Perhaps the most significant publication you will come across is ‘Quaker Faith & Practice’, which is like a Quaker handbook. It contains all the rules & regulations about how the Society of Friends actually operates, as well as a large collection of experiences, thoughts and ministries written by Quakers over the past 350 years.
These ministries are grouped under various headings to help you find out Friends’ views on numerous topics & guidance over the years. Most importantly ‘Quaker Faith & Practice’ includes, at the very front of the book, the ‘Advices & Queries’, a collection of pieces of advice, or questions we should ask ourselves about how we lead our lives. They are challenging and inspiring and are the nearest thing Quakers have to a ‘doctrine’. This first section is also published as a separate, pocket sized, booklet.
‘The Friend’ is an independent weekly Quaker magazine containing news of Friends’ activities, opinions, theological debate and letters. Usually there are spare copies at Local Meetings, or you may choose to subscribe. https://thefriend.org
‘The Friends’ Quarterly’ is weightier, with in-depth articles by experts about aspects of Quakerism. https://thefriend.org/magazine/tfq
‘The Northern Quaker’ is published by North Scotland Area Meeting four times a year, and will give you a general view of North Scotland Meetings with reports and articles.
‘The Scottish Friend’ covers all of Scotland, and is published quarterly by Britain Yearly Meeting. It can be found on General Meeting for Scotland’s website at https://www.quakerscotland.org/general-meeting/newsletters
‘Quaker News’ is a free paper, available three times a year from Local Meetings and online at https://quaker.org.uk/resources/newsletters/quaker-news, telling what Britain Yearly Meeting does on behalf of Quakers in Britain.
Check out https://www.quaker.org.uk/resources/newsletters for monthly up-dates such as ‘Quake!’ for all Quakers in Britain. ‘Quaker Faith in Action’ gives news of Quaker Peace and Social Change. You can read past newsletters and sign up for updates on the website.
‘CIRcular’ is a once a year newsletter produced by the Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) about ecumenical and interfaith work. You can find it online at https://www.quaker.org.uk/resources/newsletters/circular
Additionally, ask your Meeting Librarian if the Meeting has copies of the ‘Swarthmore Lectures‘, published each year. The Librarian may be able to recommend some of the many books on Quakerism that might interest you. These interpret the Quaker message and mission, highlighting the spirit, the aims and the fundamental principles of the Society of Friends.
Valerie Weir, Inverness Local Meeting