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author Henry Thompson <ht@markup.co.uk>
date Fri, 14 Jun 2024 17:01:43 +0100
parents f3794206f0f1
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3 3
4 During our opening worship Henry read from Quaker Faith & Practice 4 During our opening worship Henry read from Quaker Faith & Practice
5 19.21 (Robert Barclay) "... I felt a secret power ... I became thus 5 19.21 (Robert Barclay) "... I felt a secret power ... I became thus
6 knit and united unto them" 6 knit and united unto them"
7 7
8 Mark was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh, in early 8 Mark was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh in the early
9 1990s. He moved into a new flat, and although he had agreed to take 9 1990s. He moved into a new flat, and although he had agreed to take
10 over the running of the University Green Society, he was very nervous 10 over the running of the University Green Society, he was very nervous
11 about being in charge of his first meeting. His flatmate Anna Levin 11 about being in charge of his first meeting. His flatmate Anna Levin
12 (!) agreed a deal, that she would go to Green Society meetings with 12 (!) agreed a deal, that she would go to Green Society meetings with
13 him, if he would go to Quaker meeting, which was Victoria Terrace. 13 him, if he would go to Quaker Meeting, which was Victoria Terrace.
14 14
15 Soon he felt the "secret power" and go "knitted in". 15 Soon he felt the "secret power" and got "knitted in". He got to know
16 He got to know the Young Friends group, which was a help in what was then a pretty large 16 the Young Friends group, which was a help in what was then a pretty
17 Meeting. Even after Anna moved away, he kept going to Meeting, and 17 large Meeting. Even after Anna moved away, he kept going to Meeting,
18 after a year or so Bronwen Currie asked if he'd think about becoming a Member. 18 and after a year or so Bronwen Currie asked if he'd think about
19 He's been thinking about it ever since. 19 becoming a Member. He's been thinking about it ever since.
20 20
21 He moved to Amsterdam, and went to Meeting for Worship there. He read more, and got more of a sense 21 He moved to Amsterdam, and went to Meeting for Worship there. He read
22 of how the Quaker thing worked, than he had any need to have done in a 22 more, and got more of a sense of how the Quaker thing worked, than he
23 Central Edinburgh on account of its large size. 23 had any need to have done in a Central Edinburgh on account of its
24 large size.
24 25
25 He moved to Portobello in 2009 and joined the very new Meeting in Mary 26 He moved to Portobello in 2009 and joined the new Meeting in Mary
26 Jane and Alastair's home. Soon he realised he had shifted from 27 Jane and Alastair's home. Soon he realised he had shifted from
27 "going to" Central Edinburgh to being "a part of" Portobello and 28 "going to" Central Edinburgh to being "a part of" Portobello and
28 Musselburgh. That meant getting much more involved in helping to 29 Musselburgh. That meant getting much more involved in helping to
29 keep the Meeting going. 30 keep the Meeting going.
30 31
38 first time. The sentence therein "Membership is for those who feel at 39 first time. The sentence therein "Membership is for those who feel at
39 home and in the right place within the Quaker community" spoke to him 40 home and in the right place within the Quaker community" spoke to him
40 very deeply. 41 very deeply.
41 42
42 But that membership meant "that you accept at least the fundamental 43 But that membership meant "that you accept at least the fundamental
43 elements of being a Quaker: ..." was new to him. 44 elements of being a Quaker: ..." was new to him. Although he was at
44 Although he was at home with the "practical expression of inward convictions", 45 home with the "practical expression of inward convictions", he
45 he struggled with "accept the manner of Quaker corporate worship and 46 struggled with "accept the manner of Quaker corporate worship and the
46 the ordering of the meeting's business". 47 ordering of the meeting's business".
47 48
48 This prompted him to turn to Quaker history, which led to seeing in the flowering of 49 This prompted him to turn to Quaker history, which led to seeing in
49 people's renegotiation of their relationship of with Divine as what 50 the flowering of people's renegotiation of their relationship of with
50 fostered our special structures, Which have lead to us to still being 51 Divine as what fostered our special structures, Which have lead to us
51 here today. 52 to still being here today.
52 53
53 He recognised then that Meeting for Church Affairs is a vital part of 54 He recognised then that Meeting for Church Affairs is a vital part of
54 being a Quaker, and that meant he was now ready to not just attend 55 being a Quaker, and that meant he was now ready to not just attend
55 Local Meeting and Area Meeting, but to attend _as a Member_. 56 Local Meeting and Area Meeting, but to attend _as a Member_.
