Letters - 24 July 2026
From Discernment practice to In the swing
Discernment practice
Underneath a Quakers in Britain Facebook post last week (on the subject of Friends welcoming the conversion practice ban), thirty-six comments appeared over forty-eight hours. This number of comments is not unprecedented, but it is significantly above average – the previous ten posts received an average of 8.7 at the time of writing.
There were various concerns expressed, with two themes of note relating to representation and discernment.
I summarise these as: one, when Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) issues statements to the outside world, it can be read that this is the position of all Quakers in Britain. Does there need to be greater care with, or a review of, how BYM can use the ‘Quakers in Britain’ moniker when issuing statements?
Two, how can BYM have discerned its position with such speed when the draft bill was only published on 25 June this year? The moderators of the Facebook group did respond to one comment relating to discernment, referencing a minute from December 2021. As a respondent noted, that was five years ago, and a lot has changed since then.
Is it time to review how BYM issues statements? Should it even be within its remit (and I wonder whether this is really the question)? But if this practice is set to continue, how might it happen with greater clarity around whose views are being represented, and with a commitment to more timely discernment?
Rebecca Leek
First blessing
My Local Meeting treasures spiritual nurture. This month’s weekly readings were Advices & queries 2 (‘Treasure your experience of God, however it comes to you’) and Elizabeth Fry of 1798 in Quaker faith & practice 26.40 (‘Look up to true religion as the very first of blessings, cherish it, nourish and let it flourish and bloom in my heart; it wants taking care of, it is difficult to obtain. I must not despair or grow sceptical if I do not always feel religious. I felt God as it were, and I must seek to find Him again’).
The Advices & queries one prepared us. The 200-year-old quote from Elizabeth Fry spoke to our condition hugely. For me, ‘true religion as the very first of blessings’ meant I must find Him again.
Our usually quiet afterword had more than five responses. I hope these words are chosen for our week’s reading again soon.
David Fish
