Our Mission

We are dedicated to nurturing and transforming our inner lives and all of our relationships, and to creating unique and authentic connections in today’s world. We hope to inspire deep personal reflection, learning, and growth.

Our Vision

We are an evolving community of practice centered in the sacredness of everyday life, where all people who seek spirit and healing for themselves and the world find their home.

 Our Values

From our early beginnings, we have valued the interaction of shared silence with reflective dialogue leading to the discovery of spiritual insights and psychological well-being.

 We believe in holding the tension of opposites - interior/exterior, future/past, light/darkness to foster self-awareness, trust in uncertainty and healing in our fractured world.

 As a community, we acknowledge an inner light in every individual that is nurtured by our values of peace, integrity, equity and mutual respect.

Our Initiatives

  • We convene an annual interdisciplinary gathering, the Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology (FCRP) to explore emerging models and methodologies for spiritual and psychological development;

  • We host intermittent conversations, workshops and retreats with leaders from a variety of psychological perspectives, faith-based and spiritual communities;

  • We have published Inward Light, a journal of invited reflections, essays, art, and poetry that speak to both the “spirit of the times” and the “spirit of the depths.";

  • We maintain a written and audio/video archive of more than 80 years of FCRP talks and presentations, Inward Light issues 1937-1989, and the FCRP Dora Wilson Collection in the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) Library.

  • We support our sister Organization, Washington Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology, which is held online yearly in early February.

Our Community Commitments

FCRP has a deep commitment to culturally sensitive, inclusive, anti-oppressive practices. We welcome speakers and participants of all ages, Faiths, and orientations, and we are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. In keeping with these Values and goals, FCRP works to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly members of groups that have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination based on identity or ability. To this end, FCRP employs the following practices:

1) We actively strive to increase representation of minority and marginalized groups by employing targeted outreach, using welcoming and inclusive language in our promotional materials, and providing accommodations and financial aid as needed to increase accessibility and affordability.

2) We have an active and engaged Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee dedicated to increasing cultural competence and representation, addressing unconscious bias, and celebrating diverse backgrounds and voices. The committee provides regular training to all planning committee members and sees this as an ongoing process.

3) We seek regular participant feedback, and any growing edges or complaints regarding discrimination are brought to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for resolution with assistance from the Administrative Team and the larger Planning Committee as appropriate.