Cal U. to house annual Quaker gathering
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CALIFORNIA – Although most students are away for summer break, California University of Pennsylvania’s campus will be bustling next week.
More than 1,200 Quakers will be staying at the university for the annual Friends General Conference from Sunday to July 5. The Friends General Conference is an association of more than 600 Quaker congregations in the United States and Canada.
Quakers, or Friends, are members of a family of religious movements collectively known as the Religious Society of Friends. There are currently 30,000 Quakers in the U.S. and Canada, and roughly 300,000 Quakers across the world.
Chris Pifer, the communications and web manager for the FGC, said the gathering allows participants to enrich their faith and bond with their fellow Quakers.
The location varies each year, but Pifer said the FGC tends to stay near Pennsylvania, where roughly 10,000 Quakers reside. Pifer said the FGC likes to hold the gathering at college campuses. Cal U. just happened to meet their specific needs.
“We were looking for a campus to host 1,800 Quakers or so,” he said.
Christine Kindl, the director of communications and public relations at Cal U., said the university is pleased to welcome the FGC.
“Conference attendees will be meeting in a number of academic buildings, as well as our Convocation Center, and we will provide housing for many of the attendees during their stay,” Kindl said in an email. “Cal U. plays host to a wide variety of gatherings – everything from academic conferences and high school robotics contests to business meetings and sports camps.”
This year’s theme is “Let Love Be the First Motion,” which is a reference to a quote from Quaker and 18th century abolitionist John Woolman.
“Participants can reflect on their own lives and will give them the opportunity to let love be the first motion to start a fresh start with people and the world,” Pifer said.
Participants will engage in worship, tours of the area, workshops and other events at the gathering, Pifer said. At 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, there will be speakers, and those events are open to the public.
For more information, visit www.FGCgathering.org.