From the Editor and the Board

Two years ago, as she began editing Western Friend, Caitlin had an image of her future as the editor of this magazine, and it looked different from the reality of now. Directing the work of Western Friend requires a broad base of connection among the yearly meetings across the West. Visiting just for yearly meeting annual sessions doesn’t yet offer her the depth of relationship and understanding that we all need to move forward in this work.

The primary mission of Western Friend is to foster connections among Friends across the West in ways both practical and spiritual. It’s clear that Caitlin has specific gifts that are vital to this mission. These gifts are relational in nature and best explored in person. For 2027, the board and Editor will be moving forward with a Jubilee Year for Western Friend. Instead of six issues of the magazine, there will be four longer issues and an increase in my travel ministry across the West. In 2028 the magazine will return to six issues.

Bec McCormack, our Quaker Voluntary Service fellow will also be traveling to events. Sometimes they will travel together. It’s our hope to support each visit with an elder and to travel at a slow and steady pace that’s healthy for Caitlin. Our goal in offering the magazine quarterly this year is to better understand the people and the spiritual leadings of each of our regions. The decrease in issues for the coming year is an issue of refocusing time, not money. The cost savings of two fewer printings is negligible to our budget.

In 2029, Friends Bulletin Corporation will turn 100 years old. In order to foster deeper connections among Friends in the coming 100 years, Caitlin says “I need to put on my little cowgirl hat and go see what’s happening in the West.”. There’s only so much spiritual light one can absorb through a computer screen.

Each of the four issues next year will center on a theme and focus on a specific yearly meeting. The first issue (January–March) will revolve around the theme “In the Light,” and will largely focus on Intermountain Yearly Meeting.

The second issue (April–June), titled “Way Opens,” will have an eye on Pacific Yearly Meeting.

The third issue (July–September), “Be Patterns,” will invite ministry and news from the North Pacific region, including NPYM and our cousins at Sierra Cascades Yearly Meeting. While the first issue has a deadline coming up for December 1st, the other two will have deadlines on the 18th of January 2027. Receiving submissions in January will enable our Editor to put two magazines together ahead of time and focus on visiting with Friends.

The final issue (October–December) has a working title of “Welcome to Western Quakers,” which will explain what she’s encountered in these travels. We hope it can find use as an invitational tool for meetings to share with newcomers and to encourage intervisitation. This issue will include perspectives from many people in the West sharing what they feel most strongly about in terms of Quaker faith and practice.

Everyone has a different perspective on the Light and on how to be a Friend. Our outlooks are tied into our experience of God and our Spiritual Gifts. Often, we struggle to explain Quakerism because we cannot easily define it for ourselves. That’s somehow the point. It’s a kaleidoscopic mystery school with some very good business meetings—at least, that’s our experience. What’s yours?

-Jay Thatcher, Clerk and Caitlin Gaylord Churchill, Editor

How to Support Western Friend’s Jubilee Year

Request a Visit: Tell us which events you would like Bec and Caitlin to attend—please provide details well in advance so they can plan their travel schedule.

Announce Upcoming Changes: Update your meetings on what is ahead, including our transition to four issues in 2027 and the new travel ministry.

Encourage Submissions: Circulate submission calls, nominate writers in your region, and remind Friends that submission deadlines have shifted this year.

Talk to your board members: Please direct any comments to a Western Friend board member in your region.

Subscribe: Become part of the group subscription effort in your local Meeting, or visit our subscription page..

Donate: Donations from individuals are more than a quarter of our annual budget. Mail a check or use the Western Friend website.