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+Meeting for Sufferings
+
+3 December 2016
+
+Henry S. Thompson, SE Scotland AM representative
+
+This meeting was almost entirely taken up with information being
+shared with/via Meeting for Sufferings, what follows are a few
+summaries of things Friends may find interesting and which some may
+wish to pursue further.
+
+All the papers for the meeting are available online at
+
+  http://www.quaker.org.uk/documents/meeting-for-sufferings-agenda-papers-package-december-2016
+
+where much more detailed information about these and other matters are
+available.
+
+*Finance report*
+
+Overall summary: same deficit as last year, about
+750,000GBP, out of 11MGBP.  A further 2MGBP is available from 'legacy
+funding' for new projects.  The Hospitality Company, which manages
+Friends House and Swarthmore Hall, represents nearly 1/2 of
+centrally-funded staff, but turns a profit for us as a whole, which
+goes for our 'charitable work'.
+
+Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA) revised its constitutional
+arrangements.  What is our role in Europe as Brexit unrolls?  Our
+commitment is to Europe as a community, not an institution.  Our
+calling is to work for peace in Europe as elsewhere.
+
+*Decriminalisation of the possession, for personal use, of all drugs*
+
+Raised as a concern by Cornwall AM.  Lots of feedback following a
+request from Sufferings, including from us, but no unity, either among
+AMs or at this meeting.  In particular, no instruction for any central
+action in aid of Cornwall's hope that this consultation "will lead to
+BYM agreeing to support decriminalisation and issuing a statement to
+that effect".
+
+*Book of Discipline Revision Preparation Group*
+
+This will now _recommend_ a new Book of Discipline, because the Church
+Government parts are 'not fit for purpose'.  This would come to YM in
+2018.
+
+They propose to separate two aspects of the Church Government part --
+principles and background on the one hand, and details of operational
+processes -- the first in The Book, the rest in 'handbooks',
+responsiblity for which should be delegated to MfS.
+
+Reading QF&P project has been very successful, feedback request asking
+"What have you learned?" coming to us soon.
+
+*Vision for a Criminal Justice System*
+
+Consultative process, _lots_ of feedback, see MfS website.  No
+conclusion so far.
+
+*Quaker Life report*
+
+Our Friend Jocelyn Bell Burnell asked some very pointed questions
+about the reporting process as currently carried out.
+