Quaker Glossary

Part I: General Friends Terms

(Helpful for seekers and all Friends)

After the Manner of Friends
The distinctive way Friends conduct worship and business. Rather than following parliamentary rules, Friends wait on the Spirit, seeking unity and the “sense of the meeting.”

  • Scripture: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

  • Early Friends: George Fox wrote, “Be patterns, be examples in all countries… then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.”

As Way Opens / The Way Will Open
An expression of trust that God’s guidance and circumstances will make the right path clear. Friends move forward patiently, waiting for way to open rather than forcing action.

  • Scripture: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6)

  • Early Friends: William Penn encouraged walking faithfully, step by step, trusting God to open the way.

Birthright Friend / Convinced Friend

  • Birthright Friend: Historically, a person born to Quaker parents and counted a member by birth.

  • Convinced Friend: One who joins out of personal conviction. All Friends today are ideally inwardly convinced.

  • Scripture: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

  • Early Friends: Robert Barclay: “He is not a Christian that is one outwardly, but he that is one inwardly.”

Business Meeting / Meeting for Business
A time of worshipful decision-making about the life of the meeting (such as property, finance, or ministry). No votes are taken; Friends wait to discern unity as a sign of God’s will.

  • Scripture: “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.” (Acts 15:28)

  • Early Friends: William Penn described meetings for business as occasions to “wait upon the Lord for counsel, direction, and guidance in the affairs of His church.”

Called Meeting
A meeting convened outside its regular schedule for a specific purpose.

  • Scripture: “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” (Psalm 50:5)

Center Down
The act of quieting the mind and body in worship, seeking inward stillness and focus on the presence of God.

  • Scripture: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

  • Early Friends: Isaac Penington: “Give over thine own willing… and sink down to the seed.”

Clearness Committee
A small group appointed to help a Friend discern God’s will about a leading, membership, marriage, or personal struggle. They listen prayerfully and ask questions rather than give advice.

  • Scripture: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

Clerk / Presiding Clerk
The Friend who facilitates business meetings, helps the meeting find the sense of the meeting, and prepares written minutes.

  • Scripture: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40)

  • Early Friends: Clerks serve the meeting, expressing faithfully what the Spirit has revealed.

Community
One of the Quaker testimonies. Friends believe that what affects one person affects all, and decisions should seek the good of the whole community.

  • Scripture: “If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Concern
A spiritual burden or call laid upon a Friend by God, often pressing the conscience and leading to faithful action.

  • Scripture: “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)

  • Early Friends: John Woolman spoke of his concerns against slavery as “a weight on my spirit” that he could not lay aside until obeying the Lord.

Consensus
The discerned unity of a meeting under the guidance of the Spirit, not merely majority agreement.

  • Scripture: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

Direct Access to God
The conviction that all people can encounter God inwardly, without priestly intermediaries. This principle underlies non-hierarchical Quaker worship.

  • Scripture: “There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

  • Early Friends: George Fox emphasized, “There is one, even Christ Jesus, who can speak to thy condition.”

Equality
A core testimony affirming that all people bear God’s image and should be treated with equal dignity.

  • Scripture: “So God created man in his own image… male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)

  • Early Friends: Penn wrote, “All men are created equal in the sight of God.”

Experimentally
Knowing God’s truth through direct experience rather than hearsay.

  • Scripture: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

  • Early Friends: George Fox: “This I know experimentally.”

Faith and Practice
A yearly meeting publication including testimonies, queries, and procedures, sometimes called “the Discipline.”

George Fox
Founder of Quakerism (1624–1691). He proclaimed, “There is one, even Christ Jesus, who can speak to thy condition.”

Hold in the Light
A Quaker way of prayer, asking that God’s guidance, protection, and comfort surround someone.

  • Scripture: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Inner Light / Inward Light / Light Within
God’s presence within every person, guiding and sustaining.

  • Scripture: “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

  • Early Friends: Fox: “Walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.”

Integrity
Truthfulness and consistency of life, rooted in Jesus’ teaching: “Let your yea be yea and your nay, nay.” (Matthew 5:37)

Leadings
Promptings from the Spirit guiding a Friend toward action or understanding.

Let Your Lives Speak
Living in a way that witnesses to truth and faithfulness, rather than relying on words alone.

Meeting House
A building for Quaker worship, typically plain and simple.

Ministry / Ministers
All Friends are called to ministry; some are recognized for gifts of vocal ministry, visitation, or counsel.

Minute(s)
A written record of discernment or decisions in a meeting for business.

Moment of Silence
A brief pause for inward stillness, often used in schools or committees before business begins.

