Quakers in Britain have celebrated the completion through parliament of the bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry in Quaker meetings. Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said “It’s wonderful to see same-sex marriage achieve legal recognition. Quakers have been celebrating same-sex relationships as marriages within our faith community since 2009 and…
by Jez Smith I’d like to compile a celebration of Quaker Faith & Practice on this site to inspire others. What do you like about it? What have you found most inspiring and why? Please comment here. Thanks!
To all Friends in Britain, We are 57 Quakers who have gathered at Woodbrooke for the Quaker Life threshing event ‘Whoosh!’ – united by our determination to energise the Religious Society of Friends in Britain, and to help it build on the vitality of the past and present to create fresh fizz and purpose for…
by Hannah Brock ‘Good luck in that godforsaken place’ Those were the words a colleague of mine was left with by a friend as she left her office in the UK for the last time before joining the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). I too am serving in the West Bank as…
by Stephen Cox A review of Pushing at the frontiers of change: A memoir of Quaker involvement with homosexuality by David Blamires and published by Quaker Books David writes that “it is a little odd being a historian of your own life…â€Â This book sets out how Quakers moved from having little particularly interesting to…
by Jez Smith Six months update My partner and I set ourselves a goal as the increase in energy prices become apparent last summer. At first, we decided to try and reduce our gas and electricity bills by 10% but after the price hikes were announced, we decided to try and keep our bills the…
Materials to complement the Friends Quarterly article by Simon Best will appear within the next couple of days. Simon gave the George Gorman lecture at Britain Yearly Meeting in 07/2011. Quakerism has a tradition of continuing revelation, of evolving expression, theology and practice to respond to the challenges of the age. What does this mean for…
Although the legislation allowing civil partnerships to take place on religious premises is due to come into force on Monday 5/12/2011, the law is not yet entirely safe from being annulled. The change in the law allowing civil partnerships to take place on religious partnerships is part of the Equality Act 2010 but it is…
by Jan Arriens On Sunday 6 November Jan Arriens gave this Pause for Thought on BBC Radio Shropshire: In a few days time it will be Remembrance Day. I have come into the studio wearing both a red and a white poppy. The red one is, of course, to remember and honour those who made…
By Stephen Cox Have Quakers in London an appealing Vision and a plan to keep going? Over 200 Quakers from across London met to begin the debate. Quakers in London have around 40 buildings (and we were constantly reminded that all meetings don’t need buildings.) Meetings are currently grouped into seven Areas (of which two…