On Authority and Listening in Love by Mike Huber

Mike brought the message, reflecting on the Quaker practice of confronting outward authority. Whether it’s George Fox confronting Pastor Lumpy in Nottinghamshire or later Friends confronting slavery or sexism or militarism, we love to tell our story as one of confrontation. Although this narrative has empowered us to confront social wrongs, it has also given us a legacy of splits and disownments. We feel most Quaker when we confront others — including others in our community. This can happen in our business meetings, when a person or committee sees all their work pushed back to square-one by skeptical Friends who want to reprocess every decision. Instead of describing the business meeting as an opportunity to practice discernment, what if we saw it as a time to practice our love for one another? Learning to listen for the voice of God in those who disagree is a gift of love. How do you know when it’s time to confront? How do you know when it’s time to listen in love?