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QCCIR - Terms of Reference

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Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees

Quaker Committee for Christian & Interfaith Relations

Terms Of Reference

1. Summary Of Purpose

Accountable to Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees, the Quaker Committee for Christian & Interfaith Relations is responsible for keeping Britain Yearly Meeting informed of the various movements towards inter-church co-operation and opportunities for interfaith dialogue, and for responding on behalf of the Yearly Meeting so that Friends’ views on issues of faith and order are represented to other churches and communities of faith. (See also Quaker faith & practice 9.13.)

2. Membership

2.1 The Committee comprises up to 15 members appointed by Meeting for Sufferings for three years with one third retiring annually, names having been submitted by the Central Nominations Committee. At least one name is submitted through Central Nominations Committee by General Meeting for Scotland, at least one by the Meeting of Friends in Wales and one by invitation to Ireland Yearly Meeting to nominate from amongst its members. (Note for clarity: these latter three names form part of the 15 total).

2.2 Each member is appointed for an initial term of three years, but could be invited to serve for a second or a third term, according to the needs of the committee for continuity, to maintain relationships with outside bodies or to retain specialist skills for long term work. Each period of service begins on 1 May in any one year.

2.3 The Committee should have some overlapping membership with Quaker World Relations Committee in order to facilitate communication between the committees.

2.4 The World Office of Friends World Committee for Consultation is invited to send a representative (normally the general secretary) to meetings of the Committee.

2.5 The Interfaith/Inter-church secretary of Young Friends General Meeting can attend ex officio.

2.6 The Clerk of Meeting for Sufferings, the clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees and the Recording Clerk (or Assistant Recording Clerk) can attend ex officio.

2.7 The Committee can invite other Friends or specialists to help on particular issues on its behalf.

2.8 The clerk and assistant clerk are appointed by the Committee from their number.

2.09 A member of staff, designated by the Recording Clerk, will normally attend committee meetings to act as secretary to the committee. Meeting without the secretary should only be with that person’s or with the Recording Clerk’s agreement.

2.10 Other members of staff may be asked to attend by invitation of the clerk for specific agenda items.

3. Frequency of Meetings

3.1 The Committee shall meet as frequently as appropriate for discernment and accountability, normally residentially three times a year, with meetings fitting within the calendar agreed with the Recording Clerk.

3.2 The Committee shall agree a mechanism for conducting business between meetings.

4. Duties

The Committee is accountable to Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees for the following duties:

4.1 To keep Britain Yearly Meeting informed of inter-church and interfaith developments and opportunities for dialogue and co-operation between churches, between faiths, and between churches and faiths;

4.2 To respond on behalf of Britain Yearly Meeting (further to 4.1) so that Friends' views are represented to other churches and communities of faith, and to inform Meeting for Sufferings when it intends to make such a response;

4.3 To identify, consider and clarify issues in the life of Britain Yearly Meeting which arise from our inter-church and interfaith involvement, drawing them to the attention of other relevant Britain Yearly Meeting committees and bodies: e.g. membership, the nature of our Religious Society, etc.;

4.4 To identify, consider and clarify theological and social issues which emerge in inter-church and interfaith life of Britain, drawing them to the attention of other relevant Britain Yearly Meeting committees and bodies so that Britain Yearly Meeting can make an informed contribution at the various national and local levels;

4.5 To nurture members of Britain Yearly Meeting in awareness and understanding of the inter-church and interfaith dimension of religious and spiritual life;

4.6 To make those appointments to inter-church and interfaith bodies which are delegated to the Committee by Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees, notably to the national committees and groups of Churches Together in England;

4.7 To review regularly the effectiveness with which news of activities, issues and developments in inter-church and interfaith life is communicated throughout the Yearly Meeting;

4.8 To set up, appoint or lay down sub-committees and working groups, including a nominations group; delegating to them the responsibility to implement and oversee specific policy areas or tasks. Membership of these groups may contain Friends and attenders not on the Committee;

4.9 To ensure that its work is manageable and achievable, and within budget;

4.10 To report as required to Yearly Meeting, Meeting for Sufferings and Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees;

4.11 To consult Meeting for Sufferings in the circumstances laid down in section 7.03 (4th
edition) of Quaker faith & practice.
 

5. Areas of responsibility

The Committee will carry out its responsibilities, delegating executive action as necessary. It may seek assistance with the formulation of policies from appropriate advisory groups. In these ways, the Committee will develop policies, determine priorities and provide advice to Meeting for Sufferings, Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees, the other standing committees and to Management Meeting as appropriate in the following areas: -

5.1 To review regularly its work and establish priorities, relating these to the Long Term Framework and Operational Plan;

5.2 To establish lines of communication and liaison with Quaker Communications, Quaker Life and Quaker Peace & Social Witness Central Committees and Quaker World Relations Committee;

5.3 To bring together, through conferences and otherwise, Quakers involved in inter-church and interfaith affairs at local, regional, national and four nations level for reflection, education and mutual support;

5.4 The Committee may develop a network of correspondents to assist in its work. Ireland Yearly Meeting may also appoint a few additional Friends to keep in touch with the work of the committee in this way;

5.5 To take special responsibility for Friends involved in inter-church or interfaith relationships at the local level, encouraging them as appropriate and responding to requests for help or information;

5.6 To develop, in consultation with Quaker Life, Quaker Peace & Social Witness and Woodbrooke, resources to help Friends in their local and area meetings, and other groupings, to learn more about inter-church and interfaith issues and relationships;

5.7 To liaise regularly with Quaker World Relations Committee for information about each committee’s work, and to work together as appropriate, especially on theological issues which impact on the work of both committees.

5.8 To work with Quaker Life and Quaker Peace & Social Witness Central Committees to further the grounding of the inter-church and interfaith work of Britain Yearly Meeting in the life of local meetings and in our witness for peace and social justice;

5.9 To liaise with and support Britain Yearly Meeting staff who are working with inter-church or interfaith partners;

5.10 To consult with and advise the Central Nominations Committee over appointments made by Meeting for Sufferings to inter-church and interfaith bodies and to help those appointed to be as effective as possible;

5.11 To receive reports from Friends so appointed by Meeting for Sufferings and the Committee and, where appropriate, from those appointed by General Meeting for Scotland, Meeting of Friends in Wales and other European Yearly Meetings; the Friends nominated by General Meeting for Scotland, Meeting of Friends in Wales and Ireland Yearly Meeting shall have a special responsibility to report to and from their nominating bodies

5.12 To monitor inter-church and interfaith relations in the European and global contexts as these impinge on Britain through liaison with Quaker World Relations Committee, the Quaker Council for European Affairs and Friends World Committee for Consultation, and to respond to initiatives arising from these bodies;

5.13 To be aware of the contribution made by Friends from other Yearly Meetings to inter-church and interfaith relations worldwide;

6. Authority

6.1 The committee shall work within these terms of reference under the authority of minute BYMT/08/09/12b of Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees held 5 September 2008.