Christie Duncan-Tessmer, General Secretary of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, will be participating on a panel with people from historic churches in Philadelphia. Christie will be offering a Friends’ perspective about their role in faith during the American Revolution and discussing its continued influence on modern American democracy. The panel will reflect on the historic practice of Congressional prayer, a tradition initiated by Rev. Jacob Duche (1737-1798), the rector of Christ Church in Philadelphia, who is best known for delivering the first prayer at the Continental Congress in 1774. This event marked the beginning of opening Congressional sessions with prayer, highlighting the significant role of faith in American governance—a tradition that continues today, illustrating the enduring connection between religion and public life in the United States.
The Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia is hosting this panel, “The Best and Surest Foundation?“, at the American Philosophical Society’s Benjamin Franklin Hall on September 5th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. and the event is open to the public.
When asked about her participation on the panel, Christie shared, “Centuries ago, Quakers, especially Friends within Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, set the stage for the American government’s commitment to religious freedom. Today, it is still important that space is held for citizens to express their faiths and for all faiths to be heard. Our Quaker experience continually shows us that we have a more deeply rooted spiritual community when we listen for the Divine through many Friends’ hearts. I believe our country similarly benefits when it functions through a lens that includes many individual experiences, including diverse representation of religions.”
When Quakers founded Pennsylvania, they envisioned it as a place where everyone could freely practice their religion, a revolutionary idea inspired by William Penn and his own experiences of persecution in England. This vision influenced the principles of religious freedom that were later enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Although Pennsylvania was predominantly Quaker, it quickly became a haven for diverse religious groups from across Europe, making it the most culturally diverse of the original thirteen colonies and a model for religious tolerance in America. Today, the Quaker commitment to active engagement in civic society and public policy remains strong, as reflected by their many organizations’ focus on social justice issues, including Philadelphia Yearly Meeting’s Wide Witness on climate change and anti-racism.
Christie was invited to represent Philadelphia Yearly Meeting through Arch Street Meeting House at the event. She will be joined by Rev. Jason Ferris of Old Pine Presbyterian, Father Frank Hannafey of Old St. Joseph Church, Rev. Sarah Hedgis-Kligerman of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Imam Anwar Muhaimin of Masjid Quba, Rabbi Nathan Kamesar of Society Hill Synagogue, Rev. Dr. Christopher Micklewright of Gloria Dei/Old Swedes’, Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler of Mother Bethel AME, and Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander of Christ Church. Together, these leaders will share perspectives from their traditions, fostering a conversation about the role of faith in America’s history.
