About Us
Our Faith:
Quakers is the name most often used to describe the 300,000 members worldwide of the Religious Society of Friends, although the name Friends is frequently used as well.
We believe the Divine Spirit is present in every person, and everyone is equal and precious before God. We have no formal creed, no ritual, dogma, nor liturgy. We believe all people can have a direct experience with God and it is not necessary to have clergy. Quakers feel that the whole of life should be lived sacramentally, so Friends do not practice outward ceremonies or sacraments during worship, though they often celebrate holidays culturally with their families.
We believe that there is That of God within each and every person. Quakers refer to 'That of God' in different ways, including the Inward Light, the Spirit, and the Divine. It is the spark within our innermost selves that leads us to truth, inspires us to love one another, and breaks down the boundaries between people. Quaker faith provides for a direct, unmediated experience with the Spirit, which is why instead of our worship being led by clergy or following a program, we listen together for prompting of the Light within every individual.
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There are Quakers of all ages, religious backgrounds, races, education, sexual orientation, gender identities, and classes. Many of whom have been drawn to the Religious Society of Friends because of its dual commitment to spiritual awareness and social activism, including a dedication to peace. Some of the core values of the Quaker faith are simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship of the earth.
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Quakerism is rooted in Christianity and many Quakers center their faith on Jesus or the Bible, and some Quakers find that traditional religious language doesn't describe their inner experiences, and they look both within Christianity and beyond. Regardless of the various wording that Friends may use, we find we are always speaking of the same thing: the inner light inside everyone that connects us all and urges us to love one another.
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For more information about our beliefs and practices, you may read online the Faith and Practice of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (Faith and Practice – Philadelphia Yearly Meeting). Faith and Practice is a book that includes advice on procedures within the faith, membership, current practice for conducting meeting business and numerous quotations from Friends on belief, worship, concerns, leadings, and testimonies.
Our Form of Worship:
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You are welcome to join us for Meeting for Worship. Quakers refer to our worship time as Meeting for Worship. We are an unprogrammed Quaker meeting, meaning we meet together in silence without clergy. As we gather in a friendly atmosphere of silent prayer and expectant waiting, we allow thoughts that usually fill our attention to recede, and we can listen to the promptings of truth and love in our hearts, which we understand as arising from the Divine.
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The silence may be broken if someone present feels called to say something which will deepen and enrich the worship. Anyone is free to speak or pray aloud as long as it is done in response to a prompting of the Spirit. These messages are called vocal ministry and are not prepared in advance. This spiritual discernment of vocal ministry in the time of worship is an essential Quaker practice. Friends often receive spiritual discernment that they do not feel called to share, and some deeply felt meetings may be totally quiet.
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Meeting for worship ends after about an hour with a greeting or shaking hands with neighbors. Quakers have worshipped in the silent or unprogrammed manner for over 350 years. Following worship, and a brief period to share any afterthoughts or additional dialogue, all attenders are invited to the Gathering Place nextdoor for fellowship with coffee, tea, and refreshments. We then return to the world, renewed in spirit, seeking to “walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.”
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Affiliation:
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Camden Friends Meeting is a member of the Southern Quarter of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. We are also affiliated with Friends General Conference. Other Friends Meetings in the Southern Quarter are Third Haven Meeting in Easton, MD, Wicomico River Friends Meeting in Salisbury, MD, and Chester River Friends Meeting in Chestertown, MD, in addition to the Lewes Worship Group in Lewes, DE which is under the care of Camden Friends Meeting.
