AWPS Section Gathering Overview

Notes on FWCC Asia-West Pacific Section Gathering, Bhopal India November 2008

The Gathering was held at Bhopal, India, from 6 to 12 November 2008 under the theme “Gathering in Clear Light and Fresh Hope”. It was the largest such Gathering of the Asia-West Pacific Section. In addition to representation from all groups affiliated to the Section, there were visitors from Africa Section, USA meetings, and members of the FWCC Central Executive Committee. The venue was a Catholic Pastoral Centre which was an excellent environment, with good quality accommodation, food and facilities.

The structure of the Gathering was arranged so that there were formal business sessions (including the General Meeting of the Section), presentations on specific themes, home groups for personal sharing, worship in both programmed and unprogrammed form. There was a special cultural presentation of Indian dance, singing, mime and poetry. There was space for interest groups, music and games. An outing to Sanchi provided an opportunity to see local attractions. Throughout the time, the Bhopal Friends offered excellent hospitality and support. A detailed evaluation form was completed by participants before they left, to assist future planning.

After the opening welcomes and the cultural presentation, participants were introduced to the study booklet and other reports. The Clerk of FWCC, Duduzile Mtshazo, spoke of the vision and aims of the FWCC. She spoke of the FWCC’s role in promoting our spiritual life as Friends, despite the barriers of language and tradition. Dudu emphasized the importance of seeing our deficiencies if we are to move ahead with confidence.

The minutes of the meeting are included separately on the website. The first business session recognized the range of those present, received greetings, appointed several officers and committees for the meeting, remembered Friends who had died since the last meeting, and welcomed the Philippines Evangelical Friends Church into affiliation.

There was a presentation by P. V. Rajagopal of the Ekta Foundation on the active nonviolence movement in India. A film was shown of the 2007 march on Delhi by 25,000 of the landless and their supporters, seeking to preserve their access to a living on the land. The march was inspired by the Gandhian tradition of concern for the poorest people. The government responded with some positive steps. PV Rajagopal emphasized the importance of the organization of the action by the people themselves, and of the participation of young people in learning the skills of nonviolence. Today more than ever India needs the pressure from below to counteract the malign influences of globalization and market forces.

The second business session welcomed Mahoba YM into affiliation, and recognized the emerging Marble Rock group.

David Purnell (Australia YM) led a session on resolving conflict among individuals and within Meetings. Drawing on his experience as a mediator and peace educator, he highlighted the importance of dealing with feelings, listening and ensuring clear communication, and building trust before negotiating options for resolving conflicts. He spoke of some of the processes used by Friends, and stressed the value of Quaker principles of speaking truth and being open to new light, and of the ongoing value of Quaker decision-making processes to work through differences under the guidance of the Spirit. Archana Gour (India) and Carolyn Schodt (USA) shared stories of conflict.

The third business session included reports from the different groups within the Section., and the reports of the Section Secretary and Clerk. The Section continues to work for more inclusive communication. The newsletter is translated into Hindi, and where possible funds are allocated for translating Quaker texts into the languages of the Section. During the Gathering, there was interpretatio9n between English and Hindi for some sessions and for announcements.

A forum was held in which the members of the FWCC Central Executive Committee (CEC) spoke of its work in between world gatherings. The CEC includes Section Clerks and Secretaries, as well as the office bearers of FWCC and several members-at-large. It now meets in conjunction with the section meetings in rotation, to enhance communication. The next world gathering will be in Kenya in 2012. Friends were assured that the financial situation of FWCC had improved, thanks to the efforts of the staff and the new finance committee.

The fourth business session heard the Treasurers’ report.

A session on the Empowerment of Women was chaired by Hansi De (India) and addressed by Rekha Teland and Feroze Jahan of the Self-Employed Womens Association (SEWA). The work of SEWA has strengthened self-reliance and initiatives of women in both urban and rural areas of India. In the Bhopal region, this has been important in the wake of the 1984 gas explosion which left many people dead or disabled. A bank has been formed to receive deposits and give loans to assist women in their business ventures. Help has been giving in marketing products and in decision-making. Education standards have improved, and the provision of child care has enabled women to have more time for developing skills. Many challenges remain, but there is a greater determination among women to make progress.

