Issue 30-09-2022
Featured story
Action plan: Gill Sewell’s Thought for the Week
I recently completed my autumn audit – looking at where I have committed my resources (time and money) for the academic year ahead, and then praying into that awareness. Am I following the call, or am I distracted by ego-led leadings? Are there things I now want to change?
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Make, believe: John Brown of Friends Community Development Trust (Uganda)
The Friends Community Development Trust (Uganda) was created out of a concern of Alex Gyabi of Northampton Meeting. Alex and his colleagues in Uganda set up the Butta Furniture Makers Association (BFMA) to teach practical skills. In 2013, Northampton Meeting’s Peace and Service Group worked with Alex to generate funds...
Is the Religious Society of Friends antisemitic? Ol Rappaport believes there’s a case to answer
Late last year I was drawn to the correspondence and articles in the Friend about Palestinians and the state of Israel. I found an emerging pattern: an apparent focus on the Israeli government to the exclusion of other nations and oppressed groups.
The best defence? Howard Grace on monarchy and faith
t the moment of his official accession as king, Charles stated his constitutional responsibility as ‘defender of the faith’. As a younger man he suggested he would prefer to be seen as a more-inclusive ‘defender of faith’.
Roger Bannister crosses the line
How we cheered in childhood, back when we, in the world, were young; seeing that tall figure stride, steady as a metronome, to achieve the unachievable, and, reaching the end, give us the hopefulness to believe the unbelievable.
Friends gather for Loss and Damage Day
Quakers gathered in witness this week to stand in solidarity with those living with the worst impacts of climate change. With vigils and outreach across the country, Friends in Lancaster, Cardiff, Manchester, Totnes, and Beccles gathered to support Loss and Damage Day on 22 September, calling on wealthy countries and fossil...
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Quaker ‘Just Stop Oil’ protestor in jail
A Quaker has been imprisoned for breaking an injunction at the Kingsbury Oil Terminal as part of the Just Stop Oil (JSO) protests.
Quakers stand with mourners after shooting of Chris Kaba
Quakers have joined other faith groups in calling for compassion and justice in the wake of the Metropolitan Police-related fatal shooting of Chris Kaba this month.
US Friends issue ‘call to action’ over values
A group of US Friends has issued an ‘urgent call to action’ about what it sees as the undermining of Quaker testimonies in wider society.
Quakers oppose Rwanda deportations
Quakers are continuing to urge the government to drop its plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Walking witness: Gordon Matthews steps up
We are pilgrims, from a variety of Christian traditions, who have walked part or nearly all of the way from the North Rhine to Karlsruhe. We have held vigils for peace at Büchel, where nuclear bombs are stored, and at Ramstein, the headquarters of the US air forces in...
All change! A call from the Living Witness Gathering
We are sixty-three Quakers gathered from across Britain, with a sense of urgency and under concern. We have heard clearly, with hope and excitement as well as fear and grief, an acute sense that this is an extraordinary time – a time of enormous challenge. This is the great, holy work...
God willing: Clive Gordon on Quaker Christianity
I recently read Derek Guiton’s A Man that Looks on Glass: Standing up for God in the Religious Society of Friends. It has helped me to better understand Quakerism as it is practised today. An old Anglican prayer comes to my mind: ‘Thou, O Lord, art the author and...
Letters - 30 September 2022
White privilege It seems clear that the word ‘privilege’ in the context of ‘white privilege’ may be causing confusion. It is too closely associated with wealth, celebrity and high social status, and in my view calling it ‘rank’ doesn’t help – not in our class-ridden society. People addicted to drugs...