Introduction to Quaker Basics

Structure of course

Session one Individual practice
Centring and meditation
The experience of silence
Session two Corporate practice
Meeting for worship
Vocal ministry
Session three Testimonies and concerns
 • Simplicity
 • Peace
 • Equality
 • Ecological responsibility
 • Integrity
 • Community
Session four Reflections paper
Session five Taking action: a Quaker view of ministry
Organisational structures among Friends
International Quaker organisations 
Session six Individual discernment /  leadings
Clearness process
Session seven   Corporate discernment
Friends business meetings
Session eight

Membership

Understanding the course requirements

Commitment

This course takes about six months to complete. Ideally, you’ll assign some time each week for the assigned readings. You will be contemplating this material, and sharing your experience with a learning companion. Your study should balance finding your own pace with making steady progress. You will be encouraged to write a 2-5 page reflection paper “midterm”, and to provide course evaluation feed back at the end of the course.

Learning companion:

A spiritual friend for this course is recommended. Contact between learning companions should occur weekly if possible. You may have chosen to work independently with this material. Isolated Friends may have internet or telephone connection with another Friend.

Faith community

You are strongly encouraged to attend weekly worship in your own faith community for the duration of this course. You are asked to reflect on the meetings for worship (including business or committee meetings) you attend over this period, even if you don’t get there very often. This will be important for reflection on your experience of the worship time.

Reading materials

This course uses the following core texts:

  1. British Yearly Meeting Quaker faith & practice and this we can say for (Advices & queries)
  2. Silence: our eye on eternity by Dan Seeger, Pendle Hill Pamphlet #318, 1994
  3. A light that is shining by Harvey Gilman, Quaker Home Service 1997
  4. Four doors to meeting for worship by William Taber,  Pendle Hill Pamphlet #306, 1992.
  5. Testament of devotion by Thomas Kelly, Harper & Row, 1941.
  6. Spiritual discernment by Patricia Loring,  Pendle Hill Pamphlet #305, 1992

These may be available through your Meeting library.

Facilitator’s role

Facilitators are authorised to act as a facilitator by obtaining formal approval by her/his Local or Regional Meeting, or by the QLA Committee. (AYM).  It is this person’s task to keep track of participants; clarify questions about assignments and course materials: encourage accountability by checking in: read and respond to your reflection papers; and request and analyse course evaluation feedback. It is hoped that participants and facilitator will meet at the beginning, middle and end of the course as a minimum. More frequent meetings are a Friendly outcome.

Queries and notes

Use BYM Quaker Faith & Practice to read Advices & Queries. Advices and Queries are also in This We Can Say (Australian). Use a Notebook/Workbook/Journal for recording your reflections and experiences.

Quaker basics: a distance learning course (pdf 1458kb)