What are Quakers?
Founded in 1652 by George Fox, Quakers (The Religious Society of Friends)
spread from England to America, Europe, and every continent in the world.
The Friends' way of life ideally emphasizes simplicity and humility.
Originally, Friends believed strongly in God and the Bible, but also felt
that every person was a source of continuing revelation -- that God could move
beyond the Bible and speak through any person.
Friends' deep spirituality is a source of profound social activism. The need
for aiding others ranged from early equality for women, anti-slavery, and
religious freedom to penal reform and avoidance of war, and living in such a
way as to take away the occasion of all war. These concerns continue today.
Who has authority among Quakers?
Pittsburgh Friends Meeting has no one with the authority that a pastor
exercises.
The Meeting does have clerks, who record decisions by the Meeting. Meetings
for Business are not run autocratically nor democratically.
The Meeting for Business is conducted in a spirit of worship with, we hope,
God's guidance. In keeping with the beliefs and practices of The Religious
Society of Friends, decision-making is by Sense of the Meeting.
Finances
Everyone is welcomed into the Meeting as member or attender regardless of
their ability to make financial contributions.
Financial needs of the Meeting are met through contributions of members and
attenders of the Meeting. Donations may be made personally or by mail to the
Treasurer.
How To Join Pittsburgh Friends Meeting
If, after attending for a year or so, you feel led to become a member, the
procedure is outlined in our Faith & Practice.
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Friends' Beliefs
There is no set creed or belief for The Religious Society of
Friends. Each person is responsible for his or her relationship with God, and
the experience of each will be different. The only near-universal belief is that
there is an inward light, a spark of the Divine, that of God in every person.
When you talk with people in Pittsburgh Friends Meeting, you will encounter a
wide spectrum of belief. Concrete definitions of belief are often avoided, since
words cannot contain the whole, and, through our individual seeking and common
worship, revelation continues. Common beliefs tend toward the more practical and
experiential; for instance, the thought that war creates more trouble than it
solves is common.
During a Meeting for Worship, all settle into silence. While some meditate,
others concentrate on relaxing, or feeling their bodies. Some consider a word or
phrase to aid their search. Some will use the silence to empty their minds,
"waiting expectantly" for wisdom from either deep in their own minds or from
beyond.
Anyone may speak out of the silence. There is no prepared sermon. Although some
speaking is considered more valid than others, humility teaches that anyone may
be deeply inspired and bring wisdom we would do well to consider.
The Religious Society of Friends also publishes Queries, which are not
statements of belief, but are designed to strengthen beliefs in truth and wisdom
through questioning. An example: "Do we teach our children the value of
religious beliefs and practices?" Each Meeting is expected to consider and
answer the Queries over a period of time. The intent is to open up important
areas of life for self-examination from time to time.
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In Short
- Freedom to search for your own spiritual truths
- Spirituality based on personal experience, including books and
inspirations
- Centering, prayerful, meditative communal silence
- Believe as you feel led; we expect you to speak out of your own
experiences
- Financial contributions placed in box by Library, no collections or
pledges
- Every person is endowed with "inner light"
- Listen for God speaking through all
- Everyone is responsible for pastoral duties -- we are all ministers
- Informality in authority and title, first-name basis
- Decisions by community in meeting for worship for business
- Expect God to guide us in decision-making
- Committees conduct most of the business of the Meeting under
guidance of the Meeting as a whole
- Dress informally
- Music before Meeting
- Social Action:
- Work to improve Pittsburgh Schools
- Nonviolence
- Protest against war
- Prison reform
- African American rights
- Native American rights
- Ecology
- Election reform
- Green concerns
- Civil liberties
- Lesbian/Gay concerns
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