Henry Thompson and Kate Arnot were present, representing SE Scotland on Sufferings for the first time. As many of those in the room were new, the morning's sessions were devoted to introducing Meeting for Sufferings: its history, its work, its procedures, its place in the overall structure of BYM.
We were reminded that Suffering is once again, harking back to its origins in the 1670s, responsible for recording the names and situations of any Friend in court or in prison for conscience's sake.
Paul Parker offered the insight that MfS are the only part of BYM who have, on a regular and ongoing basis, an overview of all the activities of and within BYM, centrally and locally, internally and externally.
The words "visionary and prophetic" recurred, from many different people throughout the morning, as the core role of MfS.
We received minutes from Yearly Meeting 2015, particularly Minute 36, now being referred to as the "Call for Equality".
Paula Harvey, Friends House, is contact point for information about an (invitation-only) threshing event at Woodbrooke in September to explore actions in progress or contemplated with respect to BYM engagement with the problem of housing, led by Quaker Housing Trust.
Refugees/migrants/Mediterranean -- QCEA have an Alert Network, which you can join online to receive information about how you can help with actions they are recommending.