Ireland Yearly Meeting: Live simply…
Rachel Cave and Janet Gooberman report on Ireland Yearly Meeting
The theme of Ireland Yearly Meeting (IYM) 2017, which was held at The High School, Rathgar in Dublin between 20-23 April, was a quotation from Mohandas Gandhi: ‘Live simply, so that others may simply live’.
Friends and attenders from across Ireland were joined by Yearly Meeting representatives from Britain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and Russia. Clerk Heather Bewley welcomed representatives from the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO), the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), the Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), and from other faith groups.
Each day began with silent worship and a reading. Spiritual reflection groups were included in this year’s programme, allowing more time to think about proceedings.
Feeling alone
In Friday’s Ministry and Oversight session, ‘Feeling Alone’, Simon Lamb examined the Biblical use of ‘lonely’ and ‘alone’, which occur regularly in the Old Testament but in the New Testament only twice and in the context of lonely places, not personal feelings. Simon noted that God is always ready to comfort us if we are willing to be comforted. Friends shared their personal experience of loneliness, highlighting that it is often associated with bereavement, with travelling, and with living as a single person. It was suggested that different age groups need to mix more to counteract loneliness. A reference was made to a quotation from the Bible: ‘Be not be afraid, I am with you’ (Isaiah 41:10).
Living simply was considered in worship sharing. Friends were encouraged ‘to be’ – spending time with nature, with a loved other, and engaging in meaningful experiences – rather than ‘to have’ – goods, rank, or recognition of achievements, which lead us to desire more of the same.
Two Friends, Anne-Marie Woods and Catherine O’Dea, gave an entertaining presentation on the diversity of Meetings for Worship they have visited on their ongoing ‘pilgrimage’ to every Meeting on the island of Ireland, stressing the importance of tea!
Peace witness
Friends heard that the peace witness at College Green in Dublin ran monthly throughout 2016, encouraging the public to consider the violence of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme alongside the Quaker Peace Testimony. Pauline Goggin shared the realities of the Eurosatory arms fair in Paris, with beautifully polished weapons laid out like exhibits at an Ideal Home Show, alongside stands offering field hospital equipment and artificial replacement limbs, and asked Friends to consider how this unashamed industry of death has become ‘normal’ in our world.
The European Union spends about €255 billion a year on the military and only about one per cent of that on peacebuilding. There is now a redefinition of EU ‘aid’ to include military equipment. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin spoke briefly to the idea that we are experiencing what pope Francis has called a ‘third world war by instalments’. He encouraged Friends to continue their work with other faith communities to oppose war.
Frances Tolton’s video The Star Thrower showed a young man returning stranded starfish to the sea from among thousands on the beach. The remark that such a small gesture would make no difference was countered by the reply: ‘Well, it made a difference to that one.’ As Joel A Barker said: ‘Vision with action can change the world.’
‘The way, the truth and the life’
The annual Public Lecture was given by Rachel Bewley-Bateman on ‘The way, the truth and the life – what does this mean for us today?’ A walk through the history of the Reformation and the development of Quakers was followed by an overview of Rachel’s life and work with the Quaker family business and the Quaker community in Ireland and abroad. A very poignant memory of a year of bereavements she suffered in 1999 was followed by the singing of a hymn by all present, to the tune of ‘The Londonderry Air’.
Geraldine Grubb delivered the Irish Quaker Faith in Action (IQFA) report, asking Friends to remember the treasurer Siobhan O’Doherty, who died in February and is very sadly missed by the IQFA Committee and all who knew her. The many projects funded in 2016 were, geographically, widely spaced. IQFA looks for a Quaker connection to help with oversight of these projects.
Richard Bloomfield and Lynn Finnegan of Eco-Quakers spoke to the sustainability plans being implemented by Meetings across Ireland, including IYM. Friends were encouraged to consider the effectiveness of actions taken so that some metrics can be collected, to draw upon the wealth of available experience and to consider how truth prospers with respect to sustainability.
Denise Gabuzda spoke of the Purposes and Priorities Working Group’s (PPWG) support for the spiritual needs of Friends, under the headings of ‘Membership’, ‘Outreach’ and ‘Organisational Structures’. A very nurturing session was held in Moyallen, County Armagh, on how to recognise membership and to involve attenders more in the organisational structure of the Religious Society of Friends. PPWG have submitted suggestions to Ireland Yearly Meeting Committee (IYMC) for discussion.
Human impacts of climate change
Jonathan Woolley, the director of QUNO’s Geneva office, spoke about the work it does under the four headings of ‘Human Impacts of Climate Change’, ‘Human Rights and Refugees including prisoners’, ‘Peace and Disarmament’ (on which there has been no agreed international agenda for seventeen years) and ‘Food and Sustainability’. An estimated 1.5 million small farmers produce about ninety per cent of the world’s food, but are often overlooked when drafting policy. Informal events at Quaker House allow guests to leave their business persona at the door and to find and discuss common ground, whatever their official positions on an issue. Often the wording of UN documents can be improved as a result.
John Parkin reported on the work of EAPPI where volunteers spend three months in the occupied West Bank accompanying villagers as neutral witnesses, thereby helping to reduce or prevent violence. He asked for volunteers. Judith Poole reported on a young adults retreat at Moyallon, including a quiet afternoon – a new experience for participants.
An information session on same-sex marriage was added to the programme. Much more discussion is needed and IYM agreed a minute to hold a special Yearly Meeting. Friends are urged to engage in listening to ‘the other’ on this subject.
Andrew Lane, director of QCEA, reported on its work on peace and human rights. Kate McNally, QCEA forced migration project coordinator, explained her work helping those who support refugees to cope with secondary trauma. EU governments are required to hold meetings with faith communities. These provide opportunities for Friends to make clear concerns on issues such as the increased militarisation of the EU. Friends are urged to read and respond to a draft response to an open letter from the Conference of European Churches providing a critique of the current state of the EU.
Further information on the draft response: emes@fwccemes.org. Ireland Yearly Meeting 2018 is in Limerick.
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