Milk for Babes... Nayler's Last Ministry

Workshop Number

Leader(s)

David

Neelon

Audience

Who may register:

Adult Only (high school with permission)

full-time attenders only

Time breakdown

Experiential Activities:

Lecture:

10%

Discussion:

20%

Description

Short Description:

“Milk for Babes and Meat for Strong Men...”, presents James Nayler’s final, mature explication of what salvation really is, its cost, and the reward of leaving behind all self-will and deception. We will approach Nayler's Quaker mysticism by reading together and worship-sharing centered on this 30 page paper.

Long Description:

The objective of this workshop is to clarify and make accessible the most important theme of James Nayler's ministry. While Nayler was older, more experienced in the world, better educated, and during his abbreviated lifetime, more prolific of written ministry, George Fox is more accessible and better understood in our time. Nayler, of course, fell away from Friends in disgrace over the Bristol demonstration. We will treat that part of his story as a distraction, go on past it, and study the one work which best characterizes what Nayler intended to leave as his ministry. Nayler was a Quaker mystic. "Milk for Babes..." is a mystic's teaching.

We will use as our source: Works of James Nayler, Volume IV, Quaker Heritage Press, 2009, available from QuakerBooks of FGC.
This is original text, set a readable, contemporary typeface. It is not a modernized transcription. Our other primary source is the King James (or, Authorized) Bible. If one can read the KJV, one can read Nayler.

Our daily format will include opening worship, chosen readings from the day's assigned texts (Nayler and Biblical sources), and worship-sharing on the matters presented and our own related experience. A period of discussion of the day's progress will follow, then closing worship.

"Milk for Babes..." takes about 30 pages in the above volume, plus a couple of introductory and closing pages. All participants should read the entire work. The leader will select portions brief enough to read in class and discuss for each session.

A reading list of related materials about Nayler and Early Quakerism will be provided, and discussion may touch on these sources as appropriate.

The leader, David Neelon, is the author of JAMES NAYLER: REVOLUTIONARY TO PROPHET, Leadings Press, 2009, also available from QuakerBooks and at the Gathering. Participants are urged to use this work as a reference to the wider context of Nayler's life and work.

Participants in the leader's Nayler workshop in 2004 at Amherst Gathering will find this workshop offers different material and focus, making it a worthwhile addition to that experience, not a repetition.

Leader Experience:

The 2004 workshop was a full week's session with six participants, a diverse and sometimes challenging group.

I've led or co-led day workshops on Nayler at Cleveland and Pendle Hill and discussion groups elsewhere.

Also, lots of writing workshops for many years.