Yearly Meeting Agenda Committee 24-26 January 2025

What did it do at this meeting?

Back in the autumn of 2024, YMAC heard from committees and groups across Britain Yearly Meeting, and discerned that Yearly Meeting 2025 will have a focus on the Quaker peace testimony. At this meeting, they refined their plans for this. There will be plenary sessions on Quaker Peace & Social Witness' international peace work in Israel / Palestine; violence and conflict in our local communities and Britain; and on nurturing the radical peacemaker. YMAC is also planning three preparation sessions on these topics, which will be held in late April and early May.

YMAC also heard about plans for the Children's programmes, Young People @ Yearly Meeting , Junior Yearly Meeting and the offer for young adults at Yearly Meeting. These will all be held alongside Yearly Meeting from 23-26 May. The committee wants our Yearly Meeting to be a fully-inclusive, all-age community. The children & young people will be engaging with the topics of Yearly Meeting in age-appropriate ways: the children's theme is Peaceful inside and out; YP@YM will focus on Peace Inside + Out and Junior Yearly Meeting will explore How do we as Quakers create the peace that is needed in ourselves and our communities? There will also be opportunities for young adult Quakers attending Yearly Meeting to come together, share breakfasts and discuss sessions, as well as connect with other generations of participants.

YMAC spent time making sure arrangements for eldership and pastoral care were in place and hearing about progress on recruiting volunteers. There is always a need for more Friends to offer service in these roles, so those registered will be asked to consider offering.

Yearly Meeting is about fellowship as well as business, so the committee is planning creative activities, including a quilt project and online social activities for those not travelling to Friends House. There will also be a public act of outdoor witness for peace, encircling the building.

What happens next?

Friends planning to come to Yearly Meeting 2025, or to attend any of the fringe events held in the run-up to Yearly Meeting, must register via the Yearly Meeting website. Further information will then be sent, including a link to the online YM Planner (Sched).

Starting in July 2026, Yearly Meeting will be held over four dates each year – one multi-day session and three one-day events, replacing Meeting for Sufferings. A new committee will be appointed at Yearly Meeting this year to work on the transition to the new arrangements.

YMAC currently expects there to be a residential Yearly Meeting in 2027. Dates and venues are yet to be confirmed.

How can I find out more?

The best way to find out more is to come to Yearly Meeting 2025 and keep looking at the Yearly Meeting page on our website - a range of supporting documents will be published between now and the start of Yearly Meeting. After Yearly Meeting you'll also find the minutes and the general epistle, which is sent to all Friends everywhere at the end of each Yearly Meeting.