October began for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting with the announcement that Chris Mohr will serve as the next General Secretary. Friends have come to know his work through the years, and the announcement invites tenderness across community of Friends as PYM continues through a time of transition. Christie Duncan-Tessmer’s final weeks in the role brought thoughtful messages and shared gratitude for her service; the month closed with thanks that her leadership has shaped how Friends move together in faith.
Eco-Justice Collaborative
Resources from the Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak! Thread Gathering
During the Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak! Thread Gathering, Friends and organizations offered resources connected to their work and experience. Those who attended may find this a helpful way to revisit what was shared. Those who could not attend can begin here to access the same materials.
PYM Friends who have materials from the gathering are welcome to share them on PYM Connect so others can find and use them. [Read more…] about Resources from the Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak! Thread Gathering
Showing of Citizen George
Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak! Thread Gathering
Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak! Thread Gathering
Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 9:00am – 4:00pm
at Arch Street Meeting House and Zoom
Register Here
Friends are invited to join for a day of sharing, learning, and taking action together on the topic of climate witness. In the morning, we will hear a narrative from five Quaker bodies focused on climate action and their perspective on what we can do to help our earth:
- QAMAR (Quaker Action in the Mid-Atlantic Region) – Policy and Lobbying at State levels
- EQAT (Earth Quaker Action Team) - Direct Action – Finance
- CWS (Climate Witness Stewards) – PYM-wide action
- EJC (Eco-Justice Collaborative (of PYM)) - Action/Education
- QEW (Quaker Earthcare Witness) – National
After the morning program, participants will have a chance to participate in workshops aimed at providing resources, building your knowledge and your toolkit for action. All adult workshops are hybrid, so you can join in person or from home. You’ll get to pick two of the choices listed below!
Workshops
- What is Happening and What is Possible?
- Eco-Justice Collaborative and the Climate Witness Stewards are tracking the climate work in Monthly Meetings. There is an awesome mosaic of work, each piece different, beautiful and necessary. EJC and CWS will show how the Friendly Household Initiative and the PYM Climate Playbook can help each meeting create its own mosaic and move it into the wider community.
- Decarbonize Your Meetinghouse
- Wondering how you can lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint? In this workshop you’ll learn how to benchmark your building, reduce energy usage and carbon and save money in the process! Experts will provide practical guidance on the steps to improve your building and take advantage of federal and utility incentives to save money.
- Spiritual Climate Witness: Embracing Discernment and Collective Action
- Our Quaker practices can guide us in our work on behalf of the earth and each other. Drawing on stories of nonviolent direct action from the Earth Quaker Action Team and campaigns for economic democracy and more, this workshop will explore how discernment can help us act strategically to remove the pillars of power supporting climate destruction. A mixture of frameworks, personal reflection and playful practice will guide this experiential workshop supporting participants to find their next bold step.
- Clean Energy Policy Throwdown
- With the Trump administration reducing federal investment in clean energy, the center of climate action has shifted to state and local levels. Join Liz Robinson and Steve Loughin from Quaker Action Mid-Atlantic Region (QAMAR) to learn what’s happening across the PYM region and how you can help these efforts succeed.
- Quaker Earthcare Witness Mapping Project
- We’re not alone! Quakers all over the world are taking action on care for our earth. In this workshop, QEW will share inspiring stories, resources and even grant opportunities. There’s strength in numbers, so let’s get our meetings on the map!
- Youth Programming (in person only)
- Climate concern touches Friends of all ages. Children ages 5-12 are invited to join PYM youth staff for morning and afternoon workshops. Come learn about how you can make a difference at your meeting or school! We’ll have crafts, songs and tree planting!
Schedule of the Day
- 9:00 Arrivals and Refreshments
- 9:20 Program welcome and opening worship
- 9:30 Climate Witness: Let Our Actions Speak – a narrative sharing from five Quaker action bodies.
- 10:40 – Workshop Block 1
- 12:00 Brown Bag Lunch
- 1:00 Workshop Block 2
- 2:30 Closing worship and reflection
- 4:00 Farewell
