29 July 2011 £1.70 the discover the contemporaryFriend quaker way

Welcome to Kent the Friend Independent Quaker Journalism Since 1843

Contents VOL 169 NO 30 3 Editorial Ian Kirk-Smith 4 Outside the bubble Gill Westcott 5 Sustaining our world Stephen Yeo 6-8 Interview: Pam Lunn Swarthmore lecturer 9-11 Quaker silhouettes Joanna Clark 12-13 What does love require of us at Canterbury? Martin Smith 14 The future of Meeting for Sufferings John Nurse 15 Anyone for an Earth testimony? Laurie Michaelis 16-17 Unable, unwilling Harriet Hart 18 Letters 22 Friends & Meetings

Cover image: Image this page: Beach huts from behind with wind farm. Silhouette of Elizabeth Dudley Taken at Whitstable, Kent April 2011. (1779-1849). Photo: GypsySaskia/flickr CC. See page: 9-11.

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the Friend 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Tel: 020 7663 1010 Fax: 020 7663 1182 www.thefriend.org Editor: Ian Kirk-Smith [email protected] • Sub-editor: Trish Carn [email protected] • Production editor: Elinor Smallman production@ thefriend.org • News reporter: Symon Hill [email protected] • Arts editor: Rowena Loverance [email protected] • Environment editor: Laurie Michaelis [email protected] • Subscriptions officer: Penny Dunn [email protected] Tel: 020 7663 1178 • Advertisement manager: George Penaluna, Ad department, 54a Main Street, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL Tel: 01535 630230 [email protected] • of the trustees: A David Olver • ISSN: 0016-1268 The Friend Publications Limited is a registered charity, number 211649 • Printed by Headley Bros Ltd, Queens Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8HH

2 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Editorial Photo: Helle Kjaersgaard/Save the Children Photo: Helle Kjaersgaard/Save

Try to live simply. A simple lifestyle freely chosen is a source of strength. Do not be persuaded into buying what you do not need or cannot afford. Do you keep yourself informed about the effects your style of living is having on the global economy and environment? Advices & queries 41

Refugees queue up for clean water in the Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya. The Dadaab camps were originally built to fit 90,000 people. Today the number of refugees living there is around 370,000. In 2010 the three camps in Dadaab received around forty new child refugees a month. Now 800 are coming every day. Drought and famine have arrived again in Africa.

The poor and vunerable are victims of forces and environmental changes beyond their control. The jerry cans the refugees use for water containers are provided by Save the Children. It is one of many organisations doing tremendous work in the region.

The theme of the Gathering in Canterbury is Growing in the Spirit: changing the way we live to sustain the world we live in. It is a very timely subject. We hope that Friends and visitors will enjoy a stimulating and inspiring week and also be prompted to reflect on the way we live our lives and the effect this may have on people elsewhere in the world.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 3 Reflection Photo: Rhett Maxwell/flickr CC. Maxwell/flickr Photo: Rhett Outside the bubble Gill Westcott considers the challenges of change

hanging how we live is hard work and yet leads our fears and responding to them intelligently and to joyful companionship. It starts with a new ingeniously, without trying to foist them on others; view of reality, perhaps different from ‘normal accepting that there is loss in change, and noticing Creality’ (the one with ‘the news’ and the ‘rustly’ packets where there are also gains. in the convenience store). The optimistic view – that we can bring change The financial crisis happened because some people gradually towards a sustainable future – can also, were able to live in a bubble, a consensual reality in sometimes, feel like a bubble. If so, it differs from the which everything would continue to improve. Like the radical hope we find in early . In Scripture, man who lost his fishing rod off a pier in high seas, the language of the Spirit is used often to describe and lost his life trying to retrieve it, attachment to our bringing a community to life, breath into dry bones. current way of life can lead us, as a race, into mortal risks with the forces of nature. A young couple exchange regular well-heeled jobs for uncertain travel to follow a dream of a more whole Yet prophets of doom, like whistleblowers, can way of life; a young man seeks a community with easily find themselves ousted and friendless. Those land for sustainable living; a friend’s son is cycling inside a bubble seek to escape anxiety and strengthen to Palestine, witnessing and supporting struggles for the walls. In the face of accelerating climate change just and earth friendly societies along the way. Like and the race for new fossil fuel sources, how can them, we are ‘prisoners of hope’. Our support for we, even sometimes, face the prospects outside the change and acts of voluntary simplicity are not just bubble and maintain the courage to act? Growing in building blocks; they are also signs, shoots, of whose the Spirit, in this context, might mean a willingness fruitfulness we may never be sure; but we must both to stay with issues to decision point rather than face the less than promising prospects outside the succumb to distraction; acknowledging our fragility bubble, and tend the springs of hope and solidarity and finding communities to share joys and frustrations with generations to come. as we make changes, in our Meetings for example, in Carbon Conversations or Transition groups; exploring Gill is a member of Exeter Meeting.

4 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Reflection Photo: Rainforest Action Network/flickr CC. Network/flickr Action Photo: Rainforest Sustaining our worlds Stephen Yeo looks at the way forward

ustaining the worlds we live in seems to need • that these better worlds sometimes seem infinite more charity, hope and faith with each day that in number, and up to us to arrange, surprisingly passes. Of these three, faith – faith in action – is, freely and against the powers that be, state as well as Sfor me, the hardest. market.

Hope takes root when all reason for it has • that such worlds often collapse into knowledge that disappeared. Charity takes root when we no longer evil is; that it has some kind of built-in originality to feel love or, for that matter, much ordinary liking. But it; and that, in capitalism, it has become systematic faith? and preferred. We are not free.

