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Dear Reader I've just come back from Rochester, New York, where I had a delightful time "sub-ing" for Mary Glenn Hadley in one of her workshops with the Friends Meeting there. They are moving to a new location that will have ample room for their growing number of children and young families. The excitement in the air is palpable as they sense their way into a new vision for ministry that they are on the verge of articulating. Last October, Mary Glenn wrote about her work with FUM's revitalization program over last ten years. Despite many great experiences like mine in Rochester, she noted a "continuous decline" in membership among us this decade. This issue has two features that will be helpful to Friends as we face the reality of our many pockets of vitality in the midst of overall numerical decline. First, we have a number of "think" pieces about our calling as Christians and as the Friends denomination. Bruce Bishop poses the question, "Is God finished with Quakers?" If not, we need to know deeply why not. Jack Kirk, T. Canby Jones, Curt Shaw, Bruce Bishop and Del Coppinger all wrestle with the answer. I believe they all point to the same answer that I sensed in Rochester. In some unique way, Friends offer the rest of the church a way to give corporate expression to the experience of the living Word known inwardly in the heart. That experience is what makes Quakers distinct. It is a hidden pearl of great price. The second helpful feature in this issue is the FUM Triennial registration form. Here is an opportunity for all of you to come together to listen to God's call and to help shape our future. Will I see you in Williamsburg this July? Ben Richmond

3 Viewpoints 4 Remembering "The Doc" David Hadley Finke 6 What Does a Quaker Look Like? Jack Kirk 7 The Self-Emptying of Christ T. Canby Jones 8 Distinctly Embodying Christ On Friends Recovering the Gos-pel and Our Distinctive Call Curt Shaw 9 Poem: The Light Within Jack Daniels 10 Salt and Light: Bruce Bishop Is God Finished with Quakers? 11 Commitments: We need to talk Johan Maurer 12 News 14 News from Friends United Meeting 16 Focus on Ministry:Work-Study Comes to Tiriki Rich and Sandy Davis, Elly Kigunyi Lugwili, Hannington Atenya 18 Bible Study Anne Thomas 19 Turning Points Liz Keeney 20 Resources for Renewal: Let Me Baptize You, Just To Make Sure Del Coppinger 22 Poem: My Name Renee Crauder 24 Meeting Directory 28 Classifieds 30 Reviews & Releases 35 The Back Bench Stan Banker

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