A listing of conferences and events past, present and future.

Future Events

Our monthly Meeting for Worship and Creative Conversation are on the first Thursday of the month. Zoom opens at 6:45pm (UK time) for a 7pm start. All are welcome. Further details are available on our NFN Monthly Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation page. (Or latterly on the relevant post).

2023:

Our next Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation is scheduled for Thursday 2nd November 2023 at 7PM GMT/2PM EST by Zoom and will introduce the topic ‘Reflecting on the State of Your Spirituality‘

Past Events

For earlier NFN Monthly Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversations – see that page (with recordings of first 11 talks).

2023:

• MfW + Creative Conversation Thursday 5th October ‘A slow intro to decolonizing qism-2’
• MfW + Creative Conversation Thursday 7th September ‘Thank God for Nontheism’
• Articles and newsletters July 27, 2023
• (No NFN meetings in July and August)
• Nontheist Friends (NTF) – Stateside News July 6, 2023
• MfW + Creative Conversation – Thursday 1 June – Building Community June 3, 2023
• MfW+Creative Conversation Thursday 4 May – Are Nontheist Quakers Humanists? April 21, 2023
• MfW+Creative Conversation Thursday 6 April – Steps to Fulfillment March 26, 2023
• Our next Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation is scheduled for Thursday 2nd March 2023 at 7PM GMT/2PM EST by Zoom and will introduce the concern, Blessed are the peacemakers
  

  How should we interpret our Peace Testimony in the light of current world conflicts, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Are we pacifists, passivists or peacemakers? Our commitment to peace was rooted in a theistic understanding of what was required of us. When we have taken leave of God, what is the basis of that commitment?
  David Boulton is a former president of Friends Historical Society, a former editor of the CND journal Sanity and his books include Objection Overruled, described by The Observer as “the classic account of conscientious objection in World War 1”.

Thursday 2nd February’s QM+CC at 7PM GMT/2PM EST by Zoom,
introduced the concern How have I reached a non-theist position – or have I?
Please see the two attachments (Word)for preliminary reflection before the Meeting. QuestionsFeb2nd,  Some definitions of non-theismFeb2nd
Thursday 5th January QM+CC at 7PM GMT/2PM EST by Zoom, will introduce the concern from Quaker faith & practice: 23.09:

“We are all the poorer for the crushing of one man, since the dimming of the Light anywhere darkens us all.” Michael Sorensen, 1986

Queries to consider: How do we as non-theist Quakers work at repairing the world? What is the source of this inspiration?

Summary: What topics would participants like to see covered in future Creative Conversations?  If you have a suggestion or interest that you would enjoy hearing discussed, this is a perfect time to share those thoughts.

3 November’s Quaker Meeting and Creative Conversation introduced the topical conversation, “Spiritual practice among nontheist Friends” with opportunity for Friends to share experience of their own spiritual practice and how it contributes to being Quaker.

Thursday 6 October’s QM+CC  introduced the concern, “Utopias:  If they do not exist should we invent them?”  to stimulate discussion and sharing of thoughts and ideas amongst all participants.

1 September’s QM+CC  introduced the concern, “Exploring New Ways of Believing and Belonging”. Tim Regan’s reflections on that meeting can be found here.

In July and August 2022 we took a ‘holiday’ break.

2nd June’s QM+CC  introduced the concern,  “Humanists and Quakers – How do we differ, and what are the similarities – an interactive evening”.  Friends may find David Boulton’s QUG pamphlet ‘The Faith of a Quaker Humanist’ interesting reading in preparation for this session.

Our last Creative Conversation, on Thursday the 5 May, 2022,  reflected on the query  ‘How do I as a nontheist Quaker relate to deeply Christian Quakers?’

Friends might also be interested to look at the newly formed Quaker Truth and Integrity Group (next meeting for QTIG members on 23rd February and Zoom Conference from 25 April): https://quakertruth.org/calendar/

Three upcoming courses at Woodbrooke which may be of interest to NFN Friends between 28 February and 26 April 2022.

Quaker Universalists’ Conference 2022 at Woodbrooke and online from 1-3 April. Details here: https://qug.org.uk/conference-2022-health-and-healing/

Our AGM is on Thursday the 17th of February at 7pm (UK time). Please email clerk@nontheist-quakers.org.uk for the Zoom link. More details are available on our AGM 2022 page.

