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
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Friends Counseling Service: A Source of Support in Difficult Times
The Friends Counseling Service (FCS) is a program of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) that offers members and regular attenders professional counseling by licensed Quaker mental health professionals at a discounted rate. In times of stress and uncertainty, counseling can be a source of strength and support. [Read more…] about Friends Counseling Service: A Source of Support in Difficult Times
A Milestone in Our Commitment to Climate Change
The yearly meeting is dedicated to addressing climate change, acknowledging the urgency of this global crisis and our responsibility as a faith community to take action. As people of faith, seekers of truth, and stewards of Creation, we must take decisive steps to prevent further suffering and the destruction of our planet. Our spiritual values urge us to care for the Earth and its inhabitants, ensuring that future generations inherit a healthy, thriving, and sustainable world.
We aim to inspire and mobilize everyone involved with PYM to embrace this calling and actively work toward stopping the destruction of life on our sacred Earth. This is not merely an environmental issue but a moral and spiritual imperative that demands collective commitment, thoughtful action, and a willingness to challenge existing systems contributing to climate degradation.
Today, we celebrate a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts: officially signing a contract with The Stone House Group, engaging them as a consulting firm to assess our carbon footprint across all aspects of our operations, gatherings, and facilities. This partnership represents a crucial step in understanding the full impact of our activities on the environment and developing a clear, actionable strategy for reducing or eliminating our carbon emissions. The Stone House Group will provide expert guidance, data-driven insights, and practical recommendations to help us align our practices with our values of environmental stewardship.
This achievement is the result of dedicated efforts that began last year. A senior staff member drafted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify a qualified firm for this essential work. The finance office and climate change stewards reviewed the draft to ensure it aligned with our testimonies, climate commitments, and financial responsibilities. After researching potential firms, we sent the RFP to nine candidates. We received five proposals from this process, each offering unique perspectives and strategies for helping us achieve our climate goals.
The proposals underwent a review process to ensure a well-rounded and informed decision. They were evaluated internally and shared with stewards and other qualified individuals for additional feedback. A senior staff member then compiled the insights gathered from these reviews and submitted a formal recommendation to the General Secretary, who made the final selection.
This marks a significant step forward in our commitment to climate action, but it is just the beginning. As we move forward with The Stone House Group’s evaluation, we must remain engaged, proactive, and open to transformative change. Together, we will continue working toward a more sustainable future, grounded in faith, truth, and responsibility to our planet and all who depend on it.
Faith Communities Unite in Historic Declaration to Defend Refugees at Critical Crossroads for U.S. Policy | PYM
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting currently has a partnership with Church World Service, a national faith-based organization focused on just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. Church World Service recently issued The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge, a bold and urgent call to action from faith communities across the nation, which Philadelphia Yearly Meeting is a co-signer. [Read more…] about Faith Communities Unite in Historic Declaration to Defend Refugees at Critical Crossroads for U.S. Policy | PYM
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
Quaker Action Mid-Atlantic Region: A Call to Climate Witness | PYM Thread Gathering
The upcoming workshop, Clean Energy Policy Throwdown, will be one of the options at the Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak! Thread Gathering on March 22nd. Facilitated by Quaker Action Mid-Atlantic Region (QAMAR), it will give participants the opportunity to learn about clean energy policy efforts across the PYM region and how Friends can get involved to improve public policy at the state and local level. The workshop will also explore how climate action has shifted to state and local levels. [Read more…] about Quaker Action Mid-Atlantic Region: A Call to Climate Witness | PYM Thread Gathering
Judge Blocks ICE Enforcement In Houses of Worship | As Featured on Democracy Forward
Democracy Forward Filed Suit on Behalf of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Gurdwara Sahib West Sacramento, Six Quaker Yearly Meetings
Court’s Order Blocks Enforcement In Plaintiffs’ Houses of Worship
Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, the U.S. District Court of Maryland issued an order blocking the Trump administration’s policy that enables immigration officials to enter houses of worship indiscriminately to conduct immigration enforcement operations. The order, which outlines the ways in which the Trump administration policy is likely to violate religious freedom and expression rights, applies to Plaintiffs’ houses of worship.
