Four hundred members of a worldwide religious faith are gathered for their triennial meeting in Iowa. Paul Knupp is pastor at Des Moines’ First Friends Church and explains the “Friends United Meeting” is a group of local Quaker congregations from around the world. The Friends United Meeting only gets together every three years, and its last meeting was in Kenya, in Africa. Delegates at the Iowa conference have come from Oskaloosa, Carlisle and other Iowa towns, from across North America, and from Cuba, Uganda, Kenya, Palestine and Belize. Still, Knupp readily agrees the Friends don’t make up one of the larger religious denominations. Pastor Knupp says their numbers probably total a quarter-million Quakers altogether, though their greatest growth and largest membership now is in Africa. “And that’s true for the Roman Catholic Church, the Presbyterian Church — every major denomination, I think, has experienced that kind of growth in African membership.” The Quakers are discussing the programs of their North American, African, and other “meetings” or churches around the world…28 in all. Pastor Knupp admits some people have an image of Quakers as a relic of the past.”Numerically, we’re not very strong,” he agrees, “not nearly what we used to be in the United States.” But he says the group has a “huge influence,” with agencies including the American Friends Service Committee. “That still has a worldwide reputation, and a worldwide influence in peace and justice issues.” He says a Friends Committee on National Legislation also lobbies every day for peace and justice concerns. “We’re still alive and kicking,” Knupp says, “and I think we have a lot more influence than our numbers would indicate.” The triennial meeting of Friends United continues in Des Moines through this Sunday. An evening plenary session tonight (Friday) is open to the public at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines. To learn more about Friends United Meeting, today’s Quakers and their global ministries, see the group’s website at FUM.org