Young Quakers balance listening with speaking truth to power
At Junior Yearly Meeting 2023, young Quakers explored the theme of speaking truth to power.
Discussing the Quaker testimony of truth and integrity, they agreed that it is important to challenge power, but also to allow your community to challenge and educate you.
They addressed the need to be loving and inclusive when trying to bring about change. Listening is as important as speaking, they agreed.
The JYM epistle – or letter summarising the meeting – concluded:
"To speak truth to power is as much about knowing when to use our voice as it is to use our silence. This balance is quintessential, if we only speak we have no chance to listen inclusively but if we only listen we cannot bring about change. This balance is the answer."
Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) is an annual opportunity for Quakers aged around 16-19 to explore Quakerism and build community.
On 1–4 April 2023, 46 young people and 10 adult volunteers gathered at the Frontier Centre in Northamptonshire for a weekend of worship, discussions and activities.
Describing the weekend, the epistle said:
"We met daily in worship and felt enriched by the ministry shared, which was a vital part of our community. Through song, movement, and quiet reflection, we strengthened our spiritual connection. Together, we explored the subjectivity of definitions, the importance of discernment, and the balance between faith and practical action…
"As we reflect on our time together, we are filled with gratitude for the connections we formed and the insights we gained. We depart with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to speak truth to power in our everyday lives."
Full epistle
To all Friends everywhere,
Between the 1 and 4 of April 2023, 46 participants and 10 adult volunteers gathered at the Frontier Centre in Northamptonshire to consider the theme:
"Speaking Truth to Power: How can we release this energy to bring light to our worlds?"
Our weekend was filled with fascinating explorations of truth, power, and integrity. As young Quakers, we experienced the importance of building community and forming meaningful connections. Throughout the weekend, we participated in Base Groups, which provided a familial atmosphere that enabled us to quickly become comfortable with one another. This allowed us to let loose, laugh, and truly be ourselves.
We met daily in worship and felt enriched by the ministry shared, which was a vital part of our community. Through song, movement, and quiet reflection, we strengthened our spiritual connection. Together, we explored the subjectivity of definitions, the importance of discernment, and the balance between faith and practical action. The final epilogue ended with a bonfire, where we shared our gratitude for one another in an incredibly sentimental way.
Our community was further enhanced by a range of activities and events, including a Ceilidh, outdoor activities run by the Frontier Centre, and a quiz. The weather improved as our community strengthened, encouraging us to utilise the outdoors as well as the indoors.
Our theme was introduced by our Arrangements Committee, and their interpretations of it so far were shared. We ended with reflective questions including “How can we create positive change from intense feelings?" We contrasted these thoughts with actions by listening to the adult volunteer team sharing their experiences of speaking truth to power through different lenses. This included restoring historical voices, smashing a Banksy and speaking Truth to Power as part of the trade union movement.
Our guest speakers included Paul Parker, who shared reflections on the work of Marjory Post Abbott. This discussed Everyday Prophets, and how young Quakers who are often called 'the future' of Quakerism can hold this prophetic role as Quakers now. The session enabled us to appreciate the importance of speaking with love. Jude Acton encouraged the group to explore what speaking truth to power meant to us as individuals as well as members of communities. We shared in groups how we might do this in our everyday lives. This thought-provoking session raised a multitude of questions that the community was very eager to engage with. This contributed to making our Quaker Meeting for Worship for Business so powerful.
As we reflect on our time together, we are filled with gratitude for the connections we formed and the insights we gained. We depart with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to speak truth to power in our everyday lives.
We wish to share the final paragraph of our minute, as we leave this community ready to seek the balance between speaking truth and hearing it in our lives.
"To speak truth to power is as much about knowing when to use our voice as it is to use our silence. This balance is quintessential, if we only speak we have no chance to listen inclusively but if we only listen we cannot bring about change. This balance is the answer."
Signed in and on behalf of Junior Yearly Meeting 2023,
Eve Park
Olwyn Lewis-Bowen