Issue 04-06-10
Featured Story
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Witnessing truth to power
Witness truth to power In our programme we were exploring the three main yearly meeting themes of Quakers and politics; a celebration of Quaker work and the ministry of giving. We shared our site with the 15-18s which we really enjoyed and gave us a stronger feeling of community. When…
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Britain Yearly Meeting Epistle
To all Friends everywhere, We send you loving greetings from Britain Yearly Meeting, held from 28th to 31st May 2010. Quakers of all ages from Britain and other yearly meetings gathered at Friends House London. It has been a joy to ‘see one another’s faces’ and to bring the spirit… -
The Swarthmore Lecture 2010
Paul Lacey’s lecture ‘The unequal world we inhabit’ has the subtitle ‘Quaker responses to terrorism and fundamentalism’. He is a scholar and uses research and analysis rather than first-hand stories. He writes as an ordinary person trying to understand phenomena that baffle and frighten us all and asks: ‘As a… -
Working towards the ‘divine commonwealth’
Friends have been urged to use their spiritual motivation to work with others towards the ‘divine commonwealth’. The phrase appeared as Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) explored political engagement. Several Friends emphasised the political importance of Quaker testimony. One said that his teenage daughters had instinctively judged candidates’ views on the… -
To boldly go: BYM trustees report 2009
‘How bold do you want trustees to be, Friends?’ Jonathan Fox, clerk to BYM trustees, asked the meeting on Saturday morning. Responding to some feeling that last year the trustees’ report, and BYM’s opportunity to engage with it, had got rather short shrift, this year it was allotted almost a…
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Inspiration follows routine business
The first session of Yearly Meeting is usually fairly routine: formal acceptance of the appointments in Documents in Advance and any supplements. Martin Ward stepped away from the table as newly appointed clerk Lis Burch replaced him. Chris Skidmore is the first assistant clerk and Julia Gordon second assistant. -
Journalists at Yearly Meeting?
‘Those who came to mock remained to pray.’ A paraphrased quote from Oliver Goldsmith provoked a wonderful fellowship of laughter late on Monday morning. The question of whether journalists should be allowed into sessions of Yearly Meeting had produced plenty of interesting, thoughtful and challenging views… and the odd laugh.… -
Interfaith visitor at YM
This year’s interfaith visitor was Shenaz Bunglawala, vice chair of the Europe and International Affairs Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain. Shenaz told BYM that this was her first time at a Quaker Meeting. A political scientist who writes and lectures on religion and politics in the UK and… -
Living in an unequal world
Roy Hattersley has encouraged Quakers to reject meritocracy and recognise that equal opportunities are not enough to achieve a just society. The former Labour politician urged Friends to focus on economic equality instead. He was applauded by an audience of around 400 as he encouraged them to become ‘evangelists’ for… -
Communication is the key
Special Interest Groups: Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations (QCCIR) and The Kindlers. These special interest groups focused – as did some of the main sessions – on issues around communication. In the first, David Cornick, of Churches Together in England, talked about the state of ecumenical and interfaith… -
Ministry of giving
What pushes us to give? Does it have to be money? Katie Frost told us how her first impulse toward giving was when the Aberfan coal slip disaster struck on 12 October 1966, killing 166 children and 28 adults. She was moved to go to her bedroom and empty her… -
Same-sex marriage update
Crucial questions about Quaker marriage procedure remain open as Friends continue to work on revisions to the marriage chapter of Quaker faith and practice. The revision was triggered by last year’s decision to carry out same-sex marriage on the same basis as mixed-sex marriage. Friends will seek unity on the… -
Q-Eye – 4 June 2010
Jack’s teddy bears The story of Jack Hoyland’s teddy bears has touched readers. Jack drove himself relentlessly in his Quaker work and, finally, had a breakdown. Part of his therapy was to make his bears. He used to take a huge bag of the ‘makings’ around with his everywhere, sitting… -
Detained children still need help
Quaker campaigners have warned Friends that they must keep up pressure on ministers who have promised to end child detention in immigration centres. The Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN) also insisted that the policy should not lead to children being separated from their parents. -
Worshippers on the up
The number of regular worshippers at British Quaker Meetings has risen for the first time in years – but the number in formal membership has dropped. Figures released last week show 14,447 members, a drop of 1.2 per cent. In contrast, the number of recognised attenders rose to 8,330, an…
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