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 ............................................................