A recent Oxford Meeting for Worship helped me, • and so we also know we need help, from outside and taken together with Karen Armstrong’s writing. Why do between our selves. Grace means more and more we tend to reserve faith in – and political action to me every day – particularly in the small hours – and much else besides – for things we don’t know, can’t more than faith, hope or charity. know and have no reasons for knowing? In this way we turn faith into an eyes-shut leap into ‘belief’. Help! Help so that by inventing more characteristically and specifically Quaker political actions, we can Why do we do this when actually, especially in our generate more and more faith in action, and stop Meetings for Worship, we know at least the following: counting the cost. We cannot know the effect of our actions. We need not confine them to what modern • that there are different, better and available worlds rationality tells us will be ‘effective’. But they do need deep inside each one of us, and between every to re-present what we know, deep inside ourselves and animate being and inanimate object in the universe. often in Meeting. These worlds are a rich mixture of memory (which is part of hope), biochemistry, tangible happiness, Examples please… being together as well as alone and, yes, human (divine?) purpose. Stephen is a member of Oxford Meeting.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 5 Interview Pam Lunn Swarthmore lecturer

Costing not less than everything: sustainability and spirituality in challenging times, Pam Lunn’s Swarthmore lecture is at 7.30pm on Monday 1 August in the Big Top. Pam talks to the Friend about her background, influences and faith

What was your early background? Who were the key influences in your early life?

I was born in 1950 and grew up in a very middle- I think I was fortunate in my teachers who encouraged income, middle-of-the-road ordinary family. My me, stretched me and opened doors for me. Also, grandparents on both sides were solidly working-class my maternal grandmother was a very independent- and my parents, in the aftermath of the second world minded woman and I think that somehow rubbed off war, were taking the first steps beyond that world. on me, in ways that are hard to pinpoint; when my So I’m part of the ‘post-war baby-boom’ generation. mother was displeased with me, she would say: ‘You’re A major driver of the post-war reconstruction and just like your grandmother’. development was to make a ‘better life for the children’ and my cohort were the beneficiaries of all that. What influence did the 1960s, a time of great change and idealism, have on you? In what way, Why were you drawn to studying science and also, did it influence your work on women’s mathematics? history?

After passing the eleven-plus I went to the local state I went to university in the autumn of 1968, so during grammar school. I enjoyed school and did well across my undergraduate years the ripples from the May the board, but the arrangement then was that we had 1968 student uprising in Paris were starting to be to choose, at age thirteen, between concentrating on felt in other universities around the world, including arts or sciences. This was the time of Harold Wilson’s in Britain. It was an exciting and stimulating time, ‘white heat of the technological revolution’ and it was and a time of great idealism and engagement with unthinkable – in a way hard to comprehend now – not protest and social justice movements. I think it’s to choose sciences if you were good at them. There a characteristic of that student generation that we was an attitude that people who went down the arts believed we could change the world – I think we still route were those who were no good at science. do believe that, actually… it’s just taking a little longer that we initially imagined! Additionally, I was already developing what would As I left university, and started to engage with the later be called a feminist sensibility and I didn’t adult world beyond, feminist ideas were starting want to do just the girly things. There was a certain to percolate through this country. In a sense, the attraction in being better than the boys at maths, combination of 1960s radicalism with 1970s feminism physics and chemistry! shaped who I became as an adult woman.

6 the Friend, 29 July 2011 How did you become involved with Quakerism? An example of this is the fact that how we in the west view a ‘simple life’ is still vastly wealthy compared I was raised ‘CofE’ and drifted away from that for with the people I worked with there. many reasons. When I was a student I had a close friend who was the daughter of ‘weighty’ Quaker parents (though I didn’t know that term at the time). You have spent two decades at Woodbrooke Quaker When visiting during university vacations, I was taken Study Centre in Birmingham – how would you along to Meeting on Sunday. At a later period in my describe its role in the Religious Society of Friends? life, when I wanted somewhere (rather than nowhere) to ‘belong’ in a spiritual sense, I remembered this, and This is a huge question! And I give a personal, not an went along to my local Quaker Meeting… and the rest ‘institutional’, answer. As a church that believes truly is history! in the priesthood of all believers, with no separated ministry, all our members need the opportunity to be ‘trained for the ministry’ – that’s why Woodbrooke was Why has education, particularly adult education, founded. been so important to you in your life? We have the precious gift of a facility (buildings and gardens) and a faculty (employed tutors). As paid Although I studied formally in tutors we are able to spend our the sciences, I always retained whole time seeking to discern wide-ranging interests and this I want to see us living our what the adult religious seemed to me to be the best learning needs are (in the of both worlds – to have an testimony in such a way broadest sense) of Quakers understanding of the technical in Britain and beyond… and aspects of how the world that other people think not then attempting to provide ‘works’, but to remain able to that. We work closely with be well-read in the humanities. just, ‘Quakers – peace’ but Friends House staff, members So I was clear that I didn’t of other Yearly Meetings, a want to work as a professional also, ‘Quaker – peace – the wide variety of individual mathematician – Friends and interest groups in I wanted something broader environment’. Britain, and so on. and people-focused. At our best, we become Education was an interesting a visible expression of the field at the time, with new collective seeking and growing ideas starting to be brought into schools. I worked in of Quakers and Quakerism. It’s a huge privilege to comprehensive schools for some years before moving have worked there for so many years. into adult education, where I’ve remained, in various settings. You created the Good Lives project at Woodbrooke and are currently the programme leader for the You spent a year in Zimbabwe at a very interesting project. Why is it important to you? time. How did this come about? The creation was a shared piece of work between me It arose out of the peace education project I had been and my colleague Lizz Roe. It grew out of our shared working for in the preceding period. This was during concern for sustainability issues, and a long period the Cold War and we were exploring the analysis that of thought and consultation about how Woodbrooke the east-west conflict was just the rich club fighting could rightly address this. A large part of my concern between themselves, and the real divide was between about it, in relation to Quakers, is my sense that the rich north and the poor south. engagement with these crucial issues comes from the The project in Zimbabwe (then newly independent same ‘place’ as does our – it’s central and a beacon of hope) was putting our money (and to who we are as Quakers. If we’re true to this, then ourselves) where our mouth was. we should be seen in the world in the way that we are What has remained with me is the sense of another about matters of peace and war. That isn’t the case yet place in the world where I can ‘stand’, to see how – I want to see us living our testimony in such a way events look from a radically different perspective from that other people think not just, ‘Quakers – peace’ but our western European stance. also, ‘Quaker – peace – the environment’.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 7 Woodbrooke Chinese Garden. Photo: Trish Carn. Trish Chinese Garden. Photo: Woodbrooke

