Compliments from a Methodist, Steve Wild, writing in the Methodist Recorder. Steve is about to leave his post of director of evangelism at Cliff College and in a farewell article he commends the Quaker way of welcoming newcomers. Apparently Steve’s wife Laura, who has an Anglican background, visited a l ocal Meeting and was immediately greeted by an ‘accompanying Friend’, who explained all and afterwards at coffee introduced her to other Friends. ‘We discovered later this was a strategy’, writes Steve. Later on Laura encountered a ‘nurturing friend’, and further still, a ‘spiritual friend’. Of course, some people might not have welcomed all this attention but the Wilds obviously did. ‘I have been deeply impressed with this system’, says Steve, ‘I don’t know how widespread it is in Quaker meetings, but it worked for my Laura.’
We’re also making a hit with the Baptists. The interview our newshound Oliver Robertson had with Jessica Kellgren-Hayes, the young Friend who is an aspiring model (4 July), has been reprinted in The Baptist Times (10 July, p16). Oliver, of course, is in the United States at the moment, taking a look at American Quakerism in all its different guises. He has been sending Eye little vignettes as he encounters new world Friends. American enthusiasm appeals to Oliver – he met one FUM staffer who absolutely loves our Faith & Practice book and quotes it at every opportunity. Another Friend eulogised anti-bacterial soap and gave thanks for its appearance at the triennial.
Oliver was lucky enough to spot the largest chest of drawers (left) in the US on his travels. Note the sock spilling out of the centre and the sign (for scale) on the right.

Labels: kellgren-hayes, methodist, oliver, steve, wilds