‘Forethought, care and possibly extra time are likely to help.’ Photo: by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash
Mixed blessing: Fred Ashmore recounts a meeting on blended worship
‘We are learning together and will keep adapting and sharing experience.’
Quaker Stewardship Committee (QSC) recently hosted an online meeting for Area Meeting (AM) trustees to talk together about blended worship – combining those gathering in person with those online in a single Meeting for Worship. Nearly fifty trustees joined in the discussion, hearing from Martin Burnell (South-East Scotland AM) and Jonathan Carmichael (BYM staff) about the practical and the Quaker aspects of blended Meetings.
There was a strong sense that blended Meetings are a way forward for Friends. Many contributors emphasised the inclusive nature of the blended Meeting. It can bring in Friends with physical problems, Friends from the past, younger Friends and those who just live a long way from the Meeting place. And some new Friends. Blending also includes Friends unable to use technology themselves, or unable to travel far, so they can join with those who are online. Children’s Meeting can be a cheerful success too! There were several expressions of valuing the worship and getting a lot from it. It also seems likely that some Friends will be very cautious about Covid-19 for a lot of this year, so enabling them to join online as Meetings begin to re-open in person will be helpful.
There are new things to get used to with equipment in the Meeting room and some help is needed for the technologically challenged. But we are learning together and will keep adapting and sharing experience. Guidance is available on the Britain Yearly Meeting coronavirus webpage and the property advice cluster is a good place for queries. Overall, sound quality seems most important, and professional advice can really help.
We discussed some difficulties that may arise in Business Meetings both by Zoom and blended. In particular, the clerk of the Meeting may feel difficulty in getting the sense of the Meeting, and may feel bustled by the number of different things to be done. We reminded Friends of the guidance on Woodbrooke’s website about right holding of Meetings (for Worship and for Business). Forethought, care and possibly extra time are likely to help. An actively-involved Friend, or assistant clerk supporting the clerk as spotter for requests to speak, may be invaluable, along with a more explicit role for elders, and a separate person hosting the technology. Throughout the evening there was a feeling of going forward adventurously, embracing the opportunities presented by blended worship for the future of Quakerism.
QSC will offer further meetings in this style, the first on Burial Grounds on 25 February. Register for the meeting on Zoom at http://bit.ly/QSCBGs.
