A discussion on Quakerism as an educational institution featured five panelists at New Garden Friends Meeting April 5.
The panel was organized by the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program (QLSP), the Initiative on Faith and Practice, the Friends Center, the Office of the President, and members of the Speakers and Programs Committee in hopes that the discussion would raise questions about the future role of Quakerism at Guilford.
The panelists included guest speakers Tom Hamm and Tom Farquhar. Kathy Coe, Adrienne Israel, and Jim Hood represented various departments of the Guilford administration.
Moderator Mary Ellen Chijioke gave introductions for the panel members and illustrated how their personal experience would shape the discussion
In particular, Tom Hamm, Elon’s well-known historian of Quakerism, and Tom Farquar, a leading Quaker educator and administrator, added alternative perceptions to the three other Guilford administrator panelists.
“One of the important aspects of the event was the involvement of so many different levels of the Guilford community,” said sophomore Quaker Stephen Dotson. ‘Trustees, faculty, administrators – including the President – Quaker students and non-Quaker students. It was successful because it really was a community forum.”
In opening, the entire room fell into silence in the Quaker tradition. After introductions, a question-answer session ensued.
The Speakers and Programs Committee first decided to have a forum on Guilford’s identity as a Quaker institution in August 2002. Two years later it was the April 5 discussion that quenched that need.
“The discussion was particularly important in light of the numerous changes involving Guilford – such as a new president, intent to enlarge the student population, and intent to enlarge educational resources,” said Dotson.
“It’s fortuitous that this QLSP-generated discussion came at a time when SLRP is asking the college to consider its identity more broadly,” said Scott Pierce Coleman, Director of QLSP.
The Strategic Long-Range Planning (SLRP) Committee released a second draft of its initiative for Guilford as an educational institution on April 1.
As the panelists debated the future emphasis of Quakerism at Guilford, the audience asked how to keep the Quaker tradition alive – concerns formed perhaps by the changes associated with SLRP.
Issues addressed ranged from the crisis in valuable Quaker leaders, to Quaker decision-making, to Guilford plans to remain Quaker-affiliated.
In that Guilford never has been declared a “Quaker school,” recent changes actually show new initiative in keeping its Quaker identity. This can be seen in the newly instated sign at Guilford’s main entrance, “Founded in 1837 by the Society of Friends.”
The discussion led to a debate on whether Guilford should be considered a religious school and the negative connotations that might have for prospective students.
The conclusion of the panel discussion was followed by questions about the role of non-Quaker students at a Quaker institution.
“The non-Quakers at a Quaker school are the best defenders of (Quaker) core values, and Quakers are the best critics,” said Farquar.
The fundamental values of Quakerism nurture the decision-making of Guilford in silence, peace, integrity, community, and equality, said Kathy Coe, Guilford trustee and Quaker minister. These values are important to the way Guilford operates as a Quaker school.
“The process of being student-orientated is the process of a Quaker school,” said Adrienne Israel, Academic Dean, the only non-Quaker on the panel.