Which questions are asked?
This blog is the next in my four-part series of outtakes from the Future of British Quakerism Conference. Friday’s review of first the dwindling numbers from the Tabular Statement and then an increase of average age by a year from last year’s survey both added to the general feeling of worry about the future. So which questions were asked?
As a Friend commented wryly – even the title of the conference suggests there is something to worry about!

However at one point a Friend challenged us in ministry to consider carefully what questions we are asking.
Explaining that while working with clients to effect change, or during times of transition – very different answers and solutions were offered up depending on how you phrased the questions.
- How can we cut costs?
- How can we grow?
In his presentation, Ben Pink Dandelion talked about a workshop at his Area Meeting, which suggested they come up with ways to put off various groups of people from attending Meeting for Worship or from feeling welcome. He laughingly said that everyone got very into this – and then of course realised that they did so many of these things already, usually unthinkingly.
Paul Parker pointed out that even with all facts and figures, we should celebrate and feel positive.
250 of us have turned up – showing we’re worried about it. No one wants to belong to a community that has decided to decline. But not declining is not the same as thriving.

We tried that!
As conference attendees moved from the main room down to the lobby I heard someone ahead of me quite frustratedly saying,
‘They’re talking about outreach and growth – we tried that and it didn’t work!”

Having been involved with ‘outreach’ (letting others know that we exist and inviting them to learn more) for many years I recognise that frustration. There have been events organised that had low turn out, or media released with great hope and then the gradual realisation that what you have done hasn’t worked the way you hope it would.
Perhaps we need to find new ways to try. If we accept the Church Growth figures of over 80% of people who attend Church, say they first attended because someone invited them are right, it doesn’t need a new website or marketing strategy but a personal connection and invitation.
We were reminded that the first step if we want to change the world, is to refuse to accept things as we are. So if we want to hold the future of Quakerism we have to refuse to accept it as it is. We need to step up, let go of expectations, listen to our guide, tell our stories and get on with being G-D’s faithful Quakers in the world.
The Parable of the Sower was referred to by George Fox with the demand that we don’t leave our seeds in our pockets. But the parable also shows that not every seed sown will germinate, or grow as we might want. All gardeners will recognise that necessary balance of faith, hope and accepting the possibility of disappointment.
There are are also so many stories where someone says they arrived at Quakers due to a seed planted many many years ago.
In ministry we heard of a meeting which joined in with others in the community to provide warm spaces and sent out an email for blankets etc. They got the blankets but also saw the return of Friends who had drifted away but were tempted back by the reminder of service and living faithfully.
Another ministry asked:
‘Question: why are we trying to create a future for British Quakerism? What is it that is precious about our community? For me it is the practice that we have that we’ve inherited, the glimpses of faith that we encounter in our community. If we feel that is precious then the effort is worth it. If we have that love for this community then it will over spill and flow out to others who might be attracted to us.’
“And therefore dear Friends and Sisters, all up and be doing, and put your hands to the work and your shoulders to the burden”.
Epistle of the Women’s Yearly Meeting held at York 6th and 7th days, fifth month 1698 (part)
Trusting in seeds
Woven through the presentations, even in the survey analysis, there were some positive information too.
- New forms of Quaker community are emerging
- Woodbrooke now offers a range of different Meeting for Worship times and themes
- FWCC communities are connecting across international borders and great distances through Zoom.
- There is a new Yearly Meeting in Europe – only 45 members but able to function. Numbers aren’t everything.
- The first online only Local Meeting has been officially attached to an Area Meeting,
- Since the pandemic there are people who only attend on line, who won’t show on the Tabular Statement and probably didn’t respond to the survey.
- So do the numbers we’re quoting represent us?
- How do we interact with them?
- Others feel they are Quaker through belonging to a recognised group, or school or similar.
- 20% of meetings (90 out of 450) are growing.
- The survey shows we’re a year older than last time – not ten years so younger people are joining.
- Discovering Quakers has seen increase in people contacting it to find out about Quakers.
- We are learning new ways about the quality of welcoming, visibility and drawing people into the community.
Last thoughts
Ben Pink Dandelion challenged us all, ‘to put our money where our minutes are’ reminding us that, ‘The great news – always great news – is that we can go anywhere we are led to. We are all ministers and can discern where G-d is leading us, with the hope that transcends our ho hum imagination and sense of what possible.’
Paul Parker was asked what he would do with ‘a spare million’. “I’d invest in Children and Young People!’
Rhiannon Grant was asked, ‘given unlimited time and resources what would your hang gliding jump be?’
She replied:
I’d donate them to the society. I’d want to make opportunities to create communities that is real and deep, trusting and able to do the discernment that leads to the type of risk taking that we’re talking about here with hang gliders…
Those resources build a hang glider but not where it will land, where it will go or even how far it will go.
Over to you – how would you answer these questions?
This belief in the continuous Divine revelation... ought to be our special mission to teach to those around us, and to bring to bear upon the social questions of our time. Are we living up to this belief ourselves? And are we helping others to do so? We talk much of our early Friends and wish we had their power;... We shall get it by living in their spirit, and drawing fresh inspiration for ourselves from the same source, for somewhat different work, to be done in a somewhat different day ignoring, as they did, the authority, doctrines and dogmas.... unless we feel them to be in accordance with the word of truth revealed to our own hearts.
Frances Thompson at the Manchester Conference

Wendrie Heywood
MBS Founder
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