Frequently Asked Questions

How did you create this model for revitalization of Friends congregations?

Our model is based on C Wess Daniels’ book A Convergent Model for Renewal and was developed in consultation with 22 Friends from diverse Friends organizations, each contributing different gifts. The model was developed over four months of consultations in 2022.

In 2023, FWCC-Americas received funding for Quaker Connect through two generous foundation grants.

In June 2024, Jade Rockwell joined Quaker Connect as program director, further developing the content of the program.

What is a Quaker Connect “apprentice” and what do they do?

An apprentice is a member of a local church or meeting who feels called to serve that body through being one of the primary contacts for Quaker Connect. An apprentice learns a tradition primarily through practice and service. In Quaker Connect, that will mean “apprenticing” in the Quaker tradition and guiding their local congregation through the process of discernment, experimentation, and reflection and evaluation.

What is a “companion” in Quaker Connect and what do they do?

The role of the companion is to provide spiritual accompaniment, resources and consultation as needed by the local church/meeting. They will meet monthly with apprentices.

Companions are individuals with significant experience supporting congregations. They may have come by this experience as elders, spiritual directors, pastors, counselors, or organizational consultants.

What is an “experiment” in Quaker Connect?

Experiments are short-term (3 months) practical projects that build connections to the local neighborhood or town and help the church or meeting test out their mission. They are designed for discernment and are “safe to fail,” meaning that whatever happens during them will be useful for learning and discerning next steps. This gives meetings an opportunity to risk doing something that they don’t already know how it will turn out.

What kind of homework will we have? How much time will it take?

“Homework” in Quaker Connect will be a combination of readings, videos, and meetings for reflection and planning.

The multicultural readings and videos (available in English and Spanish) will draw from both traditional Quaker writings and contemporary sources and will be in the form of excerpts and articles from popular sources. We will not read entire books or academic texts.

The time commitment will amount to no more than 2-4 hours per week for apprentices.

Reflection and planning may involve very short written reflections or reports as well as worship-based sharing between the apprentices. Apprentices will meet monthly with their coach to reflect, problem-solve, and plan.

Apprentices will share their learnings with their meeting or church, mostly through in-person meetings, and the body will have meetings for discernment to select the experiments they feel led to do.

Experiments will be practical projects that take place over the course of three months and will vary in how many hours they take.

My meeting is not Christian. Can we participate and what should we expect?

All kinds of Quakers are invited to participate in Quaker Connect. Many but not all of those who participate are Christian or Christ-centered (as most Quakers are globally and have been historically). Participants are invited to experiment with Christian practices, but are not required to adopt any particular belief, but rather to bring their full and authentic selves. Honesty and vulnerable sharing are encouraged and we will try to maintain a supportive environment to that end for all participants. We encourage the art of “listening in tongues”.

How much does it cost to participate?

Quaker Connect is presently offered at no cost to participating congregations thanks to generous support from Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Fund, the Thomas H. & Mary Williams Shoemaker Fund, and support from many Friends meetings and individuals. We are grateful for those who are making this gift available to the Friends world.

What kinds of churches and meetings are right for Quaker Connect?

Congregations that meet in person (or hybrid) in a physical locality such as a neighborhood, town, or city in North America, Latin America, or the Caribbean and that speak Spanish and/or English. (Congregations do not have to have a building.) They may be independent and self-identified as Friends, or affiliated with any body of the Religious Society of Friends, evangelical, pastoral, or unprogrammed.

We believe that the program will work best for congregations that are clear that they want greater involvement in their local community than they have presently, and who are willing and able to commit to experimenting with that.

It is important that there be two or three individuals who can serve as apprentices who are capable of making the time commitment, and that the church or meeting is excited about working with them on this project.