the29 November 2019 Friend | £2.00 ‘And this is hell my friend.’ Tony D’Souza on vengeance 29 Nov 25/11/19 16:41 Page 2 Out now! Our latest course brochure is now available. If you don’t receive yours or would like more copies please get in touch. You can download a pdf or request a printed brochure online at www.woodbrooke.org.uk/coursebrochure or email [email protected] Off-line Friends can call 0121 472 5171 All our courses are also listed and can be booked online at www.woodbrooke.org.uk/learn the INDEPENDENTFriend QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 29 November 2019 | Volume 177, No 48 www.thefriend.org News 4 Interfaith, Israel, and more Rebecca Hardy Thought for the week 7 The climate nightmare Jamie Wrench Letters 8 Interfaith work 10 Different doesn’t necessarily mean wrong Marigold Bentley Father of the thought 12 Remembering Joseph Janet Scott Madness in the method? 13 Doing business Helen Johnson His rage was hell 14 Vengeance Tony D’Souza Compassionate concern 16 Assisted dying Friends from North West London Friends & Meetings 17 I do believe that there is a power which is divine, creative, and loving, though we can often only describe it with the images and symbols that rise from our particular experiences and those of our communities. This power is part and parcel of all things, human, animal, indeed of all that lives. Its story is greater than any one cultural version of it and yet it is embodied in all stories, in all traditions. It is a power that paradoxically needs the human response. Like us it is energised by the reciprocity of love. It wills our redemption, longs for us to turn to it. It does not create heaven and hell for us, but allows us to do that for ourselves… Harvey Gillman, 1988 Quaker faith & practice 26.31 Enabling Group said it I feel I have to stay in News came to ‘a clear mind, by this strange hinterland a substantial majority’ and position to show [email protected] asked her ‘not to exercise’ solidarity with other her appointment. friends who have had A statement said: much worse experiences ‘For the sake of our in other churches.’ ecumenical unity at Speaking in the Church present, we request that Times, Hannah Brock the Fourth Presidency Womack said about the Group show restraint by empty chair: ‘For me, not exercising the office it is a symbol of pain of their Presidential and separation, but it appointment. We is also means that they acknowledge the pain are not ignoring it. It is and sadness that this will better than pretending prov o ke .’ that we don’t exist.’ She Although Hannah added: ‘The presidents Photo courtesy of Brock Womack remains at the moment are all Hannah Brock Womack. the fourth president, she older men, and I was will not be able to take really looking forward not all denominations Quaker in same-sex her place alongside the to bringing a different in membership of CTE marriage blocked as other CTE presidents voice… I bring other would accept a president CTE president when they gather. Instead, things that are not who is married to Quakers have expressed the fourth chair will be represented in the group: someone of the same sex. their deep sadness and left empty as a symbol of I am a peace activist, a Hannah Brock anger that a Friend has the work still to be done climate activist. Quaker Womack told the Friend had her appointment as to find unity. leaders are not clergy… that she was ‘sad’ about a Churches Together in Hannah Brock That approach is not the decision and had England (CTE) president Womack, who Britain going to be there now, ‘moments of anger’ but blocked because she is in Yearly Meeting (BYM) which is sad.’ was ‘trying to look for the a same-sex marriage. described as ‘an active Mark Lilley, Quaker opportunities’. Although The plans to appoint Quaker’ and a ‘young, representative to CTE the Fourth Presidency Quaker nominee Hannah radical peace activist’, Enabling Group and clerk Group supported her Brock Womack for told the Friend that she of Quaker Committee for appointment – with only the Fourth Presidency was ‘shocked but not Christian and Interfaith one church abstaining Group – out of six surprised’. However, she Relations (QCCIR), said: – the larger Member presidency groups – said she felt ‘tenacious’ ‘The grief this situation Churches of CTE’s were derailed because and ‘upheld’ enough to is causing Friends cannot stay involved. She will be underestimated by WORDS still convene the Fourth other churches. Work Presidency Group must be done to heal the meetings and said that pain through creative ‘one of the good things to conversations about ‘The presidents at the come out of the conflict our differences. We is that it has brought are confident that the moment are all older the Fourth Presidency ecumenical movement Group together and will continue to serve as a men, and I was really we now have quarterly model of cooperation and meetings’. She added: mutual understanding ‘We are now embarking that recognises the looking forward to on conversations about unique gifts of each sexuality within CTE member.’ bringing a different as a direct result; this is Paul Parker, recording no longer an issue to be clerk for BYM, called it ‘a brushed under the carpet. deeply sad decision’. He v oi c e …’ I feel really supported by said: ‘Quakers in Britain Hannah Brock Womack on the decision by Churches Quakers and the Fourth value the fact that CTE Together in England (CTE) to block her CTE presidency Presidency Group. I seeks to encompass the because she is in a same-sex marriage. could walk away, but wide diversity among 4 the Friend 29 November 2019 Christians in England. role. Quakers campaigned NUMBERS It is important to us that for fifty years for equality the Quaker voice is heard of marriage… to give in in discussions between to such bigotry would set churches. As Quakers, we us back fifty years.’ are called to answer that However, Yvonne of God in everyone. We 521 Estop-Wood and Zem recognise the inherent Moffatt, co-clerks of The number of abuses of power that the Metropolitan worth of each person. the Quaker Gender Police has been accused of in its policing of XR, in a That leads us to welcome and Sexual Diversity new report by the Network for Police Monitoring. all committed same-sex Community (QGSDC) . relationships as equally said that they were Swarthmore Lecture of hope which attends as committed opposite- ‘saddened to witness Committee minuted to the very nature of our sex relationships. We this discrimination’ but that they wanted an faith and witness in the value equally all people, ‘we continue to uphold enduring message world today.’ regardless of sexuality those leaders in Christian which goes beyond the The lecture will be or other defining denominations still present turbulence, given at Yearly Meeting characteristics. These wrestling in good faith drawing on the past Gathering 2020 in Bath characteristics are not with the concept of equal and pointing towards next August. the right way to decide if marriage’. They added: the future. In selecting someone is right to serve ‘We hope that Hannah’s Tom Shakespeare they Friends gather for as our CTE president.’ continued dignified discerned that they had Meanwhile, other service in [Churches Inter Faith Week someone ‘who lives hope Preston Quakers held an Quakers reacted angrily Together] will be a beacon as well as someone who to the news with calls on of charity and hope for open event, ‘People who can inspire with their inspire my Quaker faith’, social media to break with others.’ w o r d s’. CTE. Several members CTE issued a statement to mark this year’s Inter Currently professor Faith Week. Three Preston of the Quaker Lesbian saying: ‘An ongoing of disability research at Group (QLG) said they process of discussion, Quakers spoke, including the London School of Janet Thomas, who took were ‘appalled’ at the listening and prayer has Hygiene and Tropical decision, such as Laura begun.’ inspiration from the way Medicine, where he Elizabeth Fry’s Quaker Fulcher, who argued teaches on disability and that this ‘narrow’ view Tom Shakespeare to principles led to a lifetime development – including of work helping poor and of Christianity ‘has led give 2020 Swarthmore sexual and reproductive to many gay Christians imprisoned women. Lecture on ‘hope’ health of disabled people According to local feeling distraught and Woodbrooke has – Tom Shakespeare has Friend Peter Bullman, rejected’. Deirdre Haslam, announced that the worked at the universities the topic chosen by another QLG member, 2020 Swarthmore of Sunderland, Leeds, the second speaker, said ‘the continuing Lecture will be given Newcastle and East Alastair Thomas, was prejudice of various by Tom Shakespeare. A Anglia, and for the World William Penn, ‘whose so-called Christian member of Norfolk and Health Organisation, vision of a good and just churches towards Waveney Area Meeting, Geneva. He is also a society influenced the same-sex unions… just Tom Shakespeare is a broadcaster, particularly founding of the colony demonstrates, to me, sociologist, broadcaster, known for his talks on how far we still have campaigner for disability Radio 4’s A Point of View, of Pennsylvania’. He said: to go in our struggles rights and writer on as well as contributing ‘The third speaker was for recognition by disability, genetics and to other programmes Anne Costich who chose certain religious groups’. bio-ethics. According to including: BBC One’s three people, none of Meanwhile, Rosie Woodbrooke, his lecture Question Time, Radio them Quakers: Mario Adamson-Clark and will address hope: ‘How 4’s Today, BBC Two’s Borelli, the Neapolitan Chris Smith, from Bolton do we face all the very Newsnight, CNN and Al priest who set up a home Meeting, told the Friend: real, terrible things that Jazeera.