Quakerism FAQs

Basically, yes. The official name for Quakerism is the Religious Society of Friends. Originally, the followers of George Fox referred to themselves as Friends of Truth, "truth" being what early Friends sought through their worship: a direct, unaltered connection with the Divine. Friends got the name "Quakers" from outsiders early on, reflecting the "quaking" that some Friends would experience while in worship. The term was meant to be derogatory but the Friends/Quakers quickly took it up as their own. In modern times the term Friend (with a capital F) and Quaker are used interchangeably.

Friends use this term in so many different ways that it's easy to get confused. A meeting is the congregation of people who worship together and the organizational structure of that congregation. Meeting can also refer to the meeting space or building where the congregation worships. And meeting can be used as shorthand for "meeting for worship," "committee meeting," etc. 

Most of the Quaker meetings in NYC are unprogrammed, which means worship is mostly silent and not led by a pastor. “True silence is the rest of the mind,” William Penn, a famous early Quaker, wrote, “and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.” The goal of this silence is to make ourselves more receptive to divine revelation. We sit together in silence so we can quiet our minds and connect to something greater than ourselves. In the quiet we open our hearts and lives to new insights and guidance. Sometimes we are moved to speak, to share what we have discovered. These pieces of vocal ministry are sometimes called "messages."

In a Quaker meeting for worship, everyone sits in a room where the benches or chairs face each other. This helps us hear each other and demonstrates we are all equals, all part of a shared community. A meeting is usually an hour long. You may enter the space at the start of the hour and take a seat wherever one is available. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing. The silent, waiting worship begins as soon as the first person enters the room. A designated person may make an announcement or give a reading at the beginning of meeting. Otherwise, we sit together in silence to settle our minds and connect to something greater than ourselves. In the quiet we open our hearts to new insights and guidance. We listen for a message from our inner voice (AKA God, Spirit, love, the Light, Jesus, the divine, the eternal...). Occasionally someone is moved to share a message heard from that inner guide. If someone does feel divinely moved to speak, we listen and consider the message, and leave a space of silence afterward.

At the end of the hour, that designated person  close the meeting for worship by shaking hands with their neighbor. Announcements, afterthoughts, and requests to be held in the Light (prayer requests) may follow. Many meetings offer a coffee/social hour after worship; feel free to grab some coffee, tea, or a light snack.

Most of the NYC meetings hold this kind of silent, unprogrammed worship. Manhattan Meeting holds a programmed worship service that's led by a pastor and incorporates readings, music, and spoken messages in addition to a period of silent worship.

For most Friends, a message is something spoken in Meeting for Worship which has been inspired by God/spirit and which comes to us only after silent searching and waiting expectantly in the Light. Everything else is mere talking. From quaker.org: "Not everyone will feel led to share a message at any given meeting; some days, nobody gets the spiritual or metaphorical tap on the shoulder. People often wonder how they will know if it happens to them—one person might experience a leading as a thought that won’t go away, no matter how much they try to set it aside; another person might encounter Spirit as a voice only they can hear; still another might be contemplating a page of sacred writing and have a sentence seize their attention." Friends at worship should leave space between messages. A message should never be directed to a specific person (or given in response to a previous message). It is meant for everyone present.

Quakerism has Christian roots, and many Quakers consider themselves Christians. Some do not. Quakers find meaning and value in the teachings of many faiths, and consider other religious beliefs as valid as our own. There are Jewish, Muslim, and Atheist Quakers. What unites us is the belief in the equality and divine essence in every person and the potential of every person to have a direct experience with the Divine/God/Jesus/Love/Spirit/Light.

No. There is a tradition of "non-theist" Friends who interpret Quaker concepts and practices in secular ways while still participating in communities that embrace the values of simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship. 

Generally, "witness" refers to our actions regarding injustices and inequalities in the outside world. Friends are said to “witness” to their beliefs; our daily behavior is our “witness” to the validity of the testimonies. In other words, Friends’ witness is manifested by what we do and how we act in the world outside the meeting. Friends are known to "live our beliefs out loud" or "let our lives speak." Integrity compels Quakers to notice and address what goes against our testimonies of peace, equality, stewardship, simplicity, integrity, and community. That noticing and addressing — that action — is Quaker witness.

Quakers take minutes during meetings for worship with a concern for business. These minutes record what happens during the business meeting, including actions taken by the gathered Friends (sometimes referred to as "the body"). For example, a minute could say, "Phyllis presented a draft budget for next year. Friends approved this budget." Minutes also record statement of belief that Friends have discerned together. When Quakers refer to a minute by a specific title, such as "The Love Thy Neighbor Minute," we are referring to minute on belief that has been approved by the group. A minute carries the weight of belief from an entire group of Friends -- a committee, a meeting, etc. -- and Friends spend time and care discerning the right wording and message of those minutes.

Local meetings that hold worship once a week are often, confusingly, referred to as "monthly meetings." The word "monthly" refers to how often the congregation gathers for business. Monthly meetings— sometimes called local meetings or Friends meetings — are groups of Quakers that all worship in the same place. Brooklyn Meeting and Flushing Meeting are monthly meetings.

A quarterly meeting — sometimes called a regional meeting — consists of several monthly meetings in the same region that meet quarterly for business; that is, four times a year. NYC Quakers are also referred to as the New York Quarterly Meeting (NYQM), which is the more official name of our association. NYQM includes all of the monthly meetings in New York City and has an office with its own finances and paid staff.

A yearly meeting covers a wider area and consists of several quarterly/regional meeting. NYC Quakers belong to New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM), which includes the monthly and regional meetings in New York State and parts of northern and central New Jersey, and western Connecticut. NYYM holds one week-long gathering in the summer for business and fellowship — the "yearly" Sessions. It also holds shorter Fall and Spring Sessions to address business that arises throughout the year. NYYM also has its own office, finances, and paid staff.

A member of a monthly meeting is automatically also a member of the quarterly meeting and yearly meeting and are warmly invited to attend any of their gatherings.

Becoming a member of a meeting demonstrates a commitment to the meeting and its people and to Quakerism as a belief. Each monthly meeting has its own process for membership, but generally, a Friend writes a letter to the monthly meeting's Ministry and Counsel Committee (or equivalent) explaining why they'd like to join the meeting. These letters range from short and simple to personal and heartfelt. In most meetings, once a letter is received the Ministry and Counsel (or equivalent) Committee will appoint a "Clearness Committee" to meet with the Friend and make sure they are clear to join the meeting. The clearness committee will ask questions about the Friend's beliefs and knowledge of Quakerism and their familiarity and involvement with the meeting. If the committee reports back that the Friend is clear, their letter is read at a business meeting (or sometimes two business meetings) and, if no one objects, the Friend becomes a member.