Quaker Faith and Practice

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Quaker Faith and Practice is the core publication of the Religious Society of Friends (the Quakers). It is intended to be an expression of the Society's sense of moral truth and purpose, through a representative collection of extracts from Friends' writings. Many Quaker meetings and organisations around the world have developed 'Faith and Practice' guides. They also describe the current structure and administration of the Society of Friends in each area.

1 Text and Usage
2 History
3 Current publications
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Text and Usage

The contents of Quaker Faith and Practice are agreed on by a consensual decision-making process at a main meeting of Friends. This is thought to be a fitting way of expressing the breadth of Quaker theology and practice, and consistent with an intention that they be based in evolving personal experience and 'inner light' rather than fixed creeds. The writings are not intended to represent rules or creeds which Quakers must agree with or adhere to, but may be used as a source of guidance or discipline. This is consistent with a quote often used by Quakers: "The letter killeth but the spirit giveth life." The main broad areas of belief are often termed testimonies. Since the majority of the Society remain within a Christian theistic tradition, this is reflected in the publication, but it is also intended to encompasses other theistic and non-theistic views commonly found within the Society. Extracts from the book are sometimes read aloud in Quaker meetings for worship as a focus for meditation or consideration.

The British Quaker Faith and Practice comprises 29 chapters with the headings:

Advices and queries; Approaches to God - worship and prayer; General counsel on church affairs; Monthly meetings and their constituent meetings; General meetings; Yearly Meeting; Meeting for Sufferings; Committees and departments; Beyond Britain Yearly Meeting; Belonging to a Quaker meeting; Membership

Caring for one another; Varieties of religious service; Finance; Property and trusteeship; Quaker marriage procedure; Quaker funerals and memorial meetings; Faithful lives; Openings; Living faithfully today; Personal journey; Close relationships; Social responsibility; Our peace testimomy; Unity of Creation; Reflections; Unity and diversity; Sharing the Quaker experience; Leadings.

[edit] History

The origins of the publication can be traced back to a manuscript in 1738, following the development of the Quaker movement in the mid-17th century in England. The first printed collection appeared in 1783. From 1861 the book of discipline was divided into separate chapters, and in 1921 adopted a new approach of attempting 'to state truth, not by formulating it, but by expressing it through the vital personal and corporate experience of Friends'. This began the use of extracts which has subsequently been developed as an acceptable method of expressing the breadth of Quaker theology. A 1959 revision combined faith and practice components in to one volume. A new British revision was worked on from 1985, due to requests 'not from the centre but from local meetings and individual Friends, as well as committees' (quote from introduction to current edition) to reflect developments in society, language and belief.

[edit] Current publications

The current British Quaker Faith and Practice is produced by the umbrella organisation Britain Yearly Meeting. The text of this edition was originally approved by the Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain in 1994, and is regularly revised to reflect developments in Quaker attitudes or organisation. It is sometimes termed the (Christian) 'Book of Discipline' but this has become less common. The current third edition is sold in print [1] and free online[2].

Other 'Faith and Practice' publications from different meetings and countries can be searched online[3]