About QuakersWe are a group of people belonging to the organisation whose official name is the Religious Society of Friends. The Society has 450 meetings in Britain and covers a third of a million Quakers throughout the World.
Quakers share a way of life, not a set of beliefs. We seek to experience God directly, within ourselves and in our relationships with others and the world around us. We believe each person is uniquely valuable and there is something of God in everyone. We meet together for worship in local meetings which are inclusive and open to all. Our focus is on our experience rather than written statements of belief. Our community is based on sharing a powerful form of silent worship, and on our core values of truth, equality, simplicity and peace. This leads us to translate our faith into action by working for social justice, supporting peacemakers and caring for the environment. The Quaker way has its roots in Christianity and finds inspiration in the Bible and the life and teachings of Jesus. Quakers also find meaning and value in the teachings of other faiths; we acknowledge that ours is not the only way. |
"Many of the people who come to us are both refugees and seekers. They are looking for a space to find their authenticity, a space in a spiritual context. It is a process of liberation. Some discover what they need among Friends, others go elsewhere. This gift of the sacred space that Friends have to offer is a two-edged sword. It is not easy administratively to quantify; it leads to ambiguity. It demands patient listening; it can be enriching and challenging to our complacency. It is outreach in the most general sense and it is a profound service. It may not lead to membership and it may cause difficulties in local meetings. But if someone comes asking for bread, we cannot say, sorry we are too busy discovering our own riches; when we have found them, we'll offer you a few. Our riches are precisely our sharing. And the world is very, very hungry." |
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