NFPB members met in Bolton and online on 2 December. The NFPB office had moved to the Meeting House in Bolton a year previously and so this was a chance for Friends to see its current location and set up. Friends expressed appreciation for the arrangement that has been made possible by Bolton Quakers.
The situation in Palestine and Israel was both a specific item on our agenda and also, inevitably, a thread throughout the day. Friends received reports of modest NFPB activities to respond and support Quakers in their understdanding and actions, including circulating information and links and hosting an online reflection space.
We were also joined by Charlotte Cooper and Lisa Cumming from Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW), who shared information about wider Quaker engagement, including interfaith links, work in relation to the EAPPI programme and speaking out and advocacy for a ceasefire.
A minute from the meeting reads, in part: “We have been reminded that terror is no basis for peace, and that peace requires justice. While expressing horror at the Hamas attacks in Israel and at the huge loss of civilian life in Gaza, we need still to protest at the actions of settlers in the West Bank, and at the lack of any plan for resolution in Gaza beyond military action. The role of western governments and of the international arms trade has been emphasised. Our hearts go out to Palestinian villagers and to Israelis working for peace and justice; and to the Ecumenical Accompaniers who have had to be withdrawn when they are most needed. We are given hope by the increasing number of people seeing the need to tackle war at its roots. We hold everyone in Israel and Palestine in the Light.”
Other QPSW work we heard about included work to support the rights of conscientious objectors in relation to the war in Ukraine, partnerships (with NFPB and others) such as Rethinking Security and the Global Campaign on Military Spending, and accompanying Friends and others in community peacebuilding in Britain and in East Africa.
Trustees reported on recent work to renew our office arrangements, update staff contracts, agree cost-of-living salary increments for 2024 and make plans for NFPB meetings during the coming year. On the last of these, we plan to hold more online-only events, small regional gatherings, and three rather than four full hybrid meetings. The aim is to include NFPB members and other interested Friends in varied ways, with a goal of involving more people in our discussions, discernment and taking work and action forward.
Regarding our finances, our Treasurer report, activities are enabled as a result of previous legacies left to us, with current income not meeting current expenditure. Trustees reported that income and expenditure for the year is within a tight budget and that they will continue to keep under review the range of income sources, including legacies, and how to build greater financial sustainability.
Other business included a report from the recent Peace and Service Network gathering of FWCC EMES, and an update on the plans for a publication on issues arising from the war in Ukraine. A number of Friends were reaching the end of long periods of service on NFPB and we expressed gratitude for this service and the varied and rich contributions that Friends have made to our activities.
On a cold day, Friends ended the meeting in worship, hoping to next meet on Saturday 2 March 2024.