the2 August 2019 | £2.00Friend ‘It’s going to be an evolution, but we do need to get on with it.’ Caroline Nursey, clerk of BYM trustees, on restructuring 2 Aug 29/7/19 15:52 Page 1 Britain Yearly Meeting Head of Communications & Fundraising Salary: £49,489 if based in London, £42,067 if based outside London. Location: Euston, London (or elsewhere subject to discussion). Contract: Permanent, 5 days per week. About the role: Britain Yearly Meeting (Quakers) have recently agreed a number of key strategic priorities to support the church to reinvigorate Quakerism. To support these objectives we have created a new role of Head of Communications to shape and drive our communications and fundraising teams and support them in meeting these key priorities. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to make a real impact. About you: • You will be ambitious with a flexible approach to work, and be excited by the opportunity to shape the future of fundraising and communications at the Quakers • You will have substantial relevant experience of leading communications in a values based organisation • You will also have substantial relevant experience of leading fundraising activities, including the delivery of strategy and managing people and budgets • You must have had previous involvement in delivering change programmes both internally and externally with an understanding of the complexity of managing change • Previous experience of managing staff, including at least two years line managing other functional specialists and team leaders is essential • Of course, you will also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to work collaboratively with a range of different stakeholders • It’s essential that you have sympathy with the Quaker values. About us: Quakers are committed to working for equality and for a sustainable and peaceful world. We seek to fill the gaps, to work where help is most needed, alone or with others – whatever will have the greatest impact. We are committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and expect all our staff and volunteers to share and uphold this commitment. Quakers have a faith commitment to equality and encourage and welcome applications for posts from all sections of society. You do not have to be a Quaker to apply for this post, but we expect you to uphold the values of our organisation. What we can offer you: You can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, including a generous holiday allowance, a season ticket loan, and flexibility that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance. Further information For more details of this exciting role and information about how to apply, please download our candidate application pack which is available on the Action Planning website at https://actionplanning.co.uk/jobs-board The closing date for applications is 9am Tuesday 13 August 2019. Britain Yearly Meeting is committed to equality in all its employment practices. Reg. charity 1127633. the INDEPENDENTFriend QUAKER JOURNALISM SINCE 1843 2 August 2019 | Volume 177, No 31 www.thefriend.org News 4 Brexit, security, Pride, and more Rebecca Hardy Letters 6 Restructuring BYM 8 Interview with Caroline Nursey Joseph Jones Thought for the week 11 Cold comfort Alison Leonard In the midst 12 Reading from the gospel of Matthew Janet Scott Friends in other places 13 Navigating the journey Andrew Norman Poetry 14 Looking for cows Dana Littlepage Smith Review 15 Appeasing Hitler Reg Naulty Q Eye: a look at the Quaker world 16 Friends & Meetings 17 Part of the creative experience of a community is learning how to deal with conflict when it arises, and Friends are not usually good at this. ‘Speaking the truth in love’ is a Quaker cliché, but ‘papering over the cracks’ is the principle more commonly acted upon. Conflict met in ‘brokenness’ of spirit can take a Meeting a long way on its spiritual journey, whereas unresolved it deadens the life. We are a small Society. Clashes have always arisen, just as they arise in any family group. In one sense the members of a family know each other too well, in another sense not well enough. It is impossible to impress one’s relations, but they can be a great stand-by in time of need, and it is then that they come to know each other better, if the bond is strong enough. Joan Fitch, 1980 Quaker faith & practice, 10.22 Friends protest at “up to 2,000 decision News security expo makers”, and “150+ Quakers from Malvern, exhibitors”, which include [email protected] Hereford and Worcester BAE Systems. We see this demonstrated against event as a further stage in a two-day Defence and the militarisation of the Security Expo held at UK. How far do we want Quakers say ‘no-deal with a no-deal Brexit, Malvern’s Three Counties to allow this sector of our Brexit’ is ‘huge gamble’ while frequent, are yet Showgrounds last month. economy to grow?’ Britain Yearly Meeting to be supported by Friends and supporters Friends and (BYM) has joined six substantial evidence’ held a vigil in a shopping campaigners plan to other Christian groups in and ask the government area in Malvern on 17 hand-deliver a letter to the signing an open letter to to publish evidence of July before marching Showground’s board of the new prime minister the impact of a no-deal to Qinetiq, which they trustees. describing a ‘no-deal Brexit on disadvantaged say develops military Brexit’ as ‘a huge gamble’ communities. technology. Pangolin for Pride that will hit those in Specific concerns raised Melanie Jameson, from A large handcrafted model poverty ‘very hard indeed’. include: food supply, Malvern Meeting, told of a pangolin painted in The church leaders say medical supplies (pricing the Friend that: ‘A moving rainbow colours (see right) they have been ‘compelled’ and availability), and testimony was read and a drew visitors to a Quaker to write to Boris Johnson energy. The letter also wreath attached to their stall at a local Pride event, because of his position invites the prime minister main roadside sign, in ‘Bourne Free’, last month. that leaving the European to visit one of the many memory of the 35,000 Quakers from Union without a deal is social action projects run children under five killed Bournemouth Coastal acceptable. The letter by churches to support the in the Yemeni conflict. Area Meeting showed states: ‘At a time when millions of citizens living From there, we moved their support by joining increasing numbers of in poverty. to the exit gate at the the Pride parade on 13 families have difficulties Signatories include Showground and, facing July for the second year putting enough food on leaders from: the the delegates’ cars as they running. This year, as the table, we believe it is Methodist Church of left, we formed a line well as Quaker leaflets irresponsible to consider Great Britain; the United displaying our messages and information from a course of action that Reformed Church; the [including] “Quakers the Quaker Gender is expected to make that Baptist Unions of Great say: Use your technology and Sexual Diversity situation worse.’ Britain, Scotland and to tackle the climate Community, the stall had The church leaders Wales; the Church of emergency”.’ plastic-free giveaways say that ‘it is notable Scotland; the Salvation She said the main including origami peace that assurances about Army; and the Scottish purpose of the defence doves and painted rocks. our ability to cope Episcopal Church. event was to ‘recruit small Helen Carter-Shaw, and medium enterprises from the Area Meeting, into the defence and told the Friend that: WORDS security industry’. ‘Discussion with people Melanie Jameson added: gave us an opportunity ‘In this, its third year, to discover how much the expo has doubled in we still have to learn and ‘The average member size with the addition that dialogue should be of the “Special Products welcomed rather than will be a man, in Industry Day”, previously avoided. Recent crimes held at the defence against members of the college at Shrivenham. LGBTQT+ community his late 50s… white Security has been have highlighted how dramatically increased important it is that this British… live in the with attendance limited dialogue continues.’ to industry members She added: ‘Pangolins south of England and and those intending to are among the most supply industry/military/ trafficked and endangered be comfortably off.’ law enforcement agencies. animals in the world, and The website provides a list drew attention to our Politics professor Tim Bale on the 0.14 per cent of some of the produces testimony to equality and of the population who, as Tory Party members, on show and boasts that respect for all with whom voted for the new prime minister. delegates will have access we share the planet.’ 4 the Friend 2 August 2019 Quakers press for teachers exposed.’ NUMBERS more support to It adds: ‘The LGBT+ education requirement for schools Members of the Quaker to promote inclusivity Values in Education group between people of and the Quaker Gender different characteristics is a vital part of our society’s 11,600 and Sexual Diversity The number of crimes against LGBT people recorded by Community have signed equality and human rights framework, and helps us police between 2017-2018, more than doubling in five a letter calling on the years. Transphobic attacks have trebled. government to step up to forge a better society its support to schools in which all may fully promoting the acceptance contribute.’ schools from September Meanwhile in the real of LGBT+ education. The letter came as 2020. The changes world, British veterans parents regrouped outside Quakers joined nearly require secondary schools are rarely prosecuted and Parkfield Community eighty signatories to to include content on almost never convicted of School in Birmingham a letter sent to then- LGBT+ relationships, war-related crimes.’ to continue protesting education secretary but there is no specific He added that the against the school’s Damian Hinds and requirement for primary proposal is a ‘distraction’ decision to bring back schools.