Britain Yearly Meeting and Summer Gathering - York 2009

Some thoughts by members who made the trip:

This time something was different. In the Reception Hall of York University  we were met by what St Paul calls “so great a cloud of witnesses”.  In every corner there were Quakers and their Quaker connections greeting and chatting, eating and drinking; recognising, laughing and puzzling, reading or gazing out over the lake.  And so it was to continue.  People everywhere.  And the children.  So many young people among the grizzled and the fair.  And emanating from all, an energy which was to enthuse the whole week.  Even when complaining about the one saucepan to feed 16 folk on a corridor, it was done with gusto and verve.  Nothing lacklustre about Quakers.

To combine BYM with Summer Gathering and the Young People’s meeting was indeed a challenge and one which ran smoothly with only a few hitches. The organisation required was somehow miraculous. There is something so safe in knowing that you are among Ffriends who, whatever their individual views, are largely going along the same lines as yourself – however alike or unlike. The Summer Gathering brought a refreshing and unstuffy element to the week as a host of activities clamoured for participants and it was often hard to get tickets as we hesitated between graphology, gospel singing, a visit to the Retreat or Video Vox Pop!

And Yearly Meeting Business?  We had pondered, in one form or another, the question of how we might validate same sex marriages for 22 long years.  Or we had ignored the issue and hoped it would go away.  But now, it seemed as if there had emerged from the stagnant pools of hesitation and fear, of lassitude and hopelessness, small trickles of living water which, uniting with other younger streams had converged into an unstoppable river.  Now was the time to grasp hold of Justice, Truth and Equality with tenacity, as head and heart gradually fused in true union, while we waited upon the sense of the Meeting.

And it was Our Futures who spoke most strongly; the youngsters who will be there long after we have entered our green burial grounds.  They deserted their own, as they thought, less adult programme and sought permission to stay in one of the business sessions. They questioned and challenged us. They wrote upon a wall of paper – yes, the writing was on the wall.  And throughout the week, in our encounters with them, they showed forth a benevolent impatience.  What was the problem? What could be holding us back?  And finally as we nit picked the details of Martin Ward’s remarkable minute, one youngster declared that she had heard nothing against.  And “Hope so” it was.

Ø   The numinous experience of being part of the week-long discernment in large and small groups, re how to bring equality to same sex committed relationships.

Ø   The part the young people played in crafting decisions associated with the above and the formative part the one young person played in the squeezed discussion on Climate Change.

Ø   The inspiring lecture about the Retreat and by one of its Clinical Directors and a memorable visit to The Retreat later in the week.

Ø   Luzili leading our Home Group in forming an African Choir, culminating in a singing contribution to a Ugandan style programmed meeting – an eye opening appreciation of how variously Quakers worship in different parts of the world.

Ø   Coming and going from our little campsite a mile away and experiencing the luxury of being able to get away from it all.

Ø   Learning Poi tricks from the young people as I came across them unexpectedly around the campus.

Ø   A baby trying to climb up the steps onto the stage, from where he and his Mummy were later to give the minute on behalf of the 0-2 yr olds.  Did he know?  Had he rehearsed?

Ø   Having my personality revealed in a graphology workshop.  But I thought that was the me of 20 years ago!

Ø   Julia Ryberg’s remarkable images accompanying her talk called ‘Creating Connections’

Ø   Fidgety frogs, Wild Strawberries, Conex, Fibreoptics – intriguing names of the childrens’ groups.

Ø   Singing about 10 constipated men in the Bible

Ø   Hilarious skits on the last night – sending up some typical Quaker characteristics.  Relieved that as well as all their good works, Quakers are willing and able to laugh at themselves.

Ø   Feeling totally impressed with the organisational work that went into this experimental combining of BYM, The Summer Gathering and Junior Yearly Meeting – all the work before, during and after.

Ø   Wanting on the last day to thank Martin Ward for his clerkship and then finding myself standing next to him in the final epilogue around the lake, whilst singing gentle rounds and watching lanterns being lit and released into the sky.

Ø   A fantastic conclusion to a brilliant week.