Quaker Beginnings: The Religious Society of Friends (also called Quakers or Friends) originated as a Christian movement begun by George Fox in 17th century England with a central focus on ordinary individual's direct experience of an Inner Light without mediation of clergy. The name "Quaker" is thought to arise from a note in Fox's journal where he said that a judge "called us Quakers because we bid them tremble at the word of God." For more on early Quaker history, see this QuakerSpeak video https://quakerspeak.com/video/quakerism-began/.
Lopez Friends Beginnings: Lopez Island Friends started meeting in 1990 as a worship group with around 4-6 people. By the end of the 90s we were under the care of Salmon Bay meeting in Seattle. Between 2007 and 2009, we switched our care relationship to a meeting nearer by, Bellingham Monthly Meeting, and took steps to become an official Preparative Meeting under their care. By 2017 we had taken the necessary steps to become a full-fledged monthly meeting, which we celebrated in May of 2018.
Lopez Friends Beliefs: We are quite diverse in our spiritual beliefs. Although the Society of Friends has its roots in Christianity, many attenders of our meeting do not consider themselves Christians. Some Friends attend other religious services as well as our meeting for worship. Some are non-theists who are attracted to a sense of service, community, peace and justice. This diversity is valued. Quakers enjoy a broad umbrella of beliefs and feel that "there is that of God" in everyone.
Quaker Testimonies: Quakers find that attending to the Light Within influences the ways we act in our personal lives, as well as the changes we work for in the wider world. Certain values seem to arise more or less consistently when we try to stay close to the guidance of the Inward Teacher, and we call these principles our “testimonies.” They are not so much rules that we try to obey as the outcomes of our efforts to live in harmony with the Light. Some commonly recognized testimonies include simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and care for the earth.
Have questions about Quakers and Quakerism? The Friends General Conference has a page that answers many common questions: https://www.fgcquaker.org/quakerism/