Chichester Meeting affirms statement on diversity
Friends in Chichester have agreed a statement on diversity
Chichester Meeting has affirmed a statement on diversity after a group of LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning) Friends spoke at Sussex West Area Meeting in October 2016.
‘Supported by others from the group, four Friends, three from our Area Meeting and one from London, told us of their experiences – of being gay and of being transgender,’ said Maria Martin, a member of Chichester Meeting.
‘It was an exceptional meeting. With courage, frankness and humour they opened our eyes to our need for knowledge and understanding,’ she added.
‘Following the session several of us kept in touch and were therefore thrilled to see the reports in the Friend of the inclusion statement, initiated by Wanstead Friends and the North East Thames Area Meeting, and later to learn that it had been warmly welcomed by Meeting for Sufferings.’
Chichester Meeting took up the concern. Maria Martin explained: ‘We recognised that Chichester Friends’ experiences complemented and overlapped the North East Thames statement but also had our own particular and unique issues which we wanted to express.’
She added: ‘Also feedback from the wider Meeting reminded us that, by including some Friends we must not exclude others – feeling challenged was fine, feeling threatened was not – but over several sessions gradual, sensitive progress was made.’
In September 2017 Chichester Meeting agreed the following statement:
‘Safe, welcomed, valued, respected.
‘At Chichester Quaker Meeting all are welcome, respected, valued and safe to fully participate as their true selves, free from gender assumptions and stereotypes as we seek to discover and follow the inward light in which we walk.
‘In our sharing of personal stories we have come to recognise the need to support both those who are transgender and nonbinary and their friends and families who may be struggling in coming to terms with their own personal responses and feelings.
‘We acknowledge too that we are all at different stages of our personal journeys in our understanding of gender identity. We do not want to be divided by the words we use but rather “feel where the words come from” (John Woolman’s Journal 1763).
‘We trust that together we can deepen our understanding so that Chichester Quaker Meeting truly becomes a place where all are welcomed, supported and nurtured.’
The statement concludes: ‘We rejoice in our own diversity and in creating a place where we can listen to and connect with one another and, “helping one another up with a tender hand” (Isaac Penington 1667, Quaker faith & practice 10.01), accompany one another with love.’
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