Publications

Spiritual Journey Through Music (with CD) Tom Neilson. Tom tells the story of how his spiritual journey has been grounded in music, particularly in writing songs that give a voice to peace and social justice activism. The 2012 Walton Lecture

Quakers and the Jesus of History with Betsy Neale and Richard Mitchell. The authors, Quaker Universalists, share their journey in understanding Jesus, the enigmatic wisdom teacher, exploring different ‘Jesuses that Friends Might Want to Consider.’ The 2010 Walton Lecture

Being Fully Present to God by Deborah Shaw. Speaking out of the silence, Deborah shares her stories of learning to be fully present in “That Love in and through which I have my life and being…” being fully present to the people around me, being present to, and answering to, that of God within them, as well as that of God within myself. The 2005 Michener Lecture

Shaped by the Light: the Quaker Experience of Worship, Community, & Transformation, with Michael Wajda & Alison Levie. The authors share their personal experiences in their Spiritual journeys; of growing in relationship with the Light, spiritual friends, and community. Individually and together, Michael and Alison have led numerous workshops, retreats, and courses, and traveled in the ministry for Friends General Conference. The 2001 Walton Lecture

Experiencing the Gift of New Life: Stories of My Spiritual Journey, by Joe Volk. Joe Volk, Executive Secretary of FCNL for many years, tells stories from his spiritual journey, sharing the lessons he learned from experiences in a living and present Jesus— a teacher who is encountered in the real world and in relationship with others. “I learned that I can’t know Jesus apart from real people in real situations…” The 2000 Walton Lecture.

For the Heart is an Organ of Fire by Allen Lee Oliver. This lecture was delivered as part commentary and part poem. “I understand [love] as an emotion that drove us into a passionate encounter with the created and spiritual orders.” The 1996 Walton Lecture

How Do I Know It’s A Leading? by Ruth Hyde Paine. Ruth shares stories of being led her personal life, and what her experiences have taught her about leadings: asking for them, hearing them, waiting, doubts and discernment. “How do I know it’s a Leading? For me, it’s often very hard to tell.” Ruth was a member of St. Petersburg Meeting for many years, devoting much of herself to ProNica. 1992 Michener Lecture, reprinted 2002.

Change and Preservation in the Same Current by Lloyd Lee Wilson. Wilson about our collective experience of ‘Continuing Revelation.’ Through the ongoing Divine guidance, “we may see what God is showing us ever more clearly…. there is room for growth and development.” As we mature, individually and collectively, our understanding deepens. The 2011 Michener Lecture.

Deeply Rooted: Alive in the Spirit, with Marcelle Martin. Martin shares experiences that transformed her understanding of who we are and what we are called to be and do. “Friends are called to play a significant role in a global transformation of consciousness. We are called to live and love in ways that help bring divine healing to this world. To do so, we must become deeply rooted in that Mystery we speak of variously as God, Spirit, the Light, the living Christ, Love, the Good.” The 2009 Michener Lecture.

The Foundations of Liberal Quakerism, by Stephen W. Angell. This former SEY clerk, now a professor at ESR, shares a brief, but fascinating, history of how Liberal Quakerism arose. The 2008 Walton Lecture

Leadership and Authority in the Religious Society of Friends, Arthur Larrabee. Having rejected the ‘Power Model’ of leadership, along with human leadership, Quakers can sometimes end up with dysfunctional forms of authority. Larrabee describes a positive, ‘Quaker Model’ of authority where human leaders act under spiritual guidance, working with others, in service of the community. The 2007 Walton Lecture.

Seeking After Christ, Frank Massey. After decades spent as a Quaker worker and traveler in such places as Haiti, Palestine and Kenya, Massey concludes: “we are all seeking to be one… to live in Divine harmony.” 2006 Michener Lecture

Convinced Quakerism, by Ben Pink Dandelion. The author, a well-known British Quaker, talks about the term ‘convincement,’ what it means to Quakers today, and how the original meaning can help us find language to better describe our experience. He shares his personal story of convincement, and relates it to the narratives from early Friends, along with his sense that owning and describing our own spiritual experiences of transformation can also transform and revitalize our Quaker movement. The 2003 Walton Lecture

Finding Our Sacred Ground: Quakerism’s Place in a Globalized Future, Daniel A. Seeger. The 2001 Michener Lecture.

