Glasgow Friends offer space for reflection during COP26
'The COP is a place of intense intellectual and emotional activity, and previous COPs have highlighted the real need for such a quiet space.’
Quakers in Scotland have offered Glasgow Meeting House as a place of ‘quiet reflection’ during the twenty-sixth UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
Martin Mansell from Glasgow Meeting told the Friend: ‘We have worked on a submission by the Scottish Coalition to the UK government to provide a space at the COP (hopefully in the “blue zone” for badged delegates) for quiet reflection and spiritual renewal. The COP is a place of intense intellectual and emotional activity, and previous COPs have highlighted the real need for such a quiet space.’
Providing Glasgow Meeting House as a resource for Quakers and other groups is one of three focus areas that Friends have identified as a way they could make a ‘unique contribution’. The other two areas are: providing accommodation for visiting Friends and others; and support for delegates from poorer overseas countries.
Martin Mansell said: ‘We haven’t finalised plans yet, but we recognise that offering a space for silent worship, meditation and reflection would be a particularly Quakerly contribution. We would also be open to organising meetings with appropriate speakers and discussions, especially for groups that would otherwise find it difficult to get their voice heard. We are planning to upgrade our audio-visual facilities and broadband connection, as well as investing in improving the energy performance of the building.’
Quakers are also preparing for the international gathering in other ways.
West Scotland Area Meeting, as the ‘host’ Area Meeting for Glasgow, is coordinating the activities of Quakers in Scotland and has formed a ‘Hub Group’ for local Quakers and representatives from international Quaker bodies.
Meanwhile staff at Friends House are also coordinating Quaker activities. ‘In Scotland we are members of a coalition of over sixty faith and nonfaith groups who are preparing for COP and Quakers in Britain are members of a corresponding UK coalition,’ said Martin Mansell.
There will be a weekend of spiritual preparation for the gathering run by Quaker Peace & Social Witness. As part of this, the Hub Group is organising an online worship sharing event on 11 April.
Comments
My husband and I are coming to Glasgow for COP26 and would love to be able to drop in. Thank you!
By suehampton@btinternet.com on 25th March 2021 - 15:37
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