Open to new light

Good morning.

Quakers have a proud tradition of campaigning for social justice. The earliest Quakers were motivated by the revelation that there is that of God in every person – a vision of human equality which was revolutionary in the 1600s, and is no less vital now. This principle has defined the Quaker way. Quakers were fundamental to the campaign to end the trade in enslaved people, and have worked continually for criminal justice system reform. They camped at Greenham Common and boycotted apartheid South Africa. Quakers were the first faith group in Britain to recognise and campaign for same-sex marriage. Quakers have campaigned on the climate crisis and created Cities of Sanctuary.

It's a lot of activism for people who are also committed to the idea that we are all spiritual travellers without a precisely defined destination. Quakers have a set of “Advices and Queries”, prompts for reflection and challenge, and one of my favourites ends: “think it possible you may be mistaken”. We only need to turn on the news to see the dangers of certainty – a world in which changing your mind is seen as weakness, and where the language of religious conviction is used to justify the most appalling injustice and violence.

Quakers balance a spiritual commitment to seeking truth, with a practical commitment to working for equality. The two are not always easy to reconcile, and there are not many topics on which all Quakers in Britain agree. I give thanks for a community which is open about the fact that we are feeling our way, checking our bearings. May I be open to new light, from whatever source it might come.

Thank you, friends.