In what ways has your faith influenced your life and group for people on their individual spiritual journeys, the way you have lived it? or are we able to rediscover a solidarity as a people of God? The latter would, of course, include elements of This could be another whole book, of course. Perhaps, the former, but would be something much larger and put briefly, I could say that the Quaker phrase ‘acting deeper, much more demanding, much more daunting under concern’ describes the way I’ve tried to live my and challenging. I believe we are called at this time to life, long before I’d heard that description of it. rediscover what this would mean.

What is the biggest challenge facing the Religious Pam Lunn will give her lecture: Costing not less Society of Friends today? than everything: sustainability and spirituality in challenging times at 7.30pm on Monday 1 August in the For me, the crucial and underlying question for us, Big Top at Yearly Meeting Gathering in Canterbury. The as Quakers, is: are we content to be merely a support book of the same title will be available after the lecture.

The Swarthmore Lecture

The Swarthmore lectureship was established by the The lectureship continues to be under the care of Woodbrooke Extension Committee at a meeting Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre Trustees, and is a held 9 December 1907: the minute of the committee significant part of the education work undertaken at providing for ‘an annual lecture on some subject and from Woodbrooke. relating to the message and work of the Society The lectureship has a twofold purpose: first, to of Friends’. The name Swarthmore was chosen interpret to the members of the Society of Friends in memory of the home of Margaret Fox, which their message and mission; and second, to bring was always open to the earnest seeker after Truth, before the public the spirit, aims and fundamental and from which loving words of sympathy and principles of Friends. The lecturers alone are substantial material help were sent to fellow workers. responsible for any opinions expressed.

8 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Arts Sylvanus Fox of Wilmington (1791-1851) by Metford Metford by Wilmington (1791-1851) of Fox Sylvanus Quaker silhouettes

the Friend, 29 July 2011 9 Arts

ortraits of early Quakers are extremely rare. One controversy. Some of the arguments can be traced of the reasons for this was strictly practical – most through the pages of The British Friend, the journal of Friends did not come from the social class that the evangelical wing of the Society of Friends. Pcould afford painted portraits. However, there were also serious religious objections to images of all kinds. Those who condemned the fashion for all portraits, however made, could quote , the founding Early Quakers shared with other nonconformist father of Quakerism, in his savage condemnation of religious groups a rejection of the visual arts in image-making: And to you all, friends, who are not general; while personal portraiture was seen as being come up to the covenant, and cannot witness that you expressive of personal vanity – and in Quaker parlance are come into it, and sealed, (by the spirit), follow no ‘exalting the creature’, such as emphasising the physical image makers, but the life guiding you, which is eternal, body rather than the spirit or light within. that will hew down all imaginations, and likenesses, and images, and image makers, By 1800 the ‘scissors art’ that the glorious God, the or cutting of silhouettes was Father of life, may be exalted, already a popular hobby the ground of all truth. among Quakers, but it was practised at an amateur level. The term ‘silhouette’ Among the most notable of derives from the name of these earlier amateurs was Etienne de Silhouette, a Thomas Pole (1759-1823), French finance minister who was born in Philadelphia who, in 1759, imposed but practised as a physician economies to deal with a in England; his work in credit crisis. Because of silhouettes was prolific. de Silhouette’s austerity measures, his name became A generation later Samuel synonymous with anything Metford of Glastonbury done cheaply. (1810-1896) became the first Quaker to practise as a Prior to the advent of professional silhouette artist. photography, silhouette He too had learned the art profiles cut from card when in America on business were the cheapest way and from the 1830s to 1860s of recording a person’s he travelled as a ‘profilist’ appearance. In England, the around Britain, often using form was at the height of the local Friends Meeting as its popularity between 1770 his source of custom. The and 1840. It was eventually Library at Friends House superseded by photography holds quite a few of his as the most popular elegant silhouette portraits, medium for portraiture, and his work is highly Joshua Kaye possibly by Metford but is still practiced today respected among modern by enthusiasts. After 1840, collectors. these ‘shadow pictures’ had increasing competition from the new ‘light pictures’ – During the eighteenth century, as some Quaker photographs. Photographic portraiture was expensive families became wealthier through business success, at first, but technical developments from the late 1850s they sometimes adopted the custom of others of the onwards brought it within reach of the average family. upper class and had portraits made. For example, there are portraits in oils of several members of the Gurney Joanna Clark, the author of this article, is the banking family. A greater number took up the cheaper picture librarian for Friends House Library. alternative of silhouette portraits. The exhibition of silhouettes and early photographs This increasing fashion for first silhouette profiles from their collection continues in the library until the and later portrait photography was not without autumn.

10 the Friend, 29 July 2011 John Fothergill (1712-1780) – with wig.

Elizabeth Heyrick (1769-1831)

Sturge Family silhouette

the Friend, 29 July 2011 11 Sustainability What does love require of us at Canterbury?

