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mostly engrossed
author Henry Thompson <ht@markup.co.uk>
date Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:10:55 +0100
parents d124a9691bca
children 0abda00deee7
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444:d124a9691bca 445:22e1ae46d6ae
1 HT: Barclay 19.41 1 Henry Thompson and Jane Ditchfield met with Mark Ballard in his home
2 HT: Tell your Quaker story 2 on the evening of 11 June 2024
3 MB: 3
4 At Univ, in early 1990s, moved into a new flat, I had agreed to take 4 During our opening worship Henry read from QF&P 19.21 (Robert Barclay)
5 over that running of the EU Green Society. My flatmate Anna [Levin] agreed a 5 "... I felt a secret power ... I became thus knit and united unto them"
6 deal, that she would go to GS mtgs, if I would go to Quaker meeting, 6
7 which was Victoria Terrace. 7 Mark was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh, in early
8 Soon I felt the "secret power" and go "knitted in". 8 1990s. He moved into a new flat, and although he had agreed to take
9 Got to knwo YF, which was a help in what was then a pretty large 9 over the running of the University Green Society, he was very nervous
10 Meeting. Even after Anna moved away, I kept going to Meeting, and 10 about being in charge of his first meeting. His flatmate Anna Levin
11 after a year or so BCurr asked if I'd think about becoming a Member. 11 (!) agreed a deal, that she would go to Green Society meetings with
12 I've been thinking about it ever since. 12 him, if he would go to Quaker meeting, which was Victoria Terrace.
13 While in A'dam, went to MfW there. Read more, and got more of a sense 13
14 of how the Quaker thing worked, than I had a need to have done in a 14 Soon he felt the "secret power" and go "knitted in".
15 big Meeting. 15 He got to know the Young Friends group, which was a help in what was then a pretty large
16 Moved to Porty in 2009, joined the very new Meeting, and shifted from 16 Meeting. Even after Anna moved away, he kept going to Meeting, and
17 "going to" CEdin, I was "part of" PMM. That meant [doing more] 17 after a year or so Bronwen Currie asked if he'd think about becoming a Member.
18 I like the "secret power" quote 18 He's been thinking about it ever since.
19 Did the Becoming Friends course, which among other things meant I read 19
20 the "requirements" for becoming a Member for the first time. 20 He moved to Amsterdam, and went to Meeting for Worship there. He read more, and got more of a sense
21 "at home and .." spoke to me very deeply. 21 of how the Quaker thing worked, than he had any need to have done in a
22 "accept the fundamental elements.." was new to me. 22 Central Edinburgh on account of its large size.
23 Grew up in a classic Church of England agnostic family, not until 23
24 Quakerism recognised an experience of something "beyond the physical" 24 He moved to Portobello in 2009 and joined the very new Meeting in Mary
25 At home with "pratical expression of inward conviction" 25 Jane and Alastair's home. Soon he realised he had shifted from
26 Struggled with "accept the manner of Quaker corporate worship and..." 26 "going to" Central Edinburgh to being "a part of" Portobello and
27 Turned to Quaker history, which led to a seeing a flowering of 27 Musselborough. That meant getting much more involved in helping to
28 people's renegotiation of the relationship of people to the Divine, 28 keep the Meeting going.
29 and that it was what allowed our special 29
30 Which in turn lead to us being here today: MfCA is as vital a part of 30 He likes the "secret power" quote, it reflects his own experience.
31 being a Quaker, and that means I'm ready to not just attend LM and AM, 31 Mark grew up in a classic Church of England agnostic family, however
32 not until he came to Quakerism did he recognise the experience of
33 something "beyond the physical".
34
35 He participated in the _Becoming Friends_ course, which among other
36 things meant he read the "requirements" for becoming a Member for the
37 first time. The sentence therein "Membership is for those who feel at
38 home and in the right place within the Quaker community" spoke to him
39 very deeply.
40
41 But that membership meant "that you accept at least the fundamental
42 elements of being a Quaker: ..." was new to him.
43 Although he was at home with the "practical expression of inward convictions",
44 he struggled with "accept the manner of Quaker corporate worship and
45 the ordering of the meeting's business".
46
47 This prompted him to turn to Quaker history, which led to seeing in the flowering of
48 people's renegotiation of their relationship of with Divine as what
49 fostered our special structures, Which have lead to us to still being
50 here today.
51
52 He recognised then that Meeting for Church Affairs is a vital part of
53 being a Quaker, and that meant he was now ready to not just attend LM and AM,
32 but to attend _as a Member_. 54 but to attend _as a Member_.
33 JD: How were your anarchist inclinations at odds with our goverance? 55
34 MB: Grind slow, but exceedingly fine. Quaker business is very 56 Mark has a long involvement in anarchist activities, and that may seem
35 _slow_. [Lightbulb changing and other jokes] 57 to be at odds with Quaker goverance. He quoted "the wheels of God
36 Ministry, here, now, without any qualification feels very different to 58 grind slow, but exceedingly fine". Quaker business is very _slow_.
37 me. 59 The call to minister, right here, right now, without any
38 HT: Like 60 qualification, feels very different to him.
39 MB: We started with "secret power" and knit.. 61
40 I thought I was coming to a gathering of friendly people who were 62 Mark has a standup comedy routine that includes a "How many Quakers
41 a bit spiritual, and it takes a while, years, to detect the secret 63 does it take to change a lightbulb" joke.
64
65 He brought us back to the "secret power" and "knitted in" quote, and
66 recalled that at first he thought he was coming to a gathering of friendly people who were
67 a bit spiritual, and it took a while, years in fact, to detect the secret
42 seeking for spirtual guidance that we shared. You're not just sitting 68 seeking for spirtual guidance that we shared. You're not just sitting
43 with a bunch of like-minded people, rather you may find what someone 69 with a bunch of like-minded people, rather you may find what someone
44 else's spiritual path may not be going where yours is. But that's 70 else's spiritual path may not be going where yours is. But that's
45 actually a very important aspect of Quakerism. 71 actually a very important aspect of Quakerism for him.
46 MfW and the QBusMe are a great resolution of the Protestant dilemma, 72
73 Meeting for Worship and the are a great resolution of the Protestant dilemma,
47 that there is no barrier between God and us. 74 that there is no barrier between God and us.
48 Right Ordering does belong as a religious test for being Quaker. 75 Right Ordering does belong as a religious test for being Quaker.
49 [HT and MB discuss theory of membership] 76 [HT and MB discuss theory of membership]
50 Environmental Protest Workshop on decision making, democratic process, 77 Environmental Protest Workshop on decision making, democratic process,
51 anarchist consensus decision process, ceding authority to someone in a 78 anarchist consensus decision process, ceding authority to someone in a