It’s official — I’m a Quaker!

Officially joining San Francisco Friends Meeting is something I considered for years. I waited until I arrived at a place of convincement where not even a percent of doubt remained. As I told non-Quaker friends I was seeking membership I kept hearing back, “I thought you were a Quaker already.” And based on how often I heard this there’s a chance you’re thinking it too as you read this. In actuality, maybe half the folks attending a meeting are members and officially “Quaker.” The rest, like I was, are “attenders.”

Historically speaking one doesn’t “convert” to Quakerism — one is convinced of it. And then one seeks membership with the meeting they attend. That meeting’s membership collectively approves or disapproves membership. Membership is decided in part on whether or not the person applying follows the traditional Quaker testimonies of simplicity, integrity, equality, community, and peace. These days the bar is set lower but “back in the day” membership was sometimes revoked for matters as small as wearing lace (which many saw as breaking simplicity.) More famously Quaker membership was revoked for matters as big as enslaving others (equality) or fighting in the American Revolution (peace.) To be a Quaker is to be a part of a Quaker community and to be drawn to living by the testimonies.

In this way, and in many others, Quakerism reminds me of Buddhism. In Buddhism there’s the concept that a Buddhist be a part of a “sangha” or Buddhist community. Community is essential to the path. I see the testimonies as being akin to Buddhism’s “eight-fold path.” Personal integrity and morality are also essential to the path.

I sometimes say “Quakers are the Buddhists of the Christian world.” Given my life path and the harm Christianity caused me it’s odd to be realigning with Christianity in any way. Yet while Quakerism is historically rooted in Christianity it is not bound by it. Quakerism’s christianity is the big tent kind where love is paramount. I remain both unChristian and a little Buddhisty. I draw freely from any spring. (Quakerism affords this spaciousness.) I increasingly look within to draw from the source of all springs.