Witnessing the Varieties of Truth, Eduardo & Clara Diaz. Miami Meeting’s own Clara and Eduardo Diaz recount their spiritual journeys, agreeing on a basic premise: “Religion unchecked…results in too many identity based conflicts… Meaning… is best created from service to different others.” The 2000 Michener Lecture

Making Sense of the Century: Some Modern Quaker Ideologies by John Punshon. The 1993 Michener Lecture

The Quaker Meeting for Business, by Douglas Steere. Steere offers a concise introduction to the Quaker meeting for business, with examples of the power of Silence, participative humility and reaching unity. He also describes some ‘occupational diseases’ that can arise as we practice this radical form of decision-making. The 1982 Walton Lecture.reprinted 2005.

Prophets, Midwives & Thieves: Reclaiming the Ministry of the Whole, with Noah Baker Merrill. Each generation of Quakers needs “to rediscover and reinterpret our tradition in light of today’s needs.” Noah renames the traditional roles of Ministry, Elders, and Overseers, and explores how these roles are necessary for the ‘ecology’ of vital Friends Meetings. He urges us to reclaim this ‘Ministry of the Whole. The 2013 Michener Lecture. Available in eBook format. 

Listening to Hear: Deepening Faith, Nurturing Community, Patty Levering. The author explores how listening spirituality is at the heart of Quakerism. Using Bible stories, early Quaker wisdom, and personal experiences, she discusses how listening to oneself, to others, and to God are all interrelated. The 2012 Michener Lecture.

The Present of Quakerism: Young Adults, Stoph & Maia Carter Hallward. The authors draw on their experiences with Quakerism as Adult Young Friends. They reflect on why they have remained connected to Friends at various forks in the road — graduating, starting their first jobs, having a child — when their friends and peers have often parted company. They explore ways we can nurture relationships across life stages and ages. The 2010 Michener Lecture

Intimations of Renewal in New York Yearly Meeting, by Linda Chidsey. We are familiar with the practice of sharing our individual spiritual journeys. Perhaps less common among Friends today is the understanding that as a people of God, we are also on a corporate journey. Linda tells the story of God’s presence and work among Friends in New York Yearly Meeting. The 2005 Walton Lecture

Being Truthful, with Heather Moir. The 2003 Michener Lecture

Building the Life of the Meeting, with William and Frances Taber. If we are searching for God, why do it together? The Tabors, Ohio Quaker educators, examine how we contribute to the meeting community like parts of one body. 1994 Michener Lecture (reprinted 2001)

The Hidden Center and Outward Scaffolding of Quaker Spiritual Community, Patricia Loring. The author of Listening Spirituality concluded that “we are called to ongoing nonhierarchical mutual love and service in the scaffolding for the life of the whole church… in recognition of …this mysterious, hidden life we share together.” 1998 Michener Lecture

Living as Dual Citizens: the conflict of loyalties between Fortress America and the Beloved Community, Robert Allenson. Allenson, then a member of Tallahassee Meeting, noted that “love freely shared builds the Beloved Community”, that “each of us is a beloved child of God” and that “we long for unity.” The 1996 Michener Lecture

Growing Points, by Thomas Taylor. Taylor, then general secretary of FWCC, recounts visits to Quakers around the globe, noting growing points in communities grounded in love, even in the wake of violence. “We are sometimes led in surprising new directions as we become willing to let go of control, put ourselves quaking and trembling into God’s hands and follow the Light of Christ.” 1995 Walton Lecture

Simple Riches: Reflections on the Work of the Quaker Parent, by Judy and Denis Asselin. The authors speak from their experience, and their parents’ and grandparents’ experience, as Quaker parents, and share stories of working to infuse Quaker values into family life and nurture growth in the Spirit. The 1995 Michener Lecture

The Blessed Community, Marty Walton, 1993 Walton Lecture

Leadership and Authority in the Religious Society of Friends, by Arthur Larrabee. Having rejected the ‘Power Model’ of leadership, along with human leadership, Quakers can sometimes end up with dysfunctional forms of authority. Larrabee describes a positive, ‘Quaker Model’ of authority where human leaders act under spiritual guidance, working with others, in service of the community. The 2007 Walton Lecture.

The Quaker Meeting for Business, by Douglas Steere. Steere offers this simple introduction to the Quaker meeting for business, and provides examples of the power of Silence, participative humility and reaching unity. He also describes some ‘occupational diseases’ that can arise as we practice this radical form of decision-making. The 1982 Walton Lecture, reprinted 2005.

