Meeting for Sufferings: BYM trustees report
Jonathan Fox reported on the work of the trustees and Ron Barden delivered his last report as treasurer
Jonathan Fox, clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) trustees, reported on their work. He mentioned four topics: the refurbishment of the Large Meeting House; the priority to strengthen advocacy; the relationship between trustees and Meeting for Sufferings (MfS); and the close work of trustees with Management Meeting.
The trustees produced a paper responding to the minute from Hampshire and the Islands Area Meeting on the relationship and responsibilities of trustees and MfS. ‘Trustees are clear that they have acted, in the case of the Large Meeting House development, within their terms of reference’, but they also ‘recognise the need to make clear when they are seeking guidance from MfS and when consultation is indirect or informal’.
Many views on the develop-ment of the Large Meeting House were expressed. One representative said that points about the Skyspace, designed by James Turrell, had been mentioned at the trustees’ surgeries before MfS and that there would be cost implications for BYM. He saw the benefit of the smaller decision-making body of trustees being more able to seek outside advice. No decision on acceptance has been made.
Mention was made of a recent meeting held jointly with trustees and Management Meeting that brought the whole team together to form a closer working relationship.
A question was raised about the trustees minute referring to the work on vibrancy in Meetings that is being done cooperatively between Woodbrooke and BYM. Paul Parker responded on this point as he and Sandra Berry, director of Woodbrooke, have begun work on finding out what makes some Meetings more vibrant than others. The work is to develop a project to help Area Meetings to become ‘vibrant, dynamic places, responsive to the promptings of the Spirit’. The research phase of this project is now beginning. One Friend said that she was excited about this undertaking and hoped it would find a way to encourage new attenders to attend Business Meetings.
BYM annual financial statements
Meeting for Sufferings received Ron Barden’s last report as Yearly Meeting treasurer.
The report for Quaker Finance and Property and Quaker Communications spoke of the Society’s recurring costs, such as £5 million in staff costs. Ron commented that although we have reserves to cover our liabilities, they are not excessive.
The minute reads: ‘individual contributions continue to go down, and gaps in our income are met from the hospitality company. Investment income is holding.’
However, contributions from individuals and Meetings only met twenty-eight per cent of BYM’s outgoings – down from thirty-two per cent last year. This is a worrying trend.
BYM is fortunate to have no debts thanks to legacies but they can not be relied upon.
Comments
I am not sure what to make of our trustees recommendation that we should not be hosting Jeremy Corbyn at the start of Yearly Meeting (as part of the Salter Lecture) for fear that it might expose Friends House staff to risk, move attention away from other issues we should be addressing and threaten the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.
Is there a danger that in we are giving into the threat of intimidation?
I am struggling to make sense of the remit of trustees. I had thought that their role is to ensure that Britain Yearly Meeting complies with charity legislation. I am wondering if making recommendations about who should be part of Yearly Meeting and who should not is outside of their boundary of responsibility.
Perhaps I am wrong.
In Friendship.
By Richard Pashley on 8th March 2024 - 16:51
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