The event took place in the worship room at Friends Center, bringing together worship leaders, city officials, healthcare workers, legal professionals, and community advocates. They joined together to address the impact of immigration enforcement on Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and communities. The event allowed attenders to learn what is happening and ways to take action. [Read more…] about One Philadelphia: A Community Meeting about Immigrant Rights & Concerns
Governance & Stewardship
An Invitation from The Friends Ending Gun Violence Collaborative
Are you interested in an opportunity to learn how to join Quakers in PYM working to bring an end to gun violence? [Read more…] about An Invitation from The Friends Ending Gun Violence Collaborative
PYM Welcomes New Programs and Religious Life Director and Incoming Chief Financial Officer
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting celebrates Simone Gellizeau, who has served as Director of Programs and Religious Life since January (pictured left), and welcomes David Park as the incoming Chief Financial Officer (pictured right). We appreciate the expertise, knowledge, and care they bring to their roles and anticipate their continued contributions within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.
Spring Continuing Sessions Afternoon Activities at Six Locations
Throughout Spring Continuing Sessions, Friends from across the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting region gathered in person and over Zoom to worship, conduct business, and share meals before engaging in afternoon programs focused on welcome, belonging, and Quaker process. Friends of all ages participated, some attending for PYM business for the first time, while others joined from long-standing roles in their meetings. The afternoons offered space for reflection, creativity, and connection, with common themes emerging across locations: the importance of listening deeply, meeting people where they are, and intentionally creating spaces of belonging. [Read more…] about Spring Continuing Sessions Afternoon Activities at Six Locations
Young Friends Get Loud (and Stretchy!) in a Workshop on Navigating Disagreements
During Spring Continuing Sessions, at Arch Street Meeting House, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Young Friends (grades 8–12) led an interactive, intergenerational workshop on navigating disagreement—using humor, movement, and thoughtful reflection. [Read more…] about Young Friends Get Loud (and Stretchy!) in a Workshop on Navigating Disagreements
Connected as Members One of Another Across Four States | All Together Worship
On Sunday, March 9th at 10:00am, members and attenders across the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting region will gather in worship, joining from meetinghouses, online, and wherever they are able to participate. All Together Worship is an opportunity for our intergenerational community to experience semi-programmed worship, held in as part of Spring Continuing Sessions. [Read more…] about Connected as Members One of Another Across Four States | All Together Worship
LGBTQIA+ Resources | PYM | Updated March 5th, 2025
Updated March 5, 2025
During Fall Continuing Sessions, Friends were provided with a minute from Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting standing in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ people. This minute, adapted from one shared by Germantown Monthly Meeting, connects to the ongoing threats to the safety and well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community and reaffirms the shared commitment to stand beside them.
Minute of Solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ Community
Below are a few provided resources that Friends may choose utilize, learn, and share when connecting with the LGBTQIA+ community members and Friends. The following resources were compiled by Karen Lightner of Germantown Monthly Meeting, There is hope that this list will continue to grow, if you have additional resources to share, we invite you to send them to communications@pym.org.
[Read more…] about LGBTQIA+ Resources | PYM | Updated March 5th, 2025
Honoring Black Quaker Legacies: A Celebration through Collage & Remembrance
On February 19th, PYM staff gathered in the Rufus Jones Room for a Meeting for Learning, with a focus on Black Quaker contributions. While Black History Month provides a moment to center these contributions, we recognize that the legacies of Black Quakers are essential to the ongoing story of Quakerism and deserve continuous reflection. After an initial discussion, we broke into small groups to create collages that highlighted the lives and impacts of individual Black Quakers, showcasing their enduring influence on both the Society of Friends and society at large.
[Read more…] about Honoring Black Quaker Legacies: A Celebration through Collage & Remembrance
Honoring Cheyney University Legacy and Deepening Quaker Connection
The 188th Founders’ Day celebration at Cheyney University brought together alumni, students, and guests to honor the school’s long history as the first HBCU in the country. Among those attending were Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s presiding clerk Nikki Mosgrove and general secretary Christie Duncan-Tessmer, who were guests at the event. The celebration included speeches, music, and reflections on Cheyney’s past and future. Throughout the event, speakers mentioned Cheyney’s Quaker roots, recognizing the role Quakers played in helping to establish the school and its focus on education and opportunity.
[Read more…] about Honoring Cheyney University Legacy and Deepening Quaker Connection
February 2025 | Joint Council Update
On Saturday, February 15, the three councils that support Philadelphia Yearly Meeting—Quaker Life Council, Administrative Council, and Nominating Council—held their meeting in a new joint format. In this structure, all three councils meet together as one Joint Council to worship, discern, and conduct business collaboratively. This allows the Joint Council to share the minutes in a news story with the PYM community in the week following the meeting.
The Joint Council approved the revision of the job description of the General Secretary. The document was recommended by the Search Committee, which sought input from the Personnel Committee and senior staff. The changes are slight and bring it up to date.