56 57
66 He brought us back to the "secret power" and "knitted in" quote, and 67 He brought us back to the "secret power" and "knitted in" quote, and
67 recalled that at first he thought he was coming to a gathering of 68 recalled that at first he thought he was coming to a gathering of
68 friendly people who were a bit spiritual, and it took a while, years 69 friendly people who were a bit spiritual, and it took a while, years
69 in fact, to detect the secret seeking for spiritual guidance that we 70 in fact, to detect the secret seeking for spiritual guidance that we
70 shared. You're not just sitting with a bunch of like-minded people, 71 shared. You're not just sitting with a bunch of like-minded people,
71 rather you may find what someone else's spiritual path may not be 72 rather you may find that someone else's spiritual path may not be
72 going where yours is. But that's actually a very important aspect of 73 going where yours is. But that's actually a very important aspect of
73 Quakerism for him. So yes, he has come to see that Right Ordering 74 Quakerism for him. So yes, he has come to see that Right Ordering
74 does belong as a religious test for being Quaker. 75 does belong as a religious test for being Quaker.
75
76 76
77 Meeting for Worship and Meeting for Church Affairs are a great 77 Meeting for Worship and Meeting for Church Affairs are a great
78 resolution of the Protestant dilemma, that follows from the removal of 78 resolution of the Protestant dilemma, that follows from the removal of
79 the barrier between God and us. 79 the barrier between God and us.
80 80
81 All three of us shared some thoughts about the meaning of Membership 81 All three of us shared some thoughts about the meaning of Membership
82 and where it fits in our Quaker vision of decision making in worship. 82 and where it fits in our Quaker vision of decision making in worship.
83 83
84 Mark's particular contribution to this started by telling us about a specific 84 Mark's particular contribution to this started by telling us about a
85 personal experience that he shares regularly when leading an 85 specific personal experience that he shares regularly when leading an
86 Environmental Protest Workshop on decision making. He contrasted it with 86 Environmental Protest Workshop on decision making. He contrasted it
87 normal democratic process, and the anarchist consensus decision 87 with normal democratic process, and the anarchist consensus decision
88 process. In preparation for a particular collective non-violent 88 process. In preparation for a particular collective non-violent
89 action, it was crucial that all the participants agreed to cede authority to 89 action, it was crucial that all the participants agreed to cede
90 one particular person in the group to make the call to bring the action to an 90 authority to one particular person in the group to make the call to
91 end. This amounted to all of them agreeing that "to make us safe, you 91 bring the action to an end. This amounted to all of them agreeing
92 take this decision for all of 92 that "to make us safe, you take this decision for all of us and it
93 us and it will be, by definition, right: no discussion, we will just 93 will be, by definition, right: no discussion, we will just end the
94 end the action immediately you say so". 94 action immediately you say so".
95 95
96 So the same for Meeting for Church Affairs: even if you aren't 96 So the same for Meeting for Church Affairs: even if you aren't
97 there, you uphold them for the decision they made. 97 there, you uphold them for the decision they made.
98 98
99 Mark described a Quaker case where a decision was probably going 99 Mark described a Quaker case where a decision was probably going to
100 support a project which he would have preferred not to see happen: 100 support a project which he would have preferred not to see happen:
101 "Although I'd rather that didn't happen, I would uphold them and 101 "Although I'd rather that didn't happen, I would uphold them and
102 [participate] if they decide to go ahead. Just because I don't want 102 [participate] if they decide to go ahead. Just because I don't want
103 to organise it doesn't mean I won't support them if they do". 103 to organise it doesn't mean I won't support them if they do".
104 104
105 He offered another example contrasting his love of Quakers and 105 He offered another example contrasting his love of Quakers and
106 involvement with the Green Party, recalling the Meeting for Church Affairs in Central 106 involvement with the Green Party, recalling the Meeting for Church
107 Edinburgh which had to decide a response to Derek McLean and Mal 107 Affairs in Central Edinburgh which had to decide a response to Derek
108 Cowtan's request for a ceremony of commitment in Victoria Terrace. This 108 McLean and Mal Cowtan's request for a ceremony of commitment in
109 was quite some time _before_ Yearly Meeting at York adopted a clear 109 Victoria Terrace. This was quite some time _before_ Yearly Meeting at
110 position on marriage as being "equally available to same-sex and 110 York adopted a clear position on marriage as being "equally available
111 opposite-sex couples". It was a difficult Meeting for Church Affairs, 111 to same-sex and opposite-sex couples". It was a difficult Meeting for
112 which did eventually find unity in agreement to hold the ceremony. 112 Church Affairs, which did eventually find unity in agreement to hold
113 the ceremony.
113 114
114 Now when the Scottish Green Party was in some internal disagreement 115 Now when the Scottish Green Party was in some internal disagreement
115 about an issue, and it was voted on, then if you 'won' the vote, you 116 about an issue, and it was voted on, then if you 'won' the vote, you
116 tried your best to present a united front by getting rid of the 117 tried your best to present a united front by getting _rid_ of the
117 'losers'. 118 'losers'.
118 119
119 Whereas that Meeting for Church Affairs worked very hard to support 120 Whereas that Meeting for Church Affairs worked very hard to support
120 _all_ the people who were there, _including_ those who were unhappy 121 _all_ the people who were there, _including_ those who were unhappy
121 with the result, to respect their pain and acknowledge it, respecting 122 with the result, to respect their pain and acknowledge it, respecting