Martin Smith explores the

n Friday 5 August personal relationships, indebtedness, anxiety, clutter Gathering in Canterbury will decide what to and so on. There is a widespread feeling that our say or do – if anything – about sustainability. conventional ‘work and spend’ way of life is not good OUnusually there are no proposals or discussion papers enough. Nor should we be surprised. Major religions, from Friends House to guide the Meeting. Whatever including our own, have long recognised that excessive comes forth will be ‘as led’ by those present and the consumption is not the path to good living. moving of the Spirit among them. In preparing for this – as we should – it is worth considering the challenges Overall, therefore, the major challenge for we face, what we can offer and our options for action. humankind – in our time and far beyond – is to create a sustainable world order, characterised by sustainable Challenges consumption and wellbeing for life, peacefully and without undue suffering, and to bring the relief that is We face several interconnected challenges. First, we possible to lives distressed or damaged in the process live in a world in physical trouble – not just from of change. global warming but in many ways, such as a dangerous accumulation of waste and a loss of biodiversity. Our offering Scientists point to a bleak future with the potential for suffering on a large scale. Moreover, change is less What have we got to offer in meeting this challenge? likely to be gradual, occurring in a linear way, but While we are a small faith group we do have some rather in abrupt steps that may not be initially apparent special gifts to contribute: and are difficult to reverse. These problems are unlikely to go away in our lifetime and will preoccupy Friends • an established ethic of simplicity that is authentic, for generations. Arguably we need to gear up to this. highly relevant and beneficial in application

A second challenge arises from the root cause of all • an ability to speak inconvenient truths to power this trouble: excessive and unsustainable consumption. People in the affluent West already consume far • people among us capable of thinking through more than they need to survive or even flourish. difficult issues But, ironically, excessive consumption – with its dire consequences – is not providing an adequate sense of • potential to create Meetings as sustainable wellbeing. Instead, for many people, it is associated communities across the UK with one or more of the following: absence of meaning in life, overwork and time poverty, deprivation in • capacity and experience in peacemaking

12 the Friend, 29 July 2011 • o capacity t work with Quaker communities across • Fourth: we can promote peacemaking, for instance the world through sustainable security initiatives.

• an inclusive business method capable of bringing • Fifth: we could alleviate distress caused by change, wide participation and unity in decision making perhaps through active partnerships with Quaker communities overseas and/or by creating a new At present these gifts are not being exploited to support fund. their full potential. For example, at a time when uncomfortable truths should be spoken we not saying • Finally, we can decide at Canterbury to start an them, nor are we harnessing the intellectual resources active process of discernment by establishing a of Friends in finding our way forward. Our testimony working group to prepare proposals for action for to simplicity has never been more relevant but its great wide consideration in the Quaker community. value as a road to good living is not proclaimed even among ourselves. Discussion

Options What does love require of us? There were seventeen of us at the Kindlers Threshings meeting and clear A recent meeting of Kindlers ‘threshed’ on six broad support among us for getting a national process of lines of action, some with radical possibilities. discernment underway. Some said that the working group should involve Friends across the UK in • First: each of us can try to live carrying out its work. Although sustainably. This is a challenging in spiritual terms we are dealing yet essential witness, which is with easy to understand problems being widely pursued but needs While we are a of destructive greed, which is to be taken further. It fits in with encountered in all ages, the the arguably outmoded notion small faith group issues of bringing about change among Friends that sustainability are complex, there are no easy is entirely a personal matter. we do have some solutions and it is worth exploring We could be radical by setting further how we can work with targets – at individual, Meeting special gifts to offer… others. We need, therefore, to or national level – and declaring work at finding our way forward. commitment to them. But is this This may do us good over time in witness enough? Unless there helping us to avoid incremental is change in the economic system, overall cutting decision-making in response to each crisis as it back on consumption can inflict unemployment and comes along. Already, serious issues are emerging poverty on others. such as the coming shortage of oil, which is worrying Governments. • Second: individuals in Meetings can work with each other in promoting change – as ‘sustainable Moreover, there is the reality that new action communities.’ This can be more effective in at a national level would need new resources – or achieving change than by individuals acting existing work would suffer. We could make a start by themselves and it could reach out into local here by supporting a discernment process by general communities. But we will need to come together subscription and involving volunteers – without major to make it work, not just leave it to ‘green Friends’ central funding. and go beyond limited projects such as ‘greening’ of Meeting houses. Friends cannot avoid making a decision or decisions on sustainability. Even the absence of decision-making • Third: we can promote change in the world as we at Canterbury is itself a decision. Taking an overall did with slavery and prison reform. We will need, perspective, I feel that there is an adventure in witness however, to ‘box clever’ in doing this, perhaps by to be had. Perhaps it could be our greatest adventure. emphasising the positives of sustainable living and by inviting people to new action rather than telling them what to do. We can call for change in a world economic order that promotes unsustainable Martin is a member of Wooldale Meeting in Central consumption. Yorkshire Area Meeting.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 13 Opinion The future of Meeting for Sufferings John Nurse suggests a way forward

