This pamphlet discusses incisively gospel order and Quaker process as an extension of the author's Pendle Hill pamphlets "Quakers and the Use of Power" (#241) and "Leading and Being Led" (#264). He sees Quakers at a crossroads in dealing with issues of authority and power in church governance and offers some assessment of the costs of traveling one way or another. He challenges Friends to find their balance between tolerance of diversity and corporate unity.

Quakers were at a crossroads in dealing with issues of authority and power in church governance. The author offers some assessment of the costs of traveling one way or another. He challenges Friends to find their balance between tolerance of diversity and corporate unity.

Well-written exploration of the shifting relationship between individual leadings and corporate discernment in Quakerism over nearly four centuries. ( )

This pamphlet is a very thoughtful, informed, enlightening, and challenging discussion of authority and power among Friends, from earliest Quaker history to the present. We tolerate diversity and accept seekers where they are, but that does not mean that we stand for nothing. We seek to discern the truth about where the Spirit is leading us. We struggle to find the right balance between affirming the autonomy of the individual following her conscience, and affirming the authority of the group to determine what a true leading of the Spirit is.
Lacey explains the evolution of Quaker organization and institutions, and the issues to which they were responding.
As always, modern Quakers can find themselves in tension over issues that pit individual autonomy against sincere seeking for spirit-led unity. This can be reflected in whether Friends pursue "Quaker consensus" or "gospel order.: The question of authority among Friends, which feels very modern, seems to be a perpetual one. ( )

PHP #365