tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497531321890746707.post3211110874026154033..comments2024-01-31T15:10:55.111+00:00Comments on Transition Quaker: Two taboos? - leadership and followershipCraig Barnetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16201061939693242954noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497531321890746707.post-57534292282503661792016-10-23T15:00:04.254+01:002016-10-23T15:00:04.254+01:00Thank you, Ruth and Keith. I do indeed have a diff...Thank you, Ruth and Keith. I do indeed have a different response to yours, Keith; though if we were able to sit down together in person for a conversation we might find ourselves more in unity than words on in the internet make possible! With best wishes for the spiritual journeys ahead, John.John Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200584174452621155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497531321890746707.post-83205392077338592422016-10-18T05:28:59.824+01:002016-10-18T05:28:59.824+01:00Hello John and Craig,
There was a witness within ...Hello John and Craig,<br /><br />There was a witness within the early Quaker gathering that literally experienced the inshining immanent presence of the light of Christ itself in itself as the sole, sufficient, and complete, leader and guide in their conscience without regard for outward teachers and institutions. This witness was upheld, testified to, and documented in Roger Williams “The Christian Quaker …” published in 1680. This witness existed along-side the witness of other early Quakers like Fell, Penn, Barclay, and Fox who were professing the establishment of outward institutional forms and promoting deference to outward leadership as long as their leadership was of God. Those who promoted the institutionalisation of the gathering spoke of "keeping an eye to the brethren." which was to say, if your conscience is not in accord with the outward quaker teachings, follow us anyway until your conscience accords with ours. This was nothing short of idolatry to many early Quakers who testified to being led out of outward forms and teachings and that they would not be led back into that which God had led them out of.<br /><br />I am not in accord with your call for a reclaiming of and regard for outward leadership amongst those who can themselves Quaker. I share the different way proclaimed by many early and founding Quakers who looked only to the immanent inshining Light itself in itself as sufficient and complete in itself to rule, guide and teach Quakers specifically and people in general. The immanent inshining Light in my conscience teaches against a deference to outward leaders and institutional forms because such deference compromises the direct and unmediated rule of Christ by undermining the prerogative of the inshining Light of Christ to rule directly itself in itself in the conscience of people. <br /><br />I appreciate the inshining Light in your conscience may lead differently. I was merely led to share the Light in my conscience.<br /><br />I have published a online facsimile of William Rogers important primary historical document published in 1680. If you have not read it already and are interested.<br /><br />http://www.quakerquaker.org/profiles/blogs/online-version-of-william-rogers-1680-text-the-christian-quakerkfsaylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14180375154787300539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497531321890746707.post-89641863330929968972016-10-18T02:53:44.054+01:002016-10-18T02:53:44.054+01:00This is very timely and encouraging for me, thank ...This is very timely and encouraging for me, thank you John and Craig.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03875214007557756758noreply@blogger.com