Yearly Meeting 2024: Preparation - part two
The Friend reports from the first days of Yearly Meeting preparation sessions and special interest meetings
At a session on Alternative forms of Quaker community, Jude Acton and Rachel Matthews, of Quaker Life, talked about what central support was available for Friends whose Quaker communities didn’t map exactly onto the Local Meeting/Area Meeting structure. For the seventeen Friends gathered this referred mostly to their online gatherings, while others represented neurodivergent Quakers or groups of writers.
There were four kinds of support available, said Rachel: accompaniment from local development workers; resources such as leaflets, books or templates; networks, often offering peer support; and activities such as conferences.
Friends discussed their differing communities in breakout rooms, and regathered to discuss the difficulties of hybrid Meetings. ‘I hate the term “in-person”’, said one. ‘I may be online but I’m still in person!’
Later, Friends gathered to consider a sermon by Munther Isaac, pastor of the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, in a session called: Costly solidarity? A faith response to suffering in Palestine and Israel. The pastor said: ‘This is a moral obligation. This is not the time for neutrality or soft diplomacy.’
After a ‘whistle stop tour’ of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), a panel attempted to explore what Christian witness means during a time of conflict. This included Marisa Johnson, clerk to Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) trustees; John Munayer, a Palestinian Christian theologian; and William Bell, from Christian Aid.
John Munayer spoke about the dangers of over-focusing on Palestinian Christians rather than Palestinian Muslims; and neglecting other horrific conflicts elsewhere in the world. Pressed on which words best describe the situation, John said that the quandaries are ‘very western-focused’ and don’t ‘consider what Palestinians think’. From their lived experience, ‘it is clear that it is genocide and apartheid’.
William Bell then explored the legal definitions (where they exist) of the contested terminology mooted to describe the atrocities. These included: ‘persecution’, ‘genocide’, ‘apartheid’, ‘occupation’, ‘ethnic cleansing’, ‘annexation’, ‘displacement’ and ‘terrorism’. ‘The one common denominator, whatever word we use, is the innocent civilians who consistently get forgotten,’ he said. For too long churches have ‘dipped the difficult questions… for the fear of causing offence within our own societies… We must be prepared to speak truth to power and apply principled impartiality – no matter how uncomfortable.’
‘The truth is very complex.’
Stephanie Hunt, from the Middle East team in Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QSPW), thanked him for exploring the terminology, as Quakers are currently grappling with this.
Marisa Johnson then spoke about her ‘deep sense of grief’ about the horrors in Gaza, and her years in the region witnessing the fractures and oppressions affecting the community, long before the current violence. She said there needs to be an appreciation of where the conflict has, ultimately, come from however. ‘The roots go back to the appalling antisemitism and persecution of the Jewish people in Europe – it is us as Europeans who carry the burden of what has been unfolding.’
Marisa also spoke about her wariness in bandying around words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’. Using words that trigger ‘a visceral emotional response’ that is ‘difficult to engage with’, and getting lost in linguistic arguments, might be unhelpful. ‘If we argue about the words, we lose the plot of what would actually make real progress… As a church we do need to speak truth, but the truth is very complex.’
On Friday afternoon Friends heard about a Quaker-led project to bring clean water to villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The session Quaker Congo Partnership (QCP) – update on our work with a Quaker church in the DRC and its challenges introduced members of the Evangelical Quaker Churches of the Eastern Congo (CEEACO) via a live video link. QCP partners with CEEACO, supporting the local hospital serving 40,000 people, and empowering a group of women to develop their own businesses. The partnership also develops peacebuilding and conflict resolution skills among young people, which QCP said is ‘sorely needed’ in an area ‘racked with strife over conflict minerals’.
Friends heard from Catherine Putz, visiting Congo with her husband Mark on their way to the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC)’s World Plenary in South Africa in August. Isaac, from CEEACO, spoke about preventing sexual violence and plans to enlist young people in a Turning the Tide programme.
Alfazaki, also from CEEACO, then described his work supervising the clean water project. A video demonstrated this, showing how life had improved in Abeka since the clean water supply had been installed. There has been a ninety-five per cent drop in waterborne disease, a marked reduction in stomach illnesses, and skin conditions have improved. Now the partnership is raising funds to install a clear water supply in Mkwezi.
In questions, Friends asked ‘How can we help?’ ‘Money,’ came the answer.
News from the Book of Discipline Revision Committee is always popular, and over fifty Friends met on Friday evening for Revising Quaker faith & practice: an update. Michael Phipps, assistant clerk, recapped some of the history behind the revision, taking Friends back to 2018 when the call came from Yearly Meeting for a completely new book, not just one of minor revisions. There were thirty main topics to address, said Michael, and the committee had compiled drafts for fifteen of them. A complete draft of the book would be ready for Yearly Meeting 2027, when clear guidance would be needed.
Rosie Carnall, co-clerk, told Friends how the committee was carrying out its work, introducing committee members who had taken on specific subjects. Andrew Williams talked of work on ‘Witness’, while Rhiannon Grant updated Friends on ‘Theology’, which, while interwoven throughout the book, would also get its own section. Jess Hubbard-Bailey said that the image of a tree had been helpful as the committee considered structure: a living, growing, dynamic community, with historical roots, a trunk of core values, and buds of the future. Nuala Watts is looking for content from children and young people, she said. The current book focussed on parents, but the perspective of six-year-olds was also an essential part of Quaker life. She offered one example: ‘We want peace. And biscuits.’
After breaking into small groups, Friends regathered to discuss what they’d heard. They were delighted with the focus on making the book truly accessible, with plans for audio versions and better visuals. Discussion moved on to how Friends could be introduced to the new material. Perhaps book groups might be formed?
Writing by: Rebecca Hardy, journalist at the Friend; Imi Hills, a freelancer from West Weald Meeting; Joseph Jones, editor of the Friend; and Elinor Smallman, production manager at the Friend.
Next week: 8-10 July preparation sessions and special interest group sessions.
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