Young Adult Friends Section Meeting Retreat Report

Young Adult Friends (YAFs, ages 18-35) serve a vital role in the health of the Quaker community. They carry the weighty responsibility of the future of Quakerism. They provide a bridge for Junior Friends to step into the larger Meeting. They bring energy and vibrance to gatherings. They steward what it means to be a Quaker.

Hosting opportunities for YAFs to be with one another builds a collective identity of Quakerism for this generation and becomes a foundation for what Quakerism will become. It also offers YAFs opportunities to engage with people going through similar experiences and learn to navigate those challenges from a place of inner light.

YAFs from across the Section of the Americas (SOA) were blessed with a unique and historic opportunity which was made possible by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC). In March, 18 YAFs from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, and Bolivia gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona for three days leading up to the SOA Annual Section Meeting. This gathering was the first of its kind, and was inspired by the spirit of connection sparked at the YAF Gathering prior to the World Plenary last August. It marked a powerful moment of cross-cultural fellowship and spiritual deepening among young Friends.

YAFs were grounded in their shared belief of honoring the light within each of us while celebrating the unique facets of our local, regional, and national expressions of our faith. The first activity together was to establish the following intentions to aid the navigation of this diversity.

  • To learn and respect the differences between our cultures and worship / Para aprender y respetar las diferencias entre nuestras culturas y adoración
  • Speak on behalf of yourself – use ‘I’ statements / Habla en nombre de ti mismo – usa declaraciones ‘Yo’
  • Seek unity in our diversity / Buscar unidad en nuestra diversidad
  • We’re learning from God through each other / Estamos aprendiendo de Dios el uno a través del otro
  • Every experience is unique and valued / Cada experiencia es única y valorada
  • Enjoy being in each other’s presence / Disfruta de estar en presencia del otro
  • In building trust with one another, we learn how to share our light / Al construir confianza entre nosotros, aprendemos a compartir nuestra luz

YAFs deepened their spiritual bonds through a rich tapestry of shared experiences. Throughout the gathering, YAFs stepped into roles of leadership by guiding workshops, facilitating worship, and greeting the day together on peaceful sunrise hikes. A memorable excursion to the Desert Botanical Garden, led by two gracious friends from Phoenix Monthly Meeting, offered a space for reflection and connection with the natural world. With open hearts and willing hands, YAFs also gave back to the Phoenix Meeting community, providing much-needed yard care for its smaller, aging congregation. YAFs led the entire community in worship on the final day of the Section Meeting—an experience many described as spiritually moving and left a lasting impression on all who were present.

What young Friends do now shapes the future of Quakerism. Opportunities for YAFs to connect amongst themselves are crucial for the discernment of their identity and emboldens the brilliance of Quakerism for generations to come. This event is just one instance of the commitment that FWCC has in supporting YAFs around the world to honor their presence, engagement, and visibility.

Inspired by the depth of connection and shared spirit they experienced, YAFs left the gathering with a renewed commitment to strengthening their bonds and expanding their presence within the wider Quaker community across the Section of the Americas. While this may have been the first event of its kind, it is clear it will not be the last. The seeds planted in Scottsdale are already taking root, and are nurturing a growing movement of young Friends ready to walk together in faith, friendship, and service.

Meg Cody

FWCC Welcomes Sarah Katreen Hoggatt as Advancement Coordinator

Sarah Katreen Hoggatt, Advancement Coordinator at FWCC
Sarah Katreen Hoggatt, Advancement Coordinator at FWCC

Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is pleased to announce that Sarah Katreen Hoggatt has joined our team as the Advancement Coordinator. In this role, Sarah will focus on fundraising, communications, and strengthening connections within the global Quaker community. With a deep commitment to Quaker values and extensive experience in communications and nonprofit leadership, Sarah brings a wealth of expertise to FWCC’s mission of fostering unity among Friends worldwide.

Quaker Experience

A direct member of Sierra Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends, Sarah was born and raised in Salem, Oregon, of the US Pacific Northwest, on lands of the Kalapuya peoples.

Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and went on to complete a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, a certificate in Spiritual Formation, and a certification as a spiritual director at George Fox Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary).

