Title page of Peace Testimony Photo: Courtesy the Library of the Religious Society of Friends
What canst we say?
Peace education for the twenty-first century
George Fox stood on Pendle Hill in 1652 and had the vision that would be fundamental to our existence: ‘from the top of this hill the Lord let me see in what places he had a great people to be gathered’. Three years earlier the people had executed the king for treason. A great, bloody civil war, pitting brother against brother, son against father, had drawn to a close. Of the men who were Quakers in the years following the civil war, perhaps about a third had served as soldiers, including some who became prominent in the new movement, such as James Nayler. These men saw their efforts come to naught, their hopes and passions destroyed, and their dream of an earthbound utopia of justice and fairness and equality crumble into dust – first by the actions of the lord protector, and then by the restored king, Charles II. Women who had hoped and prayed for something better, as they endured the loss of sons, husbands, fathers, brothers, suffered rape and famine, knew from experience that they could not rely on armies to keep them safe, nor victory to ensure success.
These people, this great people to be gathered, knew the failure of an outward political vision. They realised there had to be another way. What we know now as Quakerism rose out of the wreckage of the civil war, and offered a different model of community, exemplifying what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like when translated into earthly terms: equality of all; an integrity of speech and action; a simplicity of dress, manner and behaviour; and where the peace promised in the Old Testament, and a central part of the message of Jesus of Nazareth, was finally brought into fruition by those living a transformed life. Historians might debate the extent to which political astuteness also played its part, for this group had to demonstrate they posed no threat to the regime. However, this people were able to corporately declare, confidently and clearly, that they were living ‘in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars’.
‘…the spirit of Christ which leads us into all Truth will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world.’
Thus from the great stream of history, Quakers emerged and the Peace Testimony was born. We Quakers are not the only peace church, but one of the very few. Some of us may not be able to place ourselves in that spiritual condition of George Fox or to be able to speak authentically with that sublime rapture that infuses of James Nayler’s final words. (Quaker faith & practice 19.12) But wherever we are on the peace spectrum, we share more in common than that which divides us from secular democrats or members of other churches. We have a responsibility to hold in trust this rare and very special message for humankind. We have also have a responsibility to nurture the attitudes and understandings that will allow this message to flourish: we have a responsibility for peace education.
Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) holds considerable responsibility for peace education on our behalf. A Peace Education Group, responsible to QPSW Central Committee, supports and oversees the work of a programme manager. Currently that programme is divided broadly into work for peace and about peace.
The key issue is to ensure that the peace education programme speaks to the situation today as QPSW Central Committee recently minuted ‘…this committee is not convinced that this programme is now meeting the needs of Friends in our yearly meeting who are active in peace education for children and young people in Britain. We are concerned that the outcomes of the work are not commensurate with the efforts put into it. We discern the need for a radical redesign of this programme towards a more decentralised approach to the work.’, but in order to undertake this ‘radical redesign’ QPSW is looking for imaginative and bold proposals in the field of peace education, and wants to ensure that work done in their name represents the wishes of Friends at this time. In that redesign, while the best of current provision needs to be recognised, there is no expectation that current work patterns or current thinking will necessarily be carried forward. The Framework for Action states: ‘We need to be good stewards of all the resources in our care…’ and we will need to be cognisant of the resources available, but within these limits anything is possible. Perhaps QPSW needs to support work already happening at a local or regional level. Or it may be that entirely new work is required. Should the focus be on Quakers or non-Quakers?
To achieve the necessary broad spectrum of thinking, QPSW wishes to undertake a wide ranging consultation with Friends across the whole of Britain Yearly Meeting. You are invited to contribute to this consultation exercise. You may send your ideas or details of your experience of peace education as an individual, or it may be that a study group or others in a particular Local Meeting or Area Meeting would like to bring suggestions forward.
In the spirit of appreciative enquiry, the following questions may provide a helpful framework:
• Where should we seek to innovate in this field (for instance, what should be done that is entirely new)?
• What is it that requires substantial development within the field of peace education (for example, what, if anything, currently exists but could be improved to fully realise its potential)?
• What is most effective in the current peace education programme (for example, what, if anything, should be maintained)?
Even if you feel that you cannot comment knowledgeably about the third aspect, do not feel prevented from responding to the other sections.
It would be helpful to learn if you felt that particular groups should be the focus of QPSW efforts, for example, Quaker/non-Quakers; young people; work in schools; work in Local Meetings; or indeed, any group not mentioned. Responses should be made by Friday 3 September to Helen Drewery c/o Friends House or helend@quaker.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
