FAQs

Quaker Quest-what is it?
Quaker Quest is a dynamic new form of outreach to seekers that encourages Friends to clarify and speak of their faith experience. It strongly affirms that Friends have a spiritual path for today that is simple, radical, and contemporary.

How is this outreach done?
Quaker Quest is a series of weekly public meetings on Quaker topics, which are presented on consecutive weeks in repeated cycles. The meeting decides how many sessions to offer in a cycle, usually between three and six, and chooses its own topics. The cycle is repeated at least once. Popular topics have included, Quakers and Worship, Quakers and Peace, and Quaker Faith in Action.

What happens in a Quaker Quest session?
Each session offers a varied program of brief presentations by three Quakers who speak from the heart on the evening's topic, a time of listening to seekers in small groups, a question and answer period, a 30 minute meeting for worship, and hospitality.

Why so many sessions? Why not just one session?
The Friends who developed Quaker Quest found that by offering several sessions on different topics they were drawing more seekers than they could with a single topic. Some seekers might be attracted to a topic like Quakers and Worship. Others would be more interested in Quakers and Peace or Quaker Faith in Action.

Why repeat the cycle of sessions?
Like everyone else, seekers have busy schedules. By repeating the cycle Friends give seekers the opportunity to attend sessions they missed during the first cycle. This has been an important part of Quaker Quest's success. Another reason why repetition is important is that experience has shown that the Friends offering Quaker Quest improve each time they do it.

Could we rotate the sessions around our quarter to help all the meetings?
While this is a thoughtful idea, it has been found that it does not work well. If the site changes from week to week, attendance will fall off markedly. This is something that Friends presenting Quaker Quest have learned by experience. Speaking of quarters and nearby meetings, though, if your meeting doesn't have the human resources by itself, your neighbors might help you put on a Quaker Quest. And next year you might help them!

How did Quaker Quest begin?
A group of about twelve Friends in London were troubled that although Quakers have a powerful, transformative faith to offer seekers, very few people have ever heard of us. Because they lived near each other, the group was able to get together frequently to consider what might be done. After much worship, thought, and discernment, in 2002, they created Quaker Quest under the care of Hampstead Monthly Meeting. In 2005 members of this core group began, upon request, to train meetings throughout England in how to offer a Quaker Quest.

How can I learn more about Quaker Quest?
You could begin by looking at other documents, including "Quaker Quest: A Brief Description," "Core Principles," and "Steps to Bring Quaker Quest to Your Meeting and the Wider Community". You could also explore the excellent web site set up by the British Friends who founded Quaker Quest, www.quakerquest.org.

What sorts of meetings have held Quaker Quests?
Quaker Quests have been presented by meetings all over England, in small villages, towns, and small and large cities. During the fall of 2007 more than 30 meetings in England offered Quaker Quests.

What about the United States? And Canada?
Quaker Quest recently arrived in the U.S. and Canada. In 2007 a Quaker Quest workshop at the FGC Gathering attracted 12 people. These Friends were so excited by what they learned that two afternoon sessions on Quaker Quest were swamped with nearly 100 eager Quakers. By the end of the week the Gathering was abuzz with talk of Quaker Quest. Soon after the Gathering the London core group asked the FGC Advancement & Outreach Coordinator to be the contact person for inquiries and workshop requests in the United States and Canada.
There will be another Quaker Quest workshop at the 2008 Gathering in Johnstown, PA. Sign up early!

How do I get Quaker Quest started in my meeting?
Building interest and knowledge in the meeting is a good first step. You could begin by circulating a copy of "Quaker Quest: A Brief Description" to others in your meeting. Then perhaps you could organize an informal discussion group around the topic. Some yearly meetings may be offering Quaker Quest workshops that members of your meeting might attend. As interest develops, you will want to bring the issue to your meeting for business. Quaker Quest is a project that involves the entire meeting. Review "Steps to Bring Quaker Quest to Your Meeting and your Community" and follow them as appropriate for your meeting.

My meeting just decided that we would like to offer a Quaker Quest next month. Is there a speedy way to get it started?
Unfortunately, the answer is "no." The average Quaker Quest requires about 6 months of planning. A Quaker Quest involves a significant publicity effort, which takes several months to develop. Preparing the speakers and the hosts of each session also takes time. In addition, the meeting needs to consider ways to prepare to welcome and incorporate seekers into the meeting and to implement these preparations (for example, holding classes for new attenders).
The preparation time you allow and the care you take will contribute greatly to the success of your Quaker Quest program.

My meeting is interested in Quaker Quest. What is the next step?
The next step is to ask your meeting to invite an experienced trainer to give a Quaker Quest workshop. The workshop will help Friends 1) consider the needs of seekers today; 2) learn about the Core Principles that make a Quaker Quest; 3) practice responding to questions typically asked by seekers; and 4) begin thinking about the logistics of offering a Quaker Quest in your area should the meeting decide to go forward.
Any Quaker Quest program needs to begin with this meeting-focused workshop held under the care of a trained Quaker Quest Facilitator.

To arrange such support and a Quaker Quest workshop for your meeting, contact the FGC Advancement & Outreach Coordinator at quak..reveal email..@fgcquaker.org or phone 215-561-1700. After the workshop your meeting will be in a good position to discern whether to move forward with Quaker Quest. There is no charge for the workshop. We ask that meetings pay for the transportation costs of the two workshop leaders. If this is a hardship, then the meeting should contact the A&O Coordinator who will try to ensure that finances are not an obstacle to holding a Quaker Quest workshop in your meeting.

For more information, go to "Steps for Bringing Quaker Quest to Your Meeting and the Wider Community."

For further information, including how to arrange for a Quaker Quest workshop with your meeting, contact:

Elaine Crauderueff
Advancement and Outreach Coordinator
Friends General Conference
1216 Arch Street, #2B
Philadelphia, PA 19107
PHONE: 215-561-1700
EMAIL: quak..reveal email..@fgcquaker.org