Quaker meetings are open to all. While many Friends consider themselves to be Christians, there is no doctrine that defines Quakerism. There are non-theist Friends. And spiritual seekers from many different faith traditions have found their way to a Meeting for Worship and enjoyed the stillness and the wonder of it.
There is no doctrine in Quakerism, but we have six testimonies that guide us: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship. Our S.P.I.C.E.S.! We also live into the charge from our spiritual ancestor, George Fox, who said “Walk cheerfully across the world, answering that which is of God in everyone!” Though we agree to disagree on our definitions of “God,” all Friends believe that there is that of “God” in everyone.
The Gainesville Quaker meeting is officially known as the Gainesville Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends. (“Monthly” because we have monthly business meetings). We have affiliations with other Quakers in Florida, and across North America, as well as collaborations with local faith groups in Gainesville. Within our Meeting we operate as a community, where we make decisions together and volunteer on committees to take care of each other, our Meetinghouse, and the work we are called to do in the world.
