Bethesda Friends Meeting - Adult Programs

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Adult Religious Education Programs

ARE Sessions in 2025-2026

BFM holds a variety of information and discussion programs several times a month (in-person, via Zoom, and hybrid). They are open to all attenders and visitors.

BFM Social Justice Programs are an outgrowth of our focus on examining racial justice in our own meeting, engaging in meaningful ways with our local neighborhoods, and having in-depth conversations on our personal progress as we grow to understand ourselves and each other.

Adult Religious Education Programs are arranged by Committees or Coordinators who hope to engage and deepen our knowledge and understanding of Quaker values and our own spiritual practice.

For Upcoming Programs, you can review our Events calendar and our weekly Bulletin schedule.

Please use the Contact Us form for questions or to request a Zoom link.
Child Care can be provided for in-person sessions if parents can give us a week's notice.

Adult Religious Education (ARE) sessions 2025-2026

January 12, 2025: Worship sharing on a query about Meeting for Worship – how can we create a a worship space where all feel welcomed, respected, and nurtured?

March 3, 2025: Quaker dialogue on how we are responding to the face-paced developments in the news: How can we remain spiritually grounded? What is ours to do?

April 13, 2025: Getting to Know You session (gathering for newcomers with members and attenders who have been at Bethesda Friends Meeting for a while; informal chance to ask questions and share thoughts about Meeting for Worship, and Quaker faith and practice)

July 20, 2025: Spiritual Coffee House (sharing music, poetry, art - whether original or not – that speaks our spirit)

September 14, 2025: Workshop on vocal ministry with Amy Schmaljohn – an opportunity to reflect on what makes vocal ministry different from the kinds of things we might share in another space, and to reflect on what leads to spirit-led vocal ministry.

November 9, 2025, and December 14, 2025: Two sessions with the title “Reparations and Quaker History with Racism.” An opportunity to study and reflect on Quaker history with racism and how we as Quakers might consider reparations currently. The November session was led by Eric Sterling; the December session was led by Sherry Holland.

January – February 2026: Introduction to Quaker Faith and Practice (6-session course)

March 8, 2026: Worship sharing on understanding and empathy for transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive friends, led by Daniella Carnes of Friends Meeting of Washington (sponsored by the Peace and Social Justice Committee)

May 3, 2026: Workshop on “The Power of Enough,” led by Traci Hjelt Sulllivan, Executive Director of Right Sharing of World Resources (sponsored by Peace and Social Justice Committee)

May 10, 2026: “Answering the Call of Radical Faithfulness,” based on Steve Chase’s pamphlet of that name; an opportunity to share what it means for us to show up as Quakers during these times.

May 24, 2026: End of Life issues. A workshop and discussion with Patricia Nesbitt, one of the authors of the book A Tender Time: Quaker Voices at the End of Life (sponsored by Pastoral Care)

June 7, 2026: Talk by Morgan Cooper Totah, of the West Bank, on the situation in the West Bank. Also an opportunity to hear about her work with Handmade Palestine, and to buy items from Handmade Palestine.

August 2, 2026: Spiritual Coffee House (sharing music, poetry, art - whether original or not – that speaks to our spirits)

Other education sessions in 2026

The Comparative Religions class: Meets weekly to discuss a Great Books video lecture series, for example Sacred Texts from around the world and through history, various ancient philosophies, and beliefs and scriptures of various religions and faiths.
The Quaker Book Group meets monthly to read a mix of books by Quakers, books about Quakerism, and books that speak to Quaker values and concerns. They share book summaries via an online mailing list.
Community Gatherings: After worship on various Sundays in 2026, folks met to speak freely and encourage one another to support the basic values of democracy. This sharing helped us outside of our regular worship hour to share on a more verbal level.

Introduction to Quaker Faith and Practice

January – February 2026

Sessions and readings

Note to participants – the readings, especially in “Exploring Quakerism” are very short; some chapters are 2-3 pages. Please don’t be intimidated by what sound like a lot of readings – they won’t take much time.

1. January 11, 2026: Introduction to Quaker faith and practice

Facilitators: Stephanie Koenig

Readings: “Exploring Quakerism” by Marsha Holliday, chapters 1 and 2;

Letters to a Fellow Seeker by Steve Chase, Introduction and Letter 1;

Faith and Practice, Vision Statement and Introductory Statement

Query for the group: What brought you to Quakerism? What keeps you coming?

2. January 18, 2026: Seekers and Finders – the early Quaker movement and the experiences that defined Quaker faith and practice

Facilitators: Margaret Benefiel and Georgianna Ziegler

Query for the group: Are there things about the experience of early Friends that speak to you?

3. January 25, 2026: Quaker Worship and Vocal Ministry

Facilitators: Stephanie Koenig and Michael Wallace

Readings: “Exploring Quakerism” chapters 3 and 4;

Letters to a Fellow Seeker, Letters 3 and 4; also review Letter 1, bottom of page 3 to top of page 5

Query for the group: What has been your experience of Quaker worship? Have you had a range of experiences? Do you have questions?

