--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/Sufferings/2016-12-03/notes.txt	Tue Jan 17 03:55:40 2017 -0500
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+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 represents nearly
+1/2 of centrally-funded staff, but turns a profit for us as a whole,
+which goes for our 'charitable work'.
+
+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.
+
+We are by far the largest YM in Europe, and the others want (and need)
+it to continue.
+
+Governance structure: 'General assembly' replaces 'Council', still
+representative assembly of all participating YMs.  Strategic
+direction, spiritual guidance.  Executive Committee
+established, as-it-were Board of Directors/Trustees.  Appoint
+Director, manage resources in keeping with strategic direction.
+
+Programme: Primary focus on peace, new appointment to lead this.
+Second focus on human rights.  Quaker House (owned by BYM) enables
+these well, to focus less on campaigning, more on quiet diplomacy:
+intervening carefully on an individual/small group off-the-record
+exchanges, on the QUNO model.  "Going where only Quakers, as a peace
+church, can go.".
+
+Accountability/reporting back.  More representation, on both bodies,
+more reporting.
+
+_Eight_ reports and Epistles from other European YMs!
+----------
+Cornwall AM Decriminalisation
+
+Lots of feedback, but no unity, either among AMs or at MfS.  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".
+
+----------
+BoD RPG: Will now _recommend_ a new BoD, because CG parts are 'not fit
+for purpose'.  This would come to YM in 2018.
+
+Two aspects of CG 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.
+
+(Questionnaire for office holders?)
+
+Reading QF&P project very successful, feedback request wrt "What have
+you learned?" coming soon.
+
+Vision for a Criminal Justice System
+
+Consultative process, _lots_ of feedback, see MfS website
+----------
+Quaker Life report -- Elephant in the room!
+
+Pastoral and spiritual care of mobile younger friends/isolated friends
+ FWCC 

--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/Sufferings/2016-12-03/sesame.txt	Tue Jan 17 03:55:40 2017 -0500
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+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.
+