Latest News
BYM launches Israel/Palestine education pack
Pupils at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in London reacted with enthusiasm to a new peace education pack that was launched there last month by Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) and the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) in the UK and Ireland.
Quakers consider Sanctuary to mark Windrush Day
London Quakers marked Windrush Day by joining with the Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network (QARN) and members of Britain Yearly Meeting’s (BYM’s) Sanctuary Meetings programme to explore how to grow Friends’ Sanctuary Everywhere work.
‘The Pity of War’ sculpture represented in Navy museum
A Quaker-supported sculpture that grew out of a concern about noncombatant war memorials is being exhibited for the first time in a military location.
FWCC meets in Toronto
Fifteen Friends from ten different countries came together at Canadian Yearly Meeting’s Camp NeeKauNis in Toronto last month for the annual week-long gathering of the Friends World Committee for Consultation’s (FWCC’s)Central Executive Committee (CEC).
Meeting for Sufferings: Remembering human values
The July Meeting for Sufferings (MfS)began with a reading from Grigor McClelland’s 1976 contribution to Quaker faith & practice: ‘What is important is that institutions and their administration be constantly tested against human values, and that those who are concerned about these values be prepared to grapple with the...
Meeting for Sufferings: Yearly Meeting reviewed
One of Meeting for Sufferings representatives’ tasks is to review Yearly Meetings (YMs). A wider survey of YMs will take place in October, so Friends reported on their experiences of YM 2019. One Friend thanked those who had been brave in discussing their own life stories. It meant that those who...
Meeting for Sufferings: Gender diversity
Meeting for Sufferings received two submissions on gender diversity: a minutes from Young Friends General Meeting (YFGM) and an initial statement from Quaker Life Central Committee (QLCC). The issue will be considered more fully in October but representatives from both bodies were on hand to answer any questions.
Meeting for Sufferings: Young people’s participation
Quakers were asked to consider whether the definition of an attender for sixteen- to eighteen-year-olds should be changed for the annual Tabular Statement. This discussion was perhaps particularly pertinent given the wider conversation about including younger Friends. Although allocation has been made for four Young Adult Friends to attend Meeting...
Meeting for Sufferings: ‘Beyond Vibrancy’
‘Proceed with caution’ seemed to be the message to Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) trustees in the ‘Support for Meetings – beyond the Vibrancy pilot’ session. The afternoon agenda item explored the recent plans announced for decentralising, for a ‘simpler church’.
Quakers stand for peace on Armed Forces Day
As Quakers gathered to promote peace on Armed Forces Day, this year’s occasion got off to a shocking start with news that a nursery allowed preschool children to dress in real military body armour during an event.