Pray and Pay Attention, by Charles K. Brown III. The 1991 Michener Lecture, 5th printing

Quaker Racism, Donna McDaniel & Vanessa Julye. McDaniel and Julye, authors of Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship, talk about the history of Quakers, slavery, and race; and share stories of their work “travelling among Friends and non-Friends working to try to break down the walls and break down the barriers between us.” 2011 Walton Lecture

Struggle and Hope, Mary Ellen McNish. How do we as Friends stay in that place of generosity? How does a Quaker organization working for peace, justice and human rights stay in that place of generosity? In a world that seems to have gone mad, with struggle upon struggle making us weary and hurt and angry, where do we find refuge and hope? What can we do—alone and together—to find refreshment, hope, opportunity and inspiration? The 2009 Walton Lecture

Letting Go of Illusion, Engaging Truth: Healing! Niyonu D. Spann. Spann challenges us to reflect on how lies, based in the fear of others, separate us in our Meetings, and allow the marginalization of groups to continue. She explores the spiritual and emotional ground of letting go of our fears and healing— and invites us to embrace the Truth so we can be co-creators with God in living in Blessed Community. 2007 Michener Lecture

Here I Am, Lord, with Ernestine and Vincent Buscemi. The authors describe the experience of living the simple prayer, ‘Here I Am, Lord,’ which brings them a joyful faith that inspires action and service, a daily harmony with God’s will, personal growth, and Blessed Community. They share stories of being led to take action in difficult, even dangerous situations. “I stand before you called out of my comfort zone, and called to that place where God does the work that makes one grow.” The 2006 Walton Lecture

A Vision of Peace, by Mary Lord. The author shares some ‘tools’ we can use to do practical work for peace, as well as reflections on the spiritual ground of our Peace Testimony. “We humans have created cycles of death and destruction. We must find and speak our truth. Otherwise these cycles, which cause such suffering, will end in catastrophe.“ The 2004 Walton Lecture

New Theory, Old Practice: Nonviolence and Quakers, by George Lakey: Observes this nonviolent activist, “nonviolent action is an old practice among Quakers – it’s an old practice among human beings, and yet we are just now catching up with some theory – to try to understand how the darn thing works so that we can apply it in a more systematic way.” 2004 Michener Lecture

Mysticism and Activism: Learning from John Woolman, by Michael Birkel. In John Woolman, we see a unity of the inward and outward, of contemplation and social action. Birkel explores the writings of John Woolman, inviting us to an integrated life where action is worship, and worship becomes action. 2002 Michener Lecture

Equality, by Deborah Ann Saunders. Speaking out of the silence, Deborah shares personal stories of personal transformation: of being led by the Spirit to reach out love in very difficult situations, making brothers and sisters of the stranger and the difficult person, and overcoming the divide of racism. She also strongly inspires and challenges us Quakers to get out of our comfort zone, feel the revolution that Spirit calls us to, and do what we really need to do about social justice, peace, and racism. The 1999 Walton Lecture.

Friends Leading: Climate Change: A Crisis of Spirit, by Roy Taylor III. Roy talks about how our testimonies, practices, and organizations equip and call Quakers to be leaders in earthcare. He challenges Friends to be active and lead in addressing Climate Change. He shares his stories of working with others to create sustainable living solutions. The 2013 Walton Lecture.

In The Love Of Nature, by Steve Smith. Sharing stories and insights, the author explores in depth the global ecological movement: the dynamics of what is happening, what is needed spiritually, and what Friends have to offer. “Reduced to its simplest terms, the ecological crisis is a vast pattern of insufficient love: love of humans, love of non-human life, love of the earth itself, love of God.” 2008 Michener Lecture

Be Ye Perfect: The Quaker Call to Wholeness, by Lisa Lofland Gould. Gould describes the Quaker sense of ‘perfection’— “a life-long journey toward integrity, toward wholeness”—and how our wholeness depends on depends on living in right relationship with others, community, and Creation. Includes Lisa’s welcoming address: Returning to Right Relationship: Where On Earth Are We? 2002 Walton Lecture

Walking Gently on the Earth, by John Yungblut: The author advocates “becoming a contemplative for the sake of the earth.” “And if we truly believe that there is that of God in every living creature, we must accept the corollary that God will never appear again in that particular form.” 1990 Walton Lecture