Letters - 05 August 2011
From renovations to outreach
Large Meeting House
The proposed ‘green’ refurbishment at Friends House as set out in the article by Symon Hill (22 July) is deeply disturbing. The use of scarce resources – the cost is stated to be £4.25 million – on a major makeover of the Large Meeting House is a dramatic example of how property management can absorb our mental as well as our financial energies.
Think, Friends, of how much good in the world these resources could do if used to fund initiatives like peacemaking in Israel Palestine, supporting Quaker Social Action or the Quaker United Nations operations. Think how many Meeting houses around the country could be assisted with green initiatives.
Let us hope that trustees can think again about the use of these resources and let them speak our voice in the world in ways that the world would see as absolutely consistent with ‘our Quaker testimonies to simplicity, integrity, peace and equality, and to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability’.
This expensive architectural adventure may win design prizes. Is this what we wish to ‘project as Quakerism to London and throughout Britain?’
Anthony Woolhouse
I’d like to put into my context my comments on the Large Meeting House refurbishment, as quoted by Symon Hill.
I’m mainly concerned about those times when a YM session at Friends House overruns and parents have to leave early to collect children from the under-19s programme. I feel that they should be able to exit without embarrassment or the fear of disturbing other Friends and the gallery is ideal for this.
I know, from my own past experience and from supporting young families in my Meeting, the desperate need parents can have for spiritual refreshment and how hard that is to come by. If we make parents’ lives more difficult at our Business Meetings we are, in effect, disenfranchising them. Where is the equality in that?
Eleanor Jackson
Managing money
Nicholas McGeorge (Letters 22 July) writes that the John Lewis Partnership is not a ‘balance between shareholder capitalism and stewardship’ but is part of the co-operative sector. Yes, indeed, with 76,000 people it is the second largest employee-owned business listed in the superb annual review The UK Co-operative Economy 2011 recently published by Co-operatives UK. It can be downloaded at www.uk.coop/economy2011.
Cooperative businesses, including John Lewis Partnership, have no equity shareholders looking for short-term profits. They are an alternative way of structuring business, combining economic viability with social responsibility. Following the scandalous behaviour of shareholder-owned banks that led to the 2008 financial crisis, the cooperative sector of the economy is growing steadily. I believe this will be the century of cooperation; it’s our best hope to achieve the kind of social justice for which Quakers stand.
Roger Sawtell
Meeting for Sufferings review
Thank you, John Nurse, for your thought-provoking article on the future of Meeting for Sufferings (29 July).
I share John’s concern about the recommendations of the Review Group and said so at Sufferings on 4 June – although the Friend failed to report this. My view is that Sufferings focuses far too much on the centrally managed work and fails to provide adequate space for Friends to share the experience and concerns of Local and Area Meetings. The Review Group’s Recommendation I reinforces this emphasis on centrally managed work.
With the appointment of YM trustees, there is no need for the MfS agenda to be dominated by reports and discussion on the centrally managed work. Most Quaker activity is conducted locally, in Fairtrade groups, refugee support, peace vigils, outreach and our meetings for worship. Sufferings has the opportunity and should have the responsibility to act as a forum for all the work of Friends, whether carried out at central of more local level.
Ralph Taylor
Outreach
I too feel very concerned about the future of British Quakers (Claire Brazil 22 July) but was prompted to write because of the letter from Caroline Westgate. I think that Quaker schools are a much underrated source of outreach for the Society of Friends. I attended the General Meeting of Ackworth School recently and was very encouraged to hear about the considerable emphasis on Quakerism throughout the school not only in Meeting for Worship but throughout the curriculum and leisure activities.
Please, Friends should be more positive about these schools and appreciate the fact that many young people are affected by our testimonies and attitudes to life?
Elizabeth R Morris
