9 July 2010 £1.70 the DISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 CONTENTS – VOL 168 NO 28 3-5 News 3 Methodists take action to reduce carbon emissions 4 Refurbishments at Friends House 5 Is the word ‘spouse’ archaic? 6 Rethinking BYM Gerald Conyngham 7 Friends and honours Grigor McClelland 8-9 Letters 10-11 Globe day at Bootham 12-13 Reviews 12 Facing the challenge Edward Hoare 13 The new peace politics John Lampen 14-15 Coalition government Michael Bartlet 16 Q-Eye 17 Friends & Meetings Cover image: The ‘Quakers Affirm Same Sex Marriage’ banner at London Pride on Saturday. Pride aims to raise awareness of discrimination and the issues and difficulties affecting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Photo: Jez Smith. Images on this page: Top, Quakers at Pride Scotia in Edinburgh with Quaker Lesbian & Gay Fellowship (QLGF) Scotland’s new banner. The QLGF banner will next appear at Pride Glasgow on 17 July. Bottom, the banner produced by ‘Faith Communities Support Same-Sex Marriage’ at Pride Scotia. Text by Shaun Swann. Photos: Mark Bitel. The Friend Subscriptions: new prices from 1 July 2010 UK Rest of World Contact Penny Dunn on The Friend (year) £74 £96 020 7663 1178 or by monthly direct debit £6.50 per month [email protected] to The Friends Quarterly (year) £20 £22 subscribe. Both (combined) (year) £90 £114 Alternatively visit our by monthly direct debit £7.50 per month website www.thefriend.org Quaker Chaplains £55 to order your subscription. Internet – only (year) £48 £48 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] • Production editor: Jez Smith [email protected] • Sub-editor: Trish Carn [email protected] • 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] • Clerk 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, 9 July 2010 News Methodists take action to reduce carbon emissions Solar panels being fitted to Bethseda Methodist Church, Cheltenham. Photos: Mark Boulton. METHODISTS have become the first large faith group Asked if all Methodists at local level could be in the UK to introduce carbon reduction measures expected to abide by a national decision of this nature, that are binding on all their local churches. They a Methodist Church spokesperson emphasised that have pledged a cut in carbon emissions by 2050. The the Conference that reached the agreement included decision has put pressure on other faith groups to representatives from all over the country. ‘The decision follow suit. has been made by well-informed people,’ she said. Triumph Ayo-Isegun, Methodist projects officer, Sunniva Taylor, sustainability and peace programme described the decision as ‘the first step’ in a ‘long manager at QPSW said, ‘It’s great that the Methodist journey with massive challenges’. Church is making a collective commitment to such The news was warmly welcomed as an ‘exciting cuts.’ initiative’ by Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW). Any similar commitment by Quakers would be a The decision was made at the annual Methodist matter for BYM. Sunniva added, ‘Many Quakers have Conference in Bournemouth last week. Friends as a made substantial efforts to reduce the impact of their whole have not made such a binding commitment, lifestyles. Some have achieved fifty to seventy per cent but sustainability will be a major focus for Quakers at reductions in emissions compared to the national Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) in 2011. average, and have found this to be a joyful and Quakers have already pledged to reduce carbon rewarding experience.’ emissions from Friends’ House by at least ten per cent The environment was not the only controversial during 2010, a commitment shared by a number of subject on the agenda at Methodist Conference. individual Meetings. In addition, Christian Ecology Participants resolved to support a boycott of goods Link allows churches and Meetings to register as ‘eco- from the Occupied Territories in Palestine. The congregations’. Earlier this year, St George’s Anglican Methodist Church also agreed to explore the question Church in Newbury pledged to become Britain’s first of co-habitation, following a request from the Youth carbon-neutral place of worship. Assembly. But the Methodist decision is unusual in involving The Church’s new president, Alison Tomlin, said a national commitment that is binding at local level. that God was calling them to be ‘passionate for justice, Certain energy efficiency measures will become passionate to be peacemakers, passionate to make sure mandatory for church buildings