Mid-17th century England was swept by dramatic changes: sharp religious and political conflict, rising hopes, charismatic leaders and popular grassroots movements — in short, a world much like the one we live in today. Friends were born as a faith community into this world — bringing with them approaches to worship, gender and class relationships, beliefs about how Christ works within His church, and ways of making decisions that were in many ways a sharp departure from previous Christian practice.
This program walks with those Friends, sharing what we know about their fresh approaches to worship, belief, and life with others. The main intention is to reflect together on what first generation Friends have to teach us in terms of how we can live together into these same critical questions as a faith community today.
Purposes of course:
- To enrich Friends’ knowledge and understanding of the first generation of Friends
- To use this understanding to help Friends today enter a similarly radical living relationship with Christ as a faith community
- To help Friends churches to use this understanding as a springboard to talk together about key issues in the life of the church today including worship, discernment, social testimonies, and radical witness.
The course was developed by Peter Blood-Patterson of New England Yearly Meeting. Peter has been leading retreats and adult religious education courses for Friends meetings for many years. Peter’s ministry of Quaker writing and teaching is carried out under the care of Mount Toby (MA) Meeting. This is an adaptation of an earlier curriculum intended for use in unprogrammed meetings called “The Revolutionary Roots of Quakerism”. He was assisted in this adaptation by Becky Ankeny, a recorded minister in Sierra Cascade Yearly Meeting. For more information contact Peter.
Download the course materials:
1. Course Summary Birth of the Friends ChurchAuthor: Peter Blood-Patterson, Becky Ankeny
Illustrator:
Publisher: Peter Blood-Patterson
Age Group: 13 to 15 years, 16 to 18 years, Adults, Young Adult Friends (YAFs)
Preparation Time: Will vary depending on the knowledge & experience of the leader.
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Topics: Adult Ed Beyond Intro, Adult Education, Adult Education, Essential Reading, Bible, Bible Study, Community, Curriculum, Eldership, Equality, Integrity, Journaling, Lessons & Activities, Meeting Practices, Meeting for Business, Non-violent Resistance, Peace, Peacemaking, Quaker Faith & Practice, Quaker History, Quaker Process, Quaker Values, Quakerism, Quakerism Intro, Queries, Simplicity, Stewardship, Testimonies, Theology