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CALL FOR PAPERS
QUAKER RELIGIOUS THOUGHT SPECIAL ISSUE A re-appraisal of the theology of Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847) Quaker Religious Thought is pleased to announce that a special issue of the journal has been scheduled for early 2027. This will be entirely devoted to articles about the religious beliefs, faith and practice of the English Quaker minister Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847). The guest editor for this issue is Paul Harris, who will be working in conjunction with Jay Miller, QRT Editor. Paul completed his PhD with the University of Birmingham, UK in 2024 on Gurney’s Christology. The influence of Gurney on the religious life of the Society of Friends during the first half of the nineteenth century has been well acknowledged. However, despite the significant place he holds within Quaker history, detailed studies about his theology are sparse. Existing portraits of Gurney’s beliefs are sometimes too generalised, oversimplified, and stereotyped. This QRT special issue seeks to address this and provide an opportunity for researchers to present their views and findings as part of a re-appraisal of Gurney’s theology. Articles are welcome on any aspects of Gurney’s theology. Possible subject areas include Gurney’s understanding of atonement, redemption, sin, the person of Jesus Christ, Christian perfection, the work of the Holy Spirit, the relationship between faith and science, the role of biblical hermeneutics, biblical education for young people and Quaker testimony. These are just some of the possible topics that could be explored. Contributors should follow the QRT style guidelines (see https://qtdg.org/style-guide/) concerning article length (2500-3000 words) and formatting conventions. The deadline for submission of articles is 1st September 2026. Article submissions should be emailed in .docx and .pdf format (NB please do not include the author name/details in the article itself or in the file properties) to both Jay Miller at [email protected] and Paul Harris at [email protected] We look forward to receiving your contributions! |
Friends Historical Association GrantsThe Friends Historical Association is pleased to announce that its grants application cycle is officially open for 2026-2027. Funds are available in support of research, projects, and publication subventions in the field of Quaker History. The deadline for each application is June 19, 2026, with funds expected to be distributed in August and September 2026. More information about guidelines and the application process can be found on the “Grants” page of the Friends Historical Association website: https://www.quakerhistory.org/grants
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QSRA Annual ConferenceThe annual QSRA conference will be held in Bristol on June 27 2026, on the topic 'Quakers and the Law'. Please find the Call for Papers on the Conference section of our website. The closing date for the submission of proposals is Monday 5 January 2026. You may book your place via the Woodbrooke website.
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Research UpdatesCurrent research on Quakerism increasingly focuses on questions of identity, sustainability, and spiritual coherence, particularly within British Liberal Quakerism. Scholars and Quakers themselves are examining issues such as demographic decline, theological diversity, ageing membership, and whether Quaker communities are now held together more by shared practices and values than by shared religious experience or belief. Research also explores race, class, and inclusion, asking whether Quaker culture can unintentionally feel socially narrow or inaccessible despite its commitment to equality. Another major area concerns Quaker involvement in activism, especially climate protest, peace work, prison abolition, and ecospirituality, with Quakers often studied as an example of how small religious groups sustain long-term activist identity. Historians continue to recover neglected aspects of Quaker history, including the role of women Friends, travelling ministers, abolitionist networks, and the development of distinctive Quaker business cultures. At the same time, there is renewed interest in Quaker spirituality itself, including silent worship, mystical experience, contemplative practice, and comparisons with other religious traditions such as Buddhism or apophatic Christianity. Internal research within Quakers in Britain also examines outreach, safeguarding, youth work, and institutional effectiveness, often raising difficult questions about why outreach succeeds mainly among already sympathetic audiences. Underlying much contemporary Quaker research is a broader tension about the nature of Quakerism itself: whether it is fundamentally a spiritual tradition that gives rise to social witness, or increasingly an activist culture seeking to preserve a spiritual foundation.
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