This is the
(uncorrected) text of the minute of Britain Yearly Meeting 2018 that
records the decision to begin the process of revising our Book of
Discipline, recorded on this blog for reference in case the link to
the source ceases to be valid. It is taken from the uncorrected
minutes posted online on 7th May 2018.
Minute 31: Is it time to revise Quaker faith
& practice, our book of discipline? Part 7. Drawing together
the threads
Minutes 16, 21, 24, 25, 27 and 28 refer
Over six sessions we have considered different
aspects of the decision of whether or not to revise our book of
discipline.
We have received and heard read by one of their
clerks, a minute of Junior Yearly Meeting: ‘Is it time to revise
Quaker faith & practice’, which unites with a revision
with some urgency. We have received and heard read (by video) a
minute of the Young People’s Programme, which also unites with a
revision. We have also received a minute from the Spiritual
Adventurers (9-11 year olds) and contributions from the Penn Friends
(6-9 year olds) and Fox Cubs (3-5 year olds).
These minutes call for simpler more modern
language to be added, and for the celebration of our diversity. We
are glad that all of these groups have been present for some of our
deliberations and worship. We have heard calls from Friends of all
ages for young people to be fully involved in a revision process.
We agree that the time is right to start revising
our book of discipline. We embrace and rejoice in this decision.
Regular revision is an intrinsic part of who we are as a religious
society of friends.
As the introduction to our current book of
discipline says,
“We are seekers but we are also the holders of a precious heritage of discoveries. We, like every generation, must find the Light and Life again for ourselves. Only what we have valued and truly made our own, not by assertion but by lives of faithful commitment, can we hand on to the future. Even then, we must humbly acknowledge that our vision of the truth will, again and again, be amended.”
We accept the four specific recommendations of the
Revision Preparation Group (see Minute 16).
- The revision should begin with, but not be limited to, church government, namely the sections which focus on our procedures and corporate discipline.
- The revision should divide material between that in the main body of the book, which lays out principles, and supplementary material, which gives details.
- The revision should draw on the richness of theological thought in our yearly meeting, now and historically, seeing diversity as fundamental to our community, not as a flaw.
- The Revision Committee be given the freedom to be creative, while remaining in close contact with the Yearly Meeting.
We feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the
work of the Book of Discipline Revision Preparation Group (RPG). The
high level of engagement of Friends throughout the yearly meeting,
with both the Reading faith & practice exercise and the
publication of God, words and us, have helped Friends to come
to the consideration at this Yearly Meeting, prepared in mind and
heart.
We look forward with anticipation to engaging
further with these issues during the process of revision, accepting
that we may expect to be changed, both personally and as a church. We
should be ready to feel vulnerable, wounded, renewed or transformed
as we engage with issues about our faith, and how we practise it
together, with open hearts.
Quakers in Britain are diverse in matters of
belief and the language we use to describe them and that is to be
celebrated. We also experience in our meetings, unity and one-ness in
the depths of our worship together.
We should be true to our own beliefs and listen
deeply to other people’s experience, as well as their words. We
remember that sometimes ambiguity and archaic phrases from former
times enable Quakers to search for the meaning for themselves and
interpret it as they are led. Who are we, and who do we aspire to be?
Can we also offer each other support by sharing honestly our real
lived lives, including the parts we are not so proud of?
We ask Meeting for Sufferings to draw up terms of
reference for a revision committee, which should be as diverse as
possible in its composition. It should include both younger and older
Friends. We encourage the group to work flexibly to involve a broad
range of contributions of different kinds from Friends.
We ask Meeting for Sufferings to appoint and
oversee the work of this committee, expecting to receive regular
reports and consultation as necessary at future Yearly Meetings and
in other ways.
With regard to the first recommendation, we
recognise that this will not necessarily mean waiting until work on
church government elements is complete before moving on to other
parts.
We encourage the revision committee appointed to
challenge Friends in a wide variety of ways. Our continuing witness
in the world should inform this revision, be invigorated and
energised by it and not be diminished by it, by either resources or
capacity.
We ask Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees to make
appropriate resources available.
In bringing forward revisions to the church
government parts of our book of discipline into core principles and
supplementary guides, the revision committee should ensure that there
is a consistency and a coherence between the core principles and
supplementary material and within the various parts of the
supplementary material. Modern media and technology can be used to
help with this. We should use language which is as plain and simple
as possible.
We want a book which can speak and be accessible
to all present and future Quakers.
We encourage the revision committee to be
prayerful, joyful, creative and bold. We hope that this book will
help us to be more resilient for an uncertain future and that the
process of revision will act as a catalyst for renewal.
