The experience of the "Inner Light," or the "Light of Christ," is the centre of the life of Friends and the ultimate source of all our testimonies. The Inner Light is what Friends call "that of God" in every person which, Friends believe, can be known directly without another's interpretation. The Inner Light gives illumination and clarity to conscience, generating an inward compulsion to follow the leadings of its Spirit. This Spirit is the love of God, implanted in all, overcoming the ambivalence of conscience and leading us to a powerful conviction of God's will for our lives.

The Inner Light is our experience of and connection with God. According to Friends this experience involves a body of convictions about God's nature and His requirements concerning our dealings with all persons. When this body of convictions has consolidated itself in one's inner life and style of outward conduct, it is called "Truth." This Truth is a way of following the spirit and not the letter of the law.

All persons are capable of perceiving, recognizing, and responding to God - to His Truth, His love, and His will - as it is given to us in the Light. As George Fox expressed it:

This is the Word of the Lord God to you all and a charge to you all in the presence of the Living God; be patterns, be examples to all countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them; then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one.

From this it can be seen that Friends believe in the universality of Grace. To Friends, God reaches out to all people everywhere through the Light, communicating His will, helping them to direct their affairs, and empowering them to fulfil this will and direction.

Because Friends see all individuals to be graced with such good gifts, we also see that God demands a great deal from them. From the beginning of our Society, we have heard a call to perfection and have believed that this perfection in freedom from actual sin is possible in this world. Perfection means living up to the measure of Light that is given. If we are faithful in a little, we shall be given more. This is not an infinite process but rather the attainable goal of maturing inner capacities.

Despite our emphasis on the inwardness of true religion, Friends do not deny the reality of objective religious and moral authority. We depend on enlightened conscience and reason in the individual and group. The pragmatic tests of practical experience, and the witness of the Scriptures also act as checks upon one's interpretation of the Light.

Friends are well aware of the need to maintain watchfully the humility necessary to receive respectfully the insights of the meeting and the traditional wisdom of others, being always mindful, however, that the ultimate requirement of conviction is one's commitment to the Inner Light.

Therefore, we hold no outward authority as final and believe in a continuing revelation. "The Canon of Scripture may be closed, but the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has not ceased." If this Spirit gives one a clear leading, it must be followed as the supreme guide to perceive
religious and moral truth.
North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative), Faith and Practice (1983)