or some time now we have been putting a lot of So we should be looking at connection and time, effort and resources into trying to adapt communion with regard to ‘worship-and-witness’. But our organisations, central and local, to demands we must also accept distinct business structures for Ffrom without. In doing so, we have been setting up each of the legally separate area and central units of a large number of autonomous charities – locally for the organisation of the Society. Area Meetings (AMs) and centrally for Britain Yearly However, our structure for ‘worship-and-witness’, Meeting (BYM). This work makes particular and local is made up of BYM + MfS + AMs. These three are issues grow in the importance we give them. But it also our ‘church’, not just YM and MfS. Also, we do not puts strain on the informal ties that we rely on to keep rely on a creed or on books, so ours is not a religion together the different elements in the Religious Society that can be lived out at a distance. It is a religion of of Friends, just when linkages between the different direct experience. And our core experience is of being elements in the Society are already weak. gathered together with other Friends in worship. We The Review Group’s report is before Yearly Meeting communicate, we build community, here and now Gathering. It makes recommendations about ‘the through our physical presence. workings of our central decision-making bodies’ and However, there now seems to be a real danger that about how various groups and committees relate the Religious Society of Friends, lacking hierarchy both to each other and to the overall responsibility or licensed ministers, may become a bricolage of of trustees. It is in this context that the Review essentially separate local churches loosely connected Group sees the role of Meeting for Sufferings (MfS). by their support of central work. Historically, MfS has It says: We have reviewed the functions of Meeting been the backbone that has held together all aspects of for Sufferings and see its primary function as acting , bringing together both work done for all for Yearly Meeting between sessions and as the place and local Quaker lives and concerns. of ongoing discernment of priorities for the centrally It remains the only part of our Society that is managed work. We see the function of being a two way built in to every part of our structure for ‘worship- channel of communication as important but secondary. and-witness’. But at present, it considers what is put Yearly Meeting in session, and Meeting for Sufferings before it. It does not generate its agenda from what between Yearly Meeting sessions, are ‘the church’. We is happening in the areas from which its members are clear that Yearly Meeting in session and Meeting for come, nor from the challenges Friends face there, nor Sufferings are where deep worshipping discernment of the burdens they are carrying, nor the joys they are the Yearly Meeting’s vision, its direction and priorities of given. If its primary role is to be in relation to centrally faith and action, should be taking place. organised work, then this drifting apart of the separate Thus two sets of boundaries are becoming clear: parts of our Society would seem inevitable. one around ‘centrally managed work’, including But, what if what people bring with them was also BYM trustees and MfS; the other around each AM to be valued? What might happen, then, if – reduced and the responsibilities of its own trustees. These in size, and meeting in the round and more often than developments may resolve some difficulties in our now – its first hour was given over to the worshipful central and local organisations. However, they add to sharing of what is happening where members come the problems of holding together the Religious Society from? Then an agenda for the day is put together from of Friends as both a religious society and a collection this, from what Quaker Life and Quaker Peace & Social of organisations. To borrow a ‘Tavistock’ term, the Witness are also aware of and from matters from other ‘primary task’ of the Religious Society of Friends – parts of the central organisation? And members then what it has to do to survive – is ‘worship-and-witness’. go back home to share their communion in the warp This ‘worship-and-witness’ task needs to be seen as and weft of Quaker worship and witness throughout the something in itself, as the warp that links BYM, MfS land? Clearly some treasured and ‘important’ matters and Area (and Local) Meetings. At the same time, each might not get considered. But the Spirit could roam free charity within the Religious Society of Friends needs over all that we do. to run its affairs in a business-like manner. Thus each has its own particular ‘business task’. John is a member of West Weald Area Meeting.

14 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Reflection Anyone for an Earth testimony?

Laurie Michaelis examines the practicalities of living our values

early Meeting Gathering promises to be full of rooted in the soil attracts many people to live here. But inspiration – a chance for Friends to share what we have very different ideas about what sustainable we are doing to sustain the world we live in, and living really means. Do we have only organic food Yto consider new leadings. It is much needed at a time at community meals? What should we hoard, throw when the urgency of responding to climate change away, recycle? How warm do we need to be? seems to be forgotten amidst economic worries. The most serious tensions arise over heating our I first attended Yearly Meeting (YM) in 2001 when stone buildings. We have decided to insulate, at great we were considering our Quaker testimony to the expense, funded by an increased mortgage. The Earth. YM minutes expressed deep concern about the insulation will make the buildings more comfortable; mistreatment of the planet and life on it. We called on hopefully more Friends will want to visit and live Friends to ‘commit ourselves to the demanding, costly here; logs from our land should go further in keeping implications of radically changed lives.’ us warm. But we are uncomfortable with the debt we are taking on. And although builders will do the Over the last ten years, our testimony has gradually insulation, we have a lot of disruption, redecorating taken shape. In that time, I have visited around a and furniture moving to manage, and hundreds of hundred meetings and been part of conversations small decisions to make. about sustainability with thousands of Friends. It seems to me that most Friends are making changes in Sustainability is like that: full of hard work, tensions their lives – recycling more, taking care where their and details. People disagree, fall out, and hopefully food comes from. Some have given up flying, taken up find a place of deeper love and unity. Two weeks ago cycling, become vegetarian. I attended the Transition Conference – a gathering of people from local initiatives addressing climate But there is a gap between our values and our lives. change and peak oil. Most have experienced conflict. Preventing dangerous climate change means reducing In one workshop we used Quaker business method to our greenhouse gas emissions by eighty to ninety-five come up with a minute on what we have learned. The per cent. We have a long way to go. The gap can be experience of slow, careful process based in silence and healthy if we are talking about it and wrestling with deep listening was an inspiration and a revelation for it. It is unhealthy if we ignore it or believe our own some of the participants. self-justifications. For me one of the most exciting and important things about being a Quaker is that we have I often meet people who think they have the these conversations, that we challenge ourselves and answers to sustainability. But faced with such huge and each other to live our values. complex challenges, nobody can really know. This is where Quaker discipline – letting go of our positions, In the Quaker Community in Bamford where I live, listening in silence, answering that of God in the other the conversations have been intense. We’re in beautiful – is so valuable. It is at the heart of all our testimonies. surroundings with ten acres of woodland and gardens. I hope that we will have plenty of it in Canterbury. We’re a short walk from rail and bus services so there’s little need for a car. The image of a sustainable lifestyle Laurie Michaelis is a member of Hope Valley Meeting.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 15 Leisure Unable, unwilling

Harriet Hart experiences an unusual new enterprise – a Quaker game!