Monthly, Quarterly, Yearly Meeting

  • Monthly: Local congregation.

  • Quarterly: Regional gathering of several monthly meetings.

  • Yearly: Larger body gathering annually for worship and business.

Pacifism / Peace Testimony
The historic Quaker witness against war and violence, obeying Christ’s command to love enemies.

Pastoral Meeting
A meeting employing a pastor to provide preaching, care, and leadership.

Peculiar People
Friends are set apart spiritually, living according to conscience and simplicity.

Plain Language
Using “thee” and “thou” and avoiding titles as a testimony to equality.

Programmed Meeting
Worship with planned order, hymns, prayers, and sermon.

Quaker
Nickname first applied in the 1650s; formally, Friends are the Religious Society of Friends.

Quaker “Alphabet Soup”
Abbreviations for Friends’ organizations (AFSC, FCNL, FGC, FUM, FWCC, EFI).

Queries
Questions for personal and corporate spiritual reflection.

Recording / Recorded Minister
Recognition of a Friend’s gift in ministry.

Recording Clerk
The Friend who keeps minutes during business meeting.

Sense of the Meeting
The discerned unity of a meeting, expressed without voting.

Silence
Stillness in worship, listening before speaking.

Simplicity
Living free from excess, keeping life focused on the spiritually essential.

Speak to One’s Condition
Hearing or ministry that directly meets a person’s spiritual need (Fox).

SPICE / SPICES
A mnemonic for major testimonies: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, (Stewardship). One will at times also see the mneumonic SPICED with the D representing the testimony of Direct access to God.

Stand in the Way / Stand Aside

  • Stand in the Way: Object conscientiously to a decision, blocking unity.

  • Stand Aside: Allow decision to proceed, though one cannot fully unite.

Testimonies
Lived expressions of faith (peace, integrity, simplicity, etc.), evidence of the Inward Light of Christ at work.

That of God in Everyone
God’s Light present in all people.

This Friend Speaks My Mind
Expressing unity without repeating a statement.

Unprogrammed Meeting
Worship held in silence; anyone may speak if led by the Spirit.

Weighty Friend
A Friend recognized for spiritual depth; counsel carries special weight in discernment.

World
Early Friends’ term for worldly ways opposed to the life of the Spirit.

Part II: Conservative Friends Expressions

(Highlighting distinctives of Conservative Friends)

Book of Discipline
A document created by a specific Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) that outlines the gospel order of the community (the community's commonly held beliefs, standard practices, and guidelines for church governance and daily life.)

Conservative Friends
A branch emphasizing preservation of early Quaker faith and practice: unprogrammed, Christ-centered worship, plainness, and obedience to the Inward Light of Christ. Only three yearly meetings officially identify as Conservative: Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina.

Christ Within / Inward Light of Christ
The inward presence of Christ as Teacher, Guide, and Savior.

Discipline
Faithful ordering of life under Christ’s guidance.

Gospel Order
Life and community rightly ordered under Christ’s Spirit.

Meeting for Sufferings
A representative body historically aiding those persecuted.

Outward Forms
Rituals or ceremonies considered unnecessary when one lives in Christ inwardly.

Overseers
Friends charged with pastoral care, visiting in love, and nurturing spiritual health.

Plain Dress
Simple, modest clothing reflecting humility and equality.

Plain Speech
Using “thee” and “thou” and avoiding titles; testimony to equality.

Queries (Conservative Use)
Regularly read in worship and business for reflection on faithfulness.

Silent / Waiting Worship
Central act of Conservative Friends’ faith: waiting for Christ to lead; vocal ministry arises only if Spirit leads.

Weighty Friend (Conservative Understanding)
A Friend of proven spiritual faithfulness whose counsel carries guidance born of experience in Christ.

Witness / Ministry of Presence
Living visibly in ways that testify to Christ’s Spirit in daily life.

Holding in the Light (Expanded)
Prayerful concern for someone, asking God’s guidance, protection, and comfort.

Stewardship / Outward Simplicity
Careful use of resources to honor God’s provision, reflecting simplicity and faithfulness.

Living Faithfully / Daily Devotions
A life consistently aligned with the leadings of Christ, in prayer, reflection, and action.

Spiritual Discernment
The careful, prayerful process of recognizing God’s leadings in personal and corporate life.

Light Within / That of God in Everyone (Expanded)
Every person bears God’s Light, which guides, instructs, and sanctifies.

Recorded Minister / Ministry of Counsel
Friends recognized for consistent, Spirit-led ministry, including speaking, counsel, or visitation.

Centering / Waiting Worship
Pausing to “center down” in worship, seeking Christ’s presence, listening silently, and responding only as led.