Congratulations to FGC on choosing Barry Crosno as the new General Secretary of Friends General Conference! 

 As a Universalist Friend, I couldn’t help noting that the new General Secretary called attention to his Buddhist background as well as to his belief in pluralism (a component of Univeralism). When asked what qualified him to become the Exec Secretary, he mentioned his experience working at an international Buddhist institution, Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). —Anthony Manousos.

This organization [FPMT] has roots stretching back many decades but wasn’t incorporated until the 1980s.  Starting as a small and dedicated group of students, FPMT now has almost as many people associated with it as the yearly meetings affiliated with FGC.  There is no doubt that the majority of this happened because of the inspiring presence and teachings of Lama Yeshi and Lama Zopa.  However, it also happened because they were determined to make the Tibetan Buddhist experience teachable, repeatable, and clear.  They put in place tools, videos, books, conferences, and teachings that made Buddhism scalable—if people wanted to practice Buddhism they could.  They had removed the barriers.  If there was not study center near you, FPMT had retreats that would teach you how to start one.  Needed a teacher of Buddhism in your region, they would send one.  Needed videos to familiarize yourself with teachings, they produced them.  The list goes on.  While Quakerism is a completely different religion and mindscape with different structures, I learned a lot in my four years at FPMT about how accessibility, scalability, and clarity can transform lives.  For the past four of five years I’ve been working with many others in Quakerism to lay the foundation so we can construct more tools and services for meetings, making it easier for them to engage and nurture newcomers.  Seekers need access to the knowledge and tools that will allow them to be deeply and experientially engaged early in their journey with Friends.  These same tools will also serve many of the needs of experienced Friends.  I’m excited that there is a call being experienced by more and more Friends to make a spiritual offering of Quakerism to newcomers.  I think it’s becoming clear for many Friends that proselytizing and outreach are different concepts and that to make our tradition visible and accessible is a form of deeply grounded service that enriches us all.  As the growing number of meetings who are participating in Quaker Quest can attest, outreach has actually deepened their in-reach and has made their meetings more vital.  My time as a Quaker working for the Buddhadharma was deeply rewarding, and I believe my experiences there are enriching my service to Quakers.

With this experience as context, the last two years I’ve spent at Pendle Hill have been critical in my development as a Quaker.  Pendle Hill serves all the branches of Quakerism, people from other faith traditions, and those who do not affiliate with any religious tradition.  I’ve always believed there are many ways to God, and pluralism is important to me.  But, my understanding of the religious and spiritual paths of others has deepened.  Like many Friends, I came into Quaker practice feeling wounded by traditional Christianity.  I understood clearly when I started my walk with Friends that Spirit was inviting me to immerse myself in a tradition that originates from the life and witness of Jesus.  However, I was very resistant to embracing the Christian narrative within Quakerism.  In the two years prior to coming to Pendle Hill, I started to open up, and since arriving at Pendle Hill that opening has grown.  Studying with Will O’Brien at The Alternative Seminary in North Philadelphia, talking with Marcelle Martin about the writings of John Woolman, listening to Shane Claiborne talk about his witness as a Christian, being engaged by Lloyd Lee Wilson’s lecture “Who Do You Say I Am,” deepening my understanding of the theology of early Friends through time in the Pendle Hill library, talking with FUM and EFCI affiliated Friends about their spiritual journeys, meditating on the heart of Christ—these are just some of the experiences that have helped me re-imagine my understanding and experience of Christianity within and beyond Quakerism.  I believe my time at Pendle Hill has helped ground and open me so I can hear and walk with people who come from many different perspectives and experiences including Christian and non-Christian, as well as theist and nontheist, from inside and outside of the Religious Society of Friends.

For more about Barry’s background, read: http://www.fgcquaker.org/an-interview-with-new-general-secretary