Category Archives: Hard-Core Quaker

A Message from John Wesley to Kevin Rollins (& others)

“Search me, O Lord, and prove me. Try out my reins and my heart! Look well if there be any way of “bigotry in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

In order to examine ourselves thoroughly, let the case be proposed in the strongest manner. What, if I were to see a Papist, an Arian, a Socinian [Unitarian; of Rollins argot, “liberal” or “progressive” Quakers] casting out devils?

If I did, I could not forbid even him, without convicting myself of bigotry. Yea, if it could be supposed that I should see a Jew, a Deist, or a Turk, doing the same, were I to forbid him either directly or indirectly, I should be no better than a bigot still.

O stand clear of this! But be not content with not forbidding any that casts out devils. It is well to go thus far; but do not stop here. If you will avoid all bigotry, go on. In every instance of this kind, whatever the instrument be, acknowledge the finger of God. And not only acknowledge, but rejoice in his work, and praise his name with thanksgiving. Encourage whomsoever God is pleased to employ, to give himself wholly up thereto.

Is The End Near? The Carolina-Harold Camping Connection

After all this bluster, one thing is clear: these Harold Camping wannabes may be fooling somebody else, but they’re not fooling me, or many others anymore. All that talk of withholding funds, walking out, jumping ship, taking a hike, catching the Rapture Bus and all that has been so much hot air and yada yada.

And maybe this time the shouters will be met, not with shudders of terror and consternation, but the giggles and titters they richly deserve. Indeed, will anyone be bold enough to laugh in their faces? (I bet I could get odds on that in Vegas; but Faith & Practice is against gambling.)

Indeed, the vacuity of it all is so clear that this is a good time for a bit of an autopsy: What accounts for so much empty blather? Here are some possibilities:

1. Simple bullying: It seems evident some figured that at the loud threat of an exodus, YM officials would be so terrified they would hurriedly push all the targeted meetings out the door, like the king of Nineveh harking to the prophet Jonah, to placate the messengers of an angry Deity’s wrath. Certainly there’s been plenty self-righteous posturing and shamelessly abusive behavior. Or

2. Too much time spent looking in the mirror . . . .

BREAKING: PRO-GAY Oregon Meeting Expelled by Northwest YM

West Hills Friends in Portland, Oregon has been expelled from Northwest Yearly Meeting NWYM) because of its welcoming stance toward LGBTs.

The expulsion, called a “release,” was made public on July 24, in a letter from the NWYM Board of Elders, over the name of Ken Redford, the Board’s Clerk.
The expulsion was not entirely unexpected. West Hills Friends (WHF) had been placed “under discipline” by the Elders almost two years ago, after it refused to withdraw or revise its statements affirming LGBT persons and relationships from its website.

“Shut Up And Go Home!” – Echoes in Kenya & Quaker Carolina

What’s Obama in Kenya got to do with North Carolina Quakers and their current troubles?

Stay with me.

First, Kenya has a probably the biggest Quaker population of any nation.

And the official position of its leadership supports both the Kenyan anti-gay laws and the biblical interpretations that they are largely based on.

Actually, the official Quaker position there goes further than Kenyan laws. Gays can get up to 14 years in prison for having sex there; but the Kenyan Quaker leadership insists that:

“God outlawed all homosexuality and bestiality as sexual perversion that should not be tolerated. All sexual perversions were worthy of death, indicating their loath sameness before God. . . . Modernizing Christianity to meet our own selfish desires is immoral. The God of yesterday is the same today and tomorrow and His commandments have remained and will remain forever.“

“Worthy of death.” Spin it any way you want: that’s hard core.

There are numerous ties between Kenyan Quakers and Friends in NCYM.

North Carolina YM: Goodbye To Doormat Quakerism?

“We are concerned about rumors, innuendo, gossip and bullying not only concerning prospective personnel, but among the larger body of Friends in the Yearly Meeting. This behavior is hurtful to some and a hindrance to all, is unbecoming and not consistent with our Quaker Christian expression of love.
We ask that this letter of concern be read in the next meeting of each Yearly Meeting committee or organization, and that we all seek to follow the commandment of loving one another in a Christ-like manner. We pray that Friends cease to participate in rumors, innuendo, gossip and bullying, and take a clear stand against such activity if it occurs in your presence.”