In 2008, Sarah was selected for the editorial board of Spirit Rising: Young Quaker Voices (English and Español). Working with fellow editors and learning about their diverse Quaker experiences deepened her appreciation for the many ways Friends around the world live out the Light within them. To promote the book, Sarah traveled throughout the Pacific Northwest, across the United States, and internationally, speaking about it in Europe and Kenya. While in Europe, she first connected with FWCC at the Europe and Middle East Section conference in Switzerland—an experience she treasures. Around the same time, she also became involved with Quakers Uniting in Publications, a community she continues to value today.

Sarah has served in many leadership roles within Quaker communities. At Freedom Friends Church, she worked as recording clerk and helped write its Faith and Practice. She later joined Northwest Yearly Meeting (NWYM), serving on its Board of Christian Education. When NWYM decided to cut off LGBTQIA-inclusive meetings, Sarah helped found Sierra Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends (SCYMF). She initially served on the Faith and Practice Committee before being named co-presiding clerk from 2018 to 2022. One of her greatest joys in this role was looking out at all the faces during business meetings—”the best view in the house.”

During her time as co-presiding clerk, SCYMF recorded Sarah in ministry for writing, speaking, and spiritual direction. Since then, she has continued serving Quaker communities, including working on the planning committee for the 2023 FGC Gathering. She also enjoys organizing conferences and participating in clearness committees when called.

A Writer and Graphic Designer

At her core, Sarah is a writer. Since childhood, she has used writing—especially poetry—to express herself and share her perspective. Last summer, she published her sixth and seventh books: When the Ink Runs Dry and When the Questions Come, with an eighth book currently in progress. Her work (both articles and poems) has also appeared in Friends Journal and Western Friend.

Beyond writing, Sarah is a professional book designer and publisher, as well as an experienced editor. She is eager to bring her skills in publishing, design, and communications to FWCC’s work.

Welcome Sarah to FWCC!

Sarah will be working remotely from her hometown of Salem, Oregon. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing in pen and ink, hiking with her dog, learning classical guitar, reading, and Irish dancing.

We invite you to greet Sarah and welcome her at our Section of the Americas meeting in March. She is looking forward to spending time with our community and working alongside Friends worldwide.

FWCC Americas announces new Executive Secretary!

“I am honored for this opportunity to continue to serve the Religious Society of Friends on an international level, recommitting myself to be accountable, faithful and principled in seeking continuing revelation together in our global family.”
Evan WelkinNorth Pacific Yearly Meeting
Evan Welkin

The Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas—the global fellowship association for the Religious Society of Friends—is pleased to announce that Evan Welkin, from North Pacific Yearly Meeting, has been appointed as the next Executive Secretary, starting July 15, 2024.

“Evan Welkin impressed us with his grasp of the breadth of Quakerism, his administrative capabilities including project management, fundraising, and grant-writing, and most importantly, his spiritual grounding and rootedness in Quaker process. The search committee relied heavily on the leading of the Holy Spirit during the entire process and we felt the prayers of many who are devoted to our very important work in FWCC. On behalf of the search committee, we thank you for your prayers and let us continue in prayer for Evan as he begins his new role.”
Brenda McKinneyFriends Church of North Carolina
Brenda McKinney

Evan Welkin is a member of Olympia Monthly Meeting (North Pacific Yearly Meeting), born and raised in the Cascadia region of the US Pacific Northwest on lands of the Siuslaw, Squaxin Island and Nisqually peoples. His grandparents Jack and Judy Brown (University Friends Meeting) became convinced Friends through their work with AFSC camps after the end of WWII. 

He holds a BA from Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA and Masters from Schumacher College in Totnes, Devon, UK. He is a graduate of the Guilford Quaker Leadership Scholars Program (QLSP) where he served as a Sojourning member released from Olympia MM to study theological diversity among evangelical, conservative, programmed and unprogrammed Friends in Guilford County. While in QLSP, he offered ministry at local meetings and churches, supported development of the QLSP Service Committee and received a Clarence and Lilly Pickett Fund for Quaker Leadership grant to survey meetings along the Eastern Seaboard. He participated in several service learning projects with the North Carolina Friends Disaster Service, advocated for graduates of the Ramallah Friends School targeted by campus violence at Guilford and received a Lyman Fund grant to join a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) delegation to Israel and Palestine in 2008. While on the CPT delegation, he met his Italian future wife, Federica Faggioli, as she served as project coordinator on a EU-funded human rights monitoring project in the South Hebron Hills of the West Bank. Returning to the Pacific Northwest, Evan served as Clerk of Olympia Monthly Meeting’s Finance and Worship & Ministry Committees while beginning a career in management and community organizing with the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, TOGETHER! of Thurston County and the Squaxin Island Tribe.  