alking the streets of Oxford one dusky the gaze of her opponent as she selects a card and lays evening, I notice a young man hurrying, it down. It reads: ‘Have you considered the worthy with shoulders hunched and collar turned Friend to my left?’ Wup, not wanting to be recognised. A cloth bag hangs limply from his arm and sandals hug his socked feet. Unruffled, the player to her left, Brian, swiftly He disappears down the road, slipping through the counters her attack with a feeble excuse: ‘I’m afraid straggling crowds of sightseers. Curious, I decide to I’m already a professional Quaker’. There is a flutter follow him. around the table as the players consider their options. Brenda counters the excuse with the card ‘Oh, you Passing the Eagle and Child pub he stops before don’t have to do anything really’; Brian, realising a a low doorway and, with furtive glances to the better reason is needed, promptly plays the cast iron left and right, knocks once and then once more excuse ‘Actually, I quite like war’. The atmosphere before disappearing into the building. Alone in the becomes tense as players exceed their stress levels and empty street I am taken by the urge to investigate. get knocked out of the game. I approach the door. It is painted red and a sign to its left pronounces it ‘’. Two days later I go to the Meeting house to join local Wondering what secretive business the Friends might Friends for worship. Sitting quietly, I notice Betty across be conducting I knock once and then once more. the room from me, and Brian on a bench to the left. In The door opens a crack and, without a word, a hand the far corner sits a young man with dark blond hair beckons me into the light. I am ushered into a back and a trim moustache. I recognise him as Brenda, the room where a group sit round a table playing cards. ringleader. Over coffee and a biscuit I draw him and his The lights are low, and I soon realise that this is no fellow players out to discover more about the game. ordinary game. My host turns to me. ‘You’ll have to wait for the next round’, he says, and leaves me to The first discovery I make is that all is not what it watch the players. seems. The names used by players of the game are coded – this young man is actually called Oliver, A husky voice comes from the far end of the table: not Brenda, and the nominations in the game are ‘Betty, I nominate you to serve as Northern Friends hypothetical: Oxford Meeting has not developed a new Peace Board rep’. Betty, a confident looking woman way of nominating Friends. Sally Nicholls, sometimes with dark hair and dark eyes looks at the cards before called Brian, filled me in on the history of the game. her. It would seem that she has already taken on the role of premises committee member, co-clerk for Area Back in the late 2000s, Oliver served as convenor of Meeting and librarian, and if she’s not careful, she’ll nominations committee for Young Friends General get too stressed and have to leave the game. Her eyes Meeting. He took his role very seriously, reviewing flick from the cards in her hand, to the nominations the nominations process, its function within the laid out on the table, to her commitments. She meets Meeting, and its efficiency. He worked to cut down

16 the Friend, 29 July 2011 on unnecessary nominations and discern gifted and have – having more roles to fill than members who grounded Quakers to fill important roles. At the have the time and energy to fill them. With each new end of his time as convenor Oliver prepared to bid role taken on players gain stress points, and when a fond farewell to London town and take up studies these exceed a set number they are forced to withdraw in Oxford. It was at this time that Friends, Sally and from service. It is the classic scenario of the active and Tom Nicholls, developed the game ‘Unable, Unwilling’, enthusiastic Friend taking on too much and being presenting it to him as a leaving gift. Since then it has unable to sustain their many roles, eventually burning grown in popularity. out and having to take a sabbatical. In Sally’s view a re-evaluation of the roles needing to be filled in When you play board games a lot ‘you start seeing Meetings would ‘free up energy to pursue the concerns the world a little differently’, Sally confided in me. of the Meeting’. As well as being fun to play, this card She and Tom had started to see that ‘the nominations game highlights some of the problems with our systems. process is a bit like a board game’. After some experimentation they developed the game that is As our cups are taken away to be washed and people played today. begin to drift home for Sunday lunch, I ask Sally about the current state of play. She tells me that three To some Friends it might appear to be mocking hundred copies are being printed and will be on sale at an important and valuable process; however, as Sally Yearly Meeting Gathering in Canterbury. It is her hope pointed out to me, it also raises an important point. that Meetings will use it as a resource, noticing the ‘Meetings are getting older and getting smaller’, she issues it raises and having fun at the same time. The argues. ‘We hold on to bureaucracy because we’ve future looks bright for ‘Unable, Unwilling’. always had it. Quakers are no good at laying down positions that aren’t needed anymore, we need to Harriet is a member of Settle Meeting. recognise that it’s not a failure to lay something down.’ Copies of the game will be on sale at Yearly Meeting The game illustrates the problem that many Meetings Gathering in Canterbury.

Sally Nicholls playing the new game. Photo: Tom Photo: Tom Nicholls.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 17 Letters All views expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Friend

