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+++ b/Sufferings/2017-12-02/notes.txt	Sun Dec 03 10:36:40 2017 -0500
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+Devon AM minute: No current investments in West-Bank-active companies,
+Investment policy under revue by Trustees.
+
+[Off the record:
+
+ 1) Reconsidering the way central committees report to Sufferings and
+    the way Sufferings handles them: this is still being discussed in
+    the background, and it may be appropriate to review at our
+    residential meeting in 11/18, perhaps in small (house?) groups.
+
+ 2) Trustees are gearing up to consider [the value for money of]
+    Yearly Meeting the event.]
+
+BDRPG
+
+(Paul writes to 2T 1:14 [?] By the Holy Spirit, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.)
+
+They are recommending that we have a full revision.
+
+Merged the 2 books (w/o review of the CG bits) in the 1994 revision.
+
+2014 YM declined to decide, but MfS set up BDRPG to advise Sufferings
+about what to do next.
+
+Reading QF&P has been a success (much more than expected)
+ Engaging
+ Understanding why revision is appropriate
+ Listening to differences
+   Ref. theism/non-theism, but BDRPG don't like the binarism of this,
+   and find in particular that although non-theism is a label some
+   adopt for themselves, theism is almost always applied to _others_.
+   New pamphlet _God, words and us_ from 'theology think-tank'
+
+Discussion with CDAG confirmed that CG parts really need a complete
+rewrite.
+ * Not only are the only completely up-to-date CG parts are online;
+ * Lots of supplementary information is also available but not
+   'officially' part of 'the book'
+
+Basic recommendation: separate core from supplementary
+ E.g. new Chap. 16 (Marriage) -- 1-15 Core, 16-- supplementary
+
+Full vs. partial
+ "Doing half a job is not a sensible option"
+ "Opportunity cost of not revising"
+ "Those to whom the words don't speak"
+   ['There is nothing that resonates with them']
+ "Best of the past with what represents the best of the present"
+
+Sufferings _expects_ that if YM agrees, Sufferings will be asked to
+appoint (and oversee) a BDRC.
+
+Sufferings endorsed the following summary recommendations and asked
+that YM2018 agree the:
+
+  the time is right to begin a revision of our book of discipline.
+  This revision should:
+
+  1. begin with, but not be limited to, church government, namely the
+  sections which focus on our procedures and corporate discipline.
+
+  2. divide material between that in the main body of the book, which
+  lays out principles, and supplementary material, which gives
+  details.
+
+  3. draw on the richness of theological thought in our yearly
+  meeting, now and historically, seeing diversity as fundamental to
+  our community, not as a flaw
+
+  4. give a Revision Committee the freedom to be creative while
+  remaining in close contact with the yearly meeting.
+
+[Draft Terms of Reference]
+
+-----
+Lobbying Act: Trustees are supporting an exploration of bringing a
+case for judicial review to force the passage of an amendment to
+remove the vulnerability to retrospective application of the Act in
+the case of a snap election. [Bill Moyes, Royal High?]
+-----
+Contributions are up, a bit, in 2017, and budgetting for that to
+happen again in 2018.
+-------
+*Sanctuary Everywhere Manifesto*
+
+Second draft has come to us.  It combines good will and aims with some
+inopportune phrasing.  MfS offered some further amendments to try to
+address this, and then approved its publication.
+-------
+Adwoa Bittle (GM Clerk) gave an intro to GM, with a lot of good
+detail, including our campaigns wrt Fracking, Militarism in Schools
+and Economic Justice.
+
+  See the GM website:  http://www.quakerscotland.org/
+-------
+