2025 Perkins Family Lecture Series – With Colin Saxton
April 23 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Yearning and Yielding: Living Together in the Life and Power of God
Friends all everywhere, in the life and power of God, live and dwell, and spread the truth abroad. Quench not the spirit, but live in love and unity one with another; that with the wisdom of God, ye may all be ordered to God’s glory… And live all as the family of God in love, in life, in truth, in power… George Fox, Epistle 150
For many, these are fearful and anxious times. Our world is marked by injustice and violence, isolation and division, and hope often feels like it is slipping from our fingers. Quakers, of course, are not immune to these realities. We fret over the future, worry about declining numbers, and often find ourselves caught in a cycle of not knowing what to do and just wanting to do something to make a difference.
In our better moments, we know a deeper truth. Not only is there One who can speak to our condition but also One who can animate and empower our lives and life together—if we are willing. Over the last several years, I have been struck by George Fox’sGod’s repeated admonition and invitation to others to “God’s”live in the Life and Power.“ In the face of their current crises and challenges, he would often ask how or whether this was their reality.
Do I live in the Life and Power? Do you? Do we—as the Religious Society of Friends?
“I yearn to know in my bones the reality of Christ and learn to yield to the power available through the Risen One“ (Philippians 3:10). Even more, I long to belong to a community that hungers and thirsts for this same reality, as we proclaim and demonstrate the peaceable kingdom. I invite you to join me and help me consider and act on what this might mean as we gather at ESR. Friends all everywhere, in the life and power of God, live and dwell, and spread the truth abroad.
Colin Saxton Bio
Colin is a member of North Valley Friends in Newberg, OR. He and Janine are the parents of four grown children and two grandchildren. After working for Quaker organizations for most of his adult life, Colin now serves as the Everence Stewardship Theologian and Director of Church Relations. Through teaching, speaking, writing, and facilitation, he helps individuals, congregations, denominations, and non-profits reimagine approaches to generosity and faithful stewardship. Through Everence, he serves as an adjunct instructor through the Lake Institute/Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
Colin has served the Quaker community as a pastor, adjunct professor, fundraiser, retreat leader/speaker, Yearly Meeting superintendent, and General Secretary of Friends United Meeting. He has been a board member for several organizations and has traveled the world, visiting and teaching among Friends and others. Colin received his M.A. from Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a D.Min. in leadership and spiritual formation from George Fox University/Seminary. He is a partner and associate with Growing Edge Resources (https://www.growingedgeresources.com), a coaching and consulting company working with individuals, congregations, and non-profits to help them discover their growing edge. Colin has written for several publications, including a handful of books through Friends United Press. His blog, Walking in the Way and Stumbling Toward Faithfulness, is “at https://walkingintheway.blog.
Response By Scott Wagoner
Scott is presently the Pastoral Minister at High Point Friends Meeting (FUM) in High Point, North Carolina. He has been in Quaker pastoral ministry for forty years. His first pastorate was in Farmland, Indiana while he was attending the Earlham School of Religion from 1986-1990. He graduated in 1990 with an M.Div. with Honors. Scott is presently the Assistant Clerk for Friends United Meeting North America and also serves on the Board for the School of the Spirit, a Quaker contemplative prayer ministry as well as the ESR Board of Advisors. Scott is also a certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and offers coaching for individuals, organizations, and congregations. He often partners with Colin Saxton through his LLC, “Growing Edge Resources” to facilitate coaching experiences with congregations towards helping them flourish and discover their growing edge. He recently co-authored a book with Eddie Hammett titled, “Coaching as Spiritual Practice” which will be available soon as an eBook and in print form.