Interest groups were held on several afternoons, covering historical and contemporary issues of concern to Friends. A summary is included in the minutes.

Members of the Africa Section shared details of the range of their Meetings, the work they undertake, and the processes they use. The Section has a large number of Yearly Meetings (22) and members (150,000). Triennial meetings are held, and an executive committee meets regularly. Most Meetings are programmed, but there is flexibility and mutual support. An inclusive approach if followed, and there is a strong focus on Jesus Christ. Peace work in Africa is extensive, and in Kenya this year the training in nonviolence given by AVP has proved vital in enabling a strong response to the political violence in Kenya.

On Sunday morning, the Gathering was led in worship by Bhopal Friends, with singing, readings, prayers and an address focussjng on love for one another and commitment to the work of God, based on John 14: 1-11. This was followed by a Sunday school program of reflections and discussion on the theme of Light. Interest groups continued in the afternoon, followed by a presentation about service projects in India – (a) At Itarsi, Friends are working with children from the poorest backgrounds in a child development centre. (b) The Rasulia Friends Rural Centre has a long history and is still thriving in development of new approaches to farming and social development. (c) The Sohagpur Girls School helps 65 students from poor families. Projects in the Asia region by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Quaker Service Australia (QSA) were also described. The work of nonviolence training for Indonesian police was outlined by Robert Howell from Aotearoa/New Zealand.

David Atwood from the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva gave an overview of the history and work of the New York and Geneva offices. He explained how the offices provide space for informal meetings among diplomats and non-government groups involved in UN work. They advocate and undertake research of matters of concern to Friends. Topsy Evans and Linley Gregory spoke of their participation in the QUNO committees on which FWCC is well represented.

On 10 November the group had an outing to Sanchi, a Buddhist memorial site about 50kms from Bhopal. In the evening, the Young Friends shared something of their activities in different areas of the Section. As the session was in advance of their own gathering later in the week, they invited Friends to consider hopes and visions for Young Friends, from the perspective of their own experience, and then imagining they were Young Friends themselves. The overall response was the concern to have Young Friends more engaged in the Society wherever they are, and building strengths to be able to become leaders in the section in the future.

The 11th November saw the general meeting of the Section. The reports were received, constitutional changes approved, and office bearers appointed until 2011: Clerk Dilawar Chetsingh, Secretary Valerie Joy, Treasurer Topsy Evans.

A session on Interfaith concerns was chaired by Arvind Swan (India). The speakers were a Hindu (L.S. Herdinia), a Muslim (Dr Hadavi) and a Christian (John Alexander). They each emphasized the tradition of Indian tolerance of different religions, and the common ground in favour of nonviolence. The challenge for us all is to speak to the condition of mind of those who have violence in their hearts.

A session on Quakers and the Environment was led by Julian Starghadt (Hong Kong), Robert Howell (Aotearoa/New Zealand) and Vasant Bawa (India). They outlined the crisis facing humanity and ways in which Friends in the section might respond through a Working Group. A set of proposals was prepared for the business meeting (see minutes for decisions made). There was agreement on action to form a group within the Section to continue the concern in a more coordinated way.

The meeting concluded on 12 November with a meeting for worship at which the Epistle from the Gathering was read.

David Purnell
Australia YM

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Young Friends Epistle

Epistle for the FWCC AWPS Young Friends gathering 2008

Dear Friends

Greetings from the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) Asia West Pacific Section (AWPS) Young Friends gathering, held from the 12th -15th of November in the Pastoral Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. This gathering was the first time this generation of YFs had gathered from all over the section. The YF gathering was preceded by the FWCC AWPS gathering.

The gathering was inspired by the World Gathering of Young Friends, held in 2005, the first gathering of its kind held in twenty years, to organize a time that YFs in the section could meet, as prior to 2005, few of us knew YFs from other Yearly Meetings in the section. The theme fresh hope and clear light encompassed this new beginning.

Some Young Friends attended the earlier gathering and brought enthusiasm into the group from this. The Junior Young Friends and the Central Executive Committee gatherings also brought enthusiasm to us, as these were held concurrently with the Young Friends gathering, joining us for worship, songs and games.

