Explore a neglected chapter of church history and the fierce debates that shaped early Quaker practice.
This nonfiction work centers on a pivotal 17th‑century lecture about Micah’s Mother and the heated disputes it sparked over discipline, ministry, and women’s meetings among Friends. It surveys how George Fox, William Rogers, and Thomas Ellwood debated right conduct, scriptural interpretation, and the authority of church governance in a time of fierce religious contention.
Readers will encounter vivid biographical details, sharp theological arguments, and the way these early debates influenced later missionary work and denominational life. The narrative shows how earnest writers argued for or against the public role of women, the nature of spiritual liberty, and the place of ministers in the church.
- How Micah’s Mother became a flashpoint for discussions on women’s meetings and church authority.
- The clash between inward spiritual truth and outward church governance.
- Arguments over how ministers should be funded, supported, and sent on mission.
- Connections between 17th‑century quarrels and later developments in church life.
Ideal for readers of religious history, Quaker studies, and those curious about how early church debates shaped modern ministry.