Meeting Resource
Informal Forms of Support for Faithfulness
Intentionally supporting one another on our spiritual journeys is a valuable Quaker practice. The following are some informal forms of support that Friends can initiate to help them be faithful and accountable in a community with others.
Spiritual friendships are formed when two people commit to supporting each other. Often they will meet together to pray for each other and to share their experiences, doubts, challenges and joys as their spiritual lives unfold.
- Spiritual Friendships Across Generations – a Friends Journal article
- Resources for Spiritual Friendship – Liz Yeats, FGC
- The Barn at the End of the World – Mary Rose O’Reilley
Faithfulness Groups are also called Spiritual Accountability Groups or Peer Groups. They provide mutual support to one another, anchored in faithfulness and prayer.
- Forming a Faithfulness Group – Marcelle Martin
- Peer Support Networks for Friends – Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
- Support Groups, Mary Lou Leavitt, Britain Yearly Meeting
- How Faithfulness Groups Help Quakers Follow Divine Leadings – QuakerSpeak
- Comprehensive Guidelines for Faithfulness Groups, Marcelle Martin
An Introduction to Faithfulness Groups – Marcelle Martin
Covenant groups are small, intentional groups that form within a meeting community. They meet to provide support and mutual accountability for their members. The group creates a space where members share their experiences and insights, their joys and concerns as they continue to deepen their spiritual lives. They are similar to Faithfulness Groups.
- Spiritual Gifts, Beloved Community, and Covenant – Pendle Hill Pamphlet
- Forming a Covenant Group – Resource from QuakerPress
Clearness committees may meet once or several times. An individual asks for Friends to help them find clarity around a personal life decision, a challenge or a leading. Clearness committees affirm the reality of each person’s inner guidance and truth.
- Clearness Committees and Their Use in Personal Discernment, Jan Hoffman, New England Yearly Meeting
