Intervisitation
During the 2004 Triennial, participants took part in a Strategic Needs Analysis Process (or SNAP). The outcome showed the main priority was Inreach/Outreach which involved Communications and Publicity, Intervisitation and Events.
Some suggestions made were to:
- develop ‘sister’ relationships between meetings.
- encourage Yearly Meetings to set up travel funds for intervisitation
- encourage support and learning
- encourage Young Friends and others from diverse backgrounds to visit one another.
Many Quaker writings, such as the following, encourage personal connections.
“Seek to know one another in the things that are eternal”
Advices and Queries 18, Britain Yearly Meeting.
“Take time to learn about other people’s experiences of the Light”
Advices and Queries 5, Britain Yearly Meeting.
“ We need to know each other. We need to tell the stories. We need to have opportunities where we can talk about our spiritual journeys…”
This We Can Say - Australian Quaker Life, Faith and Thought 4.1
“Visitation is the essential work of FWCC. Visitation is like opening windows and letting the light of understanding shine in. Friends meet “face-to-face and heart-to-heart” to share both that which unites and that which divides them in the life of the Spirit. With God’s help, open exchange builds understanding, respect, trust and love and renews awareness of a world-wide family of Friends.”
Website of The Section of the Americas
Contact List
The Executive Secretary maintains a Contacts List which contains the most recent information on FWCC contacts around the globe, including a List of Friends Centres in our Section. Detailed information is available about FWCC affiliated 16 Yearly Meetings in our Section. In addition, there are worshipping groups in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, China and in other places, where Friends welcome contact from larger Meetings. Other contact details for non-affiliated Yearly Meetings, such as those in the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal and Taiwan may also be available from the Secretary.
If you are planning to travel, please contact the Clerk in your destination ahead of time, with details of your visit.
The following steps may make your visit more fruitful.
- Take a travelling Minute from your Clerk, which provides a spiritual link between your Meeting and the one being visited.
- Take care not to impose any hardship on Friends’ hospitality, but give of your time and resources as you are led.
- Explore ways in which contacts can grow into ongoing friendship and mutual support.
- Write about your experience and talk about it in your home Meeting.
- Submit articles to Quaker publications, in particular the Section Newsletter
- Maintain contact with the Friends you meet and explore ways in which contacts can grow into ongoing friendship and mutual support.