He married Federica in 2012 under the care of Olympia Monthly Meeting and her Catholic community, the Pope John XXIII Association. From 2012 to 2015, Evan and Federica tested a leading to move to Italy while connecting with the FWCC Europe and Middle East Section and supporting Quakers in Italy to host an annual gathering of Italian Friends, held each year on the Faggioli family farm from 2016-2023. Their first son, Oliver, was born in 2014 as Evan founded a private consulting practice focusing on support for nonprofit development and network facilitation for clients including the Global Ecovillage Network, Climate Action Network-International, PEN America, the European Network of Community-Lead Climate Initiatives, the Global Fund for Children, and Permaculture for Refugees.

From 2016-2017, Evan completed the Young Adult Leadership Programme at Woodbrooke Learning and Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham, UK and served as Elder and Trustee of Europe and Middle East Young Friends.  In 2018 after the birth of their second son, Gabriel, the family found way open to move definitively to the farm and found an ecovillage, learning center and permaculture project called “Borgo Basino.” From 2020 to 2024 Borgo Basino served as a living, learning community connecting education, networking and wellness on a small multifunctional farm. Nestled in the hills outside of Bologna, Borgo Basino offered a hub for agricultural innovation, community wellness, and sustainable hospitality. Despite facing significant challenges caused by the COVID pandemic, Evan continued his work as a lecturer and administrator at the Spring Hill College Italy Center while leading activities with groups, interns and community members on the farm. In 2022, he began work for the FWCC in the Europe and Middle East Section (EMES), supporting communications and development of the EMES Peace and Service Network. He also served the FWCC World Office facilitating the Global Quaker Sustainability Network. In Spring 2023, massive landslides caused extensive damage to the farm and its only access road, provoking difficult discernment about the sustainability of the farm after many setbacks. In early 2024, Evan and his family made the difficult decision to leave the farm and return to the United States, trusting again that way would open to new possibilities. The opportunity to continue his vocation and career with the FWCC Americas Section is truly the continued realization of a personal dream, connecting Friends around the world in faith, spiritual formation and a deeper connection with all life on earth.  

In his spare time, Evan keeps bees, makes artwork and sails (and repairs!) wooden boats.

“It seems God is at work with loving and caring ways in FWCC Section of the Americas! I am so pleased Evan Welkin has agreed to join us to serve as Executive Secretary. I believe he will bring gifts to enhance our vision for the future of our Section. For this I am grateful.”
LaVonna LoeschGreat Plains Yearly Meeting, Presiding Clerk of the Section of the Americas
LaVonna Loesch

Evan's favorite verses

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
- Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Friends World Committee for Consultation Receives $1.125 Million Grant for Quaker Connect

The Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas—the global fellowship association for the Religious Society of Friends—has received a $1.125 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Thriving Congregations Initiative to help establish Quaker Connect, a program designed to reinvigorate the Quaker movement. 

FWCC Americas recently hired Jade Rockwell as the program director. Jade joins FWCC Americas from West Elkton (OH) Friends Meeting, where she serves as Co-Pastor. She is pursuing a Masters of Divinity with an emphasis on Pastoral Ministry from Earlham School of Religion. 

“I’m pleased to join FWCC Americas as the program director for Quaker Connect,” Jade said. “In this role I’m thrilled to dedicate my life work toward revitalizing Quakerism to reflect its beautiful diversity.”

“Quaker Connect is responding to the need of local Friends to develop a spirit of experimentation in partnership with God to support the members of their meetings and engage in issues important to their communities,” said Robin Mohr, Executive Secretary for FWCC Americas. “Quaker Connect will equip Quaker churches to be more clearly who they are meant to be: profoundly Quaker, deeply rooted, and highly visible in their local community. We are very pleased that Jade Rockwell has joined us at this pivotal point.”

