About Us
Our Meeting
Bethel Friends is a Quaker meeting, located in rural Randolph County. The meeting was organized in 1821, and has continued to faithfully serve the community to the present time.
It is a part of a larger association of Friends that have been a part of the religious fabric of North Carolina for over 300 years.
Visiting
Parking is just off of Bethel Friends Road. Our facility has easy access from the parking area, with no steps to climb, and a covered entry for inclement weather.
Membership
Those who profess faith and are interested in uniting with us as members, are guided through the process of membership using our discipline, Faith and Practice, with the oversight of the pastor and Ministry & Council. Children are enrolled as associate members.
Leadership
Secretary/Treasurer Susan Thompson
Choir Director Julie Trotter
Sound System Ricky Cox, Brent Trotter, Roger Stout
Pianist Lisa Waisner
Ushers Rotational service
Clerk of Monthly Meeting Frank Thompson
Clerk of Ministry & Council Ricky Cox
Sundays
We affirm that worship comes in many forms - through silent meditation, through spoken word, through song and artistic expression, and through fellowship and gathered prayer. While some Quaker meetings have an entirely silent (or “unprogrammed”) worship, Bethel Friends has a semi-programmed worship, which means that during a typical worship, you will experience singing, scripture readings, and a member-led children’s sermon and object lesson.
Most Sundays, a time of “open worship” is observed before the sermon. This may be a time of silent waiting, or sharing of concerns and words or praise and exhortation. The sermon follows, which is a Christ-centered and biblically-based message from the pastor.
Quakers
Friends, also known as Quakers, emphasize the Christian virtues of simplicity, integrity, and community.
As members of the Society of Friends, we celebrate a rich heritage. The origins of Friends are found in the seventeenth century in England, a time when many were questioning the established beliefs of the age. George Fox (1624-1691) did not find answers to his questions in any of the churches of his day. Out of his searching and study of the Scripture came the spiritual message which swept a large part of the country. The Society of Friends was born.
Fox called for a radical, Spirit-filled Christianity that would not be oppressive of people on account of race, gender, or class. Fox preached that every person had free, unmediated access to God for Jesus Christ has come to teach his people himself. We believe that God is love and wants to communicate inwardly with everyone who is willing. Quakers believe that everyone has “That of God” within them, and we strive to look for that “Inner Light” in all people and treat everyone with equality.