Friends in Berea

History of Friends in Berea:
A small group of Quakers has worshipped in Berea since the 1940s. In 1959, Berea Friends united with six other worshipping groups in a regional association. In 1970, the Berea Friends Meeting became a formal meeting within the newly formed Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA). Berea Friends Meeting is also affiliated with Friends General Conference, a national organization of unprogrammed meetings. The meeting and individual members are involved with a range of wider Quaker organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee, the Quaker Committee on Kentucky Legislation, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Locally, Berea Friends Meeting participates in the Berea Ministerial Association and Church Women United and has observer status with the Kentucky Council of Churches.
After many years of worshipping on the Berea College campus, Berea Friends moved to its current location on Silver Creek in 1993, and purchased the meetinghouse building in 2005.

Responsibility of Members:
All members of Berea Friends Meeting share responsibility for the work of the meeting. Each year individuals assume specific roles. Committees oversee meeting activities and coordinate meeting involvement in outward projects. The Ministry and Counsel committee, comprised of four or five Friends, is specifically responsible for tending to the spiritual life of the meeting and for pastoral care of members and attenders. Donations from members and friends cover the financial needs of the meeting and allow the meeting to contribute to a number of Quaker organizations and to a variety of peace and social justice projects.

Welcome to Our Meeting:
In addition to meeting for worship and activities on First Day (Sunday) mornings, the Berea Friends Meeting calendar includes a number of other opportunities for Friends to come together. As individuals and as a meeting, Berea Friends are involved in many activities that testify to our understanding of our responsibility as a faith community in the wider world. Attenders as well as members are welcome to take active roles in the life of Berea Friends Meeting. Please ask if you are interested in further information about these activities or about membership.

Whether you join us or journey with us, Berea Friends welcome you to our meeting and encourage you to listen and to respond to the loving word of the Spirit within your heart whenever and wherever it comes to you.