Friends meetings and churches who wish to be considered for the first cohort of the Quaker Connect program should check the FWCC Americas website, QuakerConnect.org, for updates. The application period is planned to open in September 2024. 

In the United States, the project is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. An additional $200,000 grant from the Thomas H. and Mary Williams Shoemaker Fund will extend the program to Friends outside of the United States—from Canada to Bolivia—and enhance collaboration among Quaker organizations to support the growth and vitality of the Society of Friends.

Quaker Connect will be a structured network of Quaker meetings across the branches of Friends in the Americas. Each participating local meeting will nominate two to three Friends to join a cohort of other energized Friends in virtual workshops over a two year period. At the heart of the program, each meeting will choose one signpost of renewal that is lacking in their meeting, one Quaker, Christian, or FWCC practice to address the need, and take three months to try the experiment, and then initiate further experiments. Robust evaluation and communication processes are essential parts of the program. Quaker Connect is designed to adapt and seed the continuing revitalization of the Religious Society of Friends. 

FWCC Americas is one of 104 organizations that has received grants through a competitive round of Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative. Reflecting a wide variety of Christian traditions, the organizations represent mainline Protestant, evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, peace church and Pentecostal faith communities.

“Congregations play an essential role in deepening the faith of individuals and contributing to the vitality of communities,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “We hope that these programs will nurture the vibrancy and spark the creativity of congregations, helping them imagine new ways to share God’s love in their communities and across the globe.”

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.

About Shoemaker

The Thomas H. and Mary Williams Shoemaker Fund, established by the 1936 and 1953 wills of Thomas Howard Shoemaker and Mary Williams Shoemaker, is a private, trustee-managed foundation with five volunteer, self-perpetuating distributing trustees. Since the death of Mary Shoemaker, approximately $9 million has been distributed to selected charities, including Friends meetings and Quaker-related organizations primarily in the Philadelphia area.

In recent years, the Shoemaker Trustees have become increasingly concerned about the future vitality and membership of the Religious Society of Friends. As a result, the  Fund has shifted its focus to organizations that are investing specifically in the growth and development of the Society of Friends. In this spirit, the Fund is providing major support for new and collaborative initiatives developed by organizations that provide leadership, innovation and resources which address this strategic goal.

About FWCC Americas

The Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) is the global fellowship association for the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, also known as the Friends Church. In the Americas, the Quaker community extends from the Arctic to the Andes, spanning a rich diversity of regional cultures, beliefs and styles of worship. www.fwccamericas.org 

Strengthening our Community of Friends: Visit to the Yearly Meetings of Bolivia

Pastor Gualberto Torrez and his congregation in one of their churches in the Andes region.

By Karen Gregorio de Calderon, Coordinator of Latin American Programs

 

In the month of January, God allowed us the privilege of making a visit to the affiliated yearly meetings of Bolivia, with the objective of strengthening our community and sharing the love of God that unites us. It was a wonderful experience to be able to greet the brothers of the different congregations to share with them, in the worship services and multiple scheduled activities, in which we were able to live together in harmony, worship our Lord Jesus Christ, share our cultures and our common heritage. We thank God for this privilege and for what it will allow us to continue doing in the near future with each of the Meetings. We are sure that God will direct the plans for the growth and expansion of his work.


I traveled with Raúl Pérez, member of the Executive Committee of FWCC-Section of the Americas and member of El Salvador Yearly Meeting and Robin Mohr, Executive Secretary for the Section of the Americas. We had the opportunity to visit the yearly meeting annual sessions of INELA Bolivia, the Bolivian Union Friends and the Central Friends yearly meetings.


We particularly want to thank Pr. Gualberto Torrez, of the Iglesia Evangelica Union Boliviana Amigos for his support and taking us to visit some of the rural churches of their yearly meeting.
We also had the opportunity to visit with Friends of Central Yearly Meeting. It was a blessing to share the message of God’s word and participate in the worship services. We thank its president Armando Mamani and the Congregation for the organization of the activities and their development.

