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Faith and Practice of Western Yearly Meeting of Friends Church Faith and Practice of Western Yearly Meeting of Friends Church 2005 Edition Western Yearly Meeting PO Box 70 Plainfield, IN 46168 317 839–2789 800 909–3452 [email protected] Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................. iii Western Yearly Meeting Purpose Statement ................................ 1 Part I: Background............................................................2 Origin and Development of the Discipline ( Faith and Practice ) ........................................................................................................................ 2 Brief History......................................................................................... 2 George Fox and the Rise of Quakerism in England ......................... 2 Beginnings in England.................................................................. 2 Childhood and Youth of George Fox............................................. 3 First Called Quakers..................................................................... 3 Early Organization........................................................................ 3 Period of Persecution..................................................................... 4 Meetings for Sufferings................................................................. 4 American Beginnings and Growth .................................................... 4 Growth and Expansion.................................................................. 4 American Yearly Meetings............................................................ 4 Other Yearly Meetings.................................................................. 5 Branches of Friends ........................................................................... 5 Lack of Unity ................................................................................. 5 Orthodox-Hicksite Separation ...................................................... 5 Wilbur–Gurney Controversy......................................................... 6 Evangelical Movements of the Nineteenth Century ........................ 6 Ministry of Gurney........................................................................ 6 Leading Evangelists...................................................................... 6 Development of the Pastoral Ministry.............................................. 6 Origin of Pastoral Ministry........................................................... 6 Employment of Pastors ................................................................. 7 Essential Truths ................................................................................. 7 Expanding Appreciation of Truth...................................................... 9 Value of Historical Approach............................................................. 9 Part II: Faith and Thought ............................................10 Basic Principles................................................................................. 10 Father, Son, Holy Spirit.............................................................. 10 Meaning of Salvation .................................................................. 10 The Living Presence.................................................................... 10 The Light of Christ...................................................................... 11 Divine-Human Relationship ....................................................... 11 Worship................................................................................................ 12 Meaning of Worship .................................................................... 12 Meeting for Worship.................................................................... 12 Music and Worship...................................................................... 12 Meditation and Message ............................................................. 12 Testimony on Outward Rites and Ceremonies........................... 13 ii iii Baptism and Communion ........................................................... 13 War Renounced............................................................................ 24 The Scriptures.................................................................................... 13 Military Service ........................................................................... 25 Studying the Scriptures .............................................................. 13 War Relief .................................................................................... 25 Barclay on the Scriptures ........................................................... 13 Living Out the Testimonies............................................................. 25 Spiritual Gifts..................................................................................... 14 Family Life................................................................................... 25 Gifts for Ministries ...................................................................... 14 Marriage ...................................................................................... 25 Life and Action................................................................................... 14 Sexuality ...................................................................................... 26 Service: The Way of Life ............................................................. 14 Divorce ......................................................................................... 26 Evangelism and Extension.............................................................. 15 Recreational Activities ................................................................ 26 New Testament Evangelism ....................................................... 15 Drugs, Including Alcohol............................................................. 26 Period of Quietism....................................................................... 15 Tobacco......................................................................................... 27 New Awakening........................................................................... 15 Gambling and Lotteries .............................................................. 27 Evangelistic Methods .................................................................. 15 Judicial Oaths.............................................................................. 27 Outside North America ............................................................... 16 Responsible Membership in Organizations ............................... 27 Missionary Incentive................................................................... 16 Death Penalty.............................................................................. 28 Expanding Program .................................................................... 16 Queries................................................................................................. 28 Christian Education ......................................................................... 17 Introductory Statement............................................................... 28 Importance of Christian Education ............................................ 17 General Queries........................................................................... 28 Friends’ Sunday/First Day Schools ............................................ 17 Queries for Boards on Christian Ministries and Evangelism Christian Training ...................................................................... 17 (Committees on Ministry and Counsel)............................................. 29 Essential Objectives .................................................................... 17 Part III: Organization .....................................................31 Upward Call................................................................................. 18 The Church as a Society.............................................................. 31 Social Concerns ................................................................................. 18 Waiting for Guidance .................................................................. 31 Early Reforms.............................................................................. 18 Friendly Method.......................................................................... 31 Reformers..................................................................................... 18 Tenure of Office ........................................................................... 31 Concerns for Justice .................................................................... 19 The Meeting................................................................................. 32 Ethical Obligations for Economic Order .................................... 19 Meeting for Worship.................................................................... 32 Ethical Obligations for the Environment................................... 19 Meeting for Business................................................................... 32 Social Reform............................................................................... 20 Clearness Committees ................................................................ 32 Education ............................................................................................ 20 Monthly Meeting Organization and Function............................ 32 Early Quaker Education ............................................................
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