| Friends General Conference

Quakers Consider: Jesus

In a short video, three Quakers express their perspectives on Jesus.

Tell your Meeting about the Quaker Cloud!

Download the Quaker Cloud Features Overview to share during your next business meeting! Our one-page resource describes the features of the Quaker Cloud in brief, non-technical points so they can be shared with Friends of all skill levels at your meeting.

Promoting Environmental Justice with FCNL

Image credit: Friends Committee on National Legislation

Emily Wirzba and Scott Greenler of Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) are collaborating with faith-based and environmental communities to persuade lawmakers to take action on climate change and protect natural resources. Both come from extensive environmental and social justice backgrounds, and this month they're sharing strategies for living Earthcare witness through a legislative lens.

FGC welcomes Trayce Peterson as New Welcoming Friend Project Assistant!

From the photo library of Trayce Peterson

In January 2018, FGC began the search for a Friend to help test and evaluate practices for welcoming newcomers as part of the upcoming Welcoming Friend Project. We are excited to announce that Trayce Peterson, a Friend who is very active in FGC's community of Friends, has been hired to shepherd this work as our Welcoming Friend Project Assistant!

Institutional Assessment on Racism Update April 2018

Image credit: Marta Rusek

The Institutional Assessment Task Force has created a timeline of major milestones from now until October, including the development of an online survey to circulate among Friends at FGC.

Women in Ministry: Jean-Marie Barch

Image credit: Marta Rusek

Jean-Marie Barch, clerk of FGC's Committee for Nurturing Ministries and member of Executive Committee, describes how the Quaker way has made a difference in her life, and why she is a (very!) active participant in the FGC community.

Women in Ministry

Image credit: Marta Rusek

Women have been ministers of Quaker faith and practice since it began in the 17th century. March is Women's History Month, and in this month's issue of Vital Friends, FGC is highlighting women in ministry who have contributed (and continue to contribute) so much to the life of our community. Meet a few of the many Friends who fill our community with Light, Love, and Inspiration

Institutional Assessment on Racism Update March 2018

Image credit: Pixabay.com

The Institutional Assessment Task Force continues to lay the groundwork for gathering evidence of the gap between our perception and our reality of systemic racism within Friends General Conference. Using the knowledge and tools learned from Crossroads at the November 2017 workshop, each of the three Task Force subgroups (The Continuum, Power Matrix, and Survey teams) have developed potential questions to be used in a survey of the FGC constituencies, stakeholders and governance members.

Finding Our Quaker Path: A Religious Education Resource

FGC, a partnership of many Friends across sixteen yearly meetings and associations, works collaboratively to empower Friends as we seek to more deeply understand and live Quaker faith and practice. We invite you to explore the Religious Education opportunities FGC offers year-round.

Vital Friends: 5 Things You Can Do To Make my Black Son Feel Welcome at Annual Sessions

Judy Williams delivered the statements below as a message during worship at New England Yearly Meeting’s Annual Sessions in August 2017. The text of her message below has been edited for clarity and grammar.

I have no concerns about the ability of the people of color in this body to nurture my son. It is the white folks in this group I am talking to right now.