Meeting for Sufferings: Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations
‘Suddenly Christians across the piece realised that we are very diverse, yet find reasons to stand together as the body of Christ.’
Representatives had already read reports offered from Yearly Meetings around Europe, and expressed interest and gratuitude in response. It was a shame that no one had been able to attend Norway’s gathering, but a last-minute hitch in translation services made it impossible. Overall it was good to be ‘reminded of our place in the family of worldwide Friends’, said Margaret Bryan.
Two papers were offered from Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations (QCCIR). These were introduced by Elaine Green, clerk, who began by discussing the situation concerning the president of Churches Together in England (CTE). (Friends’ nomination of Hannah Brock Womack was not recognised, because of her same-sex marriage.)The report stated that the situation remained ‘unsatisfactory’, but in practice there had been positive developments, said Elaine. The ‘empty chair’ had catalysed a response, she believed, with other churches, like the United Reform Church, making their positions of support more explicit. Hannah’s ‘exemplary’ attitude had itself been a witness. ‘Suddenly Christians across the piece realised that we are very diverse, yet find reasons to stand together as the body of Christ,’ said Elaine.
QCCIR was also glad to now have a staff officer from BYM, who could attend meetings on the committee’s behalf.
Much recent interfaith work had focussed on the issues of climate and COP26, plus racism (here QCCIR was also represented by a BYM staff member, Edwina Peart). CTE’s structure was pretty ‘dysfunctional’ nationally, but good work could still be done.
Friends noted the large amount of work for QCCIR to do. Was all this possible? Not all interfaith work was done by QCCIR, intervened Juliet Prager, deputy recording clerk. Much of it happens locally, or in organisations like the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. The strategy was ambitious, said the resulting minute, so collaboration was essential.
Next week: Afternoon session, including COP26.
MfS minutes can be found at www.quaker.org.uk/mfspapers.
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