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JOINING - FORM AND SUBSTANCE
THE FUTURE OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) IN BRITAIN
a contribution by Stuart Donnan
THE FUTURE OF THE RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (QUAKERS) IN BRITAIN
a contribution by Stuart Donnan
SECTION 1
IS THERE REALLY A PROBLEM NOW, WITH SO MANY RECENT CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS?
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IS THERE REALLY A PROBLEM NOW, WITH SO MANY RECENT CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS?
John
Stephenson Rowntree sternly stuck to his task in 1859 and dwelt chiefly
on the defects of Quakerism. It would have been more inviting
employment, he said in his final chapter, to have unfolded the happier
aspects under which Quakerism has displayed itself.
In the 21st century we will have no such scruples. British Quakers in the 21st century have made astonishing progress on many fronts.
Changes in forms:
Restructuring of area and local meetings but also of fundamental central activities and committees has been undertaken. This has all been done with foresight and need not detain us now.
Changes to some extent in substances as well as forms:
The Framework for Action 2009-2014 was entitled Together in worship and witness. The seven headings outline priorities for the Society, after wide consultation:
a. Strengthening the spiritual roots in our meetings and in ourselves;
b. Speaking out in the world;
c. Peace;
d. Sustainability;
e. Strengthening local communities;
f. Crime, community and justice;
g. Using our resources well.
Several specific paragraphs are of relevance to our present discussions, as follows, with my emphasis. The ideas will be picked up later.
One of the initial principles was that Friends at all levels need to respect the work of other bodies, throughout Britain and internationally, whether or not Quaker, work with them, learn from them and avoid ineffective duplication of their work.
- We wish to see all our meetings being inclusive worshipping communities, where everyone is welcomed and valued.
- We all need to integrate and value the contribution of young people in all-age worship, in sharing our faith and in learning and listening.
- We wish to see meetings and individuals confidently expressing their Quaker faith and values wherever opportunities arise.
- We look to Quaker Communications Department and Quaker Life, as well as others with experience, to help members and meetings to make our faith known more widely.
Space does not permit here to give many details, but activities are expanding in many areas of the Society, both internally and externally. Such areas include Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Quaker Life, Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations, Quaker Quest, and Woodbrooke courses including Becoming Friends aimed at newcomers.
British Yearly Meeting Gathering 2009 was a reverberating success with themes of "creating community" and "creating connections", and the vanguard decision supporting same-sex marriage. Young Friends General Meeting functions alongside with its own active membership.
But all these exciting developments have taken place in the context of uncertainty and some anxiety about numbers of people within the Society. The word "numbers" sometimes mutates into the word "members" but not always. "Membership" is still a problem, and this does not only apply to Quakers - involuntary redundancies are coming in some churches.
Furthermore, who are the people being addressed by Quakers in these documents and activities? As John Punshon points out regarding the years after Rowntree's essay in 1859, "The periodicals and conferences of the time contain erudite discussions of topics such as 'the message of Quakerism' or 'Friends' social witness today' without a terribly clear idea of who apart from other Quakers were to receive the message and the witness."
In the 21st century we will have no such scruples. British Quakers in the 21st century have made astonishing progress on many fronts.
Changes in forms:
Restructuring of area and local meetings but also of fundamental central activities and committees has been undertaken. This has all been done with foresight and need not detain us now.
Changes to some extent in substances as well as forms:
The Framework for Action 2009-2014 was entitled Together in worship and witness. The seven headings outline priorities for the Society, after wide consultation:
a. Strengthening the spiritual roots in our meetings and in ourselves;
b. Speaking out in the world;
c. Peace;
d. Sustainability;
e. Strengthening local communities;
f. Crime, community and justice;
g. Using our resources well.
Several specific paragraphs are of relevance to our present discussions, as follows, with my emphasis. The ideas will be picked up later.
One of the initial principles was that Friends at all levels need to respect the work of other bodies, throughout Britain and internationally, whether or not Quaker, work with them, learn from them and avoid ineffective duplication of their work.
- We wish to see all our meetings being inclusive worshipping communities, where everyone is welcomed and valued.
- We all need to integrate and value the contribution of young people in all-age worship, in sharing our faith and in learning and listening.
- We wish to see meetings and individuals confidently expressing their Quaker faith and values wherever opportunities arise.
- We look to Quaker Communications Department and Quaker Life, as well as others with experience, to help members and meetings to make our faith known more widely.
Space does not permit here to give many details, but activities are expanding in many areas of the Society, both internally and externally. Such areas include Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Quaker Life, Committee for Christian and Interfaith Relations, Quaker Quest, and Woodbrooke courses including Becoming Friends aimed at newcomers.
British Yearly Meeting Gathering 2009 was a reverberating success with themes of "creating community" and "creating connections", and the vanguard decision supporting same-sex marriage. Young Friends General Meeting functions alongside with its own active membership.
But all these exciting developments have taken place in the context of uncertainty and some anxiety about numbers of people within the Society. The word "numbers" sometimes mutates into the word "members" but not always. "Membership" is still a problem, and this does not only apply to Quakers - involuntary redundancies are coming in some churches.
Furthermore, who are the people being addressed by Quakers in these documents and activities? As John Punshon points out regarding the years after Rowntree's essay in 1859, "The periodicals and conferences of the time contain erudite discussions of topics such as 'the message of Quakerism' or 'Friends' social witness today' without a terribly clear idea of who apart from other Quakers were to receive the message and the witness."
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