News release: Quakers consider economic justice
News Release
22 July 2011
More than 1,500 Quakers will be in Canterbury next week for their annual meeting to discern the way ahead for Quakers in Britain. The eight-day programme for all ages, promises to be an inspiring mix of worship, learning, celebration, business, spiritual growth and fun - including a ceilidh and making patchwork quilts.
The theme for Quakers’ Yearly Meeting Gathering at the University of Kent, from Saturday 30 July to Saturday 6 August, is “Growing in the Spirit: changing the way we live to sustain the world we live in”.
More than 270 under 19 year olds will enjoy a parallel programme, exploring the same theme, with 107 taking part in Junior Yearly Meeting for 15 – 18 year olds and 165 in the children and young people’s programme.
Recording Clerk, Paul Parker said: “Yearly Meeting Gathering is a high point of the Quaker year, a time when the Yearly Meeting becomes much more than the sum of its parts, the Spirit moves among us, and we have a chance to discern together what God requires of us in the world.”
The main business sessions will focus on economic justice and sustainable living.
Highlights of the fringe events include broadcaster, magician and Quaker, Geoffrey Durham reading extracts from his new book, “Being a Quaker: a guide for newcomers”. Events include discussions on crime, community and justice; Israeli peace activism; Responding to global conflict, led by Professor Paul Rogers of Bradford University; An introduction to Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) Geneva.
There are four evening lectures open to the public:
Sunday 31 July, 7.30pm, The George Gorman Lecture, given by Simon Best, “Sustainable, radical Quakerism: a faith for the twenty-first century”.
Monday 1 August, 7.30pm, The Swarthmore Lecture, given by Pam Lunn, leader for the Good Lives Programme at Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre, “Costing not less than everything: sustainability and spirituality in challenging times”. The Swarthmore Lecture, established in 1907, is under the care of Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre trustees.
Tuesday 2 August, 7.30pm, the Salter Lecture, given by Tony Benn, who retired from the House of Commons in 2001 after more than fifty years in parliament. This lecture is under the auspices of the Quaker Socialist Society.
Wednesday 3 August, 7.30pm, The Retreat Lecture, “Friendship, community and mental health”, given by Chris Holman, director of The Retreat, the mental health unit in York.
Ends
Notes to editors:
- Journalists are welcome to Yearly Meeting Gathering. This is a new move. Previously only those journalists working for the independent newspaper The Friend have attended. Journalists wishing to attend any part of Yearly Meeting Gathering should contact Anne van Staveren on 020 7663 1048 or 07958 009703 for accreditation. Press passes will be given on arrival.
- There will be a press office at YMG and a press desk within the Gathering hall (the Big Top). For interviews and photographs during Yearly Meeting Gathering contact Anne van Staveren on 07958 009 703.
- The reports for Yearly Meeting are now available online here www.quaker.org.uk/ymgprep
- Review copies of the Swarthmore Lecture are available from annev@quaker.org.uk contents embargoed to 7.30pm Monday 1 August.
- Quakers are known formally as the Religious Society of Friends, a radical Christian movement founded in seventeenth century England.
- Around 23,000 people attend nearly 475 Quaker meetings in Britain. Their commitment to equality, justice, peace, simplicity and truth challenges them to seek positive social and legislative change.
Media Information
Anne van Staveren
0207 663 1048
07958 009703
annev@quaker.org.uk
www.quaker.org.uk
