Submitted by Susie Paskins (KWAM Clerk on 17th May) & Carol Griffiths (KWAM Clerk of trustees)
KWAM agreed some time ago in principle to join the single Area Meeting for Quakers in London (QiL). We would like QiL to be a success and would like KWAM to participate fully in its arrangements, but there are still areas where further discernment is needed regarding its scope.
We held a threshing meeting in April 2026, facilitated by Rachael Swancott of Woodbrooke, to address the question ’What do we need in order for KWAM friends to be able to make a decision on joining a unified London Area Meeting in a way that is acceptable to us all?
The threshing prompted follow up discussions among us, and a positive re-engagement with the subject. It also highlighted a number of concerns which remain to be resolved, including finances, membership, outreach and community building, and nominations and appointments.
At our May Area Meeting we reviewed a well-argued paper proposing a way forward. This outlined some areas in which we might like to retain responsibilities for activities within a ‘cluster’ of local meetings (as contemplated by the LDG). This included work on outreach/community building for Quakers in South West London; much has already been done in this area and there is a strong feeling that it should continue and be encouraged and funded. The idea of a cluster was greeted with enthusiasm.
Friends are preparing proposals to help us to discern the precise nature of our cluster, including allowing existing KWAM funds to remain available to support this and other aspects of our current Area Meeting that are important to us.
The final decision on whether or not to join QiL will be taken at our July Area Meeting.
Leave a Reply