Quaker A-Z: L is for Living Faithfully

Radical Peacemaking was the theme Agenda Committee chose for this year. We were reminded that radical means from the roots, and not ‘edgy’ or ‘way out there’. Each of us must be obedient to the promptings of love and truth in our own hearts. We’re also reminded that we are called to support others who are acting under concern, even if their actions make us uncomfortable.

I was reminded that last October, during the ‘Future of British Quakerism’ conference Ben Pink Dandelion asked us to consider, ‘who are the Quakers we wish would be less noisy and annoying?’ should we be listening more and accepting that living faithfully is rarely comfortable?

This was echoed by another Friend Saturday morning said they hoped we would be uncomfortable and challenged during this Yearly Meeting as otherwise it was just a ‘jolly’ and that’s not what we’re meant to be doing.  Another Friend reminded us that we were to ‘Create communities of compassionate care’ which was reflected in the BYM ‘Statement of policy on provision of trans-inclusive facilities on BYM’s estate‘ which talked about gender neutral toilets but also how everyone has the right to use the toilet that matches their lived experience. 

How we manage our buildings reflects our values and communicates them to the wider world. Something we’ve talked about before, one of the oldest posts on the blog (2014) is

Quaker A-Z: C is for Choices & Changes, where I suggested looking around your building. It can be an interesting discussion lunch activity to walk around the building and gardens asking,

‘What do the choices your committees have made say about the communities that worship and use the building?’