At the conference The Gathering in March 2026, AQORD held its first member luncheon as a newly merged organization. This luncheon featured a thoughtful dialogue between David Jones, AQORD Board Member, and Myron Weaver, AQORD Board Member and President & CEO of OrrVilla Retirement Community; leaders representing AQORD’s two faith traditions, Quaker and Anabaptist. Drawing from both personal experience and historical grounding, David and Myron noted the distinctives of each faith tradition while also highlighting the shared values that connect our member organizations and continue to shape the work they do today.
David highlighted the foundational events that led to the current community culture within the Quaker faith tradition today. Also known as the Religious Society of Friends, Quakerism emerged in mid-17th century England during a time of political and religious upheaval. Early Quakers rejected formal religious structures and instead gathered in silence, seeking direct, unmediated experience of the Divine. Central to Quaker belief is the concept of the “Inner Light,” the idea that there is something of the Divine in every person, accessible without clergy or ritual. This inward, experiential faith concept continues to shape Quaker worship.
Quaker values are often summarized through the acronym SPICES:
- Simplicity
- Peace
- Integrity
- Community
- Equality
- Stewardship
These are not covenants but lived expressions of faith, guiding how individuals and communities engage with the world. David shared that both historically and today, Quakers have been deeply involved in social action, including prison reform, abolition, and humanitarian efforts through organizations such as the American Friends Service Committee. Their emphasis on continuing revelation and the belief that truth is still unfolding encourages openness, discernment in community, and ongoing spiritual growth.
Myron shared that Anabaptism, by contrast, arose earlier in the 16th century during the Radical Reformation. Dissatisfied with what they saw as incomplete reform within the broader Protestant movement, Anabaptists called for a return to the practices of the early church. A defining feature was believer’s baptism, signifying a voluntary and conscious commitment to follow Jesus. This movement also emphasized separation from state control, nonviolence, and a strong sense of community accountability, convictions that led to significant persecution in its early years.
At the heart of Anabaptist faith is a Christ-centered approach to scripture and life. Jesus’ teachings, particularly around love, peace, and care for those on the margins, are seen as the clearest guide for faithful living amongst Anabaptist communities. This focus shapes both theology and practice, encouraging patrons to embody their faith through service, humility, and community. Core values include peace and nonresistance, mutual aid, servant leadership, and stewardship. These principles have led to a strong legacy of institution-building, including hospitals, social service organizations, and global relief efforts such as Mennonite Central Committee.
While the two traditions differ in theological emphasis and forms of worship, Quakers centering on inward spiritual experience and Anabaptists on the life and teachings of Jesus, their points of intersection are both meaningful and substantial. Both traditions uphold peace as a foundational commitment, rejecting violence and working toward reconciliation in both personal and societal contexts. Both value community as a space for discernment, accountability, and care.
Importantly, both traditions emphasize that faith is not merely a set of beliefs, but a way of life. Whether expressed through the Quaker call to “let your life speak” or the Anabaptist commitment to follow Jesus in daily living, each tradition invites individuals into a lived, active faith that prioritizes service, humility, and justice.
As AQORD continues to grow as a unified organization shaped by these two rich traditions, this session served as a meaningful reminder that diversity in expression needn’t divide. Rather, it can deepen understanding and strengthen shared purpose. Across differences in language, theology, and practice, what emerges most clearly is a common commitment to live with compassion, to serve with integrity, and to improve the lives of those entrusted to our care.
In that shared work, AQORD’s members embody the very values expanded upon by David and Myron. Their daily commitment to caring for others stands as a powerful expression of faith in action and a unifying thread that continues to bring the AQORD community together. To experience the full session, watch David and Myron’s conversation via the linked video.
By Riley Mills, Program Director
Watch the Conversation here: Coming to An AQORD
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