The group encompassed many different beliefs, Quaker practices and nationalities; it included Friends from Australia, India, Nepal, New Zealand and the Philippines. Some Friends could not make it to the gathering, but sent their thoughts and wishes to us including a quilt sent from Japan Young Friends.

The main aim of the gathering was to create more dialogue with other Young Friends in the region in order to have a unified voice on issues in our section, and in the world. In the sessions we talked about global change; the history of Quakerism; our passions; and the issues faced in our lives, meetings and in the world. Meetings for worship were run by different groups, so we could experience different types of worship Quaker groups have.

YFs were empowered to try to face the problems of the world, with each friend agreeing to change one thing in their life in order to address the problem of global change. A committee with a representative from each yearly meeting was formed so future gatherings could be planned, including one to be held within the next five years. We hope that through this committee, ideas for the section will be turned into actions, and our aim of more dialogue will be met.

YFs found love, wisdom, and experience from different people and countries through the gathering, finding common ground through sport, music and song.

We look forward to being in contact with one another over the coming years. We embrace the opportunity to fully know one another and to learn from each others’ faith, as we grow together in the fresh hope that the clear light brings.

Written by Joanne Hall, Tom Dundas, Emily Chapman-Searle, Vickas Lall and Gayitri Nath, on behalf of Young Friends

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Interview with John Sabwa

An interview with John Sabwa, from Nairobi Yearly Meeting

What have been the highlights of your time at this Gathering?

Coming here has been a big experience compared to mine. I'm the assistant clerk of Africa Session, and I've learned some things here. For example, I've been used to shorter gatherings, say four days. Here we have eight days, giving a chance to explore things in much more depth.

I think that although this may make a problem for finances, all sections should invite at least one person from every other section to their section gathering, so we can learn from each other. This gathering has been like a miniature world gathering- I've been able to talk to Friends from AWPS, from Europe, and from America about how they operate. This has been very useful.

I've been impressed by the study booklet which we used to prepare in advance. It was good to see reflections from section members. In Africa, we tend to explore the theme on the floor and from the pulpit, during the gathering. Here, many of our discussions in home groups have grown out of the study booklet; this has offered great opening to the theme. I think that every section should be encouraged to prepare like AWPS.

Although there have been topics related to young people here, I think that at future gatherings we should be dedicating more time- at least two hours- to issues connected with Young Friends, and these sessions should be led by Young Friends.

I would hope that Young Friends are well consulted and involved in planning the gathering- even bringing topics- this makes them feel a part of the church.

I appreciate the new initiative of combining CEC meetings with section meetings. This will provide them with valuable exposure to the different sections. This is much better than just sending our leaders to London. I think the new approach should be continued, even if it costs more.

How do you find India?

"I think the climate is very similar to Mombasa- it is no problem. The roads are very busy though - you couldn't drive here if you weren't used to it.

Interview conducted by John Fitzgerald

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Service Sessions

The Sessions on Service focussed on the wide range of work being done by Friends:

In Itarsi, Compassion East India is funding a long-term project with children from poor families, which is run by Friends. Not only does this provide education, health and food assistance to the children and their families, but it is also be a great value to the Meeting as it trains its future leaders, as younger Members of the Meeting run the project.

It was good to hear of the present and future plans of Rasulia Friends Center, which has gone through a difficult period. These plans focus on making the Center sustainable - no longer dependent on outside assistance. Income-generating activities will include space for gatherings and for visitors to stay. The Board is also looking to the next generation to continue the work of the Center.

Sohagput Girls Hostel is also recovering from a difficult time, but now has a new government lease for its land and looks forward to the future with more confidence. Support from Friends make it possible for girls from far and near to stay there and to access education.

The American Friends Service Committee and Quaker Service Australia presented their peace and development and work in Asia. These organisations depend on donations from F/friends and some foundations. AFSC does not accept funding from the USA government, while QSA accepts a 3:1 subsidy from AusAID.

Aotearoa/New Zealand organised an, NZAID-funded, project, which makes university peace and conflict resolution available to police staff, who then run workshops for their colleagues in a number of provinces.

Friends appreciated being made more aware of this work. Indian Friends would like to know more about foreign organisations in their country and all Friends value being consulted before and during projects in their countries.

We were sad that it was not possible to hear about the Friends Peace Teams in their work in Africa and Indonesia.

