Alan Clark yn adrodd ar CCQW

Cyfieithiad i ddilyn yn fuan...

18th of June 2024 in Aberystwyth and Online

Friends from across Wales gathered in St. Paul’s Methodist Centre in Aberystwyth, with other Friends joining the meeting via Zoom.

During opening worship, Advices and Queries No. 38 was read: “If pressure is brought upon you to lower your standard of integrity, are you prepared to resist it? Our responsibilities to God and our neighbour may involve us in taking unpopular stands. Do not let the desire to be sociable, or the fear of seeming peculiar, determine your decisions.”

Within Nomination’s business, the Nomination’s Group reported on continuing problems in seeking nominations for CCQW roles. They were suggesting a more flexible and varied approach to seeking role holders and to the nature of those roles.

It was proposed that Friends would be asked for expressions of interest in a role. In the light of those received, Nominations would look at how roles could be shaped to the abilities of individuals or shared; a do-it-together culture.

A number of reports were received including Meeting for Sufferings, Cytun (Churches Together in Wales), Symud Ymlaen, CYFAN, CCQW Trustees, Children and Young Families All-age Network and Gyda’n Gilydd, the CCQW communications group.

Lesley Richards, Clerk of the Symud Ymlaen Group, set up by CCQW ( formerly Meeting of Friends in Wales) to investigate and work towards a new structure for the trustee functions of the Area Meetings in Wales and the Marches and Meeting of Friends in Wales reported on the current position. With the establishment of CYMAR and it’s trustee body the work of Symud Ymlaen had been completed and had paved the way for developmental work on similar lines in Scotland, London, Yorkshire and other parts of the UK.

With Symud Ymlaen formally laid down at this Meeting, Lesley Richards and the Group were warmly thanked for their innovative work. CCQW Trustees would shortly be transferring their powers to the new CYMAR Trustee body.

CYFAN was proposing producing a video dialogue between children, young people and adults exploring their views on the climate crisis.

The Eisteddfod Planning Group reported on plans for the Quaker presence at Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Rhondda Cynon Taf to be held 1 st -7 th August 2024. Planned activities included Quaker displays, a panel discussion on the topic, “ Who are the Quakers” and two Meetings for Worship on the Maes. Future plans included a music competition based on settings of poems by Waldo Williams.

A poem by Mererid Hopwood in Welsh and Spanish, “Two Languages, Two Windows”, was read to introduce a report on exploring the role of Welsh and English in the life of our Meetings.

Friends were asked to note that the CCQW Residential Meeting would be held at Gregynog, near Newtown for the 25 th -27 th April 2025. It’s theme would be “Peace: What is It?”

After lunch Gerald Hewitson of the Quaker Truth and Integrity Group (QTIG), gave a talk on the Who, What and Why of QTIG. Originally a Welsh initiative, the Group has now been adopted by Britain Yearly Meeting as a Quaker recognized body and seeks to promote truth and integrity in public life and the media.

There were tensions for Quakers between being Reconcilers and Prophets.

The work of QTIG was ever more vital with recent assaults on standards of truth in public life. This presentation struck a powerful chord with Friends and it is to be hoped that Gerald Hewitson’s address will be circulated more widely. Further information on QTIG can be found on its website.

The Meeting highlighted a number of exciting initiatives, picking up on sentiments in opening ministry, of breathing on glowing coals to produce a lively blaze.

Alan J. Clark, Aberystwyth Meeting.