About

South Salem Friends Church

South Salem Friends Church traces its roots back to 1912, when the congregation gathered for worship at 1690 Commercial St. SE in Salem.

In 1948, another Friends congregation was established just a few miles away in Salem's Pringle neighborhood. Known as Pringle Friends Church, it met at 1140 Baxter Rd. SE.

By 1974, the leaders and members of both congregations recognized that they could accomplish more together than apart. The two churches merged, and Pastor Dale Field of South Salem Friends Church was called to help guide the congregations through the transition.

A white church building with a steeple and cross visible above the roof, surrounded by trees with brown autumn leaves, and a street sign that reads "FRIENDS CHURCH".

The newly united church chose the Baxter Road property as its permanent home because it provided room for future expansion and ministry. They also decided to retain the name South Salem Friends Church, reflecting the area they were called to serve.

In 1977, construction began on a new church facility at the Baxter Road location. Over the years, the campus has continued to grow with the addition of a multipurpose gym, commercial kitchen, classrooms, a community garden, and a softball field. Today, South Salem Friends Church continues to build on a rich legacy of serving its community and sharing the hope of Jesus with future generations.

Sign for Shoreline Friends Church in a parking lot with parked cars, a building, and trees in the background.

Essential Beliefs

GOD: Triune God, Has, is, and always will be. Creator of the Cosmos. Creator of humankind in His image and in His likeness. In And over all things.

JESUS CHRIST: Is God incarnate, Conceived by God’s spirit to a virgin that gave birth so that God would be tangible with us here on earth as prophesied earlier. Lived a sinless life, died a cruel death on a cross to willingly shed his blood to be a sacrifice for the remission of humankind’s sin. He was buried and in three days resurrected himself back to life witnessed by hundreds of people. Promises to return and take His followers to be with him forever.  All power and glory have been given to him in the cosmos.

HOLY SPIRIT: The third of the trinity whose job it is to teach, guide, convict of sin, comfort, indwell, empower, intercessor, guarantee salvation, sanctifier and unifier.

RETURN OF CHRIST: is emanant and will gather his followers, rule, and redeem his creation.

HEAVEN: Actual place where followers of Jesus will be in the presence of God for eternity. In His presence there is no sorrow, pain and worship, adoration, and discovery abound.

BIBLE: the inspired authority of God’s word, truth to guide everyone to the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

MANKIND: Created in the likeness and image of God. Through disobedience brought sin and suffering into Gods perfect creation. God provides a way out of our sinful nature and behaviors.

CHURCH: Established to further the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and to be the hands and feet of Christ in our world today.

SATAN: Is real, and the enemy of God and His followers. His role is to steal, kill, deceive as many people as possible to keep from following Jesus and die a lonely death.  He is not all powerful, knowledgeable, and cannot be everywhere at the same time like God.

HELL: A tangible place separated from the presence of God; it is not pleasant and is not forever.

Stained glass window depicting an open Bible with the words 'Holy Bible' and illustrations of the Bible pages.

Core Values

  • Worship should be in spirit and truth

  • Ministry should be spirit-led

  • At the heart of a sacrament is a visible outward sign of an invisible and spiritual reality rather than a practice of a rite, ritual, or ordinance

  • Christ leads his followers directly

  • Followers of Jesus are advocates of the oppressed

  • It is more important to be the church rather than doing church

  • Knowledge about God cannot replace an intimate acquaintance with God

  • As a follower of Jesus, it is not a question if we will minister but how

  • Being a follower of Jesus is an adventure in Christ-centered living

  • We are about making more and better disciples of Jesus

  • Every follower of Jesus is to share the good news of Jesus and lead them to Jesus for salvation.

A brief history of the Friends

The Religious society of Friends (Quakers) arose from a movement of Christian renewal that began in England during the seventeenth century. The major leader of this renewal was George Fox, who as a sensitive youth experienced cold formalism and power politics in the church and was repulsed by empty pleasure seeking outside the church. Young Fox studied the Bible and longed for an authentic faith to match its Christian message. This longing remained unfulfilled, even frustrated, by human counselors until he looked beyond them. Then he discovered Christ could speak to him directly as One who could (as phrased in Fox’s Journal) “speak to thy condition,” and he reported that his heart “did leap for joy”.

A black and white illustration of a lively tavern or pub scene with a man standing on a table gesturing passionately, surrounded by a diverse group of men, women, and children listening and watching intently. The room has shelves with bottles and a fireplace, suggesting a rustic, historic setting.

George Fox found this experience with the living Christ so compelling that he quickly told others about it. To this message people responded eagerly and found they too experienced Christ within. They found that by turning to Christ within they were being freed  from the guilt and power of sin without the need of a priest or dry religious rituals. These Christians found a new found freedom and a common religious experience  and began to organize. 

These Christians first referred to themselves as “publishers of Truth,” “children of the Light,” or “the camp of the Lord.” Gradually they came to prefer the term “Friends” in accordance with Jesus’ words: “You are my friends if you do whatever I command” (John 15:12-15). Their critics dubbed these enthusiastic Christians “Quakers,” a nickname that has become a symbol of integrity rather than a term of derision.

About a century after the movement began, the term “Society of Friends” came into general use. At that time the word “society” conveniently distinguished Friends and other legal but dissenting groups from the established Church of England. In the twentieth century, however, because of confusion about the term “society” and a desire to recover the biblical term for the gathered people of God, “Friends Church” became the preferred term in some yearly meetings, including Northwest Yearly Meeting.

The Friends teaching about the real and sanctifying presence of Christ with His people resulted in strong testimonies of a lived out faith.  These included opposition to war, the inclusion of men and women in ministry, the support for religious and political freedom, opposition to slavery and civil bondage, just relationships with aboriginal and minority persons, honesty in business, humane and prison reform, compassionate care of the mentally ill, and aid to war victims and others in distress. 

Today these testimonies still hold true for Friends as we seek to not only profess the doctrines of our faith, but also live them out as we seek to be led by Christ and seek his kingdom.  We invite others to experience the same joy and peace we have found in the Lord who still speaks to us today. 

South Salem Friends Church is a part of the Northwest Yearly Meeting. We are a part of the larger Evangelical Friends Church-International organization.

We have close relationships with our Friends Camps, especially Twin Rocks Friends Camp.

We believe in sending people to the ends of the earth. We partner with Evangelical Friends Mission.

We know that God is doing something new in Friends and support Evangelical Friends Church Planting efforts.

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