Meeting for Sufferings: Quaker Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations (QCCIR)
QCCIR reported to Meeting for Sufferings on 7 December
QCCIR had been involved with the biggest recent news story in the Society. Hannah Brock Womack, of Sheffield & Balby Area Meeting, had been selected as a presidential nominee for Churches Together in England (CTE), but her appointment was unacceptable to some other churches in membership of CTE, due to the fact she is married to a person of the same sex. This had obviously caused some considerable difficulties between Britain Yearly Meeting and CTE, with many Friends expressing disappointment and anger about the decision, as well as concern for Hannah and her partner.
‘The first thing I want to say is that I’m fine’, said Hannah, reporting to the Meeting. She felt well supported by Friends and friends of other faiths. But she also knew that someone else in her positon might not be. Although she saw an opportunity to get issues around sexuality discussed, she wanted to make clear that it was not acceptable for them to be given a greater importance than all the other issues over which various churches disagreed. This was about how we live together in difference.
But Quakers have staying power, she said: ‘We have often been a lonely voice.’ She was keen to stay in the position on behalf of Friends who had found themselves in similar positions. ‘We have a chance to model God’s love for queer people. But we shouldn’t be complacent, and have a lot to learn from other churches.’
Indeed, said Ann Floyd of QWRC, responding, it was important to remember that there were divisions in our own world family. Another Friend said that it wasn’t just down to Quakers to live with difference – other faiths must too and had we been clear enough with them that we did not think that this was how life should be lived?
It had been made very clear, said Paul Parker, recording clerk, that it was ‘unacceptable to us to consider someone’s sexuality’ when considering such an appointment. Our sadness and disappointment had been expressed robustly, he said. Now we had to stick with it, he went on. ‘We’re in it for the long haul.’
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