Craig fom North Carolina here...

[Quakerboy]

Hello all! Just joined the forum today. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church in America (my parents helped found the denomination) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Went to Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville and came out leaving my Christianity behind. After college, I met my partner of 22 years.

A few years back, I attended a lecture on Quakerism at Guilford College and became a convinced Friend.

Both my partner and I are very active in our local Meeting. Even though we are "conservative Friends", our Yearly Meeting (Quaker for denomination) is affirming of GLBT folks. "Conservative" means that we keep to the old ways of Quakerism...unprogrammed worship, no hired clergy, live simply, etc.

I consider myself a "red letter Christian" in that we attempt to live by what Jesus taught and let the rest of scripture be interpreted through the lens of Jesus' teachings (i.e., the beatitudes). My "heros" of faith are Jim Wallis, Lloyd Lee Wilson, Brian McLaren, Jacques Ellul and Leo Tolstoy.

We both are big into fitness and health. I am a vegetarian...he is a vegetarian when I don't catch him eating meat :-). We love to read and enjoy books on theology, history and biographies.

I am currently reading, The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren. The emerging church movement fascinates me and gives me hope that bridges can be built between the GLBT community and the evangelical community via this move of God.

Nice to be here...God's peace!

-Craig

[keltic63]

Welcome Craig! glad to have you here.

[beat0it]

Welcome to the forum!

:wave:

--Lindsey.

[Daniel]

Hi Craig- Welcome to SF! Thanks for the book title- it hasn't been on my radar. I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

[dsdrane]

Hi Craig! So glad you joined us.

Are you familiar with the light artist and fellow Quaker, James Turrell? He created one of the most amazing spaces ever in a meetinghouse in Houston.

http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/turrell/clip2.html

I have no burning desire to go to Texas, but, if I did, I would make a beeline to this space.

Peace...and welcome,

David

[Zerbie]

Hi Craig,

Welcome to the forum. Nice to meet you. :)

[Quakerboy]

Thanks for the warm welcome all!

And, yes, I have heard of James Turrell. Ironically, our Meeting is talking about building a new Meetinghouse and some of our folks have met with Friend Turrell. He gave a lecture here at Guilford College a couple of weeks ago, but I couldn't attend. Heard it was pretty awesome.

Love and peace,
Craig

[ctozrn]

Hello!

We are from Greensboro too! As a matter of fact we live about two miles from Guilford College. I am glad that you have found Soulforce!

Small world!

Christine

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Hello all! Just joined the forum today. I grew up in the Presbyterian Church in America (my parents helped found the denomination) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Went to Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville and came out leaving my Christianity behind. After college, I met my partner of 22 years.

A few years back, I attended a lecture on Quakerism at Guilford College and became a convinced Friend.

Both my partner and I are very active in our local Meeting. Even though we are "conservative Friends", our Yearly Meeting (Quaker for denomination) is affirming of GLBT folks. "Conservative" means that we keep to the old ways of Quakerism...unprogrammed worship, no hired clergy, live simply, etc.

I consider myself a "red letter Christian" in that we attempt to live by what Jesus taught and let the rest of scripture be interpreted through the lens of Jesus' teachings (i.e., the beatitudes). My "heros" of faith are Jim Wallis, Lloyd Lee Wilson, Brian McLaren, Jacques Ellul and Leo Tolstoy.

We both are big into fitness and health. I am a vegetarian...he is a vegetarian when I don't catch him eating meat :-). We love to read and enjoy books on theology, history and biographies.

I am currently reading, The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren. The emerging church movement fascinates me and gives me hope that bridges can be built between the GLBT community and the evangelical community via this move of God.

Nice to be here...God's peace!

-Craig

Hello,
I sort of am a Friend, although I am not officially affiliated with any Friends Church. There's actually one right down my street that I would love to go to, but I am a minor, and go to church with my family. I am also a vegetarian, and an emerging evangelical. Brian McLaren's A New Kind of Christian and also Shane Claiborne's The Irresistable Revolution along with a plethora of other books, converted me out of Christianity. I am now trying to be a raw follower of the Living Christ. Good to see another Friend.

[belladonnacordial]

Hello! Really good to meet you! Welcome to SF and the forum. I look forward to your posts.

Love and peace,
Donna

[BruceChris]

I like the Quakers, I have a very good impression of them. (Well, except for Dirty Dick) But I belong to a liberal church where we talk about everything, all of the time, and I need that. Peace, hope to see you around.

P&L, Bruce Chris

[fm1119]

Hi Craig, and Welcome!

I, too, am very excited about the emerging church movement and think it is an accurate example of what Jesus was striving for in his ministry.

Glad to have you here!
-Mark

[daisy630]

hi craig!

i'd love to talk to you about your reasons for leaving christianity behind. i'm not a religious nut, but i'm interested in hearing why.

<3

[nmwolfboy]

Sorry it's taken me a bit to say hello, but you are very welcome here!

-scott

[crisrivera]

My partner went to Guilford and can't stop saying enough good things about what she has embraced from the Quakers (although she was raised in the Presbyterian church, and we attend a PCUSA church here in Durham). Great hearing from you!
Peace,
Cris

[u-dog]

hi craig!

i'd love to talk to you about your reasons for leaving christianity behind. i'm not a religious nut, but i'm interested in hearing why.

<3

Did I miss something? Last time I checked, Quakers were a part of Christianity

[WillySF]

Hi Craig,

I'm new here too. Great to see all you lovely people committed to the spirit of truth, grace and love.

To the last poster and the previous one, the Society of Friends (Quakers) are most certainly a Christian denomination. Not that it matters really.

[u-dog]

Not that it matters really.

I'm thinkin' that there are a lot of Friends who would disagree with you on that. ;)

[bryanf]

Welcome man! Greensboro is a great place. I actually go visit family there quite often.

-Ben

[Quakerboy]

Actually there are several brands of Quakers. The group to which my partner and I belong is called "Conservative Friends" (www.ncymc.org). Conservative doesn't mean we're politically conervative, but that we keep the old Quaker ways of unprogrammed worship, no hired minister, a Christocentric faith, etc. You will also still see "plain Quakers" in our Meetings and hear plain speech being spoken (using "thee" and "thou" instead of "you" or "your").

Conservative Friends in North Carolina are very accepting of the GLBT community. Our Meeting even does same-gender weddings under the care of the Meeting.

There are several other groups of Quakers ranging from Evangelical to those who would not define themselves in Christian terms. Strangly, we all sort of get along and have many organizations that are supported by all Friends groups such as the American Friends Service Committee.

End of lecture :)

Love and peace,
Craig

[WillySF]

You learn something new each day.