Our holding position on AI is published in the Friend today. In short, please don't send us stuff made by generative AI, and we commit that we won't knowingly publish things made by generative AI either. (And all our mistakes will be our own :) ) thefriend.org/article/quak...

"Recent years have produced an unprecedented surge in the number of attendees at Sunday worship — from about 25 before the coronavirus pandemic to up to 100 today." Good to see. Arch Street was where I was when I decided to become a Quaker member. www.usnews.com/news/us/arti...

There's a write up of World Quaker Day (Quaker Week in Britain) in today's edition of The Friend. Enjoy! thefriend.org/article/quak...

I did not know that the origin of the trope of the conical witches hat, may have come from historic anti-Quaker propaganda. I do know that the cultural memory of our own persecution is precisely why Friends extend solidarity to other religious faiths when they are depicted using caricatures.

It's disappointing that some of the people and papers who shouted loudest for a working definition of antisemitism are opposing the same for Islamophobia. If you support a definition for one group, but not for another, you need to think hard about whether that is because of your own prejudice.

Do you remember the military horse that escaped and ran through London a year or two back? I was today old when I learnt that the horse's name was 'Quaker'. Maybe it was an equine conscientious objector. www.cbsnews.com/news/quaker-...

We welcome with deep relief and thanks the ceasefire in Gaza, the release of the living Israelis held hostage in Gaza and the release of Palestinians, including children, held in Israeli military detention. (1/3)

Quite right. I'm glad Churches Together in England is speaking up on this, as they should. The attacks on communities of faith (indeed on anyone) need to stop.

Do you read the Bible with Jesus? #LoveYourNeighbour

More reports of arson attacks on hotels hosting people who are seeking sanctuary. How many of these have there been now? I'm frustrated that I don't see people speaking out against all political violence. Maybe that's something I need to do. It just seems like such an obvious position.

Now an attack on a Mosque in England. Wrong wrong wrong again. Some people are trying to use our different religions to tear us apart. Instead people of faith need to stand together and say, no violence, not in our name, the attacks need to stop. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

At primary school we sang: When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there? When I needed a neighbour, were you there? And the creed and the colour and the name don't matter Were you there? That was long ago, but reading the news I think we need to sing it, and mean it, again.

I think we need to say this, keep saying this, then say it again. If more self-described Christians loved their neighbours like Jesus taught, the world would be a much better place.

I have written to Anglican colleagues to welcome the new leader of the Anglican Communion. I pray for all religious leadership and for progress towards peace, gender equality and inter-religious understanding #LoveYourNeighbour www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"An attack against one faith community is an attack against us all. " The @churchesengland.bsky.social Presidents have issued a joint statement condemning yesterday's synagogue attack and antisemitism. cte.org.uk/cte-presiden... #ChurchesTogether #ChristianUnity

I've just learnt that a kind, good, committed person I got to know through refugee humanitarian work is/was on the Gaza flotilla, and is presumably now detained by Israel. There are so many reasons to pray right now. I pray for all people suffering and in fear. www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...

Violence is never right. Killing is never right. Targeting people because of who they are is never right. We give thanks for all those, from all backgrounds, who have come together to oppose hatred and promote living together peacefully. It is vital that we all continue to do so.

Quaker statement in response to Manchester synagogue attacks on Yom Kippur. We offer our love, support and solidarity with the Jewish community, in Manchester and beyond, following the horrifying antisemitic attack on a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

I'm reading the news from Manchester, which is where I grew up. Attacks on places of worship (indeed attacks on anyone) are wrong wrong wrong and need to stop. Everywhere. Solidarity with the community of Heaton Park.

Martin Luther King Jr stood firm against racism including antisemitism. He also saw militarism as interlinked with racism. His daughter, has said she is sure that her father would call for a true peace, which includes justice. Let's be like Martin Luther King, whether the media notices or not.

I thought and prayed very hard about what to say with opportunity of giving the BBC Daily Service ahead of World Quaker Day. It was broadcast this morning. Here it is: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... (Picture from the BBC Studios in London)

Friends may interested to know that the BBC Daily Service is themed 'Love Your Neighbour' all this week. Today the presenter is Cherry Vann, who leads @churchinwales.bsky.social I'm due to present it tomorrow! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b... #Loveyourneighbour

If some one has told you that some aspect of scripture involves not loving God or not loving your neighbor, they're not interpreting it right. And it's down to you to either interpret it right or find somebody who can help you do so. #Loveyourneighbour #WorldQuakerDay

I liked this from Alicia McBride of @fcnl.bsky.social . Whereas I tend to focus on the question "who is my neighbour?" she helpfully unpacks what we mean by "love" www.fcnl.org/updates/2025... #Loveyourneighbour

Some one from another church asked me over coffee if Liberal Quakers do communion. I said yes. He asked if we did it every Sunday. Yes every Sunday. In fact, I said, we are doing it right now. I don't think it was the answer he was expecting. I should have sent him this video.

