Friends History
This is the story of our denomination.
See also: Local History, Friends Beliefs, Friends Queries, Our Staff, Ministry Opportunities
The birth of Quakerism is generally acknowledged to have been in the mid 1600's and it's beginnings most often attributed to George Fox. As with most religious movements in this country, the Quaker movement began in Europe (England). Records of early meetings were sparse, but a typical meeting was described as a gathering of Friends who waited in quietness for the guidance of God with vocal contributions from individual Friends. The growth of quietism and restrictive discipline were eventually carried to excess and the Society of Friends came near to a self wrought demise in the process.
By the end of the 18th century, Quakers emerged from the period of quietism and were ready for new thoughts and actions that soon became characteristic of the 19th century. Quietism (supremacy of the Holy Spirit within) remained, while another major group took hold. They were teaching the evangelical message which was Bible centered and preached the saving power of faith in Jesus Christ. Gradually, two groups of Friends developed; one with emphasis on evangelism, the other based on quietism.
Often times even in this modern world, people are not familiar with the differences that exist between the two groups, and both groups are present in Tucson. Differences do exist between the various Friends groups also known as Quakers. Some Friends are pastoral and have a form of worship much like other Protestant churches. Others are nonpastoral, often called unprogrammed, and worship primarily speaking out of the silence without a pastor, music, scripture reading or vocal prayers. The pastoral groups often call themselves churches, while the nonpastoral groups identify themselves as a "Meeting."
The pastoral groups have a more clearly defined theology that is Christ-centered with a strong appreciation for the Bible. The nonpastoral groups do not define themselves theologically and are more focused on the group process with a cohesiveness that is built around the social issues they address. Pastoral Friends are active on social issues in terms of service to people in need and nonpastoral Friends are more focused on the issues of social work. The theological and social liberal viewpoints are predominant among nonpastoral Friends and the more conservative or evangelical theological viewpoint is predominant among pastoral Friends.
Northwest Community Friends Church in Tucson is a pastoral, evangelical church and the Pima Friends Meeting is an unprogrammed group in Tucson that follows the more liberal perspective.
See also: Local History, Friends Beliefs, Friends Queries, Our Staff, Ministry Opportunities