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Meeting for Sufferings - December 2009

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At a Meeting for Sufferings held in London 5 December 2009

S/09/12/ 1:     Worship

Section          25.11              of Quaker faith & practice has been read in our opening worship, and we have remembered former members of this meeting who recently died.
 

S/09/12/2:      Clerk of BYM Trustees Report

Gill Waddilove, clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees, has reported on the meetings of Trustees held on 9-11 October and 4 December 2009 highlighting:
 
  • Their endorsement of the Fundraising strategy 2010-2013
  • Their adoption of an Equality policy for centrally managed work
  • Using our resources well, including looking after Friends House
  • Oversight of the work of Employment sub-committee
  • Approval of the operational plan and budget for 2010
and answered our questions.
 

S/09/12/3:      Climate change

We receive minute 101/09 of West Scotland Area Meeting held 17 October 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc i a), concerning the 10:10 campaign, and minute 2009/103 of Southern East Anglia Area Meeting held November 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc i d), concerning zero growth economy. Both are supportive of work in hand and we pass both to QPSW Central Committee.
 
Further to our minute S/09/10/4b of 3 October 2009, we have heard a report from Helen Drewery, General Secretary of Quaker Peace & Social Witness Central Committee on developments and activities in our work on climate change since Yearly Meeting 2009.
We heard about the all faith event at Windsor organised by the Alliance for Religions and Conservation wich gave the UN Secretary General a message from faiths to take to the Copenhagen Conference. QPSW arranged a follow-up evening, Many Heavens One Earth, at Friends House. There have been two well-attended events on the Zero Growth Economy. A new staff member will be working on sustainability and peace partly funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, for whom further funding is sought.
 
At lunchtime many of us to participated in support of The Wave, the public action taking place in London today, urging world leaders to take urgent action on global warming by lining Friends House on Euston Road.    

S/09/12/4:      Priority G – Using our resources well

We receive the following minutes:
 
minute BYMT/09/10-4 of BYM Trustees held 9-11 October 2009 (paper S/09/12/mc ii a) concerning Fundraising strategy 2010-2013; 
 
minute QC 09/33 of Quaker Communications Central Committee (paper S/09/12/mc ii b) held 26 September 2009 concerning Fundraising strategy work to reverse declining contributions from members.
 
Robert Gibson, clerk of Quaker Communications Central Committee, has introduced a paper on Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) fundraising – supporting area meetings (paper S/09/12/A) and has shared copies of his speaking notes.
 
Adrian Walker-Smith, a member of Quaker Stewardship Committee, has introduced a paper on Quaker Stewardship Committee – Using our resources well (paper S/09/12/B). containing a set of draft queries.
 
Jonathan Fox, assistant clerk of BYM Trustees, has introduced a paper on A Framework for Action Priority G: using our resources well (paper S/09/12/C).
 
We have discussed the questions offered by Quaker Stewardship Committee in our home groups, and will take these back to consider locally with the help of a note wich will be included in the next mailing. We will consider the responses at a meeting in 2010. 
 
We agree that Quaker Communications Department may do a pilot using the central database to assist a limited number of Area Meetings who request help with the mailing and administration of their annual appeal. We look forward to hearing how this works at the end of the pilot.
 

S/09/12/5:      Membership and Appointments 

a) Membership of Meeting for Sufferings
The following changes to the membership of Meeting for Sufferings are proposed.
 
Release
Roger Cullen                                                Oxford & Swindon AM
Jill Hetherton                                    Pickering & Hull AM
Roger Hill                                          Notts & Derby AM
Matthew Keen                                  Northamptonshire AM
Sue Lawson                                     Northumbria AM
 
Nomination
Julia Bush                                         Northamptonshire AM
Roger Sanderson                            Notts & Derby AM
Jamie Wrench                                  Southern Marches AM
 
We duly appoint the Friends named and thank the Friend released for her service.
 
b) Central Nominations Committee                              
brings forward the names of the following Friends for service or release as indicated:
 
Central Nominations Committee                               
Simon Pollitt                         release                       West Cumbria West AM
 
Church Government Advisory Group
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Esther Boyd                            renomination               Central England AM
(appointed 2007, first renomination)
 
Friends Trusts Limited
Joan Silvester                         release (31.12.2009) York
 
