A movement founded on the belief that every person has direct access to God's light within, without need of clergy, creeds, or sacraments.
The Religious Society of Friends — commonly called Quakers — was founded in 17th-century England by George Fox, who rejected the established church and its clergy in favor of a direct, unmediated experience of God. Fox taught that 'there is that of God in every person' — an inner light or seed of Christ that every human being possesses. This conviction led early Quakers to reject outward sacraments, paid clergy, creeds, and hierarchical church structures, replacing them with silent waiting on God in community.
Quakers have historically been at the forefront of social reform movements. They were among the first to oppose slavery in America, pioneers in prison reform and the humane treatment of the mentally ill, and strong advocates for peace and conscientious objection to war. This peace testimony has made Quakers a natural presence near military installations — Fayetteville's Friends Meeting at 223 Hillside Avenue is associated with Quaker House, which has provided counseling, support, and conscientious objector assistance to Fort Bragg soldiers since the Vietnam era.
Contemporary Quakers range from unprogrammed meetings (silent worship with no pastor or planned liturgy) to programmed meetings (with a pastor and a more structured service similar to other Protestant churches). Fayetteville Friends Meeting is an unprogrammed meeting in the traditional Quaker style.
Quakers are unique in rejecting all outward sacraments (no baptism, no communion), all paid clergy, and all formal creeds. Worship in an unprogrammed meeting consists of silent waiting — anyone may speak if moved by the Spirit, but there is no planned liturgy, sermon, or music. Their peace testimony and social activism have made them disproportionately influential relative to their small numbers.
Unprogrammed meetings gather in silence, waiting on God. Anyone may speak, pray, or share as moved by the Spirit. There is no pastor, no music, no liturgy. Meetings typically last about an hour. The simplicity is intentional — a stripping away of everything that might substitute for direct encounter with God.
1650s, England, by George Fox.
Abolition of slavery, prison reform, conscientious objection to war, and the silent meeting for worship.