Meeting for Sufferings: Exploring diversity
Representatives were asked to consider the issue of diversity within the Religious Society of Friends
The issue of diversity within the Religious Society of Friends was raised at Meeting for Sufferings.
A paragraph of Yearly Meeting’s Minute 38 was sent to Meeting for Sufferings and asked that representatives ‘look at how we can remove barriers and actively seek wider participation in the full life of our Meetings, paying particular attention to race and age diversity’.
Juliet Prager, deputy recording clerk, spoke to a prepared paper and invited comment from Friends. She said that the issue of diversity has been ‘bubbling around in the Society for a while’ and spoke of the potential for this to be a ‘really exciting opportunity to explore this concern’.
She urged Friends, Local Meetings, Area Meetings, Quaker groups and other bodies to discuss three questions to ‘affirm where we are’ and ‘ask ourselves where we want to get to’ before further consideration next year:
- ‘In what ways is your Meeting (or committee, or group) already diverse?’
- ‘In what ways could it be more diverse?’
- ‘What would help it become more diverse? What are the opportunities and barriers?’
One Friend said they were ‘very much in support of this’ and would be keen for Quaker Life to ‘be involved as Meeting for Sufferings takes this further’.
A Friend mentioned that ‘inertia’ was a challenge to be overcome. Another remembered a previous occasion when diversity was considered at a Monthly Meeting, when heated ministry included the comment: ‘I’m fed up with being made to feel guilty’.
‘This is not a new issue [and]… it’s going to go on being an issue’, added a different Friend, who went on to speak about how not knowing what to do could be a good starting point for inclusive conversations. She concluded that she felt ‘hopeful… difficult though [these conversations] may be’.
Different types of diversity were highlighted, not just age and race but disability, class and economic inequality, sexuality, gender identity, education level and those for whom English is a second language.
One Friend reflected that the question of diversity was already being considered at their Local Meeting and expressed the ‘hope that other Meetings might consider doing the same’.
Comments
A fascinating read for me as each item in the penultimate paragraph is one of the ingredients that make up the merry band which comprises our small group:
Disability: “The Boss”, as the carers call me, has been severely disabled since 1953, when he was aged 3.
Class: The same one is considered a ‘toff’ by his carers who were born “Backward Class” (that’s the carers official Government Designation, not mine!)
Economic inequality: One middle class, 2 carers very poor background.
Sexuality: One is homosexual, the carers are “straight” 😊
Gender identity: the writer only liked dolls and gentle pastimes as a kid [“Nasty Boys” played games of shooting people!]
Education level: The writer has a degree. The lovely carers have an Education of Zero.
English not first language: One of the carers has often wanted to give Ministry in Meeting, but has been too shy and felt hampered by lack of fluidity in English.
I hardly need add that it’s a privelege to have all these ingredients, however his cake is baked, and by whatever means!
By andavane on 20th October 2017 - 17:27
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