Inspired the armed forces are allowed under the UNHRC to I was inspired by the article by Walter Storey (22 July). develop conscientious objections. The international I know a pair of unrelated friends in a similar situation. definition of conscientious objection was broadened There has been so much in the Friend lately about and reaffirmed in 1955 and 1998 when the UNCHR the nature of God/god, but the paragraph in this document called ‘Conscientious Objection to Military piece about Jesus says it all; it is the life and teaching, Service, United Nations Commission on Human the example of Jesus which inspires and can lead us. Rights resolution 1998/77’ officially recognised that Atheist, agnostic, Christian, Jew, Muslim, anyone, can ‘persons (already) performing military service may be led by his example; love thy neighbour, but before develop conscientious objections’. doing that we have to love/respect ourselves. I would ask Friends do two things: write letters Hazel Townesend of support to Mike Lyons and ask ourselves, what Leyburn Meeting active role are Quakers taking to ensure that serving members of the armed forces have the information Why are you a Quaker? and know that they have a right to ‘develop On reading the various views about Quakerism conscientious objection’? expressed in the Friend (17 July), the question I so Mike Lyons, 236 Lyons, D Company, MCTC, often hear comes to my mind: ‘Why are you a Quaker?’ Berechurch Hall Road Colchester CO2 9NU. My usual answer is that we Quakers find our Hayley Kemp weekly silent Meetings for Worship provide a spiritual Plymouth Meeting environment for all present, enabling us to explore/ develop our own spirituality as we continue on our Membership statistics spiritual journeys safe in the knowledge that we are not Derek Peirce asks who provides the information required to commit to any particular creed or dogma. about average attendance at Meetings in the Book It is largely because of this, I think, that seekers of Meetings. As I’m sure others will have replied, the from all faiths and none and from all walks of life are answer is Local Meeting clerks. I expect most (like me) attracted to our Meetings and then become aware of will make an educated guess –perhaps asking one or our testimonies and how we try to bear witness to two others informally – before completing the form them in our daily lives. sent out in the autumn. Vas Shend’ge Some may do it more systematically – in Golders Green Meeting Christchurch, New Zealand, where my wife and I were resident Friends for a year, there was an ‘Belief’ in God attendance record kept showing the numbers of adults A Friend of mine, when asked if she believed in God and children attending each week. The figures were replied: ‘I experience God’. God is Spirit. Quakers totalled at the end of the year, an average established assert: ‘there is that of God (the good) in everyone’. and the relevant figures sent to the Yearly Meeting Joyce Preddle clerk for publication in the annual report Alton Meeting Though I’m not sure that we should stop collecting the information now included in the tabular statement, Conscientious objector I think Derek is right to suggest that the figures for I would like to add my voice to support Mike Lyons, average attendance would be of more interest, and the Naval Conscientious Objector sentenced to 7 more use, than some of the other figures. months imprisonment. Mike’s request centred on his Christopher Coffin objection to carrying a rifle and orders not allowing Hampshire and Islands Area Meeting him to treat civilians. Under Convention IV of the Geneva Convention, there can be no distinction. Persons taking no active part in the hostilities: The Friend welcomes your views. Please keep letters 1. including members of armed forces who have laid short and include your full postal address, even down their arms and those placed hors de combat when sending emails. Please specify whether you wish for your postal or email address or Meeting by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, name to be used with your name, otherwise we will shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, print your post address or email address. Letters without any adverse distinction founded on race, are published at the editor’s discretion and may colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any be edited. Write to: the Friend, 173 Euston Road, other similar criteria. London NW1 2BJ or email [email protected] 2. the wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for. Remember if you are online that you can also It is not widely known that serving members of comment on all articles at www.thefriend.org

18 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Ad pages 29 July 25/7/11 20:39 Page 1

Ongoing Appeal for The Leaveners

Quaker Homeless Action Would like to announce the launch of the new QHA Guide to Greeting the Homeless at your Meeting House Door at Yearly Meeting Gathering Introductory talk on Monday 1 August, 12.45–1.45pm, Keynes Building, SR15 The Guide will also be available at the Groups Fair.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 19 Ad pages 29 July 25/7/11 20:40 Page 2

Stock up for Quaker Week at YMG! Meeting Voices The new DVD for outreach and inreach, with free facilitator's guide to help you. £7 at the Quaker Centre Bookshop or £8.25 via www.quakersinyorkshire.org

Economic Justice and the Sustainable Global Society Conference - Saturday 24 September 2011 10.00am - 5pm Friends House, London What are the links between economic systems and economic relationships and the achievement of a sustainable, peaceful global community? Conference speakers: Hilary Wainwright Research Director of the New Politics Programme at the Transnational Institute and editor of Red Pepper Jonathan Dale Lives on a Salford estate, where he has been a community worker. Quaker commitments include: Rediscovering our Social Testimony, the 1996 Swarthmore Lecture Deborah Doane Director, World Development Movement David Hall Director, Public Services International Research Unit, University of Greenwich Clerk: Caroline Nursey Conference: Cost £20 per person, open to all. For further information contact: Anne Wilkinson 020 7663 1062, email: [email protected] Quaker Peace & Social Witness Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Book online at: www.quaker.org.uk/economics-society-2011 Registered charity no. 1127633

20 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Ad pages 29 July 25/7/11 20:40 Page 3

Friends Historical Society at Canterbury Thursday 4th August 7.30pm in Keynes Lecture Theatre 5 Presidential address by Gil Skidmore on Catherine Payton Phillips (1727-1794) Followed by AGM. Everyone welcome. Come and find out about us at the Groups Fair in the 'DROP-IN Big Top on Wednesday evening, too. CLINIC' For housing projects

Giving in memory

A gift to Quaker work can be a wonderful way to celebrate the life of a loved one. Come and find out how Quaker Housing Trust You can give now easily and securely could help the local online, or by cheque, in memory of housing projects you someone who has died. support, run or want to develop. To create a giving web page for a loved one, to Specific requests for give in memory, or to learn more, please visit: help and general enquiries are www.quaker.org.uk/inmemory all welcome. Thursday 4 August 12.00 - 2.00 Grimond Foyer Or see us at our stall Or contact Jez Smith in in the Groups Fair on Wednesday evening. Quaker Communications: [email protected] 020 7663 1036 You can call him on [email protected] www.qht.org.uk 020 7663 1117.

