Who We Are

Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is one of the oldest yearly meetings of the Religious Society of Friends in the United States.   Our meetings are predominantly unprogrammed, which means that we emphasize the authority of the divine Inward Light as revealed to us through patient waiting for and discernment of the divine Spirit in corporate worship.  Our membership contains both those who identify themselves as Christians as well as many who identify more closely with 'universalist' identity.

Our Faith Community is comprised of over one hundred local Meeting communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, all of Delaware and Eastern Maryland. We practice "unprogrammed" Quaker worship. That is we gather together in silent worship to wait on the word of God.  We do not make use of a paid clergy or sacramental rituals.  Many Friends give their time and resources to promote peace, understanding, justice and integrity.

• Monthly Meetings - Weekly worship at local congregations.  They are referred to as Monthly Meetings because they normally hold one "business meeting" each month to discuss and consider issues in the life of the meeting including spiritual matters, community interests, work of committees, finances, property, etc.   There are usually a number of committees that bring forward recommendations and take care of work that the Meeting is undertaking.
  
  A unique aspect of the conduct of Quaker "business" is that it is done with attention to discernment of the divine spirit and loving concern for the community of seekers that comprise the meeting and the world.  Quaker decision-making is a unique process called "Sense of the Meeting"  that incorporates openness to God's divine guidance, attention to the discernment of truth and loving care for one another.   Truth may be found in many places, some naturally evident and others hidden unless we are open to the hidden revelation that may come from anyone.  Sense of the Meeting (also called Unity)  is arrived at through this process, not through secular processes such as consensus, unanimity, directives or by vote.

• Quarterly Meetings - Gatherings of members and attenders of Monthly Meetings that are geographically close to one another. These meetings include worship, fellowship and business and are usually held four times each year, thus the name "Quarterly Meeting".   Some Quarters are more formally organized  with committees and in some cases have a part-time or full-time coordinator.  Other Quarters gather simply for worship and fellowship. In both cases the emphasis is on participating in worship and fellowship together as part of the larger Quaker faith community.
• Yearly Meeting - Annual gathering of people from all the Monthly Meetings within a larger geographical region, as well as visitors from other Yearly Meetings.  Philadelphia Yearly Meeting comprises 103 monthly meetings that are located generally in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern half of New Jersey,  the state of Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland.   Philadelphia Yearly Meeting has a year round organization of committees and working groups (supplemented by a small paid staff) who conduct the work of the Yearly Meeting between Annual Sessions.

We joyfully invite and welcome all seekers to join us in worship.  Search for a local Monthly Meeting.