We’re looking for articles on relationships for the September issue of Friends Journal—family relationships, romantic ones, mentorships, or spiritual Friends. Writing Opp: Relationships — Friends Journal We are accepting submissions for our September issue. The due date is June 17, 2024. Friends Journal ..read more

It’s so bizarre that some of the people most rocking the old do-no-wrong Quaker mythologies today are non-Quaker right-wingers.1 The Washington Post profiles anti-woke dingbat Kali Fontanilla.  I’m glad the article does actually push back at some of the Fontanilla’s half-truths but it’s bad journalism to put the counter arguments near the end of the article where casual readers might miss them. It’s even worse journalism to not have bothered to interview a Quaker historian. When writing about someone spewing inaccurate information, it’s typical journalistic practice to let them go on for ..read more

I got to talk with frequent Friends Journal author John Andrew Gallery this week. His latest article for us explores a gospel model of parenthood. I most appreciated his take that many of the figures in the parables were not necessarily metaphorical fill-ins for God but faithful people already living in the power of the kingdom. I’ll be chewing on his take on the prodigal son’s forgiving father for awhile. John Andrew Gallery Interview — Friends Journal Quaker author John Andrew Gallery is interviewed about his April 2023 article, “The Gospel Model of Fatherly Love.” Friends Journal ..read more

Johan Maurer examines a classic Quaker dilemma from a new angle. Are we something unique and radical or are we just another brand of Christianity? Describing Britain Yearly Meeting, in particular, though it could describe many Liberal Quaker spaces: In particular, Christian language and God language are often held at arm’s length. Quakers’ ethical discipleship (a.k.a. the “testimonies”) are held in high regard but are often described without reference to their Christian origins. The customs and folkways of meeting for worship and meeting for business are likewise faithfully maintained but the ..read more

Windy Cooler, Ashley Wilcox, and Katie Breslin went through FGC-affiliated yearly meeting books of Faith and Practices and directories to find out what supports really exist for public ministers. Eavesdropping on Ministers: How are Meetings and Quaker Institutions Supporting Public Ministry ..read more

John Lampen, writing in The Friend, makes a useful distinction between two modes of Quaker peacemaking. Friends who are called to be prophets can’t be neutral; they identify something which is wrong and speak out clearly against it. Those who reconcile are healers; they look for common ground on which contestants can meet, find agreement, and hopefully put the past behind them. Both roles are necessary; both are important aspects of Quaker witness. Lampen argues that we are called to both of these forms of peacemaking but that they exist in a tension that often requires us to choose one at a ..read more

I don’t think I ever mentioned that the April issue of Friends Journal is out. There’s a fun article comparing birdwatching to Quaker ministry. That’s the kind of claim that might normally make my eyes roll but the author, Rebecca Heider, makes it work! Also, a great episode of QuakerSpeak this week profiles the Ramallah Friends School and the community’s longterm Quaker witness under successive occupation by Ottoman, British, Lebanese, and now Israeli forces. I thoroughly enjoyed Gary Shteyngart’s Crying Myself to Sleep on the Biggest Cruise Ship Ever. It’s a joy of self-depreciation, snark ..read more

On somewhat similar themes, I talked to Peter Blood-Patterson this week about “holding in the light,” the popular contemporary Quaker phrase for prayer. His article, We Are All Held in Love: Reflections on the Practice of Holding in the Light appears in the March issue of Friends Journal, the theme of which is “Prayer and Healing.” From the video description: Peter Blood-Patterson discusses the Quaker practice of “holding in the light”, which involves sharing prayer concerns during meetings. The phrase originated in the late 1960s but became more commonly used among Friends in the 1990s. It ..read more

The podcast is back for season three—now with a new cohost, Miche McCall. First up, a look at Quakers and community. It includes an interviews with Nathan Kleban about his experience with intentional communities and economic justice work and excerpts from Lauren Brownlee’s recent QuakerSpeak video on using Quaker testimonies to confront white supremacy. Quaker Podcast — Podcast Exploring Quaker Life & Religious Beliefs Quakers Today, hosted by Peterson Toscano, features writers, musicians, and thinkers who are seeking wisdom and understanding in… Friends Journal ..read more

Last week I interviewed Quaker healer John Calvi for a Friends Journal author chat. John has long worked with trauma victims and those suffering from AIDS and he tells part of that story in March’s “Carrying Light to Need.” One of the parts of this that fascinates me is his sharing of losing much of his spiritual insight after a recent illness. Regular readers of this blog know I love stories of Friends who are able to sense promptings and to have that ability and then lose it is a piece of the mystery of where it comes from. I’m reminded of Anne E.G. Nydam’s “The Conduits” from the November 2 ..read more