the Friend, 29 July 2011 21 Ad pages 29 July 25/7/11 20:41 Page 4

Friends&Meetings

Yearly Meeting Gathering Births Diary

QUAKERS IN Isabelle Sarah BUSH 5 July DOLOBRAN LATE SUMMER CRIMINAL JUSTICE to Mark and Laura Bush of GATHERING Sunday 4 September. Brighton. A granddaughter for Bring picnic lunch to eat outdoors. Workshop: “The Government’s Richard and Ruth Bush, of Poole MfW at 2.30pm followed by tea Criminal Justice Agenda” and Wimborne Meeting. provided by local Friends. Access Dr. Kimmett Edgar, Head of details: John and Felicity 01938 500147 or Simon and Sophie 01938 Research, Prison Reform Trust. Marriages 500746. All welcome. Friday 5 August, 12.45-1.45, Keynes Building SR17. Toby YATES and Daisy WILEY FOUNDATION All welcome. were married on 2 July at St. Mary’s Advance notice. Annual conference Church, East Hendred. (Grandson Saturday 26 November, 9:30-5pm. of George and Margaret Bunney). Friends House, London. “Relieving Quaker Quest Network emotional distress - what’s wrong, what’s needed. Robert Whitaker, at YMG Canterbury Deaths Dorothy Rowe, Bob Johnson. Email: [email protected]. Donations welcome. BEING QUAKER Joan Elizabeth BALDWIN (formerly www.JamesNaylerFoundation.org by Geoffrey Durham Goddard, née Watson) 17 July. Book Launch Widow of George and Walter, QUAKER SOCIALIST SOCIETY a highly accessible new publication mother of John and David, step- 7.30pm Tuesday 2 August in the Big for absolute beginners, who have mother of Roger. Member of Top. This year's Salter Lecture will never yet dared to come to a Quaker Newcastle upon Tyne Meeting and be given by Tony Benn. Please note meeting or Quaker Quest, but are Saffron Walden Old Scholar. Aged 95. change of speaker. All welcome. searching for a relevant spiritual path Mon. 1st Aug. 12.45 - 13.45 Keynes College Seminar Rm 14 William BARNES 17 July at home. Husband of Mary, father of Peter, Notices Susanna and Tom. Aged 92. Memorial Meeting 3pm Saturday SURVIVING YOUR PARTNER 6 August at Hampstead FMH. A practical yet sensitive self-help Visually guide to living with the death of the Trevor WADDILOVE 18 July. person closest to you. "Gives the impaired? Son of Lewis and Louise Waddilove, bereaved hope and empowerment." brother of Pamela Phillips. Aged 60. £5.99+p&p from the author. Buy Get the Friend and other Donations: MS Therapy Centre, online at www.sylviamurphy.com Quaker publications on Coventry. Enquiries: 01904 760 979 01392 210355. cassette tape. See and [email protected] www.talkingfriends.org.uk Come and see your or call Alan Johnson Not a subscriber? Friends at YMG! 0121 476 0217. Use the form in this issue! The Friends Quarterly Building on the Friends Notices on this page Quarterly Prize Essays. Tent Two, Friends & Meetings notices should preferably be prepaid. Personal entries (births, Tuesday 2 August, 7.30-9pm marriages, deaths, anniversaries, changes of address, etc.): £17.60 incl. vat. Meeting and charity notices (changes of clerk, new wardens, alterations to meet- The Friend ing, diary, etc.) £14.66 zero rated for vat. Max.35 words. 3 Diary or Meeting up Come and meet the editor Ian entries £40 (£33.33 zero rated); 6 entries £69 (£57.50). Add £1.70 for copy of Kirk-Smith. Keynes Teaching the issue with your notice. Cheques payable to The Friend. Foyer, Wednesday 3 August, Entries are accepted at the editor’s discretion in a standard house style. A gentle 7.30-9pm. discipline will be exerted to maintain a simplicity of style and wording that excludes ALSO AT THE GROUPS FAIR, terms of endearment and words of tribute. Deadline usually Monday morning. Wednesday 3 August, 7.30-9pm. The Friend, 54a Main Street, Cononley, Keighley BD20 8LL Copies of 5 August issue will Tel. 01535 630230. Email [email protected] be on sale at just £1 each!

22 the Friend, 29 July 2011 Ad pages 29 July 25/7/11 20:41 Page 5

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the Friend, 29 July 2011 23 QLfullpageJuly11/1 26/7/11 11:55 Page 1

Quaker Life Quaker Life works to strengthen and sustain the fabric of Quaker life within our Yearly Meeting

We provide training, advice and support and welcome comment and information about best practice in meetings. We have a Network of interested Friends to support our work and help Friends learn from each others experience. Please contact us as follows: Children and Young People’s work: Training, information, resources for local meetings and regional groups, running national events. Tel. 020 7663 1013. Email: [email protected] Pastoral care (including Eldership & Oversight): Offering support to meetings through training in partnership with Woodbrooke and responding to specific issues through the Quaker Life network. Meeting Safety: Offering support and advice on good practice in ensuring the safety of children and young people and vulnerable adults in our meetings and activities. Diversity & Inclusion: Helping meetings to become more inclusive and to foster a greater } understanding of our diversity. Tel. 020 7663 1023. Email: [email protected] Library of the Society of Friends, Friends House: The largest and oldest library of Quakerism in Britain. A rich resource for anyone researching Quaker history. It can provide advice on how to run a meeting library or look after the meeting’s records. Tel: 020 7663 1135. Email: [email protected] Outreach: Quaker Week, Advice and encouragement on running local outreach events, enquirers’ and considering membership weekends, and support for university and college chaplains. Tel: 020 7663 1017. Email: [email protected] Quaker Life Network: The Quaker Life Network is a group of Friends who have time, energy, skill and expertise, and are willing and able to share their experience with other Friends in appropriate ways, to help us all develop and share good practice. Tel. 020 7663 1007. Email: [email protected] Quaker Centre at Friends House: Including a café, bookshop and resources area holding over 4,000 items for loan, such as books, study packs, games and audio visual materials. The Centre runs events and provides opportunities for volunteering. There is a Worship Space open to all. Tel. 020 7663 1030/1031. Email: [email protected] Quaker Voices: Abi-monthly colour publication for the spiritual nurture of individuals and meetings. Bringing together thought-provoking articles, poems and pictures, plus the best from Area and Local Meeting newsletters. Tel. 020 8446 5772. Email: [email protected] : Historic Quaker Centre, home of and later George Fox. Programme of events, conference facilities, self-catering holidays and B&B. Tours of the historic rooms. Meeting for Worship on Thursdays, 12.30-1pm. Tel. 01229 583204. [email protected] Wardenship and Employment: Training and support for Quaker employers and employees, supporting and developing the roles of Meeting House wardens etc. Tel. 020 7663 1096. Email: [email protected] Where helpful, we will introduce you to members of staff in other departments who will be able to assist in other ways of supporting your meeting.

Quaker Life, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ Tel. 020 7663 1140. Email: [email protected] Website: www.quaker.org.uk

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