Elements of Quakerism: Training the Facilitators

A seven-week online course on learning and teaching the fundamental elements of Quaker faith and practice. 

This compelling seven-week course explores the spiritual roots of Quaker faith and practice. The syllabus has a broad audience, but this unique cohort invites experienced Friends to both participate in the course and learn how to facilitate it in their own style in their own Meetings. 

The course is text-based. Each week there is up to about an hour and a half of reading to do before the class. In class, we will discuss how the ideas in the materials might relate to our own spiritual experiences. Most materials are available to you online. The others are five Pendle Hill Pamphlets that we strongly encourage participants to obtain, either by borrowing your Meeting library or by purchasing from Pendle Hill.

The number of participants is limited to 10, so that people can get to know and trust each other and share about their own experiences and understandings. Due to the limited size, we encourage Friends to coordinate with your Meeting and select a single Friend from your Meeting to participate and bring this resource back to your community. 

Tentative Syllabus

Week 1: What is the essence of Quakerism?
Week 2: Quaker history. How did Quakerism begin, and how has it changed and evolved over time?
Week 3: Silence. What is happening in the silence of worship?
Week 4: Vocal Ministry. What is spoken during worship? How do I know if I have a message to speak?
Week 5: Quaker Meeting for Business. What happens in Quaker meeting for business?
Week 6: Community. What is the basis of community in the Quaker meeting?
Week 7: The Testimonies. How is Quaker faith lived out in the world?