Going Deeper—The Water We Swim In

One 4-hour session: Saturday 2/1 (1-5pm Eastern / 10am-2pm Pacific)  The Water We Swim In is a presentation and discussion, now experienced by more than 300 Friends, that helps Friends explore the social and economic context of why some Quaker meetings are struggling (Why do we have so few children?  Why are young adults not…

Workshop Description

One 4-hour session: Saturday 2/1 (1-5pm Eastern / 10am-2pm Pacific) 

The Water We Swim In is a presentation and discussion, now experienced by more than 300 Friends, that helps Friends explore the social and economic context of why some Quaker meetings are struggling (Why do we have so few children?  Why are young adults not staying?  Why are their fewer volunteers for committees?).  This workshop will include an abbreviated version of the original presentation and will then be followed by a co-creative experience where we will work in small groups and as a group of the whole to imagine and discuss how alternative formats and processes such as paid religious education and child care staff, small group spiritual practices, semi-programmed meetings, and large-scale meetings might help Friends meet the times and thrive.

Leader Experience

The presenter, Barry Crossno, is the General Secretary of Friends General Conference. He has a Master’s degree in history, has presented lectures and workshops for number of Friends organizations, and is the co-author with J. Brent Bill of Pendle Hill Pamphlet #460 On Vocal Ministry: Nurturing the Community through Listening and Faithfulness.