Richmond Declaration
Encyclopedia
The Richmond Declaration was made by 95 Quakers (representatives of all Orthodox Gurneyite Friends Yearly Meetings, representing the vast majority of the world's Quakers at the time) in September 1887, at a conference in Richmond, Indiana
. It was a declaration of faith, and although Quakers do not have a dogma
or creed
, the Richmond Declaration has been used as a standard by Orthodox (now represented by Friends United Meeting
) and Evangelical Quakers (represented by Evangelical Friends International
) ever since. The Declaration was "approved," "accepted," or "adopted" by the Orthodox Yearly Meetings of Indiana Yearly Meeting
, Western, New England, New York, Baltimore, North Carolina, Iowa, and Canada. Among Orthodox Gurneyite Friends in North America, only Ohio and Philadelphia yearly meetings did not so act. The Friends United Meeting
General Board reaffirmed the declaration as a statement of faith in February 2007. The Declaration appears in most books of discipline of Evangelical and Friends United Meeting yearly meetings.
The declaration states, among other things, that the holy scriptures (i.e. the Bible
) were a greater authority than the inner light
; this emphasis is something that many yearly meetings of Quakers do not agree upon, yet it remains a defining aspect of the successors to the Orthodox branch.
argues that, among other problems, the Declaration never represented most Friends and that it has prompted an unfortunate division in the Society.
Though it was primarily written by a British Friend, J. Bevan Braithwaite, Britain Yearly Meeting
(then called London Yearly Meeting) rejected the proposal that it be adopted. The Richmond Declaration was one factor leading to a sharp doctrinal turn for London Yearly Meeting in 1895.
The Declaration is not accepted as a statement of faith by Friends General Conference
or Beanite Quakerism
in North America, or by most "unprogrammed" Friends in the rest of the world.
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
. It was a declaration of faith, and although Quakers do not have a dogma
Dogma
Dogma is the established belief or doctrine held by a religion, or a particular group or organization. It is authoritative and not to be disputed, doubted, or diverged from, by the practitioners or believers...
or creed
Creed
A creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...
, the Richmond Declaration has been used as a standard by Orthodox (now represented by Friends United Meeting
Friends United Meeting
Friends United Meeting is an association of twenty-six yearly meetings of the Religious Society of Friends in North America, Africa, and the Caribbean. In addition there are several individual Monthly meetings and organizations that are members of FUM...
) and Evangelical Quakers (represented by Evangelical Friends International
Evangelical Friends International
Evangelical Friends Church International is a branch of Quaker yearly meetings around the world that profess evangelical Christian beliefs.- History :...
) ever since. The Declaration was "approved," "accepted," or "adopted" by the Orthodox Yearly Meetings of Indiana Yearly Meeting
Indiana Yearly Meeting
Indiana Yearly Meeting is a Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. Indiana Yearly Meeting was established in 1821 and originally included all Friends west of the Scioto River, in Ohio, and Friends in Indiana and Illinois. The Yearly Meeting met for most of its history in...
, Western, New England, New York, Baltimore, North Carolina, Iowa, and Canada. Among Orthodox Gurneyite Friends in North America, only Ohio and Philadelphia yearly meetings did not so act. The Friends United Meeting
Friends United Meeting
Friends United Meeting is an association of twenty-six yearly meetings of the Religious Society of Friends in North America, Africa, and the Caribbean. In addition there are several individual Monthly meetings and organizations that are members of FUM...
General Board reaffirmed the declaration as a statement of faith in February 2007. The Declaration appears in most books of discipline of Evangelical and Friends United Meeting yearly meetings.
The declaration states, among other things, that the holy scriptures (i.e. the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
) were a greater authority than the inner light
Inner light
Inner Light is a concept which many Quakers, members of the Religious Society of Friends, use to express their conscience, faith and beliefs. Each Quaker has a different idea of what they mean by "inner light", and this also varies internationally between Yearly Meetings, but the idea is often...
; this emphasis is something that many yearly meetings of Quakers do not agree upon, yet it remains a defining aspect of the successors to the Orthodox branch.
- "It has ever been, and still is, the belief of the Society of Friends that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God; that, therefore, there can be no appeal from them to any other authority whatsoever; that they are able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Jesus Christ."
Criticism
Some Quakers have a negative view of the Richmond Declaration. For example, Chuck FagerChuck Fager
Charles Eugene Fager , known as Chuck Fager, is an American activist, an author, an editor, a publisher and an outspoken and prominent member of the Religious Society of Friends. He is known for his work in both the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and in the Peace movement...
argues that, among other problems, the Declaration never represented most Friends and that it has prompted an unfortunate division in the Society.
Though it was primarily written by a British Friend, J. Bevan Braithwaite, Britain Yearly Meeting
Britain Yearly Meeting
The Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, also known as Britain Yearly Meeting , is a religious organisation in England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, often defined as a denomination of Christianity.It is a part of the international religious...
(then called London Yearly Meeting) rejected the proposal that it be adopted. The Richmond Declaration was one factor leading to a sharp doctrinal turn for London Yearly Meeting in 1895.
The Declaration is not accepted as a statement of faith by Friends General Conference
Friends General Conference
Friends General Conference is a North American Quaker organization primarily serving the Quaker yearly and monthly meetings in the United States and Canada that choose to be members...
or Beanite Quakerism
Beanite Quakerism
Beanite Quakerism refers to the independent tradition of Quakerism started by Quaker ministers Joel and Hannah Bean in the western United States in the late 19th century, and in a more specific sense refers to the three Western yearly meetings that spring from that tradition.The Beans were...
in North America, or by most "unprogrammed" Friends in the rest of the world.
External links
- Richmond Declaration according to Quakerinfo.com