West Newton Quakers


ABOUT WEST NEWTON QUAKERS



West Newton Quakers is a Religious Society of Friends (Quaker) fellowship that has been worshipping and serving God together since 1827. For many years, we had meetinghouses in Decatur Township, Marion County, Indiana. Now we gather on-line and have attendees from many places, including Indiana, Iowa, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Belize (seasonally), and more.

We are a gathering of people who believe in the early Quaker statement that we are to "walk cheerfully over the earth answering to that of God in every person." We are eager to learn what Christ has to teach us and to live that out. We experience deep life in the Spirit as we care about and for each other.

We meet for worship on-line via Zoom, with occasional in-person meetings for worship and meals together.

Our meeting for worship is what Quakers call semi-programmed. We have no pastor or liturgy. We members take turns leading worship on a week to week basis, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead us. We have music, we hear each others' joys and concerns, we pray for each other and for wider concerns, someone gives a brief meditation, and we spend time in silent worship listening for God to speak to our hearts and souls. In that portion of worship, we sit quietly expecting that God will speak directly to us as we put away the "stuff" of everyday life. Often God will speak to an attender (or more than one) who will then share that message with the rest of us. It's a wonderful, deep experience.

Worship is at 9:30 a.m.



about Quakers



What is Quaker Worship?

Friends usually gather in worship for about an hour on Sunday morning. We gather grounded in silent expectant waiting upon the presence of God. For the first half hour at West Newton Quakers, we have music, sharing of our joys and concerns, and brief message prepared by a member of the group. For the second half hour, we have open worship or "silent expectant waiting. " Any participant may feel led by the Holy Spirit to share a message and is welcome to speak out of the silence.


Children are welcome to join meeting for worship.


We warmly invite you to join this exciting experience of direct communion with God.


Do Quakers Have Sunday School?

At West Newton, adult religious education varies from week to week and has included book studies, Bible studies, and so on.


What do Quakers Believe?

Friends have no creeds--no official words can substitute for a personal relationship with God. The following unofficial statements will give a general sense of Quaker life and faith.

  • God is love and wants to communicate with anyone who is willing.
  • Worship is spiritual and must be Spirit-led.
  • All people are equal before God and may minister as they are led by God.
  • Jesus Christ is our present Teacher and we seek to conduct church affairs in unity under his guidance.
  • The Spirit of God gives guidance that is consistent with the Bible.
  • As people respond to the Christ within, their lives begin to reflect Jesus' peace, integrity, simplicity, and moral purity.


Are the "Quakers" different from the "Friends"?
No. "Quakers" is just a nickname for members of the Religious Society of Friends. The Friends movement began in mid-17th century England. The name "Friends" comes from Jesus statement, "I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." (John 15:15)

Do Quakers Believe in the Bible?
The Bible is our primary spiritual text. The scriptures are given for instruction, enlightenment and encouragement. When they are interpreted with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and an understanding of the historical context, they are a source of truth. We also understand that good Christians and good people can disagree about the interpretation of scriptures. We are determined not to let these differences of interpretation become a source of rancor among us or between us and other believers. We believe that anyone, regardless of their education level or giftedness, can be a good student of the Bible.

What are the "Quaker Testimonies"?
Friends believe that listening to Christ and following the leading of the inward Light will result in lives that look more like Jesus wanted us to live. The "testimonies" are the way that Friends have tried to corporately demonstrate God's power in helping us live well in this world. There is no definitive list of testimonies, but we often speak of:

  • peace
  • simplicity
  • truth speaking
  • gender and racial equality
  • personal integrity
  • community
  • looking for that of God in every person we meet

The testimonies often challenge aspects of contemporary culture. From the earliest days of the Quaker movement, Friends have tried to live nonviolently and many Friends have been conscientious objectors to participation in war. In the United States, Friends were among the first to denounce slave-holding and make freeing slaves a matter of church discipline. Friends have always practiced the equality of women and men. In contemporary society, Friends seek to find ways to live free from the dominant culture of materialism, violence, and immorality. There are no rigid, legalistic answers to these problems, but we seek to create communities of faith where individually and together we follow conscience fully informed by the Light of Christ.

Do Quakers Practice the Sacraments?
One of the crucial testimonies of Friends is that the grace of God can be received directly by any person without the need for any human intermediary such as priest or pastor. No outward ceremonies can substitute for the inward reality of these experiences.

  • Friends believe that Jesus Christ baptizes his followers directly with the Holy Spirit.
  • Friends also believe that it is important to live in daily, inward, communion with God.


What's with the Guy on the Oats Box? Do Quakers really Dress like That? Are Friends like the Amish?
The oats-box guy is "old hat" as far as quakers are concerned. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Friends wore what is called "plain dress" as a way of testifying against the vain fashions of the world. In the last hundred and more years, Friends have tried to maintain a simplicity of life without being legalistic about dress codes.

The Amish and the Friends are both Christian denominations, and both are "peace churches." However, they have different roots and different ways of faith and practice.