. . . I pin my hopes to quiet processes and small circles Photo: Robin–24/flickr CC
Quaker political engagement
There is increasing awareness of the need for greater Quaker political engagement. One question raised at Yearly Meeting Gathering was whether this could best be achieved outside or within the structures of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM). Janet Quilley con
Background Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) first appointed a parliamentary liaison secretary in the 1980s and, at that time, an assistant or intern was also appointed. An informal support group developed into a Public Affairs Group, which was laid down in 2008, leaving Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) Central Committee directly responsible for governance. There are several aspects to the work: engaging with politicians and decision-makers; communicating Friends’ views; raising issues of concern; supporting local political activity among Friends and Meetings; and providing briefing papers on particular topics. We are now identifying the need for a stronger Quaker voice on the political scene: how does the emerging, urgent debate on sustainability relate to our Quaker values of justice, equality and fairness both nationally and in the wider world? The theme of our Yearly Meeting Gathering, the Swarthmore Lecture and many small meetings, have given impetus to our search for effective political involvement. In BYM we have begun to see this as the need for ‘advocacy’; does this describe adequately what we want from our political involvement?
