Becoming Friends is now live!
paper pack
online version
what is Becoming Friends: Living &
learning with Quakers?
 an innovative learning project from Woodbrooke and
Quaker Life
 aims to support and nurture those who are new to
Friends
 helps newcomers develop an understanding of
Quakerism, while exploring their own journey and
connection with Friends
- whether or not they are currently considering applying
for membership.
two main elements:
 a flexible, interactive course, available
online and on paper
 a range of ways for Quaker meetings to
support newcomers as they learn - including
Becoming Friends ‘companions’
for newcomers:
 flexible learning materials, accessible online or on
paper
 options for working alone and with others
 a choice of learning units and activities to suit a wide
range of interests and learning styles
 the chance to work at your own pace and for as long as
suits you
 on-line discussion groups, resources and links
meetings can offer newcomers a Becoming
Friends ‘companion’ whose role is to:
 support newcomers working with the learning
materials
 help newcomers find out more about Quakerism
through sharing their own knowledge and experience,
and helping to arrange conversations and interactions
with other Friends
 help newcomers reflect on the learning process and
their own journey with Friends
 help newcomers feel more rooted in their local
meeting
for meetings
 guidance about working with the Becoming Friends
course
 a framework for identifying, preparing and supporting
Becoming Friends companions
 access to courses and a support network for Becoming
Friends companions
 well structured opportunities throughout the
Becoming Friends course for local Friends to engage
newcomers in conversation, discussion and reflection
feedback from our trials...
 “It made me talk to loads of other Friends...it gave me a
good excuse to do what I wanted to do anyway.”
 “Both of us ...learned so much through the Becoming
Friends project and felt the whole experience had been
a blessing.”
 "I’ve found things I’d like to do myself and I’m a Friend
of twenty five years’ experience. It’s stimulating stuff."
getting started with Becoming Friends
 the online course costs £5 per person to register.
Instructions for registering are at
www.woodbrooke.org.uk/becomingfriends
 the paper pack costs £10. You can order it from the
Quaker Centre bookshop at
www.quaker.org.uk/bookshop
email:bookshop@quaker.org.uk
phone: 020 7663 1030
to find out more...
 go to
www.woodbrooke.org.uk/becomingfriends
 pick up leaflets and guidance for meetings
from the Becoming Friends stall
the Becoming Friends course
an interactive, flexible learning
experience:
 experiential learning – true to the Quaker way
 aims to avoid just taking a “here’s a good book to
read” approach (but offers plenty of reading
suggestions too!)
 learners choose activities - so they learn in a way &
at a pace that suits their learning preferences & life
commitments
course activities
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reading
watching video extracts
listening to audio clips
taking part in conversations with Friends in local or
area meetings
online discussion forums & conversations
exploring Quaker & other websites
spiritual practices
reflection through conversation, writing & creative
media
sharing & support
Becoming Friends offers opportunities for newcomers
to speak to Friends about spiritual questions or issues
& share something of one another’s faith journeys:
 reflecting with a Becoming Friends companion
 talking to other Friends in the local area
 engaging with Quaker websites
 discussing issues in online forums
 meeting in a small learning group with other newcomers
or local Friends
a reflective journey
 participants will be invited at regular intervals through
the course to take time to reflect on what they are
learning, both about Quakerism & their own spiritual
journey
 this ‘reflective’ approach fits well with the Quaker
belief that experience is central to the spiritual life
course structure
 Opening Unit - introducing the course, meeting the
Becoming Friends companion & planning the path
 Choose any of 8 topic based units
 Closing Unit - reflecting on the learning, saying
goodbye to the Becoming Friends companion &
journeying on...
Speaking
of God
Faith in
Action
Deep
Roots and
New
Growth
Silence
and
Waiting
topic
units
Experiencing
Quaker
Community
Faithful
Diversity
The Sacred
in the
Everyday
Advices &
Queries
topic units have 3 types of activity
QUAKER
‘DISTINCTIVES’
DISCOVERING
DEEPENING
 distinctives
exploring the distinctive Quaker Way in relation to that topic
 discovering
finding out about some of the riches of the Quaker community
and tradition - more about Quaker people, structures, resources
& events
 deepening
opportunities for personal reflection & journaling, prayer or
spiritual practice & spiritual friendship conversations
each of these aspects of the learning process will feed
into the others
Becoming Friends companion
courses 2010
 14-16 May 2010
 19-21 July 2010
 1-3 October 2010
Woodbrooke
Woodbrooke
Swarthmoor Hall
When booking, please send a letter of support from your meeting.