Douglas Steere
Bibliography
Pendle Hill Pamphlet #10, 1940

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Douglas Steere considers two important components of Quaker meetings: how to build a sense of community; and the work that goes on in Meeting for Worship. He gives us first a review of different religious communities in the world at large, and then focuses on the particular characteristics of the Quaker fellowship. "When the members of a fellowship know one another, care for one another, visit one another in their homes, consult one another, hold one another up in the silence and feel responsibility before God for one another, then when they meet together for worship they are truly open as a corporate group for the deepest working of the Spirit."

In line with that approach, Steere offers three separate activities which are keys to building support in the community: The Ministry of Hospitality; The Ministry of Visiting; The Ministry of Small Fellowship Groups. From his own experience, and from the testimony of others, he gives examples of how important these community building efforts can be in the life of the Meeting.

The strength of a Quaker Community is evidenced most in the strength of its Meeting for Worship where there is real work to be done; the work of stilling the body and mind; the work of prayer; the work of silent confession and the work of intercession. But there also comes the realization that the work is not all ours: "It is good to work. It is still better that our work should lead up to letting God work. It is good to pray. It is still better to be prayed into."