An Introduction
The Quaker commitment to equality flows from two core beliefs. First, that no human should ever be given the power and deference that belongs to God alone. Second, that there is a seed of spiritual potential in every person, given by God, that gives them dignity and worth.

Quakers recognize that any attender may be given ministry in worship-- that spiritual authority issues directly, and only, from God. Therefore, all are equally welcome to speak. Quaker women are, and always have been, active and prominent ministers. Similarly, spiritual leadership is shared by people of different class backgrounds. For the first several hundred years of Quakerism's existence, a person's conversion to the faith was marked by the adoption of plain dress, which visibly rejected the conventional marks of class and social hierarchy. Friends in 17th century England were regularly imprisoned for refusing to tip their hats or use the plural pronoun "you" with their social superiors. In all these ways, Quakers have sought to affirm a social and spiritual egalitarianism that puts human dignity and equality before social convention.

On the surface, the issues and struggles of equality look different today than they did 350 years ago. Quakers mostly dress and speak like the other people around them. At the same time, we are faced in new ways with issues of equality like distribution of wealth, ecology, and sexual orientation/gender identity. The challenge remains the same: to recognize each individual, not in their own social, financial, or intellectual power, but as a creation, manifestation, and potential vessel of a power bigger and more important than the world's.

This summary was written by Kody Hersh, who is a member of Miami Monthly Meeting and serves on the Youth Ministries Committee of FGC.


Betsy Blake

In my meeting, here in the Southeastern part of the U.S., we have a female pastor and many women--and men--in leadership. 

As Friends, we believe all are call upon to be ministers.  We all have a duty to seek and listen for God and amazingly, that God can speak back!  Friends have witnessed that God doesn’t just speak to pale, white men either.  So our ears perk up when any well-led voice rises from the silence, regardless of the owner.

As a woman, I have often felt diminished, objectified or undervalued in local societies as well as in my travels abroad.  It still surprises me every time. 

As a whole, the men in my meeting are kind, gentle, generous, strong, and very respectful of all.  Sometimes I wonder if this is hard for them, when a woman is speaking passionately or strongly; suggesting we take a particular direction.  The men seem to sit there so peacefully though, listening deeply and honoring the Leadings of a gender that our culture often presents as a people to be controlled or exploited.

Thankfully, these men listen to God over certain cultural ideas.

I am also happy to say that the respect is mutual.

Because of this, when we work together, appreciating one another’s gifts, viewpoints, and ability to access the Divine--everyone benefits.

Betsy Blake is a member of First Friends Meeting (FUM) in Greensboro, NC, a community that welcomes all people. Betsy has spent more than 10 years traveling and sojourning amongst the various branches of Friends around the globe and bears witness that the something powerful is stirring amongst us!  

Michael Doo

Quakers believe that there is 'that of God' in everyone and that all people have the same privileges and responsibilities regardless of race, age, creed, gender or sexual orientation. In my personal journey through Quakerism, I have faced each of these issues in various ways. They have challenged me to look inward and explore my own beliefs. At first, I was unsure how to proceed when writing this piece. But as I thought back to my first years with Quakerism, I realized I already knew how to go forward.

I came to Quakerism via Shiloh Quaker Camp in Stanardsville, VA. The campers in attendance came from all different social and economic backgrounds. More importantly, the campers came from a number of different Quaker backgrounds. Some, like myself, were from unprogrammed meetings (those that worship in the silence). Others were from programmed meetings (in the style of typical Protestant worship). However, from the very beginning, young Friends are instilled with the core value of equality. In the context of a Quaker outdoors camp, this translated to an environment that nurtured the Spirit in everyone. We were a group bound only by nature and not judged by anything, or anyone, else. This allowed campers to flourish and grow without having to worry what others thought.

My experiences at Shiloh moved me to join the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Young Friends community. It was here that my views of equality were cemented. Here was a community that welcomed Young Friends from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. During my time with the BYM YF's, the group had to tackle tough issues such as homosexuality and outreach to members of Friends United Meeting. It wasn't easy. How does one keep an open mind for such contentious subjects? Now how does a group of 70 keep an open mind? In the search for equality, Young Friends struggled to come to consensus on the issues.

