Inclusivity-Race and Class:
What Are the Quaker Barriers?
by Joan Broadfield & Bill Frysinger, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

This list of queries was prepared for use in a workshop held during the 1997 sessions of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Much of the material used here was generated in the 1997 FGC Gathering workshop on 'Creating a racially diverse Religious Society of Friends,' led by Jonathan Snipes, either as queries developed during the week-long workshop or from ensuing discussions.

1. What do we do as Friends in our worship, faith and practice (or witness) that are barriers to inclusivity across racial, cultural and class 'lines'? (Another way to say this: What about our practice creates 'lines?')

2. Do I examine constantly and consistently what I think and do, to compare with what I say I believe?

3a. What would I like to change? Who would I like to include?

b. What are we afraid of? What would I fear about change? (What gets in the way?)

c. What risks am I willing to take bring about change? What would it take for me to decide the concern is real and I wish to act on it?

Additional queries:

• Do Friends really care?

• Does the problem start with me? (And what am I willing to do?)

• How do I let Light shine in a way that invites people of like minds (in other words, ALL people called to be FRIENDS) to be included, regardless of race and class? (or, What does current dis-inclusivity say about what Light is shining to others?)

From the group discussion:

• Are there some common threads about what we fear or what we could change?

• What are some common values that seem unchangeable?

• Consider what to you is unchangeable about being a Friend. Journal what these are. Are these elements of Quaker faith or Quaker culture?

Additional queries for use by individuals, generated by Jonathan Snipes, our FGC facilitator:

• What is good about who you are in relation to working on issues of race, class, ethnicity in the Religious Society of Friends?

• What is hard about who you are in relation to working on issues of race, class, ethnicity in the Religious Society of Friends?

• What needs to change in you to free you to be more powerful in confronting racism and exclusivity?

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