Western Friend

Building a Container for the Spirit

George Lakey is a visiting professor and research fellow at Swarthmore College. He’s keynoted for Friends General Conference and for yearly meetings in the U.S. and abroad, as well as taught at Pendle Hill and Woodbrooke College in England. Trained as a sociologist, he’s authored eight books; the newest is Facilitating Learning Groups: Strategies for Success with Diverse Adult Learners (Jossey-Bass). He co-founded A Quaker Action Group and Training for Change and led over 1500 social change workshops. He serves on the Worship and Ministry Committee of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. What follows is an edited version of his keynote address at Pacific Yearly Meeting this year.

When I moved from my small town to a college I learned that there was not a church of my own denomination in that college town. So I toured various churches. On my list was a Quaker meeting, so I showed up at High Street Monthly Meeting in West Chester, PA. And my mind was blown.
I was so taken with that kind of worship. I was shy, so I didn’t go to coffee hour. I split out the back door before someone could grab me. But I noticed that there was a bulletin board, and I always read bulletin boards wherever I go because I think I can learn something about a group by its bulletin board. There on the bulletin board was a notice to Friends to write a letter to Friends Committee on National Legislation – or to carbon copy to them and to write to their congressperson about universal military service.

Pacific Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions 2010, Part III

Thursday

After Thursday’s usual early morning activities- including a “Transformative Quakers” session on Thomas Kelly- Friends gathered for open worship, then worship sharing groups. Friends considered queries such as “To what extent am I truly “engaged” with others in the Spirit? Can I discern the difference between engagement and obligation (or tolerance)?”

In the afternoon plenary, Friends heard the first reading of the epistle, followed by a longer discussion of the proposal from the Futures subcommittee. Friends expressed concerns about several aspects of the proposal, most notably shifting decision-making about the annual budget to the Representative Committee.

Friends closed the afternoon with Meeting for Memorials. The sound of bagpipes called Friends to the plenary hall from afar, and the children’s program laid down blankets and toys in a half-circle at the front of the hall, so the children of Pacific Yearly Meeting were present and encircled by those present. Friends were particularly moved to see beloved Friend Ellie Huffman join them for the memorial. The names of those who passed away during the past year were placed on the wall, and read aloud in turn.

Pacific Yearly Meeting’s 2010 Annual Sessions, Part II

Wednesday

Again the larks of PYM rose early to join in outdoor worship, Bible study, or the “Transformative Quakers” series- Wednesday’s notable Quaker being Anthony Benezet, advocate of public education and ending slavery. After breakfast and open worship, worship groups considered queries such as “Do I accept and provide eldering in a humble and loving spirit?” and “Do I look for ways to build bridges and nurture trust within my Meeting and beyond?”

The Junior Yearly Meeting of PYM (ages 13-18) spent a portion of their morning engaging in intensive coversation groups called “chat boxes” considering topics such as “Quakers and the Future”, Quakers and God”, and “Quakers and Christianity.” They found the exercise so fruitful they decided to post the notes from each chat box in the plenary hall, and then invited adults to join them in similar discussions over dinner that evening.