Beyond Hearsay Testimonies: Living Quaker Values

Workshop # 3
Eric Moon

Survey of the historical meanings and functions of Quaker testimonies over different eras, reflected in Quaker queries, pamphlets and disownments. We will touch their underlying spiritual reality, coming to understand what testimonies were and were not, while making space to consider freshly the possibilities of God working through the RSOF.

Percentage of time:
Worship/worship-sharing 20; Lecture 40; Discussion 30; Experiential 10

Open to all

My overall objective is to help participants understand that, historically, Quaker testimonies were wider, deeper, and richer than the simplifications of them offered by Howard Brinton and others since.  My hope is that participants might  catch a vision of testimonies – traditional and future -- as spiritual paths, not closed containers of expectations.  

Topics:

1. How have Quakers in different eras understood and written about our testimonies?  Fox, Balby elders, Barclay, Penn, Gurney, Brinton, et al. – London YM Extracts 1783, Philadelphia YM Discipline 1806, Richmond Declaration 1887

2. Discussion of critical histories of two from Brinton’s short list:  probably peace (Isaac Sharpless, Peter Brock, others)  and plainness/simplicity  (Jack Marietta, Jerry Frost)  

3. Discussion of two “forgotten” testimonies:  church and state issues, and marriage in and out  

4. Use and misuse of abstract values as means to spiritual discipline – where might the testimonies be going from here?  Interviewing other Gathering attenders...

This workshop will NOT provide a beginners’ introduction to Quaker testimonies, nor advocate for particular issues of peace or equality, so I would prefer to have it listed with workshops about Quaker faith and practice.  

I view this as a worship and reading group, for bookish, experienced Friends interested in our history, not newbies.  Moe scholarship, minimal rant -- approach will be critical, possible learnings from historical occurrences rather than “ought to’s” and/or “aren’t we wonderful.”  Daily readings will be substantial, primary sources, available as repro’d handouts and/or emailed in advance.  My personal preference is for at least a half hour’s worship, so will schedule 40 minutes, to start each morning.