The Friend

Beyond doubt? Harvey Gillman wonders if Friends could be more positive about their faith

In a radio interview on the BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme, our Friend Tim Gee (general secretary to Friends World Committee for Consultation) described his coming back to Friends as ‘a mountain top experience’, an ecstatic experience of relationship with God. ‘I quaked,’ he said.

Cause for concern: Roger Tuckett on autism exclusion

During worship at my Local Meeting in September, I was moved to speak and act under concern. This text summarises what I said: 

On a roll: Klaus Huber ramps up the access

In 2012, when I arrived in Bradford on Avon as the new Meeting house warden, I was pleased to see that there was wheelchair access and an accessible toilet. When opening the door to this, the sight was as follows: a toilet at the far end, and next to it a large space filled with traffic cones, a wheelchair ramp, and a folded-up wheelchair. 

General Meeting (GM) for Scotland: Anthony Buxton & Piers Voysey report from Dundee (and online)

Our Meeting was held in Dundee Meeting House, and online (Anthony was online and Piers in Dundee). Being in the room has advantages: meeting new Friends, regaining acquaintances, and there was interesting side-chat about property, rewilding and the US election. But joining online saves the pre-dawn rise and late return – saves flagging energy.

Building community: Epistle of the General Assembly of Quaker Council for European Affairs, November

‘In opening worship, hearing words from Joanna Macy, we were encouraged ‘to be absolutely present’.

Our workshop with Sarah Diedro Jordão on anti-racism and anti-oppressive behaviour started with a summary of the two previous sessions and then in small groups we considered what we can do to improve diversity, both in QCEA and also in our own communities and meetings. The recognition of the dominance of English was clear and became a theme throughout the two days. We look forward to including an agenda item at future General Assemblies (GA) in another European language, and to learning from those in our community who already have more focus on translation and interpreting in their meetings.