Using this resource
There are many different 'ways in' to Being Friends Together:
- follow one of the ready-made pathways which offer linked learning sessions on a specific topic,
- search for a single learning session using keywords,
- You can also find any pathway, step, option or individual resource by searching for its catalogue number.
A brief discernment process
Being Friends Together offers a brief do-it-yourself discernment process to help your meeting identify:
- existing strengths, commitments and challenges
- a collective vision for future growth and development
Click here to go to the do-it-yourself discernment process
Ways of working
Here you'll find information and suggestions about ways of working together, including:
- guidance on facilitating a learning group,
- essential practical preparations you'll need to consider before you get started
- and guides to reflective group processes such as worship sharing.
To check out any of the ways of working section, click here.
How the resources are organised
The resources in Being Friends Together are organised within four core themes, and two additional themes.
The four core themes:
- growing as community together
- deepening the life of the Spirit together
- exploring our living tradition together
- being in the world together
Additional themes:
- Journeys in the Spirit: resources for working with children and young people
- Reading Quaker Faith and Practice: resources to support engaging with our Book of Discipline
There are several pathways within each theme. View or download a full list of pathways here.
Each pathway is made up of a number of linked steps designed to help you progress in your learning about the topic, with several options for learning activities at each step.
Searching for resources
To find what you're looking for, you have several options
- Explore the themes
This is the 'scenic route'. Think of this as entering through the library door and browsing the shelves. This is helpful if you want to get an overview of all the whole collection, although you might be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of resources available. To explore the themes, click here.
- A word search
A more direct route is to do a word-based search. You can use this approach to find sessions on anything from George Fox to contemplative prayer, from peace action to all age worship. Whether you want something for a one-off study group session or are planning to put together your own learning pathway of several linked sessions, this search will help you find something interesting! To search by keyword click here
Suggestions for word-based searches can be found in the keyword cloud below the search box.
- Catalogue numbers
Each pathway, step, session and individual resource has its own unique catalogue number, displayed in the top right corner
of the screen (and included in option titles). So, if you are looking for something that you have used before or following a
recommendation from a friend, you can also search by catalogue number.
Just type it into the search box.