Meeting for Sufferings Arrangements Group
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Euranis Neile                           renomination               Bournemouth Coastal AM
(appointed 2007, first renomination)
 
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2010
Geoffrey Braithwaite              nomination                  Luton & Leighton AM
 
Meeting for Sufferings Members’ Handbook Group
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
John Crompton                       nomination                  Lincolnshire AM
 
Quaker Communications Central Committee
To serve from 1.4.2010 until 31.3.2013
Jane Chattell                           renomination               Kendal & Sedbergh AM
(appointed 2007, first renomination)
 
Robert Gibson                         renomination               Leeds AM
(appointed 2007, first renomination)
 
Quaker Council for European Affairs
To serve as Britain Yearly Meeting representative to QCEA from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick         nomination      Luton & Leighton AM
 
To serve as Britain Yearly Meeting alternate representative to QCEA from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Sarah Coote                            nomination                  Hampshire & Islands AM
 
Quaker Peace & Social Witness Central Committee
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12 2012
John Lampen                          renomination               Central England AM
(appointed 2008, first renomination)
Helen Still                                renomination               North Wales AM
(appointed 2007, first renomination)
Nigel Dower                            nomination                  North Scotland AM
Douglas Rennie                      nomination                  Northumbria AM
 
Quaker Housing Trust
Stan Lee                                  release                        South London
(with effect from the end of AGM 2010)
 
Quaker World Relations Committee
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Sheila Gatiss                           renomination               Cambridgeshire AM
(appointed 2007, first renomination)
 
Representatives to Ireland Yearly Meeting, 5-11 April 2010
Sue Buxton                                                                 South East Scotland AM
Shanthini Cawson                                                       North East Thames    
 
The Retreat (Governors)
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Ann Boot                                 nomination                  Meeting of Friends in Wales
Marian Liebmann                    nomination                  Bristol AM
Juliet Morton                           nomination                  Devon AM
 
We duly appoint the Friends named and thank the Friends released for their service
 
c) Central Nominations Committee                              
brings forward the following names for interim appointment or release by Meeting for Sufferings acting on behalf of Yearly Meeting between sessions (to be notified to Yearly Meeting 2010)
 
BYM Trustees
To serve from 1.1.2010 until YM 2010
Sheila Gatiss                           nomination                  Cambridgeshire
 
Peter Smith                             release (31.3.2010)     Norfolk & Waveney AM
 
We duly appoint the Friend named and thank the Friend released for his service
 
d) For information
 
Central Nominations Committee                              
has made the following appointment
 
Joseph Rowntree Foundation Search Group
To serve from 1.1.2010 until 31.12.2012
Jonathan Dale                         nomination                  Manchester & Warrington AM
 

S/09/12/6:      Journalists at Yearly Meeting

Further to our minute S/09/10/4d of 3 October 2009, we receiveminute QC 09/36 of Quaker Communications Central Committee held 26 September 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc ii c) concerning Working with the media at Yearly Meeting. We have concentrated on the issue of inviting jounalists to Yearly Meeting sessions.
 
We wish to encourage Yearly Meeting normally to open sessions to journalists. In coming to this view we took into consideration:
 
  • Survey evidence of public ignorance about Quakers or Quakers being seen as a secretive sect and the advisability of dispelling such myths
  • The development of electronic media which means that what we do will be reported anyway
  • Remaining concerns about how our methods might be misunderstood or misreported
  • The need to be sensitive to Friends who may be reticent to speak in the presence of journalists
 
We have confidence in the ability of our media relations staff to offer appropriate briefing if needed and faith in the divine presence working through the meeting.
 

S/09/12/7:       Minutes & Correspondence 

i Area Meeting Minutes

a)            Bristol AM: Colnbrook Detention Centre
Further to our minute S/09/04/8c), we return to minute 27/09 of Bristol Area Meeting held 19 February 2009 concerning Colnbrook Detention Centre (paper S/09/04/mc i b).
 
b)           Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network
Sheila Mosley of Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network, has introduced the minutes from the QARN meeting held 17 October 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc i b), and has summarised QARN’s views on the priorities for action especially on the detention of children and indefinite detention.
 
