"...(U)nity is not a product but a process and 'living in unity' is another way to describe the watchful life that is the heart of Friends response to the presence of the inward Teacher." Using historic examples, Brian Drayton develops this theme and examines how well we are currently living this process. Surely Friends beyond New England will find this slim pamphlet as useful as his fellow New Englanders.

Part of the New Voices series of talks by Young Adult (18-35) Friends, this essay by Cherice Bock tells us where Quaker spirituality is centered in her life Ð and what actiion that calls for Ð and identifies ways in which each branch of Friends could be better centered and empowered to do God's work in the world. Cherice participated in the 2005 World Gathering of Young Friends, representing Northwest Yearly Meeting (EFI).

One of the New Voices series of talks by Young Adult (18-35) Friends: A young member of FGC's Youth Ministries Committee, Kody gives an intense, personal, joyous report on being called into a life lived authentically in response to ÒThe Call to MinistryÓ. and challenges us to explore what living into authenticity is for the Society of Friends.

There is solace here for loss. But Tom Gates goes on to open Quaker understandings of spiritual death, rebirth and regeneration, making this daunting subject live.

Are we as Friends too bound up in developing our individual spirituality? What qualities should we be cultivating in order to nurture our faithfulness as communities? Delivering this Weed lecture, Deborah Fisch spoke out of the silence. Her inspiration continues to speak from the page.

Quakers are challenged to make their message known to a wider audience. Through his experiences as a political lobbiest, Joe Volk shows how we can become more effective advocates, not just to influence legislation; but also to influence the shape of the debate.

Friends United Meeting has been challenged to make visionary changes in its approach to missions.  This became a "paradigm shift away from traditional missions - North American Friends send, and "they" receive - to partnerships where all member yearly meetings make decisions and "sending" happens from all parts of FUM's constituency to the world."  This pamphlet details this significant shift in thinking and how it will be imlemented programmatically within FUM.

"Peace is an ideal that we as human beings have been striving for my entire life. Our path to peace is one that we all must take on a personal level. Each and every one of us must examine our behavior and understand that we are one of the reasons why our country has not found peace. What are we doing? How can we make the changes we need to in order to find peace?" 

Marty Grundy reminds us that we are the proud inheritors of a remarkable amalgam of faith and practice that together make an unusually unified and coherent whole. Earlier Friends bequeathed to us a way of life that, in its day, joined theology and behavior. We live in different times, immersed in a different dominant culture. People come to our meetings seeking something more for their lives. Facing questions of ultimate meaning, of mortality, of the lack of human control, we turn toward the Mystery of God. We seek human companionship in "that which is Eternal". What might the Religious Society of Friends have to offer to today's seekers? Let us explore the totality of the earlier vision, and see how it might speak to our condition now.

These two essays challenge Friends of all affiliations to examine the question, "In what ways may I be limiting God's freedom to work through whomever God may choose?"

Friends today seem no closer to grappling with the issues Ms. Cazden identified over 10 years ago:  How have liberal Friends arrived at our current concept of  Quakerism?  Of the many models of "church" structure, which will serve us best as we go forward?  Where should decision making power lie?  What is required of us?    This thoughtful analysis provides a basis for a discussion Friends need to pursue to meet the challenges of the 21st century.