The 2024 FGC Gathering, “Rooted in Story”, will be held at Haverford College in Haverford, PA, from June 30 – July 6, 2024.
Workshop: Nontheism Among Friends
Workshop Number: P-17
Leaders: Robin Alpern and Mary Pagurelias
Worship/Worship-Sharing: 15%
Lecture: 10%
Discussion: 20%
Experiential Activities: 55%
The goal of this workshop is to provide a safe, loving, and inspiring space for exploring the life of nontheist Friends. (Some may prefer terms such as atheist, agnostic, skeptic, secular humanist, pantheist, panentheist, or other.) All seekers, nontheist or otherwise, are welcome, as long as they are interested in providing a safe space for everyone to share their experiences without fear of judgment or contention. We will not be discussing or debating whether or not God exists, or whether or not one can be a Quaker and a nontheist simultaneously. Instead, we will be examining our past and current theologies and challenging ourselves to take responsibility for our present spiritual paths. We intend to support participants in becoming clearer about their relationship to the Religious Society of Friends and also to empower them to take action toward creating greater unity and understanding between theist and nontheist Quakers.
About one-third of our time each day (except Monday) will be divided between presentations by the leaders and worship. The remaining two-thirds will be spent in group participation. The format will vary, depending on our subject, and will include worship sharing, paired sharing, breakout groups, interactive exercises, and whole group discussion. Each day will include at least one activity that gets us up on our feet, although alternatives will be provided for anyone with limited mobility.
We will use activities and discussion to explore Quaker life not centered on belief in God. What is spirituality for nontheist Friends? What are our challenges? How can all Friends grow from theological diversity within Quakerism? All seekers will find a safe space to celebrate and deepen their spiritual lives. The goal of this workshop…
Leader Experience
Robin: I have clerked Quaker committees since 1990 for my Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly Meetings, including designing and leading weekend retreats. During a period of about five years, I took part in rigorous leadership training programs offered by what is now the Landmark Education Corporation. I led seminars for small and large groups, and was promoted to advanced leadership levels. One of the hallmarks of these programs was the intensity of interaction between leader and participants, requiring leaders to have enormous compassion, integrity, humility, humor, and passion, all rolled into one! In 2002, three other Quakers and I founded a community program in my town on Ending Racism. Our usual format was dialogue. I was asked to serve as the lead facilitator. For four years I designed and led these programs, and expanded them to serve our Quarterly Meeting. Since 1996 I have co-led a dozen workshops on nontheism at the FGC Gathering, and three at Powell House, the NYYM conference center. I was the principal leader of each workshop except the Gathering workshop in 2004, and I was principal designer of most of them. In 2020 I adapted the workshop for the virtual Gathering. In September 2022, MaryPags and I launched a monthly zoom discussion group for nontheists where we (and other Friends) facilitate conversation. In 2012, I helped design an ongoing anti-racism workshop series called “What White People Can Do about Racism,” offered through the Center for the Study of White American Culture. I’ve co-facilitated workshops in the CSWAC series many times.
MaryPags: In NYYM I serve on Ministry and Pastoral Care, and two subcommittees: At-Large Membership and M&C Gatherings. On the at-large membership subcommittee I have arranged and participated in clearness committees for applicants, led the interviews, and helped in matching an applicant to a spiritual accompaniment companion. On the M&C Gatherings I organize and host 2 monthly gatherings for members of ministry and counsel committees and pastors. I served as “greeter” at the Healing Center this past year at summer sessions.
Learn more:
Workshop page:
https://www.fgcquaker.org/fgcworkshops/nontheism-among-friends-2
FGC and The Gathering
https://www.fgcquaker.org/