Talk:Evangelical Friends International

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[edit] Are they a part of the RSoF?

I know that EFI is generally considered to be part of the Quaker family, but they don't anywhere identify themselves as being part of the RSoF on their website. Nor do their constituent YMs, it seems -- they use the phrase "Friends Church" or "Church of Friends", or "Yearly Meeting of Friends". Perhaps a distinction should be made between Quakerism and the RSoF? Zach (wv) (t) 04:30, 18 September 2005 (UTC)

Zach Alexander, how do you define Quakerism and the Religious Society of Friends, then? And how do you distinguish between the two?Logophile 13:47, 18 September 2005 (UTC)

Actually he touches on a good point. It is my understanding that within EFI there is debate about offically creating their own church and becoming the Evangelical Friends Church (EFC). I suspect that debate is related to the lack of discussion of the RSoF on their site. Until EFI offically declears itself to be a different demonination (which I expect will happen slowlly and quietly) I believe that EFI is properly termed Quaker as they have a Quaker history and most YM's within the organization still consider themselves Quaker. --Ahc 04:05, 19 September 2005 (UTC)

But Zach Alexander's basic question is whether we should distinguish between Quakerism and RSoF, and whether EFI should be classified as part of the first but not part of the second. For me you have muddied the water, Ahc, by saying that EFI is properly termed "Quaker." Do you mean that they are or are not part of the RSoF? Logophile 06:55, 19 September 2005 (UTC)

Logophile, I think the difference between Quakerism and the RSoF could just be that Quakerism refers more to the general ethos and theology/theory side (maybe summed up as an inward, listening spirituality) and RSoF refers to the more institutional side -- YMs, committees, and the like. Obviously they shade into each other -- like, the way we do business meetings is on the one hand an institutional/RSoF thing, but also an ethos/Quaker thing, since it springs very naturally from the Quaker spirit, IMO. Another thing to think of is that there were Quakers before there was a RSoF, which wasn't a phrase used until the mid 1700s I don't think. Also, I think Howard Brinton makes a distinction between the two in his Friends for 300 Years; I bet he has in mind a similar distinction, tho I can't be sure since I haven't more than skimmed it yet. Zach (wv) (t) 22:42, 20 September 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Uniqueness

Under the heading "Uniqueness of EFI among Friends", it is implied that the difference between EFI and other Friends is the emphasis placed on the Bible and view of Salvation. I believe these do descibe views that are used to seperate many Quaker groups from the Yearly Meetings that are associated with Friends General Conference, but does not differentiate between EFI and orthodox Quakers(Friends United Meeting). There are other independant and Conservative Quakers that may also hold these same views as Evangelical Friends. It is my POV that some better differences could be added to distinguish EFI from FUM. I am not knowledgeable about EFI to know what beliefs set them apart, but I am interested in learning.Carterponds 20:52, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Honestly I haven't read that section with care in the past. It's in great need of editing as it does seem to distinguish EFI from FGC more then from FUM. The comments on salvation are, in my experience, the most accurate in the section. The statement of practice are just inaccurate when compared with FUM's structure and the statements on the bible do seem to over state the case some. That said, I don't really have the time to correct this section at the moment, hopefully someone get work on that soon. --Ahc 14:23, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

I edited this section. As a member of EFI, NWYM, I can categorically state it was completely inaccurate. There are certainly exceptions, in every group of Friends. But EFI and NWYM as a whole embraces the peace testimony, and puts the Spirit at the center, not the written Bible. As Ahc said, the salvation party was the most accurate, and as Carterponds said, what is listed in this section more differentiates EFI from FGC than FUM- which doesn't make much sense, considering that FUM is the smallest of the three main Quaker branches. Abdul Muhib 23 September 2007

the FUM article says its the largest in terms of membership.--Natcase 11:15, 4 October 2007 (UTC)