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.