Changes

Historically, Quakers were a [[nonconformist]] body. In the early twentieth century, many Quakers began to drop traditional Quaker folkways such as plain Quaker dress ("Quaker grey") and "plain speech" (particularly the use of "thee" and "thou") and replace them with modern interpretations such as not "dressing up" to attend meeting for worship.  

Historically, Quakers were a [[nonconformist]] body. In the early twentieth century, many Quakers began to drop traditional Quaker folkways such as plain Quaker dress ("Quaker grey") and "plain speech" (particularly the use of "thee" and "thou") and replace them with modern interpretations such as not "dressing up" to attend meeting for worship.  

A series of divisions has resulted in Quakers being organized into four general bodies. The largest group in the eastern United States, which usually sets forth its ideas as traditional Quakerism, is called the Friends General Conference. This body is theologically liberal and the only Quaker body that is not specifically Christian. A group found mostly in the center of the United States and in Africa is the Friends United Meeting. This body and the Evangelical Friends have pastors and a religious service similar to that of rural Protestants throughout the United States. The smallest of the four Quaker groups is the Conservative Friends. This group, based in Ohio but with meetings throughout North America and in the UK, maintains the traditional waiting worship and many traditional Quaker folkways dropped by other Quaker groups.  

A series of divisions has resulted in Quakers being organized into four branches. The Friends General Conference is theologically liberal, sometimes seeking truths from non-Christian sources. They practice “unprogrammed” worship: meetings are conducted in silence, without clergy. Friends United Meeting is more avowedly Christian. They generally practice “programmed” worship: meetings are guided by clergy, with or without a silent component. Evangelical Friends International also practice programmed worship. They are similar to other evangelical Christians in their beliefs, although they generally do not observe the sacraments of communion or baptism. Conservative Friends are theologically conservative and Christ-centered, acknowledging the authority of Scripture. They practice unprogrammed worship, and many also practice traditional plain dress and speech.