Letters - 30 June 2023
From Quaker governance to Quaker values
Quaker governance
I was heartened by the recent letters (16 June) that recalled us to our theistic wellsprings. Our very basis of Quaker governance rests upon ‘be still, and know that I am God’. And this, a waiting on the Spirit that goes beyond the ego of the ‘me’, beyond even the democracy of ‘we’, but gathered within ‘thee’.
But where might this leave nontheist Friends? Not to sit midstream and neither drink nor let life’s waters flow to those who thirst. But more, like stepping stones that lead to depths where lovers leap (perhaps stones too!), surrendering to the quickening carrying stream where ‘God is love’.
Alastair McIntosh
Body building
I am greatly indebted to Linda Murgatroyd for her take on Quaker structures (2 June).
I was deeply unhappy with three of the Yearly Meeting sessions – Releasing Energy and Revitalising Quaker Communities; Looking at Central Committees; and Looking at Meeting for Sufferings – for a variety of reasons which I won’t go into here. Linda has said what I felt but couldn’t put it into words and I thank her for this.
Donald Stubbings
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