QUAKER ACTION
We have been called "practical mystics" because in the depth of our gathered silence we find the inspiration to act on the world.
Action Against Poverty Since 1867
Quakers Against the Arms Fair
Quakers in action
Working Towards Abolition
Show Your Support
Quakers for Sustainability
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QUAKER DIVERSITY
Quakers have a diversity of belief but are united by our testimonies of Simplicity, Truth, Equality, Peace & Stewardship.
We are Seekers after the truth, being led by our Inner Light to connect with the spirit, how-so-ever we name it.
The Quaker Meditation Practice
Exploring and learning more about the diversity of spiritual awareness
We seek to promote truth and integrity in public life and the media
Non-theist Friends' Network
Plumb Village UK
Living and Loving Adventurously
SWARTHMORE LECTURE 2022
Perceiving the temperature of the water by Helen Minnis
Helen Minnis of Glasgow Meeting speaks from her experience as a scientist and a Quaker, addressing issues of white privilege within the Quaker movement and scientific community. Woodbrooke and Helen see the lecture as part of the ongoing conversation within Britain Yearly Meeting, and Quakers worldwide, about becoming an anti-racist church and what that means.
Salter Lecture 2022
Truth and integrity in public life – Ruth Cadbury
Always act according to truth and principle; if one does that, there is no need to be anxious or distraught,' said Ada Salter. Now in this lecture, Ruth Cadbury MP addresses the same topic a hundred years later, at a time when it has once again become the centre of debate. Ruth attended the Mount School in York. She became MP for Brentford & Isleworth in 2015, as one of three Quakers elected to Parliament that year, and currently serves on the Shadow Front Bench. The Salter Lecture is organised by the Quaker Socialist Society. They provide fellowship and a forum for people who believe that political affairs are an essential part of Quaker life. They stand for ethical socialism, social justice and a fair, safe and peaceful world. They are a Quaker presence in the socialist movement and make the insights of socialism available for Quakers. For more info: https://quakersocialists.org.uk
Quaker Truth and Integrity Group: https://quakertruth.org
WOODBROOKE
Quaker Study Centre
Woodbrooke is many things to many people. Its Quaker-based learning informs and motivates; Its inspiring venue in Birmingham offers space for meeting or just for staying.
Woodbrooke offers opportunities for learning:
Through courses at the Quaker study centre in Birmingham, and at other venues such as Swarthmoor Hall.
Through the On-the-Road programme which brings experienced tutors to meetings.
Via online courses and webinars.
Woodbrooke’s centre in Selly Oak, a Grade II listed Georgian manor house with 60 bedrooms and 9 meeting rooms is a perfect venue for meetings or conferences and as a base to stay for visitors to Birmingham.
Woodbrooke was founded in 1903 and was the vision of George Cadbury and John Wilhelm Rowntree who saw a need amongst Friends for a ‘permanent settlement’ with a mission to ‘foster a vital Friends’ ministry’. Since then Woodbrooke has evolved and grown beyond the walls and boundaries of the place in which the study centre is still based and rooted.
Today, as well as running courses at the Quaker study centre in Birmingham courses are run in Quaker meetings, at other venues and online. The ways Quaker learn has changed but the original vision remains the same. The mission today is still fostering a vital Friends’ ministry. Encouraging and enabling ministry is at the core of the Quaker approach to learning, whether that ministry is faith, witness, love or service.
At Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre holds a meeting for worship six days of the week and epilogue every evening both of which are open to everyone. There is a Quaker silence at mealtimes and there is a constant Quaker presence at Woodbrooke with Friends in Residence who uphold the worship and help provide a ministry of hospitality. Many individuals and organisations find Woodbrooke such a welcoming place regardless of their faith or spiritual outlook.
QUAKER PEACE & SOCIAL WITNESS
Quakers in Action
Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) is the central peace and service department of British Friends, and represents them at national level on issues of peace and social justice. It facilitates dialogue to build greater understanding of these issues, and disseminates outcomes and ideas. QPSW works with Quaker and other partners to put this understanding into action on a variety of projects within Britain and around the world. It gives considerable support to QUNO Geneva. QPSW's is in addition to the varied work done by our Local and Area Meetings. A Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Quakers in 1947.
Areas of Current Work
Criminal justice: support for prison chaplains, and for restorative justice.
Economic justice and inequality reduction: conferences, discussion papers, Earth and Economy journal, campaigning
Environment and sustainability: sustainability toolkit, follow up to ‘Minute 36’ (BYM's 2011 commitment to becoming a low-carbon sustainable community), campaigning
Nonviolence: Turning the Tide, Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.
Peace education: support for contact between local Friends and schools
Peaceworkers: one-year placements in the UK and abroad
Public issues: submissions to government consultation papers and/or briefings for Friends on issues of the day, such as the renewal of nuclear weapons, economic inequality, climate change, young people in the military, asylum seekers and refugees.
Peace-building in East Africa, in partnership with the Quaker Peace Network.
Peace-building in South Asia, in partnership with NGOs in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
QUNO Geneva: funding, governance, and a Geneva summer school for young adults.
Relief grants: grants for higher education.