As controversy increased, Fox did not fully adhere to this agenda; for example, he established the London Six Weeks Meeting in 1671, as a regulatory body, led by 35 women and 49 men. But Liberal Friends decided that the Scriptures should give way to God’s leading, if God leads them in a way that is contrary to the Bible. In the UK, the acronym STEP or PEST is used (peace, equality, simplicity and truth). On this page a group of seven Quakers share what God means to them. Memorial meetings may be held many weeks after the death, which can enable wider attendance, and can also replace grief with spiritual reflection, and celebration of life to dominate. Quakers such as Hannah Whitall Smith and Robert Pearsall Smith became speakers in the religious movement and introduced Quaker phrases and practices to it. Friends Journal Youtube channel. Although Quakers share how they relate to God and the world, mirroring Christian ethical codes, for example the Sermon on the Mount or the Sermon on the Plain, Friends argue that they feel personally moved by God rather than following an ethical code. A local congregation in the unprogrammed tradition is called a meeting, or a monthly meeting (e.g., Smalltown Meeting or Smalltown Monthly Meeting). According to Fox’s autobiography, Bennet “was the first that called us Quakers, because I bade them tremble at the word of the Lord”. See also: Quietism (Christian philosophy). Non-theism is controversial, leading some Christian Quakers from within Britain Yearly Meeting to call for non-theists to be refused membership. Main article: Religious Society of Friends in Africa. Together with Margaret Fell, the wife of Thomas Fell, who was the vice-chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and an eminent judge, Fox developed new conceptions of family and community that emphasised “holy conversation”: speech and behaviour that reflected piety, faith, and love. Stewardship is not recognised as a Testimony by all Yearly Meetings. Thus the name Quaker began as a way of ridiculing Fox’s admonition, but became widely accepted and used by some Quakers. In the early years of Quakerism, George Fox faced resistance in developing and establishing women’s meetings. Acceptance of the theory of evolution became more widespread in those Yearly Meetings, which moved toward liberal Christianity in the 19th and 20th centuries, while a belief in creationism persists within evangelical Friends Churches, particularly in East Africa and parts of the U.S. Evangelical Friends Churches exist in the Philippines and Nepal, and are affiliated with Evangelical Friends International. The Meetinghouse, which had served as a place of worship for the Friends in Ramallah could no longer be used as such and the Annex could no longer be used for community outreach. In 1986, Hartford Friends Meeting in Connecticut, U.S., reached the decision that “the Meeting recognised a committed union in a celebration of marriage, under the care of the Meeting. Quaker meetings occur in India, Hong Kong, Korea, Philippines, Japan and Nepal. The ideas contained in the book were not universally accepted but it provoked much thought and discussion, and continues to challenge those who work within the criminal justice system. See also: Conservative Friends, Friends General Conference, Britain Yearly Meeting, and Beanite Quakerism. In all three groups, most member organisations, though not necessarily members are from the United States. Evangelical Friends regard the Bible as the infallible and self-authenticating Word of God. He and John Wilhelm Rowntree originated the movement. Quakers routinely modify the document to allow three or four Friends to sign as the officiant. The ideas had come too soon.