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1652 Country – History and Inspiration the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 8 October 2010 £1.70 the DISCOVER THE CONTEMPORARYFriend QUAKER WAY 1652 Country – history and inspiration the Friend INDEPENDENT QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 CONTENTS – VOL 168 NO 40 3 Clerk of BYM trustees reports 4 Quaker marriage procedure 5 Cuts and their consequences 6 A rose by any other name… Ed Morris 7 Why I need the Quakers Jonathan Baxter 8-9 Letters 10-12 1652 Country: a land steeped in our faith Roy Stephenson 13-14 Ripples into Waves Carolyn Hayman 16 Q-Eye 17 Friends & Meetings Cover image: 1652 Country. Wasdale from Westmorland. Photo: stevehicks/flickr CC:BY. See pages 10-12. Images on this page: Brigflatts Meeting House exterior looking north (above) and the interior (below). Photos: John Hall. Corrections: In the issue of 3 September, it was stated that thirteen members of the FAU lost their lives during the second world war (page 7). In fact seventeen died in service, as stated in the Clifford Barnard article (13 August). They were: Raymond Pasteur Alderson, Norman Lewis Booth, John Clifford Bough, Quentin Douglas Boyd, John Stephen Briggs, Alan Russell Dickinson, Joseph Denis Frazer, John Douglas Hardy, Albert Thomas Ross Hogg, Peter Joseph Hume, Dennis Edgar Mann, Norah Evelyn Loyd Protheroe, Louis Rowan Rivett, Thomas Lesley Tanner, James Philip Tonks, Clement White, William Allan Wyon. In the Outreach issue (1 October) the author of ‘New web portal’ was Ann Floyd not Ann Fletcher. The Friend Subscriptions Advertising Editorial UK £74 per year by all payment types Advertisement manager: Editor: including annual direct debit; George Penaluna Ian Kirk-Smith monthly payment by direct debit £6.50; online only £48 per year. Articles, images correspondence For details of other rates, Tel/fax: 01535 630230 should be emailed to contact Penny Dunn on [email protected] [email protected] 020 7663 1178 or [email protected] www.thefriend.org/advertise.asp or sent to the address below. 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, 8 October 2010 reported by Ian Kirk-Smith Meeting for Sufferings Clerk of BYM trustees reports THE RECENT RESIGNATION of two senior a concern about whether there is sufficient clarity members of staff at Friends House, the recording clerk of relationship and whether changes should be and the general secretary of finance and property, contemplated. has prompted interest and concern among Friends in ‘Any change of personnel,’ he said, ‘presents the Britain. opportunity to reassess circumstances and to identify The report of the clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting priorities, structures and working relationships trustees on Saturday 1 October was, consequently, appropriate to the next phase in the life of the widely anticipated at Meeting for Sufferings. Jonathan institution.’ Fox began by expressing his gratitude for the It was a revealing comment and prompted some many expressions of support for staff and trustees interesting contributions from Friends concerning the as ‘together we have sought to work through the scope and limitations of the role of the recording clerk consequences of the resignations’. and how compatible, or incompatible, it is with the ‘I know that some Friends expect explanation role of a chief executive. of what may or may not have lain behind the ‘The recording clerk has a very difficult role. They resignations,’ he said. He reiterated, in relation to the are given a role without having ultimate responsibility resignation of the recording clerk, an appreciation for the appointment of staff or the budget,’ a Friend of her enormous contribution over recent years and said. Another reflected that the position, in fact, reminded Friends of a statement reported in the was one of many different roles. It was also asked Friend: ‘She feels it is time to step down and that a whether there were difficulties in a position that new person with different skills is needed now to take had to combine both spiritual and managerial the work of change forward…’ responsibilities. Where was the balance between the In explaining the background and giving sacred and the secular? reassurance, he stressed that there was absolutely ‘no A laugh was raised when a Friend asked whether impropriety’ behind either resignation and that both the recording clerk’s role within Quakerism was like had been personal decisions. They were regretted. ‘We that of the archbishop of Canterbury. No, this was learn from the past and move forward,’ he said. He not the case, another Friend explained from the floor, then talked about what has been done. and it was suggested later that the role of a town clerk, ‘Michael Hutchinson,’ he said, ‘has stepped in as administering but not holding absolute power within acting recording clerk for the interim period and he is a local authority, was a better analogy. providing leadership and maintaining the momentum In regard to the broader picture of change, one of the work.’ Vincent Poupard has been appointed representative felt the trustees were ‘going about things interim general secretary of finance. Two part-time the right way’, while another Friend was concerned human resources consultants have been engaged. at the ‘speed and pace’ of change and was ‘very JOnathan stressed that ‘the work goes on’. uncomfortable’ at the thought that decisions might Britain Yearly Meeting trustees have the already have been made. Was Meeting for Sufferings to responsibility for the employment and recruitment merely rubber stamp such decisions or was it a place of all staff and, specifically, the recording clerk. This where suggestions for consideration, and discernment, used to lie with Meeting for Sufferings. A recruitment were brought? group has been appointed and a new recording clerk Another representative, wisely, expressed the is to be appointed in December and will begin work at opinion that Friends should be positive, look to the Friends House in early 2011. future, and that the present situation offered a good The consultation process has highlighted that a opportunity to ‘look at fundamentals’. crucial issue is the relationship between the recording clerk, management meeting and trustees. There is See the advertisement for the recording clerk on page 20. the Friend, 8 October 2010 3 Meeting for Sufferings Quaker marriage procedure – chapter 16 revision THERE IS STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS equality ensuring that solemnisation is publicly accessible and in marriage arrangements following the decision made rightly held. at Yearly Meeting 2009 in York. A fidelity to the testimony to equality underlined At the July Meeting for Sufferings three key issues the revisions, and in arriving at terms that can be used were raised in relation to the revision of chapter 16 appropriately by same sex and opposite sex couples of Quaker faith & practice. The Church Government in the context of a Quaker declaration, where each Advisory Committee (CGAC) sought guidance on: party makes a promise about taking the other in a the harmonisation of time and place of solemnisation marriage relationship, the revised draft proposed that of marriage across England and Wales and Scotland; the couple may choose between ‘spouse’, ‘husband and alternatives to the words ‘husband and wife’ in the wife’ and ‘partner in marriage’. There was unity on Quaker marriage declaration; and a non-theistic this revision. alternative to ‘with God’s help’ in the declaration. The option to use, in the Quaker marriage As well as guidance from Meeting for Sufferings, the declaration, the words ‘through the assistance of the CGAG received over thirty comments from members Light’ was not taken up. The phrases ‘through divine of the Meeting, registering officers and other Friends. assistance’ and ‘with God’s help’ were retained. The changes were met with approval. A Friend made the point that the word ‘standing’ Quaker marriages, in the revised draft, may be in the ceremony should be changed. She had recently solemnised on any day and at any time in a Meeting been married and her husband was in a wheelchair house or other publicly accessible place, subject when he exchanged his vows. to certain safeguards; so the request to ‘widen the It was recognised that there should be consistency availability of time and place throughout Britain’ has between versions of the new draft revision of chapter been recognised. This offers maximum flexibility while 16 in the English and Welsh languages. Extend the hand of friendship Plain language FRIENDS HOUSE IS BEING used by more and more outside AN APPEAL TO RETURN to ‘plain groups as Britain Yearly Meeting seeks to maximise the income language’ was made at Meeting for from lettings. Sufferings. Paul Grey, head of hospitality and services, talked about Toby Gibbons, Young Friends some of the dilemmas this now involved. General Meeting representative on The decision to accept or reject a request to rent space at Meeting for Sufferings, urged Friends Friends House is not made by Quakers. It is made, on a day-to- to consider the kind of language they day basis, by an independent company. use in documents. ‘We are making,’ Paul said, ‘decisions on your behalf. We He brought the concern to life need to know that we are interpreting your policy correctly.
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