Paul Parker appointed to recording clerk role

Britain Yearly Meeting Quakers have announced that Paul Parker will be their next recording clerk.

Paul was appointed by trustees of Britain Yearly Meeting in December 2010. At under 40, he is a relatively young appointment to the position at least compared to his predecessors.

Paul Parker says: “I would like Quakers to be known as people who take their faith out into the world and live it. We need to have the courage and conviction to support Quakers to do that.”

“We are entering tough times nationally. The impact of government spending cuts means there will be people in real poverty and so we need to be ready to speak about equality. We need a strong voice to speak out on the issues around the global impact of climate change and sustainability and how that ties in with conflict.”

Paul is a member of Thaxted Area Quaker Meeting and was accepted into membership around 15 years ago. In 2009 he was co-clerk of Yearly Meeting Gathering in York. It was at this event that Britain Yearly Meeting took the decision to support same-sex marriage.

In the 1990s Paul was a part of the core team of the under-19s programme. He has also served on the Quaker Life Children and Young People’s committee for eight years, including clerking.

Jonathan Fox, clerk of Britain Yearly Meeting trustees wrote on quaker.org.uk that Paul “has shown particular expertise in team building, handling conflict, strategic and policy development and implementation. His leadership skills and experience were highly rated by his referees. We are appointing him because he demonstrated not only highly developed management expertise but also a dynamic and engaging enthusiasm for promoting Quakerism. He has considerable vision for the Society of Friends.”

A Friend who worked with Paul and under-19s in the 1990s told Nayler that Paul was dependable, calm, enthusiastic, reliable and can take the initiative when necessary.

Paul is also a teacher of languages and school leader, most recently working as assistant headteacher of a comprehensive school in Hertfordshire. He will formally take over his new role in May 2011.

The new Recording Clerk for the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) will be Paul Parker.

The post of Recording Clerk is the most senior staff position in the Society. Paul Parker, clerk of Saffron Walden Meeting, takes up the post in May 2011. The Recording Clerk is the link between the decision-making body open to all Quakers, known as Yearly Meeting, and the committees and staff in Friends House.

Paul Parker says: “I would like Quakers to be known as people who take their faith out into the world and live it. We need to have the courage and conviction to support Quakers to do that.”

“We are entering tough times nationally. The impact of government spending cuts means there will be people in real poverty and so we need to be ready to speak about equality. We need a strong voice to speak out on the issues around the global impact of climate change and sustainability and how that ties in with conflict.”

He sees his new role as leading the staff in interpreting the will of Yearly Meeting, where all Quakers who are members can discern the way ahead. “Ultimately, what does God want Quakers to do?” he asks.

He was clerk of the Yearly Meeting Gathering in York, in which context Quakers made the milestone decision to treat in the same way same sex and opposite sex marriages.

Paul Parker lives with his wife in Essex. He is currently assistant head teacher of Barnwell School in Stevenage. He teaches languages.

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