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Friends United Meeting |
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June 1998
Reclaiming our Quaker Faith
by Marlene Morrison Pedigo
The fall of my junior year at William Penn College I attended a Quaker Hill Conference for college students on the topic of George Fox. As I entered the Evans House Meeting Room the first night, I was greeted by someone's words, "Oh, no! A Jesus freak!" I was wearing a T-shirt which said, "One Way, Jesus!"
I was not prepared for the surprising diversity within the Religious Society of Friends. By Saturday night I was in tears as I met with conference leaders and shared with them my confusion at the fragmented message of Quakerism. George Fox professed he knew there was one, even Christ Jesus, who could speak to his condition. How could someone be a Quaker and not be Christ-centered? This painful experience became a defining moment in my spiritual identity. As a young adult it motivated a quest to better understand my spiritual heritage and be able to articulate my faith commitment.
Since then others have shared with me similar experiences of "Quaker shock" when first they dared to venture beyond the boundaries of their Quaker community.
As with many older denominational branches of the church, time and chaotic cultural influences have resulted in a cascade of changes to Quakerism. In the past, traveling recorded ministers and elders worked to care for the larger Religious Society of Friends. These traditions are often inactive today. How do we crystallize our message in the wake of divisions, a diversity of faith commitments, and pressures of modern society?
Rather than habitually engage in the Quaker culture debate or borrow the spirituality of another group, let us seek to reclaim our Quaker faith. Out of worship we can honestly and tenderly share our sense of identity, authority and community-how we see ourselves within the Religious Society of Friends.
My identity as a Quaker begins with my experience of Jesus as Friend. This image was central to the early Quakers and was taken from a passage of Scripture found in John 15:14 (NRSV), "You are my friends if you do what I command you." For me it began with the early teachings of my family and Friends Church which molded me as a youth. Then one day during a meeting for worship, I heard Christ speak to the condition of my heart. That moment began a life long search to discern God's will for myself and seek to be faithful to follow that leading.
One such experience occurred when my husband and I were in transition, beginning the Fellowship of Friends in the Cabrini-Green Public Housing Development. It was a stressful time for me as we stepped out in faith with many parts of our future unknown.
As I drove west one afternoon down the Stevenson Expressway to merge onto the Dan Ryan Expressway, a major crossroad in Chicago, I saw a vision of a red cross in the sky before me. Christ spoke to me: although I might be called to suffer in ministry, it was a call to be faithful to carry the cross of Christ. Inner peace warmed my heart as I felt the presence of the Living Christ. This experience encouraged and empowered me to follow the leading to ministry which I personally was afraid to enter.
Since my friendship with Christ Jesus is central to me, discernment of God's will is vital. My husband, Steve, often remarks that in ministry we don't bring God anywhere. We look to see what God is already doing and then join God. Yet, how do we know what God's will is for our lives? What is the authority for the decisions in our lives?
For me it means checking my personal leadings with that of Scripture. If I know that an action I am considering is in opposition to the principles of Christ found in the Bible, a "red light" goes on for me. I seek to remain faithful to Christ's will in my life. A term the early Quakers used to describe this reality is "Gospel Order." Testimonies arose as Friends attempted to be faithful to what they discerned to be the will of God. When Christ Jesus said to live a life of integrity without oaths (Matthew 5:33-37); love your enemies without seeking retaliation (Matthew 5:38-48); and live a life of simplicity without storing up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19-21)-he was outlining a lifestyle which we could be empowered to live through Christ's Spirit. I have found this to be true in my experience.
This past year the gang violence in the Cabrini-Green community resulted in children in the public school across the street from the Fellowship of Friends meetinghouse having to be removed from their classroom to sit in the hallway as gun fire erupted and threatened their safety. The Superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools announced his intentions to close the school and move the children to another site. However, the ministers of the community stepped forward with a plan for peace. Parents were organized into parent patrols with cellular phones to monitor children entering and leaving the schools, Saturday activities were planned, and the ministers met with school personnel, the Chicago Housing Authority, and the Chicago Police Department to seek collaboration for peace. The authority of the Living Christ continues to call us to step out in faith to work for peace in our lives.
Since the Living Christ continues to reveal God's will to us, another important aspect of discernment is community. In American society where often the epitome is self-actualization, this can bring a real pinch to some people. Are we willing to submit our agenda to that of our faith community? Friends have a rich tradition of corporate discernment in their monthly meetings for business. Just as the early Christian Church practiced discernment in Acts 15, early Quakers believed that the Living Christ was present in the midst of a gathered meeting for worship. The will of God can be discerned even today.
An important area of corporate discernment for me has been the affirmation of my gifts of ministry. As a college student I felt Christ's call into ministry one summer night in a meeting for worship. Was I willing to not simply seek to live my faith based on mountain top experiences, but to live my faith in the world? When I married Steve, I found myself sharing his vision for urban ministry. Slowly I became more active in youth ministry.
Through the recommendation of my home meeting, I began the recording process. However, a question was raised as to why a minister's wife should be recorded: "She could be starting something." Nevertheless, several people within the Yearly Meeting spoke to their witness of my ministry. My gifts of ministry were recorded by Iowa Yearly Meeting in 1979. My ministry blossomed at the Chicago Fellowship of Friends.
One night while I slept, I felt the Lord tell me to call McCormick Theological Seminary and see if I could enter the Doctorate of Ministry program. The next day I placed the phone call. McCormick was willing to let me join a class the next month! My first tuition payment was paid through an honorarium from speaking at Aurora University. The classes I took seemed to apply immediately to ministry situations at the Fellowship of Friends. The way opened!
Most recently I approached the Fellowship of Friends with the concern to begin an after-school program. At first my hope was to provide child care for the women of our meeting who were employed. Through a process of discernment by the Fellowship of Friends Meeting, it was approved. Shortly after its beginning, welfare reform was implemented. Our program for ten children whose parents attended our meeting expanded to twenty-four children as an outreach to the Cabrini-Green community. This past year we became a licensed child care facility.
It is a daily goal to walk centered in the Light of Christ as a Friend. Worship is not simply for one hour once a week, but one's life becomes a sacramental experience. As we are centered in Christ, we are able to discern God's will and be faithful to it.
Marlene Pedigo, with her husband Steve, are FUM field staff and co-pastors of the Chicago Fellowship of Friends.
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