Brian DraytonRecensioni

From Western Friend, Jan/Feb 2023: For Christians, epistolary writing (letter writing) dates back to the Apostles and early church fathers, who visited fledgling Christian communities to offer support, encouragement, and correction, which they later continued by way of writing. In like manner, Brian Drayton, a traveling Quaker minister, has written letters to Quaker meetings he has served. He explains that he wrote these out of a sense of “unfinished business” and “motions of love.” Messages to Meetings is a collection of some of these letters, some relevant blog posts, and even notes from some of Drayton’s vocal ministry.

Drayton writes about awe, unity, discerning gifts, gospel ministry, and climate change.Among the topics in this book, Drayton writes about awe, unity, discerning gifts, gospel ministry, and climate change. Although he addresses particular meetings with specific issues, any reader can benefit from his insights. One letter to a gathering of ministering Friends about their work, offers advice for all: “. . .the call is for us all to bear fruit, each according to our kind, and to give thanks to God for it.”

Drayton’s letter on climate change is topical and insightful. By profession, he is a plant ecologist and sees the climate crisis through the lens of a biologist as well as a Christian. He names climate change as a spiritual challenge because it requires us to grow beyond our current spiritual beliefs and habits. He is clear-eyed about the future and its losses, “My grandchildren will see humans struggling in an impoverished world, with consequences unfolding for societies, economies, cultures, governments, and families.” He advises Quakers to face the desolation, grief, and alarm of the climate crisis and to give up false hope. “It may be that our calling as a people is to be intentional about descending into the depths as we encounter them and then waiting there for the power to call out in thanksgiving and in a hope that lives without any illusion of control.”

Drayton’s letter on “Unity, Disunity, and Diversity” alone justifies this book’s placement on any meetinghouse bookshelf. Addressed to New England Friends, he writes: “Diversity and disagreement are not the same as disunity, and there is no reason why they should not coexist with unity.” With insight and gentleness, Drayton counsels us on these conditions. Perhaps all meetings and worship groups face disagreement at times, but Drayton tells us that disunity can bubble beneath the surface for a long time before it emerges. He offers queries for the individual and the group to use when discord arises. His stories of disunity among Friends and its resolution by movements of the Spirit are inspiring.

Drayton is well-versed in Quaker history and the Bible. He uses his own translations when he includes New Testament quotations. The writing style of epistles from the ancient world are often elegant and formal, and Drayton adopts this style at times, too. He makes frequent use of traditional Quaker and Biblical terms like “Seed,” “yoke-mate,” and “tendering.” As a traveling minister, Brian Drayton has much to offer, and now he shares his wisdom with the readers of this book. ~~~ Margaret Kelso

“To read James Nayler is to connect with Quakerism’s initial eruption of insight and obedience,” writes Brian Drayton, who has found, in the writings of this influential and controversial Friend, messages that speak to the turmoil of our times, as they spoke to the turmoil of 1650s England. Some central themes in the ministry of James Nayler are explored, with attention to how they address the most basic challenges of faithfulness in what early Friends called “the Lamb’s War.” Through this exploration, Brian Drayton invites readers into a closer acquaintance and dialogue with the life and works of James Nayler. Discussion questions included. (Pendle Hill website)

Here is a book full of wisdom and advice on how to cherish, live with, and grow into the gift of ministry. It is well aimed at the specific temptations and opportunities of our own day, while incorporating those timeless truths with which a minister of any era must grapple. Drayton gives clear, helpful, practical advice , based in his own experience an deep understanding of the Christian tradition. --Marty Grundy
This book is a love letter to the Religious Society of Friends from one of our most seasoned and faithful ministers. May we receive its call to holiness as a message for our time. The freshness of this book rises from the deep springs of the spirit, and I expect to read it again and again as a source of spiritual renewal in the years ahead. -- Cathy Whitmire

What does it really mean to absorb the learning that comes from our “roots” in Quakerism? Are there ways of approaching our roots that have a greater likelihood of bearing spiritual fruits? Brian Drayton explores the idea of “rootedness” at multiple levels–as a metaphor, as a discipline, as a goal–in order to reveal the ways in which we may derive the most nourishment from the roots that we seek to rediscover, and more importantly, so that God’s Spirit may flourish within us and through us.

Throughout Quaker history, Friends have been moved to write to meetings to instruct, encourage, or challenge. The messages to contemporary Quakers in this collection arose out of a sense of requirement in conjunction with service in gospel ministry. They explore themes such as love and unity, true worship, gospel ministry, spiritual hunger, encouragement of spiritual gifts and callings, and hospitality to the life of the living God.

Some central themes in the ministry of James Nayler are explored, with attention to how they address the most basic challenges of faithfulness in what early Friends called “the Lamb’s War.” Readers are invited into a closer acquaintance and dialogue with the life and works of James Nayler.

The book draws on the author's experience and Quaker history to delve into the multiple facets of public ministry. The book speaks to those engaged in long-term service under concern. His accumulated wisdom, thoughtful analysis and personal experience of giving and receiving ministry make him an ideal person to share information and encouragement with contemporary Friends, most especially those with a call to vocal ministry and those supporting them.

