Devon and Cornwall Quakers

The address given, on behalf of Quakers in Britain, to the monarch on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

‘As representatives of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, called Quakers, we offer our congratulations on the occasion of your Diamond Jubilee.

We give thanks for the commitment you have shown through six decades as monarch and for your steadfast upholding of the value of faith to our nation’s wellbeing. 

We recall your speech to the United Nations General Assembly in July 2010 when you reflected on the leadership required in the waging of peace. Quaker tradition from the days of Charles II has led our Society to stand for conscientious action to find new ways to create peace, to seek equality, justice and active nonviolence and now to address the urgent work needed to sustain the earth for future generations.

We lament the resort to armed conflict as an instrument of policy. We welcome your personal commitment to peace, such as you have shown in relation to Ireland.

Our commitment to equality led us in 2009 to seek a change in the law to provide for same sex and opposite sex marriages on an equal basis. This is because of our deeply held belief that we see the light of God in everyone which leads us to respect the inherent worth of each individual and each loving relationship. We see the recent move to allow the celebration of civil partnerships on religious premises as a step towards full equality in marriage.

Last year, Quakers in Britain met in the worshipful stillness that is our tradition, and made a strong corporate commitment to become a low-carbon, sustainable community. Quaker John Woolman’s words in 1772 still sound clearly to us today: “The produce of the earth is a gift from our gracious creator to the inhabitants, and to impoverish the earth now to support outward greatness appears to be an injury to the 
succeeding age.”

This concern grows from our faith, and cannot be separated from it. We have long been aware that our behaviour impoverishes the earth and that it is our responsibility both to conserve the earth’s resources and to share them more equitably. The environmental crisis is enmeshed with global economic injustice and we must face our responsibility, as one of the nations which has unfairly benefited at others’ expense, to redress inequalities.

The global economic system is posited on continued expansion and growth, and in its pursuit of growth it is often unjust, violent and destructive. We must ask the question whether this system is so broken that we must urgently work with others of faith and good will to put in its place a different system where the values of equality, simplicity, peace and truth can flourish. We see all this work as pursuing justice and building peace.

We pray that God’s light may continue to illuminate your path. May God’s blessing rest upon you, your family and all people.’

Christine Cannon, clerk, on behalf of Meeting for Sufferings 

This address was presented at a ceremony on Tuesday 27 March in Buckingham Palace. 

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What is it about the Quakers?

Modern Friends sometimes hear, from people who know a bit about us, that we are 'good' people, whatever that may mean, while to the public at large we either died out years ago, or are a 'strict' sect. In fact we are pretty normal people but with a passion for silence, fellowship and peace.

In his book 'Light to Live By*', Rex Ambler describes the essence of the Quaker experience which developed around 1650:

"The meditative process was thought of as the basis for a whole way of life.........  Truth had to be accessed through a discipline of silence and waiting, but once it had been 'seen' and accepted, it had to be acted on. Then more insight would be gained, and one's own life would become richer and more effective."

This process, of meditation followed by action, is still at work today, for example on the issue of sustainability. Friends decided collectively last year (see below), that the way we live must change now, so that we can do our bit towards preventing the worst effects of climate change; and it will. Perhaps this will lead us to move right out of our comfort zone (literally), and develop in our lives the strength of vision which 17th Century Quakers had, and which some of them even died for.

Alan Ray-Jones 

*'Light to Live By: an exploration of Quaker spirituality', Rex Ambler, Quaker Books,
 London 2008.See also NAYLER: The Living Vision, 
Quakers and sustainability: what now?, and 'Experiment with Light'.

Becoming Friends

An innovative learning project which is available to all who are new to Friends - both individuals and groups, whether familiar with computers or not - who want to know more about Quakers.

It helps newcomers to understand more about Quakerism, while exploring their own spiritual journey, through the use of flexible learning materials, on-line discussion groups and support from a network of ‘companions’ in local meetings. It is however only an option, to use or not!

The Becoming Friends course is available both online and on paper. The book (paper pack) 'Becoming Friends: Living and Learning with Quakers' costs £10 from the Quaker Bookshop. Or, sign up for the online course, cost £5, by following the instructions at www.woodbrooke.org.uk/becomingfriends. A free demonstration of the online Becoming Friends course is also available at http://moodle.woodbrooke.org.uk (use guest login).

Meetings can support newcomers who are using the Becoming Friends materials, or want to do so, by sending a couple of Friends on a course for 'Becoming Friends Companions' at Woodbrooke or Swarthmore; or by sending newcomers to a 'Becoming Friends' course at Woodbrooke or Swarthmore; or by obtaining 'Becoming Friends:Preparing to be a Companion Handbook', which is available from the Quaker Bookshop, price £5. At least two Friends from Devon have been on a Becoming Friends Companions course: contact Alan Ray-Jones for further information.

See www.woodbrooke.org.uk/becomingfriends and/or http://www.swarthmoorhall.co.uk/ for the latest information on the courses available.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world" Mahatma Ghandi.

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We acknowledge the help we had from Neil Turner, webmaster of Scotland GM website, originally written by Joe Latham, which provided us with a valuable model

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