An interactive and participatory workshop to reflect on Australian approaches to nurturing the spiritual life of Quaker children and JYFs; and to develop resources and guidelines for Friends undertaking this important work.
Contact: Tracy Bourne tbourne@ncable.net.au
Tracy Bourne
Cost: Enrolment for this workshop is by nomination from Regional Meetings within Australia Yearly Meeting. Some workshop places are subsidized by Australia Yearly Meeting, and travel may be covered by Regional Meetings. Please contact Tracy Bourne to discuss any queries related to cost.
Aim: The purpose of this workshop is to reflect on Australian approaches to nurturing the spiritual life of Quaker children and JYFs and to develop resources and guidelines for Friends who undertake this important work.
Synopsis: The 4 day interactive workshop will include sessions on the following:
- What is the Australian Quaker philosophy for nurturing the spiritual life of children and Junior Young Friends?
- What are the particular challenges that carers may face, and how may these be overcome; ie, small numbers of children, broad age ranges?
- Consideration of child protection requirements.
- Ways in which we can encourage meetings to reflect on the role of children in their meeting as a whole.
- Develop resources and guidelines for those involved in this important work.
Source materials: Material to be circulated by the Workshop Conveners, plus
- Bayes, H., 2003. Proud, Stubborn and Free.The earliest Quakers and their children. The Woodbrooke Journal No 13.35pp.
- Bayes, H.C., 2003. Respecting the Rights of Children and Young People. The James Backhouse Lecture 2003. Australia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc. 101pp.
- Boulding, E., 1975. The Personhood of Children. Nonviolence and Children in the Technological Society. Friends General Conference. 14pp.
- Boulding, E., 1978. The Family as a Way into the Future. Pendle Hill Pamphlet 222. 24pp.
- Boulding, E., 1996. Our Children – Our Partners –a New Vision for Social Action in the 21st Century. The James Backhouse Lecture 1996. Australia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Qaukers) in Australia Inc.
- Britain Yearly Meeting – Children &Young People – http://www.quaker.org.uk/cyp
- Palmer, P.J., 2004. A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Towards an Undivided Life. Jossey-Bass.
- Quaker Faith & Practice, 1999. Britain Yearly Meeting. 671 pp.
- Quaker Parenting Initiative – http://quakerparenting.org/
- This we can say: Australian Quaker Life, Faith and Thought, 2003. Australia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Inc. 352 pp.
