Faith and Practice
Of
Wilmington
Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends
(BOOK OF DISCIPLINE)
PART I: Faith & Life
PART II: Organization & Business Procedure
PART
III: Authorized Declaration of Faith
Adopted at Yearly
Meeting Sessions 1977, Wilmington, Ohio
With
Supplement
to Wilmington Yearly Meeting's "Faith and Practice" to reflect
changes made July 22, 2000 at the Yearly Meeting session at Hiwassee
College at Madisonville, Tenn.
This revision contains Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of Faith and Practice including the
2000 changes
FAITH AND PRACTICE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Expanding
Appreciation of Truth..............................5
Origin and
Development of the Discipline.........................5
Adoption of the
Uniform Discipline...............................7
The Book of Faith and
Practice...................................7
Part I
CHAPTER I.
HISTORICAL STATEMENT
George Fox and the
Rise of the People Called Quakers.............9
American Beginnings And Growth..................................11
Branches of
Friends.............................................12
Evangelical Movements
of the Nineteenth Century.................12
Development of the
Pastoral Ministry............................13
Origin of the Friends
National Organizations....................14
Other Cooperative
Agencies......................................16
CHAPTER II.
FAITH AND THOUGHT
Basic
Principles................................................19
Ideals of
Worship...............................................22
Testimony of
Ceremonial Rites...................................23
The
Scriptures..................................................25
Spiritual
Gifts.................................................27
CHAPTER III.
LIFE AND ACTION
Way of
Life...........................................29
Evangelism and Extension...............................29
Friends
and Education...................................33
The
Social Order.......................................36
Friends
and the State.................................38
Justice
in Interracial Relations..........................39
Testimonies on Family and Personal Life................44
Sanctity
of the Home................................44
Recreation and Amusements..............................45
Healthful
Living...................................46
Health
Practices.....................................46
Gambling
and Lotteries..............................47
Judicial
Oaths........................................47
Secret
and/or Discriminatory Organizations.............47
CHAPTER IV.
THE QUERIES
Introductory
Statement..........................................49
General
Queries.................................................49
Queries for Meetings
on Ministry and Counsel....................51
Part II
ORGANIZATION AND
BUSINESS PROCEDURE
CHAPTER I.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Ideals in
Organization..........................................53
The
Meeting.....................................................54
Basis of
Membership.............................................55
Rules of
Membership.............................................55
Reception by
Application....................................55
Reception and
Transfer by Certificate or Letter.............57
Discontinuance of
Membership................................58
Dealing with
Offenders......................................59
Guidelines for
Continuing Membership........................60
CHAPTER II.
THE MONTHLY MEETING
Organization and
Functions......................................61
Committees......................................................63
Ministry and
Counsel........................................64
Finance
Committee...........................................67
Nominating
Committee........................................67
Auxiliary
Groups............................................67
Queries.....................................................67
Special
Responsibilities for Ministry...........................68
Pastors and Meeting
Secretaries.............................68
Minutes for
Service.........................................69
Marriage........................................................70
With the Minister
Participating.............................70
When Arranged by the
Meeting................................71
Relations to Superior
Meetings............................72
Outreach and New
Meetings.................................73
CHAPTER III.
QUARTERLY MEETING
Organization and
Function.......................................75
Relation to Monthly Meetings....................................75
Relation to the
Yearly Meeting..................................76
Departmental
Chairpersons.......................................76
Meeting on Ministry
and Counsel.................................77
CHAPTER IV.
YEARLY MEETING
Organization and
Function.......................................79
Permanent
Board.................................................81
Yearly Meeting
Ministry and Counsel.............................83
Recording of
Ministers..........................................84
Yearly Meeting
Boards...........................................87
Relations with
Wilmington
College...............................88
Sources of
Business.............................................90
Young Friends and
Junior Yearly Meetings........................91
Miscellaneous...................................................91
CHAPTER V.
FRIENDS UNITED
MEETING
Preface..............................................93
Triennial
Sessions...............................94
Organization and
Function..................95
Commissions and Their
Functions.......99
Property and
Financial Interests. ......102
Associated
Organizations.................105
Part III.
AUTHORIZED
DECLARATION OF FAITH
Preface........................................................109
Essential
Truths...............................................110
Extract from George
Fox's Letter to
the
Governor of Barbados,
1671................................112
Declaration of Faith
Issued by
The Richmond
Conference, 1887..................................114
Of
God.....................................................114
The Lord Jesus
Christ......................................115
The Holy
Spirit............................................117
The Holy
Scriptures........................................119
Man's Creation and Fall....................................119
Justification and
Sanctification...........................120
The Resurrection and
Final Judgment........................122
Baptism....................................................123
The Supper of the
Lord.....................................124
Public
Worship.............................................125
Prayer and
Praise..........................................128
Liberty
of Conscience in Its Relation to
Civil
Government..........................................128
Marriage...................................................129
Peace......................................................129
Oaths......................................................130
The First Day of the
Week..................................130