The 2023 Gathering was held on the west coast for the first time since 2006. It was a celebration, marking our return to being together in-person, witnessed by giant sequoia trees, flowering rose bushes and the 540 Friends and newcomers who traveled to Monmouth, Oregon. An additional 120 Friends participated online.

Kri Burkander lives in Denver and has been attending the Gathering since she was a teenager. She brought her two teens to Oregon this summer:

The Gathering for me is very much like a family reunion. There are elders at Gathering that helped raise me, and now I get to raise my children in their presence.

I’m especially grateful for the Junior Gathering folks. They do an amazing job providing religious education and creating a space for kids from all different backgrounds. They make it so meaningful.  Both my kids have found that there’s something different about the relationships they’ve made here than they’ve found anywhere else.

I’ve heard people say [Gathering] is a place where ‘I can be me’ and ‘I’m seen and loved in a way that I’m not anywhere else.’  That is magic! That’s why I’m committed to making sure that this space is available.

The Gathering is special on so many levels. Some Friends, like Kri, have attended for many years. It also draws newcomers. This year, 25% of participants were first-time attendees. Your support helps long term-Quakers and newcomers to find spiritual community.

In 2024, the Gathering will be at Haverford College, just outside Philadelphia. It will likely be the largest Gathering in over a decade. The theme is “Rooted in Story.” It will be a time to remember our shared histories and draft the next chapters of our lives together as Friends.

The Gathering is only possible with the support of Friends like you. It is your generosity that makes this event happen, as well as many more programs and initiatives, including:

• New Spiritual Deepening online workshops are being planned for newcomers to the Quaker faith and for Friends at all stages of their spiritual journeys.
• FGC is a founding partner in the Quaker Coalition for Uprooting Racism (QCUR), a new groundbreaking initiative involving six Quaker organizations.
• A virtual conference, planned for January 2024, will encourage Friends to share the successes and challenges of their monthly and yearly meetings.
• After receiving requests from individuals and meetings, FGC QuakerPress reprinted the Worship and Song hymnal in a large print edition.

Fostering deep connections among Friends, supporting youth and young adults on their spiritual journeys, and providing resources to build more inclusive environments in our monthly and yearly meetings — all of that is made possible with your support.

Your contribution right now can make a big impact. From now through September 30, a generous Friend has offered to match your gift, dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000. Whether you give once or set up a monthly donation or increase your current monthly gift, this Friend will double the amount of your donation!

Please consider making a donation by September 30, the end of our fiscal year, to support these vital ministries. Your gift today will help reach the donor match challenge and strengthen Quaker community.