WCTS Ministry and Eldering Colloquium
Proceedings of the
What Canst Thou Say (WCTS) Colloquium for Ministers and Elders are available
for purchase on Lulu.com or portions are available
for free download from the WCTS website.
The publication documents a gathering sponsored by WCTS at the Cenacle Retreat Center in Chicago from October 6 – 9, 2017. Twenty-nine experienced ministers and elders from a number of branches of Quakerism enriching the spiritual diversity of the gathering. Prior to the Colloquium, participants were encouraged to read the book,
Inner
Tenderings by Louise Wilson.
Paul Buckley spoke about “Restoring the Art of Eldering,” at its core: “See the Light, turn toward the Light, follow the Light.” Jennifer Elam tapped into our creativity as we played with clay and then wrote our impressions. Lucy Davenport spoke on “Laying Claim to our Calling” and Dan Davenport offered reflections on “Obstacles to Ministry.” Fernando Freire facilitated a Spirit-led discussion of “Covenanting,” Small groups pondered passages from Jeremiah 31:3134, Hebrews 8:6-13, and the Journal of George Fox on covenants to reflect on their own experience and form covenants from this Colloquium.
Participants marveled at the miracles and mischief of the Holy Spirit manifested among us. Messages expressed: concern about the diminishment of the Christian base of the Religious Society of Friends, signs of renewal among Friends that gave hope, deep trouble because members of the Society of Friends are not surrendering to the Holy Spirit, and a sense of planting seeds and leaving the harvest to God.
Friendly Fire on May 1, 2018
The Friendly Fire Collective is a network of anti-fascist, anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist Christians. Drawing from Marxist and anarchist political traditions,and grounded in the biblical vision of God’s kin-dom, we believe we are called to create a new world in the ashes of the old. Most of the members have either been involved or are currently involved in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), hence the name “Friendly Fire.” We value Quakerism’s prophetic tradition and mysticism and see this informing how we organize.
In the Spirit of International Workers' Day, the collective will be hosting a retreat this May 1-3 in the Philadelphia area. We are gathering over 30 Friends, Christians, and mystics of all faith traditions, in order to strengthen and connect the forming Christian/Religious Left. We will be participating in Philadelphia's May Day demonstrations as well as spending time in the Pine Barrens, worshipping and teaching one another kin-dom praxis.
We have more participants than anticipated, and so our funding is a bit low. So far the planning committee has been paying for everything out of pocket, including the scholarships given out. Any and every contribution helps - please consider donating to our
GoFundMe! To learn more about Friendly Fire,
visit our website.