Rashid Darden

Ashley M. Wilcox is the Executive Director of Public Friends. Their mission is to ensure the future of Friends in North America by supporting and developing Quaker ministers to a professional standard. The views expressed here are Ashley’s and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Friends General Conference. LG’s story is not unusual. A…

You may know that the Friends General Conference Staff was in retreat this week at Pendle Hill in Wallingford, Pennsylvania this week.  I am happy to let you know that we have been rejuvenated and given language around our strengths and gifts. Besides letting you know how great our time was with one another, a…

Who’s ready for another reference to “The Wizard of Oz?” At the dawn of the 20th century, two journeys began. In 1900, L. Frank Baum introduced the world to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. That same year, Friends General Conference was born. Both have since spawned countless new versions, remixes, and re-visions. Quakerism, like Oz,…

In the case of Mennonite Church USA et al v. DHS, the suit that FGC is involved in, a briefing schedule has been set by the court.

The Friends General Conference Events Team is thrilled to announce the 2026 Gathering theme, “A Window and a Door: A Prayer,” which invites us to open ourselves to new perspectives and step into a deeper connection with the Spirit. This theme will guide our week of worship, workshops, and community-building as we gather from July…

Friends General Conference invites Quakers connected with an affiliated Monthly Meeting, Yearly Meeting, or program to consider serving on the Representatives Council. If you feel led to this work, FGC welcomes your interest. FGC especially encourages Friends of Color, young Friends, young adult Friends, and LGBTQ+ Friends to apply. To move toward becoming an actively…

Friends General Conference invites Quakers connected with an affiliated Monthly Meeting, Yearly Meeting, or program to consider serving on the Governing Board. If you feel led to this work, FGC welcomes your interest. The Governing Board guides FGC’s governance. Members ensure that FGC lives into its mission, acts with integrity, and stays financially sound. The…

Last week I shared the stories of two congregations in a major metropolitan area:  my meeting and my childhood church in DC.  I promised that I would discuss how each community could contemplate outreach and growth.  However, I’ll generalize the answers for even further relatability. In one faith community, the neighborhood became largely Spanish speaking….

Intermountain Yearly Meeting Statement of Conscience This statement was approved by the body gathered for the Intermountain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society ofFriends (Quakers) meeting for business on May 31, 2025. As Quakers, members of Intermountain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, we believe in the inherent worth of every person. We…

One thing I recall about growing up churchy in the 1980s and 1990s was that church was typically nearby, part of the community, and, broadly speaking, a family of families. I grew up in the Greater Tried Stone Baptist Church in the Columbia Heights section of Northwest Washington, DC. Established over a hundred years ago, Tried Stone…

In the case of Mennonite Church USA et al v. DHS, the suit that FGC is involved in, a briefing schedule has been set by the court.

Earlier this year, I sent a message comparing the 125th anniversary of the publication of The Wizard of Oz to the 125th anniversary of Friends General Conference, both occurring this year. At the annual sessions of North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative), I continued that idea, reminding Friends that even though the Quaker faith exists in many…