F E ATU RE S
7
April 13, 2012
QLSP fosters spiritual and mental growth through community
By Sarah Stangl
Guest Writer
"Strong community." "Spiritual." "Body."
"Seeking." These are words chosen by
"QLSPers" to depict the Quaker Leadership
Scholars Program.
For many of its members, the QLSP
community is a prominent part of the
Guilford experience, and yet, Guilford
doesn't know who QLSP is. As a "Fourth
Year" student in the program. I'd like to
introduce you.
QLSP is a campus organization and
scholarship program that allows young
spiritual seekers to explore their faith and
gifts through communal activities and
worship. The group is made up of about 45
students with varying Quaker experiences
and beliefs.
QLSP is the longest-standing formal
college program for young Quaker
leadership development. For many QLSPers,
the program was a deciding factor in their
decision to come to Guilford.
"I really wanted a college experience
where I could explore myself spiritually and
religiously ... and deepen my exploration
through others' experiences as well," said
Second Year Nora Cooke.
QLSP offers this sort of supportive
community.
"Religion and community (are) really
important to me," Fourth Year Melissa
McCourt said. "(QLSP is) a community I can
be thrilled about."
Participation as a QLSP scholar involves
many different opportunities for personal
growth. Each grade level gathers separately
each week for a year-level meeting to share
in personal check-ins, book discussions,
worship and project planning.
Projects include an annual conference in
which the Fourth Year students decide on
a theme and design a variety of events. The
conference is open for the whole campus
to discuss and reflect on the chosen theme.
Year-level work also emphasizes group
bonding and personal faith exploration.
QLSPers also serve on various committees,
including "Ministry and Council," and
"Service Committee." Committees meet
weekly to plan worship, address the care of
the community and discuss the program's
various logistical needs. Committee work
offers QLSP members the opportunity to
develop leadership and communication
skills through focused, intentional group
work. First Year Nate Secrest emphasized
that communal experiences in QLSP, such
as committee work, have helped him to
maintain his spiritual practice in an
otherwise "horribly busy" college life.
QLSP is "filled with opportunities to
learn," McCourt said. In addition to the
weekly commitments of year-level and
committee work, QLSPers participate in
service opportunities, weekend spiritual
retreats, potlucks, and classes on Quaker
faith and history. They build relationships
with Quakers in the Greensboro community
by engaging with local Friends Meetings
and inviting guest speakers to campus.
Every Friday, the entire QLSP body
gathers for a meeting for worship designed
according to a variety of Quaker traditions.
QLSP staff members take part in each
meeting. These staff members irtclude
Director of QLSP Deborah Shaw, Director
of the Friends Center Max Carter, Gifts
Discernment Coordinator Frank Massey and
Friends Center intern Nathan Sebens.,
According to Secrest, "the staff is really
important in QLSP." The staff members
serve as mentors, role models and spiritual
support for the students in QLSP.
Weekly worship is a time for the group
to pray together, reflect on the week and
explore different methods of spiritual
discernment. Worship is sometimes silent
and meditative, sometimes centered around
an activity or query, and sometimes a space
for music, meals and socializing. It is an
important opportunity for the group to grow
as a unified community but it is also a chance
to offer a worshipful space for everyone on
campus.
Few people realize that QLSP Friday
worship is open to all who are interested.
Everyone from the Guilford community
is welcome, regardless of faith, religious
experience or belief.
"We have a deep underlying foundation
in QLSP," said Cooke. "It's a safe place to
explore and be open to new experience."
Secrest agreed that for anyone "interested
in spiritual deepening," QLSP worship "can
be very powerful."
"There's such a story to QLSP," McCourt
said. It needs to be shared. But perhaps most
importantly, as Frank Massey said, "We
want to know who you are."
IF YOU ARE CURIOUS OR SEEKING A
WORSHIPFUL COMMUNITY, PLEASE JOIN
QLSP THIS EVENING AT 5:30 IN THE
MOON ROOM IN DANA AUDITORIUM FOR A
PROGRAMMED WORSHIP
(Left) Seniors Megan Richards and
Melissa McCourt join a massage
train with QLSP leader Frank
Massey and sophomore Lucas
Blanchard-Giueckert. QLSP
facilitates spiritual growth, cuddling,
messaging, community building and
community service.
(Above) McCourt helps do dishes.
QLSP is the largest religious group
at Guilford, and is a main Quaker
element of Guilford.
(Right) QLSP allows students to form
spiritual and emotional bonds.