To learn more about unprogrammed Christian Friends, you should subscribe to *Friends Community News*, 107 Broat Road, Little Falls NY 13365.  You might also wish to subscribe to *Foundation Papers*,  http://nffquaker.org/page/new-foundation-papers  There is also *The Conservative Friend*, published by Ohio Yearly Meeting.  See subscription information in this recent online issue:  http://www.michiganquakers.org/pdf%20files/TCF41%20Final.pdf

I do not deny our Christian roots, but I think our sense of continuing revelation is the magic of Quakerism, and it may lead us to grow beyond our roots. going too far....? Here, in NC, a local Friends Church member answered my question about how Friends here went from silent worship to pastors, singing, etc., and he said it was a response to the Baptist surge in the 1880's. Too many Friends, esp. young Friends, were being drawn to the more exciting noise and activity of the Baptist Church, so they decided they needed to ramp up, making meeting more interesting and exciting. So, in my mind those Friends become Baptists but kept the name. One local "Quaker" pastor strikes me as a used car salesman, complete with plaid jacket.... The sadness for me has been the movement of my Quakers toward such a secular community, more involved with political and social issues than with being seekers in a religious, philosophical community. The 1960's and the 1880's may have been the worst thing to happen to the The Society of Friends. People have been attracted to meeting for the wrong reasons.