On 15 April, a special Meeting for Worship in recognition of the fourth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) was held at Quaker House in New York. This gathering offered a quiet yet powerful space for reflection and solidarity for QUNO staff and Friends from both local area Meetings as well as many Friends who joined from around the world. This Meeting for Worship sought to bridge the United Nations’ timely discussion on racial justice with the local and global witness of Friends, inviting deep listening and spirit-led action.
The meeting started by sharing the following grounding words provided by the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC).
“Most people here could accept that the world is suffering a crisis formed at least in part of broken relationships. These are in turn rooted in historic and continuing injustices. Seeking to heal and repair this brokenness could be described as a process of reparation.
This will need to include a level of restitution. On a deeper level though it should also be a process of atonement. In English we sometimes talk about ‘at-one-ment’, – the process of becoming whole again. A process of 'turning around and changing course' could also be called repentance, leading to reconciliation and restoration of relationships.
Making meaningful steps to repairing relationships would truly be Loving our Neighbour; a principle emphasized in our Christian faith, and shared by most of the world's religions. We also echo the call of the African Union for the world to make concrete steps towards reparations.”
The framing remarks expand on the Tapestry document that came out of the World Plenary Meeting held in South Africa in August 2024. The Tapestry document, “Living the Spirit of Ubuntu” provides a global call to action for Friends to align our actions with our shared commitment to equality and justice.
Following a time of powerful reflection and messages, attendees were invited to introduce themselves and share their connection to Quaker efforts on racial justice, allowing QUNO staff and Friends worldwide to remain connected as we carry out our work.
It was a privilege to hold a space for worship where Friends worldwide can reflect on the crucial work of racial justice. We are especially thankful for those who joined us from Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond, bringing the richness of the global Quaker community into the room. This gathering was a great reminder of the strength found in international solidarity, as Friends held the UN Forum and those doing this work in the Light.
QUNO New York looks forward to connecting with more Friends around the work of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
