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author ht
date Sat, 07 Apr 2018 08:06:02 -0400
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1 *Meeting for Sufferings Appeal Review Group final report* 1 *Meeting for Sufferings Appeal Review Group final report*
2 2
3 QF&P provides for an process of appeal to MfS with respect to 3 QF&P provides for an process of appeal to MfS with respect to
4 decisions of an Area Meeting and disputes between Area Meeting. 4 decisions of an Area Meeting and disputes between Area Meeting.
5 Experience with this process has been less than wholly positive, and 5 Experience with this process has been less than wholly positive, and
6 MfS commissioned a review. The review group reported with 6 MfS commissioned a review. The Review Group reported with
7 recommendations for a narrowed and simplified process, including a 7 recommendations for a narrowed and simplified process, including a
8 preference for a "conflict transformation" approach (as opposed to 8 preference for a "conflict transformation" approach (as opposed to
9 "conflict resolution") and an explicit place for mediation before 9 "conflict resolution") and an explicit place for mediation before
10 things get to Sufferings. 10 things get to Sufferings.
11 11
24 and guidance to Meetings which are taken by surprise/taken aback by 24 and guidance to Meetings which are taken by surprise/taken aback by
25 apparently irresolvable internal conflict, and that asking for help 25 apparently irresolvable internal conflict, and that asking for help
26 _early_ is essential to avoid exacerbating aspects of a situation 26 _early_ is essential to avoid exacerbating aspects of a situation
27 through ignorance. 27 through ignorance.
28 28
29 The review group also suggested that beyond the narrow matter of an 29 The Review Group also suggested that beyond the narrow matter of an
30 appeals procedure, the larger question of how we deal with conflict as 30 appeals procedure, the larger question of how we deal with conflict as
31 a Society, as Meetings and as individuals needs to be considered. 31 a Society, as Meetings and as individuals needs to be considered.
32 32
33 In this context we were reminded that difficulties around Membership 33 In this context we were reminded that difficulties around Membership
34 often arise from "lack of familiarity with Quaker ... processes" and 34 often arise from "lack of familiarity with Quaker ... processes" and
35 that accordingly care for a Ministry of Teaching in our meetings is 35 that accordingly care for a Ministry of Teaching in our meetings is
36 necessary to help promote this familiarity. 36 necessary to help promote this familiarity.
37
38 *Report of BYM Sustainability Group Review Group*
39
40 The Review Group reminded us of the Canterbury Commitment:
41
42 http://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/minute-36-leaflet-2011
43
44 The Sustainability Group was established by Sufferings to lead/guide
45 BYM in taking the Commitment forward.
46
47 The situation is complex, the SG has achieved much, but also struggled
48 much. The RG recommended laying the SG down, probably soon after the
49 next Sustainability Gathering, in favour of mandating coordination
50 between the different areas at the Central level which can and do
51 support sustainability. Concern was expressed by myself and others
52 that giving responsibility for overseeing this coordination to
53 Sufferings without any detail on how this to be carried out leaves a
54 very significant gap and risks simply recreating the SG under another
55 name. Actually deciding to lay the SG down without a clear picture of
56 what's going to take it place seems premature.
57
58 The need for a clearer articulation of the largely unspoken spiritual
59 basis for the Commitment was raised.
60
61 The oft-remarked tension resurfaced between a feeling on the part of
62 many that we ought to put sustainability at the centre of our efforts
63 and a recognition that many others who don't seem to be interested in
64 doing so.
65
66 Some quotes from the floor:
67
68 "It's not surprising that we struggle, and blame each other, and get
69 stuck." (Laurie Michaelis)
70
71 "This is the biggest thing we've ever tried to deal with."
72
73 "Giving responsibility but no authority to working groups [such as
74 SG] is Kafkaesque, not Quakerly"
75
76 "How do we connect a BYM Concern with [the priorities and funding
77 choices] of the centrally-managed work]." (Lis Burch)
78
79 "What is it that has caused us to try to do this and fail 5 times?"
80
81 [Testimonies C'tee to Sufferings in 2007?]