2020 NFN Conference and AGM at Friends’ House, Euston
CANCELLED But will now be delivered in 3 sessions online in July 2021 – details to follow.
(For a special event on Thursday 30 May 2019, not organised by NFN but by John Senior of mid-Wales AM developing further the talk he gave at NFN conference at Woodbrooke on 30 March see here).

2019 NFN Conference at Woodbrooke 29-31 March 2019

NFN is pleased to reproduce here this notice of the SoF 2018 Conference, 24th to 26th July:
The Sea of Faith Network’s Annual Conference this year is entitled, “The Necessity of Hope”. The guest speaker is Richard Norman, Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Kent and Vice-President of Humanists UK. He is co-editor with Anthony Carroll of “Religion and Atheism: Beyond the Divide”, a book he describes as being all about Dialogue. The SOF speaker is Dinah Livingstone whose talk is entitled “Hope for Humanity – A Theology of Liberation and the Beautiful City”. Dinah is a poet, translator and editor of Sofia magazine. Her most recent publication is “The Making of Humanity – Poetic Vision and Kindness”.

SoF Conferences are informal affairs, a mix of talks, workshops and presentations. Those who attend are a friendly crowd, and much can be gained not just from the “set pieces” but also from the opportunities it offers to meet together in the free time slots, the bookshop we run, over meals and in the bar.

The conference will be held from 24th to 26th July 2018 at Leicester University Halls of Residence, Oadby. Further details and booking forms can be found at: http://www.sofconference.org.uk/annual_conference.html

Many thanks
John Pearson
Chair of Trustees, Sea of Faith Network

Nontheist Friends Network Annual Conference 9-11 March 2018 

Note from Steering Group member Tim Regan whose Area Meeting has arranged for a half-day conference on the “Issues raised by non-theism”. It will be at Brampton Memorial Hall, Thrapston Road, PE28 4TB
on Saturday Nov 18th 2017 from 10.00 to lunch time (1.00pm – Bring packed lunch to continue discussion to 2.00pm). led by Janet Scott.

This is a Cambridgeshire Area Meeting event on the “issues raised by non-theism” – NOT an NFN event but I’m sure all Quakers, theists or non-theists, will find this event of interest.
Issues Raised by Nontheism publicity (pdf)

NFN Regional Conference, South-West England
Nontheism Among Friends: Its Place within our Religious Society
Saturday October 28 2017, 1 – 4.30pm at
Bristol Redland Meeting House
How does a nontheist Quaker perspective impact on worship, ministry, Quaker practice and outreach? What can ‘that of God in everyone’ or ‘seeking God’s will’ mean to a nontheist? What contribution can nontheist Friends make to any revision of Quaker Faith & Practice?
These are some of the questions that will be discussed in a spirit of worship sharing at the first in what we hope will be a new series of regional conferences in major cities across Britain. Bristol Friends have kindly offered to host the first, and it will be open to Friends of all theological persuasions! Speakers will include David Boulton and Hugh Rock. Our Redland Friends will supply tea, coffee and cake, and you are welcome to bring a snack lunch if required.
No pre-registration is required, but please let our hosts know if you plan to attend by emailing celia.beeson@cooptel.net
Redland meeting house is at 126 Hampton Road, Bristol BS6 6JE. We are advised that there is no parking on site, but unrestricted on-street parking nearby. Public transport: Buses 1, 2, 3 & 4 stop on Whiteladies Road (Apsley Road stop) five minutes walk away – 1 and 2 from the city centre and Temple Meads station, 3 and 4 from the city centre. Clifton Down train station is 10 minutes walk away, served by trains from Temple Meads about half hourly. The building is accessible, and you are welcome to get in touch to check particular requirements. (see comment below).

‘There is a place for us’ at Britain Yearly Meeting Gathering
Will you be at Britain Yearly Meeting Gathering at Warwick University (29 July – 5 August 2017)?
If so, we’ll be pleased to see you at our NFN special event on Monday 31st in Humanities Lecture Room 0.15 from 2.30 to 3.30pm. Michael Wright will be introducing the session with the title ‘There IS a place for us’. This will include an update on NFN activities and will allow opportunity for Friends to voice and discuss questions. We will also have a stall at the Groups Fair, and Michael is leading two sessions on ‘Prayer beyond Belief’. Please notify either Michael or our clerk Gisela Creed if (a) you will be at Yearly Meeting Gathering and/or (b) attending the session on Monday.

Nontheist Friends Network Annual Conference 2017