and answers, and an explanation of Meeting for Worship, plus an opportunity for participation in silent worship as well as refreshments and socializing.  The goal is to promote Quakerism as a spiritual path for our time that includes a search for the sacredness of each person, an encounter with the divine through the power of stillness, and a commitment to the ways of equality and nonviolence.  At the same time, in clarifying and speaking of their faith experience, Friends have found the process to be a valuable means of inreach and strengthening of their Quaker communities. 

     Friends General Conference (FGC), of which NEYM is a member, is encouraging its constituent monthly meetings to consider Quaker Quest programs.  The recommended first step in doing so is to host a “motivation and inspiration” workshop for meeting members and attenders only. The workshop is led by two facilitators provided by FGC and can run for a full day or a half day (for example, a First Day afternoon), with the expectation that there is a high level of participation by the host meeting.

     Hosting a workshop obligates us to provide transportation, meals, and lodging for the two facilitators but does not require a commitment to proceed with Quaker Quest.  Rather, it allows prospective participants to have their questions answered and to practice presentations and group interactions.  At some point after the workshop we will need to discern whether to proceed.  If the sense of Meeting is to do so, there follows a period of time, at least several months, during which we decide on session topics, determine dates of sessions, plan publicity, and hold training sessions for those who will be involved.  In considering the above details, Ministry and Counsel has envisioned holding the workshop this coming fall, perhaps mid-November, with an initial series of sessions, perhaps three, in the spring of 2011 and again the following fall.

     Looking ahead to our next Meeting for Business, which will take place on Thursday evening May 13, Ministry and Counsel will ask Meeting to approve our hosting a Quaker Quest workshop in November.  In considering this proposal, Friends are encouraged to find out more about Quaker Quest by going to www.quakerquestfgc.org. This site will answer a lot of your questions, and there is a link to the British site as well.

Quaker Quest Update