and manses. other people hear how much they are loved’. Methodist regional organisations, known as circuits, will be required to provide smart meter devices. Symon Hill the Friend, 9 July 2010 3 Meeting for Sufferings reported by Ian Kirk-Smith Is the word ‘spouse’ archaic? Meeting for Sufferings considers revisions to chapter 16 of Quaker faith & practice THE STRUGGLE to find broadly acceptable, and burden of progress. And yet a word such as ‘partner’ meaningful, terminology to use in documents was not weighty enough. Friends were grappling with and records has been a defining characteristic of the truth that words force us to make decisions and, Quakerism. It is an important, challenging and at often, to take sides, sometimes in a situation where the times very sensitive issue, especially in the times we overwhelming desire is a seeking of unity. live in. A Friend stressed that she had a passionate longing In the consideration of the revision of chapter for ‘God’s blessing’ for any relationship and that it 16 (Quaker Marriage Procedure) of Quaker Faith was not just about having a spiritual but a religious and Practice at Sufferings the Church Government validation. Advisory Group sought general guidance on two ‘I hope,’ she said, ‘we do not listen to the word but points. to the spirit. We should say clearly as Quakers that The first concerned the harmonisation of time and these relationships, which we celebrate in our Meeting place of solemnisation and the houses, are beloved of God.’ But second related to the wording she remained silent on the s- that would be in a Quaker word. Spouse or not? marriage declaration. ‘Friends were Another Friend stressed Guidance was sought from that the Religious Society of Sufferings. A further draft grappling with the Friends had a deeper, stronger, would be completed for religious understanding of the October 2010 and this should truth that words force word ‘equality’ than some other be forwarded for a decision to groups and hoped that Friends be made at Yearly Meeting in us to make decisions would be free to chose what 2011. words they wished, including There was agreement that and, often, to take the words ‘husband’ and ‘wife’. there should be consistency A Friend said that he had in considering the issue of the sides, sometimes in a been at a union where both harmonisation of time and people referred to themselves as place for the solemnisation of a situation where the ‘wives’. It was a delightful event. marriage. ‘I feel,’ a Friend said, ‘that we Contributions also overwhelming desire is are having the same discussion demonstrated unity in the room as we had when considering the on an old fashioned view: the a seeking of unity’ word “marriage”. A lot of people, application of a good old dose who did not have access to of ‘common sense’ to individual that word, were annoyed. They cases and the use of a degree of flexibility where it was wanted access to the word. I really hope that we can helpful. find terms that are appropriate for all relationships.’ For one Friend the word ‘spouse’ was unacceptable. She was moving towards the feeling of the Meeting, It was archaic. It was just too ‘old-fashioned’. Another that Friends would have the freedom to make their Friend suggested that some young people about to get own choice. married, such as his daughter and future son-in-law, It was also recommended, in putting forward did not find it so. Did it pass the test, another Friend suggestions for alternative wording, ‘to help those who said, of ‘equality and consistency’? have difficulty with theistic language’ that there be an For some Friends the baggage associated with alternative phrase to ‘through divine assistance’ and ‘theistic’ language is simply too heavy to carry the ‘with God’s help’. 4 the Friend, 9 July 2010 [email protected] Refurbishments at Friends House THE PROSPECT of financially challenging times is on space for lettings. the horizon for both society and the Religious Society There was also a commitment to appoint an of Friends. architect to do preliminary work that will ‘enable us to It is a difficult time for Britain Yearly Meeting carry our refurbishment of the Large Meeting house (BYM) committees as they adjust their programmes of at some stage in the next five years, if funds allow. This work to comply with ‘A Framework for Action 2009- gets us back on track after a year on hold.’ 14’ and indicate how they would respond should the The aim is to carry out a modest upkeep, which is current level of resourcing become difficult to sustain.