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
Governance & Stewardship
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.
Faith Letter to Secretary Rubio on USAID and Foreign Aid
This letter, signed by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting and other faith groups across the country, asks Secretary of State Marco Rubio to bring back foreign aid programs, restart USAID, and reopen refugee resettlement. It shares concern that cutting these programs hurts people in need, damages U.S. leadership, and makes the world less safe.
Dear Secretary Rubio,
Congratulations on your confirmation as Secretary of State. This position comes with profound responsibilities, as you represent the United States to the rest of the world and are the highest-ranking member of the Presidential cabinet. Your efforts are especially important in an increasingly connected and interdependent world.
[Read more…] about Faith Letter to Secretary Rubio on USAID and Foreign Aid
Share the Story of Your Meeting in Response of the DHS Lawsuit
As Friends continue to worship, discern, and discuss PYM’s involvement in the lawsuit with the Department of Homeland Security, we encourage Friends, members, and attenders to connect with Christie Duncan-Tessmer, General Secretary of PYM, or Nikki Mosgrove, Presiding Clerk, with any questions or needs they have.
[Read more…] about Share the Story of Your Meeting in Response of the DHS Lawsuit
Key Points on the Quaker Suit Against the Department of Homeland Security
Below is essential information about the lawsuit. This may be helpful to Friends in PYM for their own understanding and for discussing the case with others, including local media.
[Read more…] about Key Points on the Quaker Suit Against the Department of Homeland Security
The PYM Library: An Opportunity for Community and Stewardship
The Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Library, formally known as the Henry J. Cadbury Library, has been an important part of our community since the 1970s, offering valuable resources for Friends and the wider community. It houses a collection of materials, including books by Quaker authors, resources addressing modern and historical issues, and items for spiritual growth and discernment. The library has served PYM as a hub for individuals and monthly meetings seeking to deepen their faith, strengthen their community, and engage in social witness.
[Read more…] about The PYM Library: An Opportunity for Community and Stewardship
January 2025 | Joint Council Update
At January’s council meeting, council members reflected on the “Joint Council Experiment”, the new format in which all three councils meet together with a single agenda. The councils have now met three times in this new format and Friends have begun to elucidate, in various ways, how the new format works & how they feel about it.
