Quakers

==Worship==
{{See also|Meeting for worship}}
Most groups of Quakers meet for regular worship. There are two main types of worship worldwide: programmed worship and waiting worship.

===Programmed worship===
{{See also|Friends United Meeting|Evangelical Friends Church International|Central Yearly Meeting of Friends|}}
[[File:West Mansfield Friends Church.jpg|alt=|thumb|right|West Mansfield Friends Church, Ohio, affiliated with the [[Evangelical Friends Church International]]]]
In ''programmed worship'' there is often a prepared Biblical message, which may be delivered by an individual with theological training from a Bible College. There may be hymns, a sermon, Bible readings, joint prayers and a period of silent worship. The worship resembles the [[church service]]s of other [[Protestant]] denominations, although in most cases does not include the Eucharist. A paid pastor may be responsible for [[pastoral care]]. Worship of this kind is celebrated by about 89% of Friends worldwide.<ref name=QWRC-intro/>{{rp |page=5–6}} It is found in many Yearly Meetings in Africa, Asia and parts of the US (central and southern), and is common in programmed meetings affiliated to [[Friends United Meeting]], (who make up around 49% of worldwide membership<ref name=QWRC-intro/>{{rp |page=5}}), and evangelical meetings, including those affiliated to [[Evangelical Friends International]], (who make up at least 40% of Friends worldwide.<ref name=QWRC-intro/>{{rp |page=5–6}}) The religious event is sometimes called a Quaker [[meeting for worship]] or sometimes a Friends church service. This tradition arose among Friends in the United States in the 19th century, and in response to many converts to Christian Quakerism during the national [[Great awakening|spiritual revival]] of the time. Friends meetings in Africa and Latin America were generally started by Orthodox Friends from programmed elements of the Society, so that most African and Latin American Friends worship in a programmed style.

Some Friends hold Semi-Programmed Worship, which brings programmed elements such as hymns and readings into an otherwise unprogrammed service of worship.

===Unprogrammed worship===
{{See also|Conservative Friends|Friends General Conference|Britain Yearly Meeting|Beanite Quakerism|}}
{{external media |float=right |headerimage=[[File:Race Street Friends Meeting House, Race Street west of Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA HABS PA-6687-13.jpg |frameless]] |video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxjH4sa2RFI What to Expect in Quaker Meeting for Worship], QuakerSpeak<ref name="qs">{{Cite web |title=What to Expect in Quaker Meeting for Worship |publisher=QuakerSpeak |date=20 November 2014 |url=http://quakerspeak.com/what-to-expect-quaker-meeting-worship/ |access-date=25 April 2016}}</ref>}}

''Unprogrammed worship'' (also known as ''waiting worship'', ''silent worship'', or ''holy communion in the manner of Friends'') rests on the practices of George Fox and early Friends, who based their beliefs and practices on their interpretation of how early Christians worshipped God their Heavenly Father. Friends gather together in "expectant waiting upon God" to experience his still small voice leading them from within. There is no plan on how the meeting will proceed, and practice varies widely between Meetings and individual worship services. Friends believe that God plans what will happen, with his spirit leading people to speak. A participant who feels led to speak will stand and share a spoken ministry in front of others. When this happens, Quakers believe that the spirit of God is speaking through the speaker. After someone has spoken, it is customary to allow a few minutes to pass in silence for reflection on what was said, before further vocal ministry is given. Sometimes a meeting is quite silent, sometimes many speak. These meetings lasted for several hours in George Fox's day. Modern meetings are often limited to an hour, ending when two people (usually the [[Elder (Christianity)#Quakers (Religious Society of Friends)|elders]]) exchange the [[sign of peace]] by a [[handshake]]. This handshake is often shared by the others. This style of worship is the norm in Britain, Ireland, the continent of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, Canada, and parts of the United States (particularly yearly meetings associated with [[Friends General Conference]] and [[Beanite Quakerism]])—constituting about 11%<ref name=QWRC-intro/>{{rp|5}} of Quakers. Those who worship in this way hold each person to be equal before God and capable of knowing [[Light of the World|the light]] of God directly. Anyone present may speak if feeling led to do so. Traditionally, [[Recorded Minister]]s were recognised for their particular gift in vocal ministry. This practice continues among ''Conservative'' Friends and ''Liberal Friends'' (e.g. [[New York Yearly Meeting]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=New York Yearly Meeting |title=Formal Guidelines from New York Yearly Meeting's Faith and Practice |url=http://www.nyym.org/index.php?q=node/252}}</ref>), but many meetings where Liberal Friends predominate abolished this practice. [[London Yearly Meeting]] of Friends abolished the acknowledging and recording of [[Recorded Minister]]s in 1924.