Everything about The Richmond Declaration totally explained
The
Richmond Declaration was made by 95
Quakers (representatives of 12 Friends Yearly Meetings, but excluding those with the majority of membership) in September
1887, at a conference in
Richmond, Indiana. It was a declaration of faith, and although Quakers don't have a
dogma or
creed, the Richmond Declaration has been used as a standard by Orthodox (now represented by
Friends United Meeting) and Evangelical Quakers (represented by
Evangelical Friends International) ever since. The
Friends United Meeting General Board reaffirmed the declaration as a statement of faith in February 2007.
The declaration stated, among other things, that the holy scriptures (for example the
Bible) were a greater authority than the
inner light; this emphasis is something that many yearly meetings of Quakers don't agree upon, yet it remains a defining aspect of the successors to the Orthodox branch.
» "It has ever been, and still is, the belief of the Society of Friends that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God; that, therefore, there can be no appeal from them to any other authority whatsoever; that they're able to make wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Jesus Christ."
Criticism
Some Quakers have a negative view of the Richmond Declaration. For example,
Chuck Fager argues that, among other problems, the Declaration never represented most Friends and that it has prompted an unfortunate division in the Society.
Though it was primarily written by a British Friend,
J. Bevan Braithwaite,
Britain Yearly Meeting (then called London Yearly Meeting) rejected the proposal that it be adopted. The Richmond Declaration was one factor leading to a sharp doctrinal turn for London Yearly Meeting in
1895.
The Declaration isn't accepted as a statement of faith by
Friends General Conference or
Beanite Quakerism in North America, or by most "
unprogrammed" Friends in the rest of the world.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Richmond Declaration'.
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