Meeting for Sufferings: Truth, Integrity and Democracy
‘Is there something Quaker we have to say on the issue of democracy?’
The first main item on the agenda arose from a conference of the recently-formed Quaker Truth and Integrity Group in April, which issued ‘A Rallying Call for Quakers’ in its final statement.
Grace Da Costa, public affairs and media manager for Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM), started the session speaking on the ‘creeping authoritarianism’ affecting the UK. Beginning perhaps with the Lobbying Act in 2014, Grace said there had been ‘a slow erosion of democratic rights’, including: the Police Crime, Sentencing and Court Bill; criticism of charities exploring racism, colonialism and white privilege; the proposed Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Bill; The Elections Act 2021; and the Bill of Rights.
Presenting the Quaker case for working towards a ‘thriving democracy’ (‘maybe the kingdom of heaven looks like democracy’), she made the point that ‘as democracy weakens it becomes harder for us to campaign for positive change in any area’.
Sufferings was presented with two key questions: ‘Is there something Quaker we have to say on the issue of democracy?’ and ‘Is there a particular role in protecting and promoting democracy in Britain?’
The ministry that followed was powerful, as Friends spoke about their deep unease over the current drift. One Quaker said that in her local Yorkshire Meeting there had been ‘a grand swell of ministry’ with people saying ‘for the first time in our lives we don’t know how to act’ because of the ‘underlying corruption’. One Friend from Wales said: ‘We have a strong theological basis for our work’ which will ‘help move us forwards’ – particularly in ‘speaking truth to power’ and ‘finding common and kinder ground’. Another Friend, who is involved in a political party, said how important it was to have direct contact with local MP or councillors, which is often ‘highly appreciated’.
At times the ministry grew emotional. One Friend from South East England quoted a ninety-three-year-old woman who said she was ‘excited to be living in a time when great contributions can be made’. ‘I thought this was a wonderful way to think about these very distressing times.’ She wondered if we can feel excitement rather than despair. Mentioning a Woodbrooke course on creating communities of resistance, the Friend said that another phrase that had stuck with her was ‘being called into a pool of light’. ‘These are such turbulent times that we do need to be prepared as we were called in the seventeenth century… it’s terribly important that we keep the channels of communication… with other faith and civil groups’.
Speaking to the question of what Quaker can distinctively bring, one South West Friend cited the Quakerly way of remembering ‘the humanity of the people we are opposing… Quakers speak to the oppressed and the oppressors’.
‘We need to be led [by the whole] not by the few,’ said another Friend. ‘I do hope that we engage the wider constituency of the society.’ Another Quaker shared the ‘huge feelings’ she had about the issue. ‘We need to think of how we support each other.’
Trustees then drafted a first minute which met with several suggested changes. One Friend said she had heard ‘anger and fear’ in the room, suggesting it was added to ‘frustration and helplessness’.
‘I also heard a call for us to listen,’ another Friend offered. ‘As individuals we may feel powerless, but by coming together to listen to the holy spirit… we can change events. After revisions, the Minute asked ‘Can we keep the argument going, listening to one another … with mutual respect and love…?’
Comments
Trustees? Clerks, I hope
By doreen.osborne@outlook.com on 7th July 2022 - 10:28
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