Friends General Conference is exploring an opportunity that could help more people experience the depth of the Quaker tradition. We intend to pursue a grant from the Lilly Endowment through its Exploring Christian Practices Initiative.

This opportunity supports projects that invite people to experience Christian spiritual practices that deepen faith and nurture Spirit-led community. For Friends, these practices may include waiting worship, communal discernment, nonviolent resistance, retreats, and faithful witness in the world.

FGC plans to submit a proposal. However, we know that this work must grow from the wisdom of the whole community. We want Friends across our meetings, ministries, and programs to help shape what this work could become.

We celebrate that FGC affiliated meetings are strengthened by the many Friends who identify as Christian and by the many Friends who see their Quaker spiritual path through different lenses and experiences, while being shaped by our common spiritual heritage.  This process will be for all Friends in the FGC community, and every voice will matter as we listen for how we are called.

In the coming weeks, we will host listening sessions and provide other ways for Friends to share ideas, hopes, and concerns. We want to hear from all who care about the future of Quaker spiritual practices.

Together, we will consider questions such as:

• Which Quaker practices have shaped our lives most deeply?
• Which practices feel most important to share with people who are seeking spiritual community today?
• How might we share them faithfully?

We also want to hear your thoughts about how this work should take shape in practice. For example:

• Should these experiences happen in person, online, or both?
• Would retreats, gatherings, or workshops be helpful?
• Should learning happen through public ministers, teachers, or peer-to-peer spiritual sharing?
• What settings would feel most welcoming to seekers and to Friends alike?

These questions are part of a larger process of discernment. The goal is to listen for how the Spirit may be inviting us to share the gifts of the Quaker tradition more widely.

In the coming weeks, we will share details about listening sessions and other opportunities to participate. We hope Friends throughout the FGC community will take part.

Please hold this effort in the Light as we begin this season of listening and discernment together.