"The Gospel of Christ must never be co-opted to support the messages that breed hostility towards others. Its message never legitimises rejection, hatred or superiority towards people of other cultures." I agree. And at present it can't be said too many times. www.quaker.org.uk/news-and-eve...

When Jesus was asked, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ he replied with the story of the Good Samaritan, in which the neighbour is the man of another religion and another nationality. Someone needs to tell the all people who cloak their bigotry and racism in Christian symbols. thefriend.org/article/resp...

I liked this, from Quakers in Britain Recording Clerk, Paul Parker, considering 'Who is my neighbour'?

Amen www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

On the day the UN named what Israel is doing as Genocide, I also watched this. All of us have a duty to speak out. End the Genocide. End anti-Palestinian racism. End antisemitism. The process of peace making will be very long, but has to begin. www.theguardian.com/world/video/...

What’s needed now more than ever is a rejuvenation of civic engagement in the spirit of compassion and solidarity. To build the more just, peaceful, and inclusive democracy we seek, all of us must be able to make our voices heard without fear. buff.ly/pl3eB9Z

🎬 We're excited to share that the 2024 World Plenary Meeting Documentary is now live on our YouTube channel. Available in 4K quality, you might consider organising a screening for your Quaker group on #WorldQuakerDay, Sunday 5 October. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsrq...

"To speak out against injustice...is to echo the prophetic voices of Judaism —Isaiah, Amos, Micah, Hosea, and Jeremiah — who spoke truth to power and refused to let violence have the last word." www.irishnews.com/opinion/to-r...

I've just been sent this picture of me unblocking a sink in a meeting house on my travels. I think it's my favourite picture from my time in this role yet.

We’re delighted to share that Stuart Masters will give the 2026 Swarthmore Lecture. The lecture, which is a key part of Woodbrooke's work, will take place during Britain Yearly Meeting from 1–4 May. Read the full announcement on our website: www.woodbrooke.org.uk/stuart-maste...

"All of the crises the world currently faces are a result of people, over time, not loving their neighbors as themselves... Let’s be clear: shared Jewish–Christian values (shared with other faiths too) are of empathy with the stranger, not hatred of them."

The statement Quaker groups made about Israel and Palestine, shortly after 7 October 2023 has turned out to be accurate and prescient. fwcc.world/wp-content/u... An updated statement was published today, with a stark account of what is happening in Gaza now. fwcc.world/statement-on...

I read this today. I used to work for Amnesty, so I know that in pursuit of referenced, evidenced accuracy, their press releases can err on the side of understatement. Read this with that in mind: www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

"Someone has to say, and keep saying and to teach and to preach that it is never ok to kill thousands of people for any end, or under any pretence whatsoever." Just re-read this from 1 1/2 years ago. It is still tragically relevant: www.quaker.org.uk/blog/why-i-a...

Events in Australia often begin with an acknowledgement of the injustices which have happened on the land where we meet, now recognised as Genocide www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Let's not wait 180 years to recognise what is happening in Gaza as Genocide, and do all we can to stop it while we can.

"Quakers will have a future for as long as God has a purpose for us, and so long as we unite with that purpose". The full 2025 Backhouse Lecture, delivered yesterday at Australia Yearly Meeting, is now available on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=noXJ...

Happy to report that rumours that "Australian Quakers don't sing" were inaccurate :)

📣 New Video now on YouTube! Thanks to @timquaker.bsky.social for an excellent article which was the inspiration for this! We are looking at Quaker ways into the Bible! @markdruss.bsky.social gets a mention too! #quaker #quakerism #theology #bible

You've heard of the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal, which was completed in 1996. Did you know about the Australian Quaker Tapestry which is still being stitched, including at Yearly Meeting this week? The panels are placed around the edge of the hall. Here are some of them.

"You are human for as long as you help those around you." Beautiful film from @afsc-org.bsky.social giving essential insight into what is happening In Gaza www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGxV...

Swotting up on Australian Quaker history, ahead of Yearly Meeting beginning this afternoon

Hello from Australia! I'm going to be giving the Backhouse Lecture in Melbourne on Monday. It's possible to watch online. See you there?https://www.quakersaustralia.info/resources/backhouse-lectures @quakersaustralia.bsky.social

For the past few days, General Secretary Tim Gee has been visiting Friends in Aotearoa (New Zealand), including in Wellington, Auckland and Whanganui. Tomorrow he travels to Melbourne, ready to give the Backhouse Lecture on Monday 7 July at 19:30 AEST www.quakersaustralia.info/reso.../back...

Excitingly, I have discovered that, although Emily Provance's brilliant Swarthmore Lecture wasn't printed in Britain, it was printed in Aotearoa by New Zealand Quaker Books. When I get home it might be the only one in the UK! Online version is here: www.woodbrooke.org.uk/research/swa...

Currently visiting Friends in Aotearoa New Zealand. Thank you Marvin Hubbard for having me on your radio show: oar.org.nz/shows/commun...