Communing with animals

Friends report on an unusual Meeting for Worship

On a bright autumn Sunday, Quaker Concern for Animals (QCA), in collaboration with the Retreat Animal Rescue and Farm Sanctuary in Kent, held a silent Meeting for Worship alongside the animal residents. Horses, turkeys, pigs, sheep, goats and many others live there in peace.

Eight Friends journeyed from Lampeter, Littlehampton, London, Oxford and Rochester to open themselves to an ‘experiential relation’ with non-human animals, trusting to what silence and mere ‘being with’ could discover. All gathered in one of the fields occupied by goats, who accepted Friends into their home space and freely moved in and out of the Meeting circle, making contact on their own terms.

Sasha Lawson-Frost, of Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM), suggested the event to QCA. She says: ‘The idea of having an interspecies Meeting for Worship came out of my reflections on what it might mean, having a loving relationship with non-human animals. My understanding of Quakerism is rooted in a concept of unconditional love, which extends to all of creation and cannot be defined according to a set list of characteristics or boundaries.

‘However, what it means to love animals in a way that respects their fundamental differences to humans is a difficult question. By inviting other species into our practice of worship, I hoped to explore this puzzle further, by creating a space where we could meaningfully be in communion with animals in a spirit of worship and openness to Light. Having the Meeting in a sanctuary for farmed animals who have been rescued from factory farms and slaughterhouses also added another dimension, of how we might approach or respond to injustices to animals.’

According to Sasha Lawson-Frost, the Meeting was ‘beautiful’ and has left her ‘still in the process of discerning what the process means’. She says: ‘The goats walking around, making noises, and just being present contributed something very special to the Meeting. Perhaps we should think of this as the goats giving ministry? They also let us stroke them and sit with them and be with them. Perhaps this is a way of them upholding us as well as the other way round?’

It may be felt that the animals’ presence was indeed their ministry – that humans are only a part of the diversity of life? It also begs the question of how we demonstrate our spiritual and ethical beliefs by our actions towards those over whom we have power.

Lyndon Ship, who attends Blackheath Meeting, also shared his thoughts on the day, describing how his wonder soon turned to despair, and then, finally, relief, when he realised that the animals were not going to be killed. He says: ‘My excitement and relief was allowed to continue as I witnessed the animals interacting, socialising, feeding, nursing and resting, finally free to enjoy the life God gave them.’

At QCA we believe that the ‘everyone’ which has ‘that of God’, includes all beings. Surely a Meeting for Worship is a meeting of souls? With our animal Friends we felt able to dissolve the artificial ‘species barrier’ through worship.

Animals are a source of healing, inspiration and fun, and we offer thanks to animal kind for the daily ministry they give.

---

Comments

I found this moving. I feel that at a time of climate emergency and as we mourn species lost to the earth, one aspect of the radical change necessary for survival - and a more just and peaceful future- is a transformation in the way we look at and relate to other species.
Thank you.
Sue Hampton
Berkhamsted Meeting

By suehampton@btinternet.com on 30th November 2018 - 13:25

---

Please login to add a comment