We would like to support greater awareness-raising among Friends about the issues facing asylum-sekkers. QARN membership is open to all and they are willing to provide speakers for meetings. We are encouraged to take action individually and as meetings to give practical help to asylum-seekers and to support campaigns such as Outcry on their behalf. We would also like to make some kind of public statement on detention and ask the Recording Clerk to report on this to us early in 2010.
 

ii Committee Minutes

a)            YM Gathering Planning Committee: Developing our vision together
We receive minute YMGPC/2009 11/15 of YM Gathering Planning Committee held 14-15 November 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc ii d): Developing our vision together. We note that they are thinking of using the YM Gathering in 2011 as an opportunity to share with the world our vision of a faith to live by so we can sustain the world, and nurture ourselves, our community and our planet.
 
b)           Quaker World Relations Committee: Reports and Epistles
We receive minute QWRC 09/10/13 of Quaker World Relations Committee held 17 October 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc ii e), together with reports from the representatives who attended France, Netherlands, Nordic and Switzerland Yearly Meeting on behalf of Britain Yearly Meeting, and the epistles from those meetings.
 
c)            Quaker World Relations Committee: Report of and Epistle from Aotearoa/New Zealand YM & Centenary Gathering
We receive minute QWRC 09/10/14 of Quaker World Relations Committee held 17 October 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc ii f), together with the report of Aotearoa/New Zealand Yearly Meeting & Centenary Gathering, and the epistle from the meeting.
 
d)           Quaker Life Central Committee: Pastoral Care
We receive minute 2009/98 (in part) of Quaker Life Central Committee held 20-22 November 2009 (paper S/09/12/ mc ii h) about excluding dates of birth of children from publication and minute 09/34 of a joint meeting of the Church Government Advisory Group with the Chapters 14 and 15 Working Group held on 3 December 2009. We forward the draft amendments to Yearly Meeting.
 

S/09/12/8:      Same sex marriage

We receive minutes 11b of South East Scotland Area Meeting held            November 2009 concerning The Religious Celebration of Same Sex Partnerships and minute 4d of the Area Meeting Elders held October 2009 concerning Registration of Same Sex Partnerships (paper S/09/12/ mc i c). Our Assistant Recording Clerk has explained the position in Scotland.
 
We ask General Meeting for Scotland to take forward minute 23 of Yearly Meeting 2009.
 
Further to our minute S/09/10/4c of 3 October 2009, we have heard a progress report from Michael Bartlet on developments since Yearly Meeting 2009. He explained that any change in the common law definition of marriage will take some years and a specific exception just for Quakers is not politically possible. However, in the short term, amendments to the UK Equality Bill to allow religious language and premises to be used for civil partnerships and the use of Quaker registering officers are to be tabled in the House of Lords and may pass. There are also meetings arranged with the UK Justice Minister, Maria Eagle, with other religious groups and with officials. We return to other aspects of this matter early in 2010.
 

S/09/12/9:      Report on Quaker Week 2009

We have heard a report from Tom Harris, Outreach Development Officer in Quaker Life Department, on the success of Quaker Week 2009. Meetings have taken the opportunity to participate in Freshers Fairs and Heritage Open Weekends among many other activities. Quaker Life are already committed to Quaker week from 10-18 October 2010 as a result of enthusiasm from the local level.
 

S/09/12/10:    Meeting for Sufferings Annual Report 2009

The clerk has introduced the draft of the proposed Annual Report of Meeting for Sufferings for 2009 (paper S/09/12/D).
 
We approve this draft, subject to updating and to any amendments to be made in the light of our consideration today. The final version is to be forwarded to Yearly Meeting 2010, and circulated to members of Meeting for Sufferings for information.
 

S/09/12/11:    Dates for Yearly Meeting 2012

We receive minute 2009/47 of Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee held 23-25 October 2009 concerning dates for Yearly Meeting in 2012 (paper S/09/12/ mc ii g).
 
We agree that Yearly Meeting in 2012 be held from 25-28 May at Friends House but hope that consideration will be given to early May meetings again in future.
 

S/09/12/12:    Meeting for Sufferings residential 15-17 January 2010

Further to our minute S/09/10/10, we have heard about the programme and arrangements for the residential meeting at High Leigh. The detailed programme and papers will be sent out later in December.
 
 
Susan Seymour
Clerk