Meeting for Sufferings: calendar of dates
- Deadline for minutes from Area Meetings and Central Committees: Meeting for Sufferings Arrangements Group meets approximately five weeks ahead of MfS to consider minutes and plan the agenda. (Send to: sufferings@quaker.org.uk)
- Deadline for feedback: Arrangements Committee meets shortly after each MfS to review the meeting. Members are always invited to contribute comments. (Send to: sufferings@quaker.org.uk)
- Optional sessions: The Arrangements Committee routinely arranges additional online sessions ahead of each MfS – they start at 7pm and are for 90 minutes.
The dates so far agreed for the new triennium 2021 to 2024 are as follows:
Meeting for Sufferings 2024
All meetings will be in hybrid form – online and at Friends House.
Saturday 5 October
Deadline for minutes to reach Arrangements Group 26 August
Preparation session Monday 30 September, 7pm to 8.30pm (online)
Meeting for Sufferings 5 October, 10am to 4pm
Deadline for feedback to Arrangements Committee 10 October
Saturday 7 December
Deadline for minutes to reach Arrangements Group 28 October
Preparation session Tuesday 3 December, 7pm to 8.30pm (online)
Meeting for Sufferings 7 December 10am to 4pm
Deadline for feedback to Arrangements Committee 12 December
2025 dates
- 1 March
- 5 July
- 3 to 5 October (residential at High Leigh)
- 6 December
2026
• 7 March
The Meeting for Sufferings agenda
The Meeting for Sufferings agenda is planned by Meeting for Sufferings Arrangements Group, usually 4 to 6 weeks before each meeting. This guidance on process and timing aims to help ensure that Meeting for Sufferings can deal with minutes effectively.
When will Meeting for Sufferings respond?
It helps if minutes reach the Meeting for Sufferings Arrangements Group by the dates indicated below. We cannot guarantee that minutes received later than this will be included on the agenda of the relevant meeting. If it is important that the item reaches Meeting for Sufferings speedily, please say so and explain why.
Why send a minute to Meeting for Sufferings?
Friends might want to send a minute to Meeting for Sufferings for a number of reasons:
- because they have identified a concern that relates to the corporate life of Britain Yearly Meeting
- to inform Quakers throughout Britain about a locally-held concern
- to test an emerging concern
- to seek coordinated or centrally managed action.
For Quakers, “concern" has a very particular meaning. It is a special spiritual calling to carry out a service.
Minutes are usually better dealt with at Meeting for Sufferings when concerns have first been tested thoroughly at the area meeting.
Who can send a minute?
These bodies may communicate formally with Meeting for Sufferings by sending it a minute:
- area meetings
- General Meeting for Scotland
- Crynwyr Cymru/Quakers in Wales
- London Quakers Property Trust
- Young Friends General Meeting
- Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees
- the standing committees appointed by Yearly Meeting or Meeting for Sufferings.
Other groups are welcome to contact the Meeting for Sufferings clerks informally.
What should minutes contain?
The contents listed below should either be included in the minute or attached alongside it. Some parts may be able to be provided easily. Others may take time to put together – for example, for Friends to gather new information, and listen to leadings. This guidance draws on Quaker faith & practice (offsite link), especially sections 4.19, 8.11-13 and 13.09-18.
Explanation of the concern
It is helpful to know how the concern has been tested:
- What experiences have led to this concern and how is it being addressed locally?
- What commitment has the Meeting made?
- Has a central or standing committee, or Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) staff been consulted?
Please attach any supporting documents or minutes.
Supporting Our faith in the future
Please explain how the concern will help to work towards Meeting for Sufferings' vision, Our faith in the future.
Linking concerns to faith
What is the faith basis of the concern? It is important to explain this fully.
Minutes should also explain what is distinctively Quaker about the concern, and about the way we might be called to act. Please test whether and why we might be called to act alone, or whether it would be better to join with other groups taking similar action.
What is the intention?
Please set out the purpose of sending the minute – for example:
- to inform Meeting for Sufferings and Quakers throughout Britain about a locally-held concern
- to test an emerging concern
- to lead to action – if so, what action and who might act?