Quakerism was, as we are sometimes told, a new social experiment. It was, too, a new attempt to organize a spiritual Christian fellowship like that which existed in the first century. But it was first of all the proclamation of an experience. The movement came to birth, and received its original power, through persons who were no less profoundly conscious of a divine presence than they were of a world in space, impinging on their sense.

Rufus Jones, "Social Law in the Spiritual World," (Philadelphia: 1904), p. 161.

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Announcements

ESR Takes Ministry to Latin America

The Earlham School of Religion is proud to announce its first class abroad, to be taught in Mexico from January 2-14, 2008. The course will combine students from ESR and Mexico, with lead instruction by ESR Associate Professor of Theology David Johns. The two-week program will cover what it means to be a Quaker in an experiential and cross-cultural context. Students will spend time in Victoria City and Mexico City for conversation, worship with Friends, and visits to important religious and cultural sites.

ESR Dean Jay Marshall stated, "Holding this class in Mexico is another important step for us. It represents our continued commitment to prepare students for ministry in a culturally diverse world, and it is another wonderful opportunity to build stronger relationships with Friends outside of the U.S. It is an exciting new development for us."

In addition, Susan Yanos, Director of the Mullen Ministry of Writing Program at ESR, will conduct a writers' workshop in Monteverde, Costa Rica, from January 24-27, 2008. Entitled "Writing as Ministry: Ways to Engage and Transform Readers," the workshop is another in a series of training sessions requested by Latin American Friends and underwritten by FWCC and its Committee of Latin American Friends (COAL). Meetings in Central America, Cuba, and Mexico are sending representatives to the January event. Professor David Johns will assist Susan in the workshop.

Writers Colloquium 2007

At Earlham School of Religion's 16^th annual Ministry of Writing Colloquium, Haven Kimmel's keynote address explored the connections between Quakerism and writing. "I thought a great deal about how, without my seminary education, I could never have written the three novels that compose the Hopwood County Trilogy," she said. "I thought about that, but more importantly, I thought about how a life spent in the Society of Friends uniquely prepared me to be a writer altogether."

Kimmel, an alum of ESR's Ministry of Writing Program, began her best-selling memoir A Girl Named Zippy while a student here. She has gone on to write another memoir, three novels, including the just released The Used World, and children's books. A young adult novel will be released within the next year.

Calling the novelist's encounter with the blank page or computer screen A Meeting for Writing, she argued that "I don't get to dictate what I'll be told, or even what I'll write. . .responding to the lure of God takes courage, and often that courage means sitting down and beginning."

"If I had to name the single greatest detriment to the writing process, and I'm talking about for myself and every other writer I've ever met—it's ego. If I had to name the single most corrupting force upon a document? Ego. The worst posture with which to begin, the most painful and immovable obstacle to Beauty, the voice that says what you've written is perfect just like it is and doesn't need editing: it is the hunger for attention and approbation that killeth, while the Spirit giveth life."

Joining Kimmel at the Colloquium as workshop presenters were leading Quaker Spirituality writers Brent Bill and Howard Macy, award-winning poet Maurice Manning, and editor Amy Lyles Wilson. Lil Copan from Paraclete Press and Katie Terrell from Friends United Press offered publication advice.

Approximately ninety people attended the October 26-27 weekend event which included a Friday evening reading by Bill, Kimmel, Macy, and Manning, and a Saturday evening coffee house with an open mic.

Next year's Colloquium is scheduled for October 24-25, with Robert Wicks as the keynote presenter.