Working Group on the Relationship between QSA and AYM

This Working Group was laid down at YM22.
Please see this page for the new Working Group formed to carry on this work.
 

This Working Group was established at Standing Committee in October 2020 (Minute SC10.20.4), and the Terms of Reference for the Working Group were accepted. In December 2020, at SC12.20, the names of these Friends willing to serve on the Working Group were accepted: Adrian Glamorgan (WARM), Alan Clayton (VRM), Mark Deasey (VRM), Di Bretherton (VRM) and Peter Hillery (NSWRM).

Purpose:

Whilst recognising the long-term interdependence between QSA and Australian Quakers, this relationship has naturally changed and developed over time, and particularly over recent years with the change in Management Committee structure and the registration of QSA as a company limited by guarantee. The Working Group may facilitate discussions between AYM and QSA that aim to reach a clear statement of the relationship described in terms of the legal (including the constitution), financial (Quaker financial support), social (QSA being a vehicle for Quaker concern for aid and development) and spiritual (conducted in the manner of Friends) facets of the relationship, and might be suitable for inclusion in the Handbook.

Concerns raised in Meetings for Listening

The concerns raised in the Meetings for Listening will be considered and tested, a process which will include, where necessary, consultation with those who own the concern, and with others who may be stakeholders in the concern aimed at strengthening relationships.

Consultation

The Working Group will consult with QSA, its staff and members, AYM, and other Friends as well as seek expert advice as needed to clarify relationships.

Queries

In consultation with QSA, the Working Group will generate a list of queries which would be suitable for QSA and AYM to use to reflect on its relationship, work and the basis of its work in Quaker values.

Options for the future

Informed by the statement of relationship and the suggestions put forward during the Meetings for Listening, and the extra material submitted to it, the Working Group will articulate some options for QSA, AYM and the Linkages Committee (as part of QSA) to consider in moving forward in their relationships. These options will take account of the legal, financial social and spiritual context and constraints.

Matters that require further attention

Some matters underway at QSA and will need ongoing attention, beyond the term of the Working Group. The Working Group will highlight important issues that emerge in terms of the implications for understanding how relationships are maintained and transformed through times of transition and include them in its report.

Reporting

The report will articulate the statement of relationship, describe the discussions and consultations, list some queries, suggest options for the future and note any matters that might need further attention if they are to be resolved. The conclusions and possible recommendations from this enquiry will be presented in the Working Group’s report to the Presiding Clerk in preparation for Standing Committee for Yearly Meeting 2021. The Working Party should set a timeline for its work, but, as the primary goal is to heal relationships, remain flexible.

The Working Group offered an Explanatory Session prior to YM22 via Zoom, about its Report which was presented to Standing Committee in January 2022. The purpose of this Explanatory Meeting was to introduce the key features of the Report to Friends to help them prepare for the decisions that will need to be considered during the coming year. For further information contact Di Bretherton at dibretherton01@gmail.com. You can read the Report of the Working Group here. 

Following YM22:

Yearly Meeting (Minute YM22.29) asked:

• for two members of the QSA Management Committee and two other Friends to consider all recommendations in the Report, including which of the recommendations are for QSA to consider and which are for AYM to consider; and

• that the AYM Nominations Committee to bring two names to Standing Committee in September 2022 for appointment by Standing Committee

• that a report on the way forward be included in Documents in Advance 2023

At Standing Committee in September 2022, the names of David Purnell (CRQ) and Duncan Frewin (QRM) were approved (Minute SC9.22.4) to serve on the AYM/QSA Relationship Working Group and report to YM23.

(Image credit: Photo by April Pethybridge on Unsplash)