4. February 8, 2026: Quaker Faith, the Testimonies, and Social Justice

Facilitators: Bernie Benson and Alex Bell

Readings: “Exploring Quakerism” chapters 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12;

Letters to a Fellow Seeker, Letters 5 and 6

Faith and Practice: chapter 6, “Early Quaker Testimonies

Query for the group: Have you been inspired by your faith or your beliefs to be engaged in any social justice actions? If so, how does your faith sustain you? Which testimony feels most challenging to you in your life now?

5. February 15, 2026: Are Quakers Christian, Universalist, or both?

Facilitators: Stephanie Koenig and Jonathan Kennedy

Readings: Letters to a Fellow Seeker, Letter 2

Query for the group: What was the religious orientation of your childhood, and how did it shape you?

6. February 22, 2026: Quaker Process – Meetings for Business, reaching unity committees, membership

Facilitator: Margaret Plank

Readings: “Exploring Quakerism,” chapters 13 and 14

Query for the group: How do Quaker decision-making processes reflect the principles of Quaker faith?

The Quaker Testimonies

Testimony	Early Quakers	In Worship	My Life Today
*Simplicity* - Learning to discern the essential from the non-essential.	Simple, living, clothing, speech, possessions, homes, worship	Simple sacred worship space, wooden benches, no statues or music, no icons, vestments, or rituals.
*Peace* - Living in a spirit that takes away the occasion for all war. Peace between nations, races, religions, social classes, neighbors, families, and within oneself.	Letter to King Charles II in 1660, which begins: “We utterly deny all outward wars strife and fighting with outward weapons, for any end or under any pretense whatsoever.”	We sit and listen in peaceful silence.
*Integrity* - Being who we truly are and truly meaning what we say, being authentic and having consistency between one’s values and one’s actions. Integrity as wholeness - the integration of all our parts. Let your life speak.	Friends did not take oaths when appearing in a court of law, rejecting the idea that there is one standard of truth for daily living and another for the court. They practice fairness in business dealings.	We speak from our deepest beliefs, knowing that messages come from the spirit and there is continuing revelation.
*Community* - Knowing that we need one another in order to be whole.	Early Friends community provided a place for individual members to look for wisdom and support. Early Friends relied on their community to provide for the families whose bread-winners were imprisoned for their beliefs.	We gather in silence to worship, we are collectively seeking the will of God, rather than meditating individually.
*Equality* - Knowing that everyone, everywhere is equally precious to God and have equal access to the “Inner Light.” This includes people of all ages, abilities, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, races, ethnicities, and levels of resources.	Early Quakers, recognized the equal spiritual authority of women, refused to use forms of address that recognized social distinctions, supported religious freedom, and worked to abolish slavery. They did not bow or tip their hats.	We have no clergy, and no formal hierarchy. Messages from elder and newcomer, young and old are all considered with the same openness to the spirit. That of God is in everyone.
*Stewardship* - Caring for the earth and use of time, natural and financial resources wisely, not wastefully.	New testimony based on peace and simplicity. Environment, natural resources, energy, money, labor and talents.	We are stewards of each other and the community. We consider the use of resources, energy, time, money.	Reduce, reuse, recycle
*Other personal Testimonies*			Write, paint, become a vegetarian.

Past programs and events sponsored by BFM committees

2025

Quakers, race, & reparations. A two-session series sponsored by BFM Ad Hoc Committee on Financial Reparations to further our ongoing efforts to more deeply understand racism and to stretch ourselves as a loving community: to think, feel, process, and learn together by looking at the complex legacy of our Quaker forebears as we build a sense of the Beloved Community among us. The series focused on the Pendle Hill pamphlet entitled “Hypocrisy, Racism, and Self-Interest on the Path to Reparations: Quaker Complicity with Slavery (1657-1776) and White Supremacy” by Mary Watkins.
Quaker Dialogue re: Responding to Current Events: Ministry & Worship and Pastoral Care sponsored a Quaker dialogue on how we are responding to the fast-paced developments in the news. A Quaker dialogue is different from a general discussion, as it begins with settling into silence and being open to the guidance of Spirit. From that place, we reflect on one or two queries.
Sandwich Making for Bethesda Cares: Outreach & Communication (O&C) Committee sponsored making 150 sandwiches for Bethesda Cares soup kitchen, located just blocks from our meeting house, to help us make a difference in our community!
The Comparative Religions class watched and discussed a video lecture survey of Christianity from its Jewish roots to modern times by Professor Luke Timothy Johnson through The Great Courses. The lectures included, What Christians Believe; The Church and Sacraments; Moral Teaching; The Radical Edge; and Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant. Later lectures were Christianity and Politics; Christianity and Culture; and Tensions and Possibilities.

Bethesda Friends Meeting

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30152, Bethesda MD 20824

Our Meetinghouse is on the campus of the Sidwell Friends Lower School at the intersection of Edgemoor Lane and Beverly Road in Bethesda, Maryland

We are a member organization of the Religious Society of Friends

www.bethesdafriends.org
301-986-8681
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