Raúl Pérez, member of El Salvador Yearly Meeting and member of the Executive Committee of FWCC Americas, shared the experience of Central American yearly meetings with missionary work in Nicaragua and Cambodia.
In the Aymara culture, “Apthapi” is the name of the Aymara celebration in which food and knowledge are shared. It is derived from the verb apthapiña, which means to bring. The celebration attendees bring food to share with the group. We thank the sisters of Unión Boliviana and their churches in the Andes region for this wonderful experience.
Attendees at the INELA Bolivia Yearly Meeting.
Sharing experiences with Northwest YM Friends: Daniel Cammack, David Thomas, Roy Lujan, Ken Comfort.
Sharing with the leaders of the Amigos Central Yearly Meeting, at the Villa Victoria church.
Sharing with the leaders of the Amigos Central Yearly Meeting, at the Villa Victoria church.
Sharing with: Edwin and María Girón. They were also part of a panel presentation about modern approaches to missionary work.
Visit to Escobar-Uria Friends Church
Pleasant moments with the sisters of UFINELA. (INELA Women’s Union) during lunch, during the activities of the yearly meeting.
With the South American members of the Traveling Ministry Corps In the first row: Jhoana Ramos (INELA Peru), Robin Mohr (Executive Secretary of CMCA) Karen Gregorio de Calderón (Coordinator for Latin America of CMCA-COAL) Carmen Rosa Paye (Bolivian Friends Union) In the back row: Jhimmy Roque (INELA Bolivia) and Juan Daniel Mamani (INELA Bolivia). Thank you for your service to our community of Friends!
Youth Leadership of Bolivian Friends: One of the main objectives of the visit to Bolivia was to share with the young leaders of the affiliated meetings. We were able to meet and share with around 25 young people from Amigos Central, Unión Boliviana Amigos and INELA Bolivia. We had the opportunity to share the vision and mission of FWCC, future plans and projects, and share ideas of plans that we can work on together.
The FWCC-COAL deeply thanks the local arrangements committee, who did an excellent job coordinating travel to the different Annual Meeting. They include: Jhoana Ramos, member of the Section’s Nominating Committee, (INELA Peru), Milena Villca, FWCC Executive Committee (Union Boliviana Amigos), Carmen Rosa Paye, (Bolivian Friends Union), Timoteo Choque and family (INELA-Bolivia), Agustina Callejas and family, (INELA Bolivia) Ruben Maydana (INELA Bolivia), and Florentino Ramos and family (INELA Peru). We appreciate and value their support.

Search for new General Secretary for the World Office

Gretchen Castle, FWCC General Secretary, steps down after eight years of service.

It’s with heavy hearts that we are sharing the news that Gretchen Castle, who has been FWCC’s General Secretary in the World Office in London since 2012, is stepping down.

Read Gretchen’s reflection on her time at FWCC to Friends worldwide.

Read the FWCC Clerk’s, letter of acknowledgement of Gretchen’s resignation.

To find the job description, and application process for the next General Secretary, see our General Secretary Search.

Young Adult Development fund applications due January 15

Applications to the Young Adult Development fund are due January 15 2020!

This Fund was created from Quaker Youth Pilgrimage monies, and the hope is that it will generate similarly powerful experiences of deep spiritual connection and encouragement for Young Adult Friends.

Please consider applying for events and projects that benefit and strengthen the network of Young Adult Friends around the world according to the objectives and requirements. This could include anything from running a Quaker leadership training course to planning a World Gathering of Young Friends (maybe connected to the next World Plenary Meeting in South Africa in 2023!). We have a preference for engaging in partnerships and for working across theological and cultural differences and across Sections.

In order for the application to be successful, it must meet the following objectives of the program:

  1. Deepening the religious experience of participants by challenging them to engage outside their known Quaker environments and appreciating different Quaker cultures.
  2. Training in Quaker processes and practice of taking on Quaker leadership roles – pastoral care, eldership, clerkship, etc.
  3. Sustaining and building community, fostering authentic friendships among participants. Encouraging Young Adult Friends to organise events that give them time to bond.
  4. Exploring theological differences that make up Quaker diversity. Encouraging engagement in formulating and articulating the evolving expression of Quaker faith for a new generation of Friends.
  5. Encouraging participation in the leadership of the home meeting/church and strengthening the impact of Young Adult Friends’ voices in their communities.

You can find the more information and the application online at: https://fwcc.world/areas-of-work/supporting-young-friends/young-adult-development-fund/