Sieneke (G.H.A.) Martin

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Report from Adhiraj Parthasarathy

QUNO "Why Quakers work at the UN"

On Sunday afternoon, Friends gathered amidst fireworks celebrating a local Hindu festival to listen to a presentation made by David Atwood, and Topsy Evans about the Quaker presence at the UN, particularly in Geneva.

David Atwood shared his experience working with diplomats at the UN on various issues relevant to Quaker concerns, particularly disarmament issues related to getting nations to adopt a treaty regulating small arms. His comprehensive presentation covered a wide range of issues, from the structure of Quaker offices in New York and Geneva, to the history of causes the QUNO has been associated with and how QUNO works to develop a consensus amidst nations on various a) human rights and refugee concerns, b) disarmament and peace issues and c) economic justice issues. David Atwood also spoke about how the QUNO is one of the few organizations at the UN that fulfill this role, by providing a neutral space where deliberation and consultation can lead to a new insight into the world's problems.

Friends from Asia, Africa and Australia/NZ listened attentively as he listed some of the ways in which the Society of Friends helps diplomats—by providing background briefings on critical issues, arranging off the record meetings between diplomats to resolve disputes, and sometimes even providing pastoral care for delegates at the UN. Topsy Evans then briefly talked about her personal experience being the AWPS representative on the QUNO in Geneva, and the tiring, yet enjoyable learning process that she went through when she first joined the QUNO.

The audience was very appreciative of this informative presentation, and was interested to learn about how Quakers in New York and Geneva were fighting the Lamb's War for peace, and continuing in the tradition of George Fox by speaking truth to power.

Me, Miss Krause and St. Joan by Martha Kemper

Martha Kemper and this writer both agreed that it would not be possible to compress the variety of emotion and the richness of experience that her multi-character monologue on growing up in Bloomsburg dreaming of being St. Joan of Arc brought out into 200 words or less, even if it were for something as important as the AWPS website. Some things, just like a Quaker Meeting for Worship can not be done justice in a few hundred words.

Ms. Kemper's play, like a leading from the Light—to carry that analogy further was spontaneous, heart felt and gave dramatic form to a personal spiritual journey tinged with doubt and fear. The play seamlessly interwove herself, St Joan of Arc, and a high school drama teacher, Ms. Krause into a personal account that dealt with sexual assault, theatrical aspirations, and growing up in a repressed, Catholic environment in small town America.

Despite the specific cultural context of the play being foreign to many in the audience, Ms. Kemper's spectacular performance and the universal questions of faith, doubt and fear that she addressed in her very personal spiritual journey moved many in the audience. Lydia Takingo, from the Philippines, for one saw the working of the Light in Ms. Kemper's work, and prayed that the Lord continue to bless and use her gifts. Judging from the reactions of the audience, Ms. Takingo was not alone in her adulation.

Young Friends challenge us with their visions

This session, presented by the Young Adult Friends from Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal and the Philippines, was conducted by Tom Dundas and Emily Chapman Searle who discussed various initiatives that their Yearly Meetings had organized for Young Friends and how they had learnt a great deal from them. The Young Adult Friends then challenged AWPS gathering members to tell them what in their opinion the three main priorities were for Young Friends, and how they could best organize and function within the AWPS framework. Older Friends contributed by sharing their own experiences as Young Friends working with each other within a Quaker framework, and came up with a tremendous variety of suggestions, ranging from greater Intervisitation amongst friends in the region, to work camps, to going back to Biblical fundamentals of faith together as a group. The Young Adult Friends were very receptive to these ideas, and planned to work together after the Section Gathering and put some of these ideas in to practice.

Session on Interfaith Dialogue

This panel discussion was chaired by Arvind Swan of the Bhopal Yearly Meeting, who also translated part of the speaker's talks into Hindi. The panelists were Dr. Hardania, a reporter, Dr. Hameedullah Nadvi, professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Barkatullah University in Bhopal, and Mr. John Alexander, a retired teacher involved in inter-faith work in Nagpur.

