Visitation

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.

1 Corinthians 13:12a

Visitation is the essential work of FWCC. Visitation is like opening windows and letting the light of understanding shine in. Through visitation, Friends meet “face-to-face and heart-to-heart” to share both that which unites and that which divides them in the life of the Spirit. With God’s help, open exchange builds understanding, respect, trust and love, and renews awareness of a world-wide family of Friends.

Salt and Light

In 2010, the Section of the Americas sponsored visitors from twelve different yearly meetings in nine countries to visit local churches and meetings and speak on the theme of the 6th World Conference of Friends, “Being Salt & Light: Friends Living the Kingdom of God in a Broken World.” Over the course of two years, over 1700 Friends at over 55 gatherings in eight countries throughout the Americas were reached by this program. For some Friends this was a rare opportunity to welcome Quaker ministry from afar, to learn about how Friends express their faith within the global family of Friends, and to ask each other: how do Friends hope to be the salt, and be the light, in their local communities?

Read more about this successful program.

New Light

In 2012, a new theme will be chosen based on the experience of Friends at the 6th World Conference in Kenya. Until that theme is chosen, we are calling this program New Light. Meetings and churches (including quarterly meetings and yearly meetings) who would like to receive a visitor in the coming year are encouraged to inform the FWCC office as soon as possible by sending us an email.

Friends who have a leading to share a message on this New Light theme with Friends in other yearly meetings will be encouraged to apply to be a New Light speaker. New Light speakers will be selected by the New Light/Visitation Resource Group. FWCC sponsors visitors who express concerns that are deeply rooted in the Spirit, and who can transcend differences and division to seek broader unity in the Light. If you would like to be considered as a New Light speaker, please read the following information [coming soon] and then email us as soon as possible.

Friends who would like to support this essential work of FWCC are welcome to make financial donations. Click here to make a donation to the Section of the Americas.

Long Term Visitation Program

For many years FWCC Section of the Americas sponsored visitation between Yearly Meetings across North America. Gradually, this has come to include more and more visitation exchanges between Latin American and US/Canadian Friends. Our goal is still to further draw the strands of Quakerism in the Americas together into the rich tapestry that is the Religious Society of Friends. After the Section Meeting in 2013, Friends will evaluate the progress of the New Light visitation program and consider whether to continue in this format or to experiment with other forms of visitation.

What Do People Say about Visitation?

“Many Canadian Friends are well informed about FWCC; a number of others welcomed the chance to learn more about our section’s work. . . . I felt much harmony with Canadian ways of being Friends and became better informed about the Canadian sense of being different from U.S. Quakers. ”

“What I continue to experience in FWCC is that each group of Friends has maintained some of what was essential in the original, “primitive Christianity revived,” while adopting or absorbing teachings and practices from the world around us. When we come together we discover what is truly essential, what is merely helpful or preferable to one group or another, and what may in fact be errors which hinder us from clearly discerning and answering God’s call”

—David Male, Ohio Yearly Meeting (Conservative), visiting Central Yearly Meeting in the summer of 2004

“One of the things that I experienced was a renewed love for my yearly meeting. NWYM’s members have a very wide range of opinions and beliefs on issues. And while this can make for long and sometimes frustrating business, it’s all part of ‘us’ and valuable for the seeking and hearing of God’s heart.”

—Patty Federighi, Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends Church, on her visit to North Pacific Yearly Meeting in 2004

“My previous experience with yearly meeting sessions has been limited to those of my own yearly meeting, North Pacific Yearly Meeting, and occasional visits to Intermountain Yearly Meeting. While this more urban yearly meeting was somewhat different, with more coming and going, it was . . . quite similar to sessions I’ve experienced elsewhere, including gathered worship in plenaries, great workshops and small groups, shared meals, and lively children.”

—Tom Head, North Pacific Yearly Meeting, on his visit to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting sessions in March, 2004