Woodbrooke
Woodbrooke is an international Quaker learning and research organization based in Britain. They provide opportunities for learning, connection and worship which are rooted in the Quaker tradition and open to all. Its mission is to foster the ‘vital ministry’ of Quakers today and its learning program allows participants to: deepen their understanding of the Quaker way, explore spirituality, support their communities and be inspired to bring about wider change the in world. Website: woodbrooke.org.uk.
- Woodbrooke October 2024
Woodbrooke, based in Britain, continues to offer an extensive range of courses and research programs, available both online and in-person, along with online meeting for worship held six days a week.
In June, Woodbrooke helped organize the Quaker Studies Research Conference at Lancaster University in Lancashire, England. This three-day, transatlantic event highlighted the latest scholarship in Quaker studies, drawing scholars and participants from across the globe.
In July, prison expert Ben Jarman delivered the Swarthmore Lecture. Drawing from his personal experiences, Jarman explored the myths and realities surrounding society’s response to serious crimes. His thought-provoking lecture encouraged Friends to reflect on renewing their commitment to penal reform. The lecture is available for viewing on the Woodbrooke website and YouTube channel.
In August, Woodbrooke supported Friends participating in the Friends World Committee for Consultation World Plenary, held in South Africa and online. During the Plenary, Woodbrooke conducted a survey to gather information on the diversity and commonality within the global family of Friends. This pilot study marks the initial step toward a larger world survey of Friends.
So far in 2024, Woodbrooke has reached over 1,900 participants through its learning programs, engaging individuals from 42 different countries. Staff members are currently planning programming for the first half of 2025.
Continue reading → - Woodbrooke October 2022
Woodbrooke, based in Britain, has continued to welcome more Friends from around the world onto their courses and research programs, and into their online worship spaces.
In July, Martin Ford began as the new interim co-CEO. Woodbrooke has progressed through significant change in the last few years. The majority of learning is now delivered online for both individuals and Quaker communities. In-person day and residential learning opportunities are offered in locations around the UK alongside a small number of courses running from the Woodbrooke Centre in Birmingham.
Deeper connections have been made with Friends World Committee for Consultation, particularly the Europe and Middle East Section and the Asia–West Pacific Section, to better support Friends globally.
The Equipping for Ministry program is being reimagined for a global Quaker audience in a challenging world.
In May, the 2022 Swarthmore Lecture, “Perceiving the Temperature of the Water” by Helen Minnis, challenged and inspired Britain Yearly Meeting, contributing to their reparations pledge—work Woodbrooke is focused on supporting by partnering with many others, including Pendle Hill in Pennsylvania and those that came to the first of two “Discomforting Quaker History” research conferences.
Continue reading → - Woodbrooke October 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted Woodbrooke, an international Quaker learning and research organization based in Britain, to provide more online offerings. Having offered online worship for some years, Woodbrooke suddenly found it was essential to many Friends who joined from all over the world and have shared how valued the virtual worship is. Online worship is offered 12 times a week at a variety of times of day.
Online learning has increased from around 10 percent of the learning program to 100 percent, while keeping a similar number of courses available. Woodbrooke reports learning a lot in this process and staying open as it experimented with different formats to be as relevant and accessible as possible.
The annual Swarthmore Lecture, usually held during Britain Yearly Meeting, was live streamed. Tom Shakespeare’s lecture “Openings to the Infinite Ocean: A Friendly Offering of Hope” was watched by over 1,000 people live and by many more afterward on the Woodbrooke YouTube channel.
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