Dr. Hardania, a practicing Hindu spoke about the evolution of religion in India, and of Hinduism's historic dialogue and learning from other religions, particular Buddhism and Jainism in India. Using the Mauryan emperor Asoka, the Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi as examples of great historical figures who stressed the importance of tolerance in their time, Dr. Hardania emphasized how a culture of mutual respect and non-violence was fostered in India from ancient times. Hinduism, he said had learnt from and absorbed practices from all other faiths it was exposed to, including Islam and Christianity, which he said had themselves become Indian religions over time. Dr. Hameedullah Naqvi, the Muslim speaker gave a very eloquent speech on the Islamic attitude towards other religions, and stated that Islam saw all of mankind as descending from a common ancestor. He said that Islam did not condone the use of violence in any context, and quoted passages from the Quran to show that the meaning of the word jihad had been taken out of context.

Mr. John Alexander, discussed the problems of having true inter-faith dialogue and finding common ground within the framework of exclusive religions that often contradict each other. He suggested that the economic deprivation and ethnic differences were the underlying factors behind religious conflict everywhere and that while religions should continue to learn from each other's experiences these factors had to be addressed immediately.

The talk ended with a statement by Valerie Joy and Dilawar Chetsingh who thanked the speakers for their insightful presentation and presented them with bouquets. The talk was very well received, and Arvind Swan for one said he had learnt a great deal about the true meaning of Islam and the word jihad from Dr. Nadvi's speech.

Quakers and the Environment

This panel was led by Julian Stargardt of the Hong Kong Monthly Meeting, with participation by Vasant Bawa of the GCFI and Robert Howell of Aoteoroa NZ Yearly Meeting. Julian Stargardt began by stressing the urgency of the devastating changes the planet was going through, and discussed a paper he had circulated within the section that discussed ways to combat 'global change.' The audience listened attentively as he pointed out changes that were already happening across the planet, and that the islands of Kiribati and the Maldives would soon be submerged in global change continued at this pace. His talk touched upon the impact that climatic and environmental change would have on ethno-political conflict and existing structures of power and how it could potentially exacerbate inequality, violence and conflict around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific.

Vasant Bawa, of the GCFI then spoke about a recent conference held in Hyderabad that he helped organize on climate change, and on grass root level initiatives in India that could help spread awareness of climate change. He spoke of the need to engage Young Friends and to work constructively with other groups involved in promoting climate change related initiatives.

Finally, Robert Howell of the Aoteoroa NZ Yearly Meeting spoke briefly, agreeing with Vasant Bawa and Julian Stargardt on the importance of doing something within the section and referring to the historical discussions on the environment and the concerns that Friends had voiced in past meetings made some concrete recommendations on how the AWPS section might proceed on global change, by working within Yearly Meetings and also through the existing FWCC/AWPS section gatherings to proceed in the right direction. These recommendations were well received by the Friends present, who suggested that Julian Stargardt, Vasant Bawa and Robert Howell work together, along with any other friends who shared the concern to come up with a Minute on global change. This minute prepared by Julian Stargardt in consultation with Robert Howell and Vasant Bawa was then subsequently discussed in the Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business of the AWPS section gathering which took up most of the next morning.

Dancing and Singing, AWPS participants and students from Sohagpur Girls School

After a long day spent in business discussions, sharing experiences of the gathering and developing plans for the way forward AWPS gathering participants relaxed and gathered for an evening of singing, and dancing. Dressed in brightly colored co-ordinated clothes, students from the Friends school in Sohagpur, put on a well choreographed performance and sang and danced to Hindi songs. Friends from America, Australia and New Zealand were surprised to hear the Hindi version of "We shall overcome" and joined in the singing. Friends from all the various countries represented in the AWPS also sang songs in their own mother tongues, and the audience was enchanted by Arirang from Korea, Waltzing Matilda from Australia and other songs from the Phillipines, Japan, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

The entire performance was coordinated by David Evans from Australia Yearly Meeting, who also composed a special song for the AWPS Section Gathering which friends from all around Asia and the West Pacific joined in singing.

Adhiraj Parthasarathy

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Study Guide.

A Study Guide was published for use at the Gathering. It includes contributions from Friends in the Section. The theme of the Bhopal Gathering is "Gathering in Clear Light and Fresh Hope". Meetings are asked to create ways of studying this in small groups, by way of preparation for the Gathering. Print yourself a copy. It has been translated into Hindi, for maximum outreach in India.

View the Study Guide here.

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