What does it mean for us to “find our Quaker roots?" It is good to ask this question before attempting the quest because the goal shapes the search. Surely the motive for the search lies in the desire for a more meaning-filled spiritual life that is in harmony with the essence of Quaker spirituality. Our eagerness in this search is fueled in part by our realization that the fruits of lives lived more powerfully, humbly, and faithfully are urgently needed – and if you and I are to live such lives, it must be right now. What kind of “roots” will help?

"To read James Naylor is to connect with Quakerism's initial eruption of insight and obedience," writes Brian Drayton, who has found, in the writings of this influential and controversial Friend, messages that speak to the turmoil of our times, as they spoke to the turmoil of 1650s England. Some central themes in the ministry of James Nayler are explored, with attention to how they address the most basic challenges of faithfulness and what early Friends called "The Lambs War". Through this exploration, Brian Drayton invites readers into a closer acquaintance and dialogue with the life and works of James Nayler.

Another excellent essay by Brian Drayton, New England Yearly Meeting Friend and author of "On Living with a Concern for the Gospel Ministry." In this Pendle Hill pamphlet, Brian explores the meaning of finding our Quaker roots, and why this is so important for contemporary Friends. Well written and insightful.

A "lightly revised" expansion of the first edition of this book, now out of print. Not since Samuel Bownas has a Quaker author written as helpfully and as feelingly about the inward and outward life of one who feels a "chronic" call to the service of the Gospel. A must read for all Quakers.

Brian Drayton has made Bill Taber's reflections on the special vocabulary Friends assembled to describe their inward spiritual experiences freshly accessible to contemporary Friends. Taber's extraordinary insights into the inward landscape bring both a greater understanding of the writings of previous generations and a fresh discernment into one's own spiritual condition. A Language for the Inward Landscape is a fresh presentation of the riches of a Quaker spirituality organized by key concepts. It is both a theological resource that prepares the reader for a beneficial encounter with Quaker writings and a reflection of its own concerning qualities and possibilities of the inward life. Above all, if you seek words to express your inward experience of the spiritual life, you will find companionship and a language you may come to recognize as your own.

Reviewed in Friends Bulletin, April 2008, p. 17

This pamphlet is an introduction to the writings, the voice, and the ideas of this powerful, resourceful, and disturbing Quaker founder, from the first generation of Quakers.
The earliest Quaker preaching was a prophetic elaboration of the realization that Christ's spirit is present, active, and reliably knowable by all who seek it. By its nature, it contradicts many conventional values, offering a kind of freedom and power that can actually overcome evil, both inward and outward. This offer can be accepted by a unique spiritual method, epitomized (for Drayton) by the phrases "mind the Light" and "living in the Cross." (See Drayton's previous PHP #391.) The Quaker vision of humans, God, and their relationship was compelling in the 17th century, and it seems we modern Friends long for that compelling energy.
But Naylor's writings, that Drayton summarizes, and his life also give us valuable teachings about how hard it is as well as how glorious, to live under the direct guidance of the spirit. We have become aware of the pitfalls and mazes for those who claim the spirit's guidance too easily. Discernment and faithfulness are necessary, and the life with the spirit has complexity. Naylor's life shows that the Light brings both disturbance and reassurance, both convictedness and consolation, trouble and healing. We may restrict our availability to both aspects of life with the spirit, for the sake of comfort, but thereby we are impoverished.
A short biography of Naylor's life follows, 1618-1660. He was a Friend for about 8 years.

Drayton writes a lovely pamphlet of helpful explanation of how we can proceed along the path to joy and liberation. This is valuable guidance on practical spiritual matters: how to persist through the possibly discouraging cycles of opening, resolution, and backsliding; see the power in the little "weak" stirrings of the Presence; stand in the Light patiently for the Light to do its work to remove fear, nurture humility and patience, strengthen compassion, reject self-inflation, possessiveness, defensiveness, grudge-holding, and injustice. Wow.
Stay low and teachable. Do not overreach. Keep turning to the Light, live what we have found so far, and we will keep changing. We grow in our ability to listen, to empathize, to feed the life of the spirit in others, to live in unity.
All this inner work and dwelling grows our roots deeper. And it is through living this that we find the words of ministry, to speak the story of the power that Light and love can exert over darkness.
This pamphlet is both instructive and inspiring on our spiritual development, Quaker worship, and vocal ministry.

"To read James Nayler is to connect with Quakerism's initial eruption of insight and obedience" (back cover). A summary of his life and key understandings, particularly his attention to the progress of the soul, the struggle for perfection in obedience, and "the lamb's war.."

This pamphlet includes a portion of Nayler's trial for blasphemy which is fairly autobiographical in content. But the pamphlet as a whole I found disappointing. It is filled with excerpts from various writings but it all seemed disjointed. Drayton could have done a much better job at presenting Nayler to us. In the end, it seemed I had neither read Nayler himself nor an essay about Nayler that had a coherent theme. At some point I will re-read it and may have a more favorable sense of its contents.

PHP #391