Meeting for Sufferings: Four specific proposals on sustainability
Meeting for Sufferings considered proposals for Britain Yearly Meeting's work on sustainability
It has been ‘a long journey’ for Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) on the issue of sustainability, Anne Ullathorne, clerk of Meeting for Sufferings (MfS), said on 6 October at Friends House in London. She added: ‘We haven’t got to the end of it yet.’
A meeting of key committees in July was united in wanting to ensure that all parts of BYM integrate environmental sustainability into their thinking and activity. There were now four specific proposals for Sufferings to consider.
First: Was MfS content with the way the responsibilities were being shared? Second: Was MfS content with meetings between groups and committees taking place in future, to provide ‘liaison and mutual encouragement’? Third: Should Woodbrooke be approached about exploring ‘whether it could provide ways of nurturing Friends’ many forms of ministry in this field’? Fourth: ‘Could the whole Yearly Meeting commit itself to the bold target of becoming carbon neutral or “net zero” in carbon?… Is this something MfS would want to see thought through carefully and brought back for consideration?’
The first three proposals were agreed to. Ministry on the fourth included: ‘I think we’re nodding through things rather quickly.’ With regard to converting Meeting houses, ‘more resources in this area’ were needed.
Another Friend said: ‘The government has wrecked the sustainability industry… My advice is to pause [and] think about the impact on our other testimonies.’
Sufferings was informed that Norway is buying UK garbage and converting it into cleaner energy.
One Friend said: ‘Several of our Meeting houses will be hundreds of years old – listed buildings. There may be legal restrictions on what we want to do.’ He advised: ‘Live simply for the moment.’
In the view of another Friend: ‘Any targets have to be realistic. We have to be able to continue some of our activities.’
One speaker said: ‘All we’re being asked to do is investigate. Are we going to say to Young Friends: “It’s too difficult?”’ She added: ‘Where there is a will, a way can be found.’
Another Friend said: ‘The advocacy going on behind the scenes… we should be proud of. Perhaps we’re not doing enough to let Friends know what we’re achieving.’
Sufferings was reminded that Paul Parker, recording clerk of BYM, was part of a faith delegation that met Claire Perry, the energy minister, several weeks ago.
Paul Parker told Sufferings that he ‘went into the meeting not expecting a great deal, but there was genuine engagement’. He said: ‘The government wishes to be aspirational.’ There was ‘an opportunity to show them what aspirational means… Strength comes from showing what we can achieve at grassroots level. We need to show people want change and can work together to bring it about.’
MfS agreed to ask for ‘further guidance and advice’ on what it means for Meeting houses and for centrally managed work to be ‘zero carbon’. It was agreed to send the minute to the BYM Sustainability Group. Sufferings will return to the sustainability issue in November.
