Quaker worship groups and meetings are dynamic faith communities.  It is wonderful that you are considering starting a worship group or meeting!  Below is some information that will help you in this spiritual endeavor.

Context and Definitions

A Quaker worship group or meeting is a small community of at least two people who come together for prayer and worship. In other words, it is a place where people gather to seek spiritual guidance and connect with one another.

Spiritual Structure

Usually, Quaker worship takes the form of unprogrammed worship. This means people sit together in quiet, expectant silence and listen for God, the Light, the Inward Teacher, or the Living Christ. During this time, anyone—no matter their age or gender—may speak if they feel led by the Spirit. However, some meetings are semi-programmed, which means there may be a reading, short message, or song before settling into silent worship.

A Quaker worship group or meeting is also part of the wider Religious Society of Friends. Because of this, it does not stand alone. Instead, it follows shared Quaker practices and stays in relationship with other meetings.

Administrative Structure

Quakers organize themselves into monthly meetings and yearly meetings. A monthly meeting usually worships every week, often on Sunday, and meets once a month to make decisions together. A yearly meeting—also called an association or conference—brings many monthly meetings together and gathers once a year for shared business.

When a new worship group or meeting begins, it is usually placed under the care of a monthly or yearly meeting. This means the parent meeting helps the new group manage its practical needs, such as membership and finances, while also supporting its spiritual growth. In addition, the new group is expected to stay in regular contact with the parent meeting and is welcome to join regional events and activities.

Difference between a worship group and a meeting

A Quaker worship group is a worshipping community that:

  • Worships together and listens together to discern how the Spirit/Divine/God/Inward Christ calls them to a life of love, faithfulness, and community
  • Supports its members as they live into their beliefs and find ways to be faithful in the Quaker manner
  • Celebrates the joys and mourns the sorrows of its members
  • Is often newly formed and meets in participants’ homes or in rented space
  • Often is smaller than a meeting and has less structure
  • Usually exists under the care of a Quaker meeting that offers assistance and nurture

A Quaker meeting is a worshipping community that does all the things above, and:

  • Has a formal structure and meets regularly to conduct business;
  • Appoints committees and individuals to do the work of the meeting; and
  • Formally affiliated with a Yearly Meeting or an association of Friends (such as Friends General Conference).

Getting New Meetings Started

First, go to QuakerFinder.org to find out if there are already Quakers near you.  If so, worship with them a few times.  You may find that you don’t need to start a worship group or meeting.  Or you may find one or more people on Quaker Finder who would help your group get started.

If there aren’t Quakers near you:

Discern

  • Spend some time discerning if there really is a need for a new worship group or meeting.
  • Invite two or three local folks who are Quakers or interested in Quakers to discern with you.
  • Use QuakerFinder or contact a nearby yearly meeting to find a nearby meeting who might be interested in mentoring your group.

Plan

  • Hold a planning meeting, perhaps in someone’s home.
  • Advertise the planning meeting widely.
  • Do not assume that you know the “type” of person who will be drawn to the worship group or meeting.
  • Decide when and where the group will meet.

Publicize

  • Share word about the new group, through social media, emails, and phone calls.
  • Add your group to QuakerFinder.

Worship

  • A consistent meeting time and location allows newcomers to find the group.
  • Include time for refreshments before and/or after worship.
  • Provide childcare and/or Quaker education for children.

Community Outside of Worship

  • Find times to study Quaker practice, beliefs, and history together
  • Find times to share spiritual journeys
  • Consider ways to do service together in the community
  • Participate with Quakers regionally to connect with nearby monthly meetings and the area yearly meeting, , e.g., attend gatherings sponsored by other meetings, participate in yearly meeting sessions, etc
  • Reflect periodically on how the group is developing.

Connecting Regionally

  • Ask to be added to the yearly meeting’s mailing list to learn of opportunities to connect with Friends.
  • Seek connections with Friends willing to visit your worship group or assist in other ways.
  • Make plans to visit and worship with other meetings.
  • Attend your yearly meeting’s annual sessions or conference.

Connect with FGC

Additional Resources

Last updated February 20, 2026.

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