QuakerQuaker

Primitive Christianity Revived, Again

Steve Angell answers a Quaker Questionnaire

College student Samantha Siebert reached out to ESR's Leatherock Professor of Quaker Studies Stephen Angell to complete a questionnaire on Quakerism for a project in her religion class. Below are her questions and his responses. Do you think he got all of the answers right?

Please describe a typical Quaker service. What takes place? Is there a spiritual or prayer leader? What role does that person play in the service? What is that person called?

It varies from place to place. In some locales, such as the area of Philadelphia, the group meets in silence. If some one is given a message from God, they are free to share that with the group, but then the group returns to the silence. The role of the leader is to close the worship by shaking hands. She or he has no title. In other parts of the world, there is often a pastor who leads the Quaker worship. A short period of silence may be included in the worship, but generally there are lots of hymns, prayers, and a sermon.

Do you think the number of Quakers will grow in the future or decline? Why?

In some parts of the world Quakers are growing, and in some parts declining. There are no simple answers as to why. Social and cultural factors undoubtedly play a part. In general, Quakers aren’t worried. If we listen to what God wants for us to do, that is enough. We must be faithful.

You can read more from Samantha and Steve here: http://esrquaker.blogspot.com/2014/12/steve-angell-answers-quaker.html

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Comment by Craig Dove on 12th mo. 10, 2014 at 9:17pm: I think Steve's answers do a nice job of blending the historical context of Quakers, the Biblical roots of some of the testimonies, and the present diversity among Friends. The only thing I would have liked to have seen - but perhaps out of the range for this questionnaire - was more on the reasons for, and shape of, this diversity.

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