Issue 06-10-2023
Featured story
Bad apples? Wendy Pattinson’s Thought for the week
The tale of Adam and Eve would originally have been told as a wisdom story, explaining humans’ place in creation. But, to me, the way it has been written down and interpreted is unhelpful, even possibly harmful. Indeed, I think Jesus’ ministry challenges it.
Top stories
Conversation peace: an introduction to Quaker Peacebuilding Perspectives
Quaker Peacebuilding Perspectives (QPP) is an informal, international peace group formed in April 2022 out of deep concern about the tragic conflict in Ukraine. QPP is driven by the realisation that this conflict has grave far-reaching consequences for the wider region extending well into the future. All are welcome to join,...
BYM backs witness for Trudi Warner
Friends were among over 250 people who sat outside UK courts last week to remind jurors they can decide according to conscience. Malvern Quaker Melanie Jameson joined a group of five others ‘to witness in support of climate protestors charged and under threat for holding placards’, she said.
Out standing: Richard Stewart on running a vigil
For many decades our Ipswich Meeting has been involved in vigils. These have ranged from two people standing with placards in Ipswich town centre, to the national protest against the Iraq war, in London. Our latest vigil, at the end of July, was a protest against a military show held...
Fair dinkum: Tony D’Souza goes down under
Greetings from Australia. I am staying in Perth, Western Australia, as a paying guest of the local regional Meeting (Western Australia Regional Meeting – WARM). I am very grateful to them for the opportunity to experience contemporary Australian life. I hope this article will be the first of many; they are...
Eye - 6 October 2022
Opening the doors Friends in London took part in a city-wide community initiative in September. Bessie White, of Brentford and Isleworth Meeting, got in touch to shed light on local Friends’ activities (see photos). ‘Brentford and Isleworth was one of a number of London Meeting houses, old and new, welcoming...
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Friends hold Quaker Week climate vigils
Hundreds of Quakers across England and Scotland held climate vigils last month for Quaker Week.
Quakers renew calls to ‘Stop Ecocide’
Bristol Quakers hosted a ‘Stop Ecocide’ event last month to raise awareness of the campaign to make ecocide an international crime.
New custodians for Quaker memorial
The Quaker Service Memorial Trust had its last meeting last month, ending with what one Friend described as ‘a very positive closing minute’.
Cambridge Quakers honour Elizabeth Fry
Cambridge Quakers hosted a talk about Elizabeth Fry, the Victorian prison reformer, to hear about the legacy of her work.
Good and ready: Andrew Backhouse reports from YMAC
I went to my first Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee (YMAC) this last weekend, as a new member. I rather dreaded it – there were lots of papers and, like most Friends, I am rather busy doing other important things. But it was so nice to be there in person – real people...
Thee Quaker, produced by Georgia Sparling and Jon Watts
I have been enjoying the new(ish) North American Quaker podcast, Thee Quaker, for some months. I found it because I was looking for another podcast about Quakers when the Friend’s own podcast went on (temporary) hiatus, and now I also support it on Patreon (an online membership platform...
Black Mahler: The Samuel Coleridge-Taylor story, by Charles Elford
I was happy at my Anglican primary school in Croydon, though it was the sixties and it was ‘a different time’. We exited assemblies to the accompaniment of regimental marches played on a gramophone, and were expected to learn our letters from a reading-scheme populated entirely by middle-class children, none...
Jerusalem Odessa
Walk upon the rubble In the Odessa Bar of Jerusalem, they were drinking shell shock from the clouds, by whatever name this place is known no one loves them as much as this; walk upon the rubble, except perhaps their own camouflage leaders. and the collateral crucifixion, Imported weapons of...
Letters - 06 October 2023
Engaging with police The two DSEI-related letters in the Friend on 22 September present very different pictures of Quaker participation in the first week’s protests. Martin Schweiger’s account of the Walk of Witness is quietly positive, as apparently were communications with accompanying police. By contrast, Charlotte Allen’s letter...