The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc. DOCUMENTS in ADVANCE Yearly Meeting 2 – 9 July 2016 The Friends’ School, Hobart Published by The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc., Canberra Printed and distributed from AYM Office PO Box 556 Kenmore Q 4069 May 2016 CONTENTS Yearly Meeting 2016 Timetable ................................................................................................ 3 General information to prepare for Yearly Meeting ........................................................... 4 First Timers at Yearly Meeting ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Pastoral care at Yearly Meeting ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Elders at Yearly Meeting ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Business Sessions at Yearly Meeting .............................................................................................................................. 5 Abbreviations, Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 6 Australia Yearly Meeting appointments .......................................................................................................... 8 Statement of Membership of AYM .................................................................................................................. 11 AYM Officers’ Reports ................................................................................................................ 12 Presiding Clerk’s Report for YM16 ............................................................................................................................... 12 Secretary’s Report ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 AYM Secretary Appointment Committee .................................................................................................................. 14 AYM Treasurer’s Report & Budget 2016 – 2017 ................................................................................................... 14 Regional Meeting Annual Reports ......................................................................................... 15 Canberra Regional Meeting Report ............................................................................................................................. 15 New South Wales Regional Meeting Report ............................................................................................................ 17 Queensland Regional Meeting Report ........................................................................................................................ 17 South Australia & Northern Territory Regional Meeting Report ................................................................... 19 Tasmania Regional Meeting Report ............................................................................................................................. 20 Victoria Regional Meeting Report ................................................................................................................................ 22 West Australia Regional Meeting Report .................................................................................................................. 23 Reports from AYM committees, working groups and associated bodies ................. 26 The Australian Friend Committee ................................................................................................................................. 26 Australian Friends Fellowship of Healing ................................................................................................................. 26 Australian Quaker Narrative Embroidery: Friends in Stitches ....................................................................... 27 Backhouse Lecture Committee ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Child Protection Committee ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Children & Junior Young Friends Committee .......................................................................................................... 30 Children & JYF Coordinator’s Report .......................................................................................................................... 31 Communications Committee .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Earthcare ................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Ecumenism and Interfaith Reports .............................................................................................................................. 36 First Nations Peoples Concerns Committee ............................................................................................................. 36 Friends Peace Teams Report .......................................................................................................................................... 41 The Friends’ School, Hobart ............................................................................................................................................ 42 Friends World Committee for Consultation Committee (FWCC) ................................................................... 44 Handbook Revision: Expert Committee on Hosted Committees .................................................................... 45 Information Technology Committee ........................................................................................................................... 47 Morrow Bequest Committee ........................................................................................................................................... 49 Peace & Social Justice Fund Committee (P&SJFC) ................................................................................................. 49 Quaker Learning Australia Committee ....................................................................................................................... 50 Quaker Peace & Legislation Committee (QPLC) ..................................................................................................... 51 Quaker Service Australia Incorporated ..................................................................................................................... 52 Safe Quaker Community Committee ........................................................................................................................... 53 The Sanctuary Management Committee ................................................................................................................... 54 Silver Wattle Quaker Centre ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Thanksgiving Fund Committee ...................................................................................................................................... 57 Yearly Meeting Planning Support Committee ......................................................................................................... 57 Young Friends ....................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Appendix 1: Standing Committee Minutes .................................................................................................. 59 Appendix 2: Privacy Policy for recording Friends’ personal data ..................................................... 65 Appendix 3: QSA Appendices ............................................................................................................................ 68 2 Yearly Meeting 2016 Timetable Saturday Sunday Mon- Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sat Standing Sunday 7.45- The Meeting House will be open from 7.45 for an optional Meeting for Worship Committee timetable 8.30 begins 9-10 8.30 - Meeting for Meeting for Meeting for Meeting for Meeting for Meeting for Friday 1 July, Meeting 9.30 Worship Worship Remembrance Worship Worship Worship 2.30 – 5.30 for and continues Worship Saturday 2 10-11 9.30 – Prep Formal Formal Session 4 Formal Formal Formal July, 9.30 – Group 11.00 Session Session 3 Session 5 Session 7 Session 9 3.30 or earlier photo & Peace - until the morning reports business of tea 11.00 – Morning Tea SC is 11.30 completed 11 – 12.30 11.30 – Prep Prep Prep Session Prep Session Prep Final Winter 1.00 Session Session QLA & M4L/ QSA or Session Meeting for School – Earthcare First Communications Handbook Young Worship Open Nations (Publications) Revision Friends & Space Peoples’ Committee IT Cttee Concerns 12.30 – 1.00 – Lunch 1.30 2.00 Lunch 1.00 – 4.00 1.30 – 3.00 2.00 – Prep Prep Peace witness Formal Formal