YMAC 25-27 July 2025

Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee (YMAC) met from 25 to 27 July 2025 to begin planning for May 2026 Yearly Meeting. They were joined by a number of Friends from different organisations and meetings who helped YMAC discern what might form the agenda for the meeting.

What is this committee responsible for?

YMAC is responsible for planning the agenda for our Yearly Meeting sessions. Things are changing after May 2026 (when another committee will take on this responsibility) and part of YMAC's work is to ensure a smooth transition and handover of business when we begin to hold Yearly Meeting sessions more frequently.

What did it do at this meeting?

YMAC was joined by Friends from a wide range of committees, meetings and Quaker organisations. All those Friends brought ideas and concerns to help YMAC understand what is current for Quakers and what may need to come to Yearly Meeting in May for consideration, discernment or decision.

YMAC also heard about business that needs to come to Yearly Meeting in May 2026 where decisions are needed that only Yearly Meeting can take. The committee reflected on the importance of leaving space and time in the agenda for discernment.

At this stage there is still much more work and further discernment needed to refine what might go forward onto the agenda. However, key themes that have emerged so far and which might influence part of the agenda, are:

  • Equality, diversity, inclusion - building on past commitments and going beyond them to reflect on equity and justice
  • Community and connections - who we are as a people, membership and belonging
  • Conflict - handling conflict well in a way that builds connections, nurtures community and creates safe spaces, overcoming divisiveness and polarisation
  • Change - our change journey looking backwards and forwards: what can we learn, what can we celebrate, what are the opportunities, keeping in mind where YM May 2026 sits in the pattern of our meetings and upcoming discernment on the revision of our book of discipline.

YMAC will continue its discernment at its next meeting.

How can I find out more?

You can read about past Yearly Meeting sessions on the Yearly Meeting page on the Quakers in Britain website. Keep reading Hope So! or checking the Organisation Updates page for regular updates from YMAC meetings.