Equality is one of the hardest and most complex issues Quakers deal with on a daily basis. It is also one of the most rewarding issues to study and reflect on. I strongly encourage readers to look further into it and find what equality means to them.

Michael Doo is a 3rd year Mathematics major at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. He is a member of Stony Run Friends Meeting in Baltimore, MD.


Faith Kelley
“That’s not fair!” was a common refrain several summers ago at the camp where I worked.  Usually uttered by a camper envious of another camper, I would sometimes respond “Aren’t you glad life isn’t fair?”  Even as I recall that, it seems like a harsh thing to say to a child.  Why dash their dreams of a fair world where everyone gets exactly what they deserve?  Why argue it is good?  The kid would often give me a puzzled look or continue to argue, but that allowed us to have a conversation about how often they have benefited from something good they did nothing to earn or have had negative consequences withheld even though they had done something wrong.  They had gained from unfairness in those circumstances, now could they let someone else enjoy a little grace or mercy?

I think that often as adults we still get confused about what we want - fairness or equality.  Fairness to, me, has its place but it is so easy to get caught up in legalistic rules.  Everyone gets exactly the same thing and exactly what they deserve under the rule of fairness.  Equality is much more complicated.  It comes not out of rules about everyone being the same, but out of our common worth as children of God. Jesus told a parable about equality versus fairness.  He said that a landowner went out in the morning and hired a bunch of works and told them he would pay them a specific amount at the end of the day.  As the day went along he continued to hire other workers and promised them the same amount for their work.  At the end of the work day the workers hired in the morning complained because they had gotten paid the same amount for a full day’s labor that others had gotten paid for only a few hours.  The landowner points out to them that they gotten what they were promised, why were they jealous of his generosity with others?  The parable ends with Jesus saying “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).

God’s kingdom is a place of equality, not the false fairness we often cry for.  As Quakers we are committed to living lives that reflect the gospel order Jesus described in this parable.  It is topsy-turvy compared to our expectations, with the first being last and the last being first.  Out of this new understanding of equality, all have gifts and all are called to be part of God’s work.  Gender, race, age, wealth, education and all the other things that divide us in the world become unimportant in the Light of Christ.  Even though I am a woman, I can preach.  Even though I am young, I can hold a position of authority.  Even though I have no formal theological education, I can write about God.  What matters most is what God has called me to, how the Spirit is moving.  That is the equality of God.

Faith Kelley is originally from Ohio but now lives and works in Washington, DC at the William Penn House.  She grew up in Shiloh Chapel Evangelical Friends Church.

What is Quaker Quest?
Quaker Quest is based on the idea that Quakerism is a spiritual path for our time that is simple, radical, and contemporary. Quaker Quest offers Friends an opportunity to articulate their faith, deepen relationships within their meeting/church, and share their spiritual stories with the larger community.

The public Quaker Quest sessions are structured gatherings for people interested in learning about Quakerism.  As part of the public Quaker Quest sessions, three people from the Quaker meeting share from the heart about their experiences on a particular topic.  These presentations are prepared in advance and include brief quotes from Faith and Practice or other resources.  Presenters mostly share stories that illuminate their journeys around the topic.  

How the blog series works
Each month from March until June, three Quakers will write 2-3 paragraphs on a certain topic from their experience as a Friend. I hope that the posts will spark a conversation that can continue online through people commenting on the blog posts.  Please email Emily at emilys@fgcquaker.org if you are interested in writing on one of the topics.

Schedule of topics
February- An introduction to Quaker Quest
March-Quakers and Equality
April- Quakers and God
May- Quakers and Pacifism
June- Quakers and Worship

For information on Quaker Quest, email quakerquest@fgcquaker.org or call 215-561-1700. Quaker Quest in the US and Canada is a project of Friends General Conference http://www.fgcquaker.org/quakerquest/organizers.