Friends in the World Today (2)

Tension points remain, however, for doctrinal differences range along the full theological spectrum, from fundamentalism to universalism, although often distinctions become blurred. In several yearly meetings there is a struggle to contain divergent beliefs and practices. Political differences often make spiritual unity difficult. This is particularly manifest in attitudes about public-affairs agencies and social concerns. In some ways the older churches find healing from the younger Quaker groups in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, which have encountered less polarity between doctrinal beliefs and social witness than those of Western civilization. As of 1987 half of the 300,000 Friends in the world are persons of non-European ethnic origin. Recently the greatest growth has occurred in Africa and Latin America.

In the United States most yearly meetings or associations belong to one of the following organizational structures:

Friends United Meeting, the largest, encompassing a broadly orthodox range of theology;

Friends General Conference, generally liberal in theology;

Conservative, the smallest of the group, representing the quietist legacy;

Evangelical Friends International, generally evangelical or fundamentalist in theology.

Such characterizations are incomplete; they cannot fully measure the life of the Spirit within these groups. They cannot measure obedience to the Light. But they do map some ways Friends perceive themselves and act upon their Christian heritage.