Outreach to Families: Support for Parenting in Community

Conversation Circles: September 19 & 21, 2023

Q

UAKER MEETINGS CAN OFFER SUPPORT TO PARENTS WHO SEEK guidance on nurturing their children. The spiritual journey of parenting can be, at once, deeply challenging and deeply fulfilling, yet parents are bombarded with advice and demands from extended family, schools, the workplace, and society at large. Quaker meetings can offer respite and community. We can provide opportunities for parents to gather, reflect, support one another, and learn. 

However, Meetings must make it easy for parents to come with their children by providing supports such as free childcare and a simple child-friendly meal.  This requires intention and organization on the part of the Meeting community.  The fruit is to connect with families, some of whom may resonate with the Quaker way.

Join this conversation to explore how Quaker meetings can offer opportunities for parents – whether they identify as Quakers or not – to gather and learn. 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Queries:

  • How can Quaker meetings and churches be supportive and helpful as parents navigate the stresses of daily life?
  • What experts, books and resources can your Meeting gather to offer parent learning opportunities?
  • What can your meeting do to organize family friendly parent gatherings? 
  • Are there queries that can guide parents as they search for their parenting path? 
  • How can parenting groups be an outreach tool for the Meeting?
  • How can parent gatherings your meeting help parents find mutually supportive community? 

Conversation Starters:

Tuesday, September 19, 1pm eastern US/Can

  • Kim Simmons, Portland ME
  • Ryan Nilson, Durham Friends Meeting, NCYMC
  • Elizabeth Freyman, Curriculum Coordinator, Albuquerque Friends Meeting, IMYM

Thursday, September 21, 8pm eastern US/Can

  • Harriet Heath, NEYM, Quaker Parenting Initiative
  • Beth Collea, Dover Friends Meeting, NEYM

Facilitators: 

  • Andrew Wright, Youth and Children’s Ministries Coordinator, Durham Friends Meeting, NCYMC
  • Sita Diehl, Madison Friends Meeting, NYM

RESOURCES: 

Learn more: Visit the QREC Resource Library and subscribe to our announcements

An Introduction

The Quaker Religious Education Collaborative (QREC) is an international, cross-branch, grassroots network of Friends sharing a stewardship for lifelong Quaker faith formation through religious education. We formed in April 2014 and now serve more than 300 Friends in our network. We actively engage and support each other across languages and continents. We gather for regional and annual conferences and offer monthly Conversation Circles via an online conferencing platform. 

Steering Circle

We share leadership as part of our collaborative mission, making decisions using the Quaker ‘sense of the meeting’ process, sitting in expectant, worshipful waiting for the emergence of shared truth. Read more…

Working Circles

Hand Icon

Our work  takes place in ‘circles’ or small groups of Friends who labor on a common task, usually meeting by video conference due to the geographic diversity of the membership. Read more…

The Resource Library

Finders Guide, a sampling of the collection

The QREC Resource Library is a place to share lessons and other educational information in support of our work as Quaker religious educators. This library is a forum for curricula, articles, videos and other educational materials on Quaker themes. You will also find principles, policies and procedures to strengthen operation of your child, youth and adult religious education programs.

Children's Education

Adult Education

Family

African Quaker Library

Youth Education

Small Meetings

Young Adult Friends

Biblioteca QREC

Events

Find renewal, companionship, and help for nitty gritty issues in Quaker religious education, all the while opening spaces for Spirit to work and listening together for God’s way forward.

QREC holds an annual conference and retreat. In addition we hold online Conversation Circles and post other religious education events as we learn about them.

Conversation Circles

Online conferences for Quaker religious educators to share about their work. Conversations are scheduled for two sessions per topic to encourage international participation.  Join the conversation…

Other Events

Hand Icon

Religious education events of interest to Quakers from all parts of the world. Please let us know about upcoming online or in-person events happening in your area. See the list of upcoming events…

Love at the Heart

Spiritual Practices

Discernment

Active Caring

Quaker Family Culture

Finding the Light

Faith at Home

Home is the heart of faith formation for all families. This is especially true for Friends. As an experiential religion, Quakerism is best learned through living in loving community. Indeed, the vast majority of faith formation for our young Friends happens at home in the busy swirl of daily life.

Become a Member

Submit Resources

Get Announcements

Donate

Attend an Event

Contact Us

Get Involved

QREC depends on all of us sharing our gifts and skills as religious educators. Here are some of the ways you can get involved…