Friends Meeting of Washington

This year about 145 members, attenders, sojourners and others (about 50% were members) provided extensive, thoughtful comments on the spiritual state of our Meeting. With faith that they reflect caring and the Light within, these comments collectively reveal a deep appreciation for the spiritual home FMW provides nearly all of us and a sincere yearning to make our community even more welcoming, nurturing and spirit-centered. These responses also provide many observations our community may use as we strengthen our fellowship, assist each in their spiritual journey, make our physical space more accessible, address social concerns, and build caring relationships among ourselves and in the world. Continue reading →

Like two sides of a coin, our Meeting’s strengths can also create challenges. Being a large Meeting in an urban setting blesses Friends Meeting of Washington (FMW) with a dynamic community. We have a steady stream of new worshippers, while active members often depart to pursue career or personal opportunities. We are challenged to welcome inquirers, to support friends as they are called to service elsewhere, and to maintain the vitality and continuity of our Quaker community. The global character of our city provides FMW with a wealth of experiences and deep intellectual resources, but sometimes these gifts also can manifest as verbosity and an apparent reluctance to listen to others’ points of view. Members and attenders who come to FMW from other spiritual traditions – or with no religious affiliation – bring an openness to new perspectives, while they may be less knowledgeable about Quaker thought and tradition.
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